Charter Bus Parking & Dropoff Guide to Garfield Sports Venues & Arenas
Need a smooth game plan for taking your Garfield group to the biggest stadiums in New Jersey and New York? Whether you rent a party bus, a minibus, or a 56-passenger charter bus, knowing commercial curb rules keeps arrival easy. Below, we cover routes, loading zones, and bus parking at top venues!
MetLife Stadium (Home of the New York Giants and New York Jets)
Wherever your football fans or concertgoers are meeting in Garfield, MetLife Stadium at 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 sits just five miles south in the Meadowlands! Instead of splitting into multiple cars, your whole group can ride together and start the pre-game fun early. Here is how your bus handles game day in East Rutherford!
Major Roadways to MetLife Stadium
Drivers leaving Garfield typically take Route 17 South directly to Route 120 South or connect via Route 3 East. Regional groups also reach the complex via I-80 and New Jersey Turnpike Exit 16W.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at MetLife Stadium
Charter buses unload and pick up passengers inside Lot L off Route 120, just steps from the MetLife Gate and Verizon Gate. Your group boards in that same lot after the game!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at MetLife Stadium
All oversized vehicles park in Lot L, and your group must purchase a bus parking pass in advance for football games and concerts. Stadium lots open five hours before kickoff, and tailgating is permitted right beside your charter bus! Because New Jersey enforces a strict three-minute commercial anti-idling law, drivers turn off their engines while parked. Your bus stays on-site in Lot L throughout the entire event.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Heavy game-day congestion builds along Route 3, Route 17, and Route 120 starting three hours before kickoff. Local police restrict lanes on Paterson Plank Road and direct all oversized buses into the north entrance for Lot L. Plan to leave Garfield at least three hours early so your group can tailgate and clear security. After the event, state troopers convert stadium exit lanes into one-way outbound routes.
Prudential Center (Home of the New Jersey Devils (and Seton Hall men's basketball))
On hockey nights and college basketball game days, Prudential Center at 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102 draws large numbers of fans to Downtown Newark! Located about 12 miles south of Garfield, this arena is a favorite stop for groups booking a 25-passenger minibus or party bus. Skipping crowded train platforms and packed downtown garages makes a huge difference for your group. Your driver handles Newark traffic while everyone rides together!
Major Roadways to Prudential Center
The most direct route from Garfield to Downtown Newark is Route 21 South (McCarter Highway), which runs straight to the arena district. Drivers can also take Garden State Parkway South or the New Jersey Turnpike to I-280, exiting toward downtown via Market Street. Once inside the downtown grid, Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street frame the main arena gates. Building extra buffer time into your schedule helps your group beat weekday rush hour.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Prudential Center
Charter buses unload passengers along Mulberry Street near Championship Plaza or at the designated commercial curb on Lafayette Street. Because Newark prohibits curbside waiting, your group should step off promptly. After the final buzzer, gather everyone outside the Lafayette Street tower entrance before texting your driver for pickup.
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Prudential Center
Parking garages around the arena have low height clearances that cannot fit motorcoaches or tall minibuses. Instead, your driver uses oversized surface parking at surface lots along Mulberry Street, Green Street, or McCarter Highway a few blocks away. Reserving an oversized surface space ahead of time is strongly recommended during Devils games and major arena concerts. While waiting nearby, your driver follows state idling rules and pulls up once your group is ready.
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Newark Police routinely close sections of Edison Place, Mulberry Street, and Lafayette Street bordering the arena two hours before puck drop. Heavy pedestrian crowds walking from Newark Penn Station also slow down surrounding intersections along Market Street. For weeknight games, we recommend departing Garfield at least 90 minutes before doors open to clear Route 21 traffic. Coordinate a meetup spot one block west of Mulberry Street for a faster exit!
Sports Illustrated Stadium (Home of the New York Red Bulls and NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Keeping your youth soccer club or supporter group together is simple when you book a bus to Sports Illustrated Stadium at 600 Cape May Street, Harrison, NJ 07029! Situated along the Passaic River just 11 miles south of Garfield, this stadium hosts exciting MLS and NWSL matches. Here is what your group should know before heading to Harrison!
Major Roadways to Sports Illustrated Stadium
Most charter buses traveling from Garfield follow Route 21 South along the Passaic River or take Route 17 South to I-280. From I-280, drivers use Exit 15A or Exit 16 in Harrison to connect onto Frank E Rodgers Boulevard South. Groups crossing from Newark often take the Jackson Street Bridge toward Cape May Street. Because bridge approaches narrow on match days, arriving via I-280 gives motorcoaches the smoothest approach.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Sports Illustrated Stadium
Charter buses drop off and pick up passengers along Cape May Street or Frank E Rodgers Boulevard South just outside the main stadium gates. Confirm your exact pickup spot with your driver before heading inside!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Sports Illustrated Stadium
Oversized charter buses park in designated surface lots along Cape May Street and Guyon Drive, since the Harrison Parking Garage has height limits. Contact stadium guest services before match day to reserve your bus space!
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
Harrison Police close Frank E Rodgers Boulevard South and portions of Cape May Street to general vehicle traffic two to three hours before kickoff. Heavy foot traffic around the Harrison PATH Station also creates bottlenecks along Supor Boulevard and the Jackson Street Bridge. Arriving at least two hours before kickoff lets your bus clear perimeter checkpoints before street closures begin. After the match, keep your whole group together while walking back to the bus lot.
SHI Stadium (Home of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights)
Through a network of New Jersey operators, Garfield
Major Roadways to SHI Stadium
Groups departing Garfield typically take Garden State Parkway South or the New Jersey Turnpike South to I-287 North toward Piscataway. From I-287, drivers use Exit 9 for River Road or connect via Route 18 North onto Busch Campus. Campus police then guide buses along Sutphen Road toward the stadium lots.
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at SHI Stadium
Charter buses unload and pick up passengers along Scarlet Knight Way or Sutphen Road near the Scarlet Lot and main stadium gates. Your group boards at that same designated campus zone after the fourth quarter!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at SHI Stadium
Rutgers Athletics requires oversized vehicles to purchase a bus parking permit in advance for designated lots on Busch Campus or Livingston Campus. Most charter buses park in the Yellow Lot or Blue Lot off Hospital Road. Your driver waits in the assigned campus lot until your group is ready!
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
On Rutgers football Saturdays, Scarlet Knight Way and portions of Sutphen Road close to general vehicles four hours before kickoff. Heavy tailgating traffic backs up along River Road and Route 18, so depart Garfield at least three hours early. After the game, campus police establish outbound traffic lanes leading directly to I-287.
Yankee Stadium (Home of the New York Yankees)
What better way to catch a baseball game at Yankee Stadium at 1 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 than riding together from Garfield? Your driver handles bridge tolls and Bronx traffic while your fans relax!
Major Roadways to Yankee Stadium
Buses departing Garfield hop onto I-80 East and merge onto I-95 North across the George Washington Bridge. From the bridge, drivers take the Major Deegan Expressway to Exit 4 or Exit 5 for East 161st Street. Always build in extra travel time for bridge plaza traffic before weeknight games!
Charter Bus Drop-Off & Pickup at Yankee Stadium
Charter buses drop off and pick up passengers along East 161st Street or Ruppert Place near Gate 2 and Gate 4. Make sure your whole group gathers outside the gate before texting your driver for pickup!
Charter Bus Parking & Waiting at Yankee Stadium
Oversized motorcoaches and minibuses park in the Harlem River Lot (Lot 11) located off Exterior Street beneath the Major Deegan Expressway ramps. This dedicated surface lot sits a short walk west of the ballpark and opens hours before first pitch. Because New York City enforces a strict commercial idling limit, drivers shut off their engines while parked. Your driver waits in the lot until your group texts that everyone is ready!
Event-Day Closures & Traffic
On game days, the NYPD closes stretches of East 161st Street, River Avenue, and Ruppert Place before first pitch and after the ninth inning. Heavy traffic across the George Washington Bridge can add 40 minutes to a weeknight drive from Garfield. Leaving Bergen County three hours before game time keeps your trip smooth. Coordinate a post-game meeting point near Gate 2 so your group boards quickly!
Quick Tips for Garfield Game-Day Charter Bus Groups
You should always buy oversized bus parking passes early, build in extra travel time, and gather your whole group before texting your driver! After you book online, our confirmation department verifies every stop on your itinerary.