Where to stay for Citi Field

An important note on luggage storage on your departure day

Before we tell you about all of the neighborhoods where you can stay, it’s incredibly important to talk about the logistical travel issues with going to Citi Field for those visiting the city overnight. 

If you’re planning on departing New York without seeing a game on the same day, then you’re completely fine: you can stay wherever you want, and you’ll have only the normal challenges of getting to your airport or train station for your departure (i.e. traffic, commute time, etc.). You can take your pick of Newark, LaGuardia, or JFK airports, and they’ll all be acceptable.

But… if you are planning on departing from New York after a Mets day game (like a Sunday 1:40pm start), you will have to face the challenge of retrieving your luggage before heading to the airport or train station. And going from the stadium to your hotel and then to the airport (especially if that airport is LGA or JFK, which are closer to Citi Field) would be horrible, time consuming, and would probably prevent you from making a flight or two. 

Wouldn’t it be great if you could check your bags at Citi Field so you could roll right out of the stadium and head to the airport?

Well, you’re in luck! Although to read the Mets website, you might not be so sure of that. Here’s what they state on their site:

“There are no bag check facilities inside of Citi Field so it is important to review the security policies prior to departing for the ballpark. However, in the event that a guest is not aware of our enhanced bag policy prior to arrival, we will have temporary on-site locker rentals available and operated by a third party for a fee that can serve as a last minute solution. The locker rentals are being offered by an outside company and will be available two hours prior to the start of the game and then up to an hour after the game is completed.”

Well, that reads like it’s really an iffy thing. But trust us – it’s not. 

Here’s the straight scoop: right outside the main entrance of the stadium, in the Citi Field parking lot, sits a moving truck that is labeled “The Mobile Locker Co.” This is a fully-manned storage facility for just about anything you need to store while you’re at the game. Here’s their price chart: 

• Small Items (laptop, string bags, bags smaller than backpacks): $6–10
• Backpacks: $12
• Duffle Bags: $16
• Small suitcases (carry-on bags, 22” or less): $16
• All other suitcases: $20

The truck remains open 60-minutes after the end of the game, but according to the company, it never actually leaves the property, so no one will be driving off with your bags. If you return for your bag later than 60-minutes after the game and the truck is locked, you need to go into the stadium and speak with someone in the Mets offices. (But we strongly suggest not trying this, because that actually is a far more iffy part of this equation, and we can’t promise how that will work out for you. If you’re storing bags, go pick them up right after the game).

So, if you’re asking us (and we think you are), if you’re making your hotel decision primarily based on travel convenience for a same day game and departure, we would recommend the following:

1. Stay in Flushing. You’ll be as close as possible to both the ballpark and either LaGuardia or JFK airport, so this is as easy as it can possibly get if baseball is your sole priority.
2. Stay in Long Island City. It’s 20 minutes away from Citi Field on the 7 train, but you’re not crossing any tunnels or bridges. So getting to LaGuardia or JFK will be significantly faster from Long Island City than from any points in Manhattan.
   OR
3. Take your bags with you, check them at the baggage storage facility outside of Citi Field, and then go directly to LaGuardia or JFK from there.

Meanwhile, if you’re flying out of Newark after a 1:35pm game, we’d suggest staying near Penn Station. Jump on the LIRR from Mets/Willets Point to Penn Station, run and get your bags, and then either book a rideshare or run back to Penn Station to grab the train to Newark. 

Having said all of that, if a same-day game and departure are not in your plans, here’s our breakdown of the seven neighborhoods you can stay in for a Citi Field visit.

Closest to Citi Field: Flushing

Direct subway stations: Flushing Main Street
Subway time to Citi Field: one stop, 5 minutes, no transfer required
What’s there: Citi Field, Corona Park, Queens Zoo, USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center

As we mentioned earlier in this chapter, Flushing is not the most luxurious neighborhood in Queens, but it is perfectly safe and has some of the best Chinese food you can find in the entire New York City area. Make sure you have cash though—a lot of places in Flushing don’t take credit cards! 

Getting from Flushing to Citi Field on the 7 line of the subway is really easy. It’s one quick stop away, and it takes less than five minutes on the train. And it won’t be hard to know where to get off the 7, because it’s the “Mets/Willets Point” station, and all of the people wearing Mets jerseys will be getting off there.

Pros

• The convenience—you will get to Citi Field faster if you stay in Flushing than anywhere else. 
• Just minutes on the subway, or 20-25 minutes walking from some of the hotels (only recommended during the day)
  
• The area is safe, even at night when it’s pretty quiet.
• You are also very close to Flushing Meadow Park, home of the 1964 World’s Fair and the Queens Zoo, which is a nice spot to visit with or without kids. 

Cons

• There isn’t a ton going on in Flushing, other than what we mentioned above. 
• If you’re trying to feel like you’re in the big city, Flushing won’t really be that – it’s more of what we call a city-suburb.

Long Island City

Direct subway stations: Queensboro Plaza
Subway time to Citi Field: 20-25 minutes, no transfer required
What’s there: hotels, residential neighborhood, but not much else

Also known as LIC, it’s a residential and commercial neighborhood located on the western tip of Queens, across the river from Manhattan. And while it’s not well-known by tourists, it’s actually very convenient for traveling into Manhattan – it’s a 15-20 minute subway ride to Times Square, so in terms of pure convenience to Manhattan and Citi Field, it’s right in the middle of the two.

LIC is a quiet area that’s gone through a renaissance over the past 10 years. On your average block you will find converted warehouses, newly built residential high rises, or bars/restaurants. Lately, more and more Manhattanites have crossed the river to take advantage of (more) affordable rents in the area. 

As far as attractions go, MoMA PS1, an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, Arts Center, consistently exhibits contemporary art and/or has event programming. If you’re visiting in the summer and you like electronic dance music, they throw an outdoor party called The Warm Up in July and August that is definitely worth checking out. 

So why do we recommend staying here? Because you can find much more affordable hotels (by NYC standards), and for a lot of people, that is really important. In addition, LIC is safe, and just incredibly convenient for traveling by subway to the city, to the ballpark, and by car to LaGuardia. On top of that, if you happen to be visiting both Citi Field and Yankee Stadium on the same trip, Long Island City is actually very easy to get to/from Yankee Stadium (although it does require a subway transfer).

Pros

• More affordable hotels of very decent quality
• 10 minute train into Manhattan, 15 minutes to Times Square
• Clean, safe
• Great views of Manhattan
• Shorter subway ride to get to Citi Field, with no transfer required

Cons

• No significant tourist attractions – you’ll need to hop over to Manhattan for that
• If you’re trying to feel like you’re in the big city, LIC won’t really be that

Midtown / Grand Central Terminal

Direct subway line: Grand Central Terminal (30-45 minutes)
Direct train line: Long Island Railroad (20 minutes)
What’s there: Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue shopping, Grand Central Terminal building 

Grand Central Terminal itself is one of NYC’s premier attractions, offering a blend of rich, architectural history, and diverse shopping. This NYC landmark is best known for its Main Concourse, which includes the iconic clock tower.

Grand Central is located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, smack in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, not far from Bryant Park and only about a 10-minute walk from Rockefeller Center and the world-famous Fifth Avenue shopping district. There are many large and small places to stay in this area, and even more places to eat and shop — from the smallest t-shirt shops to Saks Fifth Avenue, from McDonald’s to Armani/Ristorante.

Other area attractions include the iconic Chrysler Building, the NYC Transit Museum, and the New York Public Library. 

Pros

• Centrally located in the middle of NYC
• If you opt for the LIRR, you can ride to the game in much more comfort than the subway and the trip takes half the time (and the trains have bathrooms, too). 

Cons

• If you want to rideshare or taxi to Citi Field, you’ll have to cross a bridge or tunnel, which can take time

Bryant Park / 42nd Street

Direct subway stations: 42nd Street–Bryant Park/Fifth Avenue station
Subway time to Citi Field: 30-40 minutes
What’s there: Bryant Park, close to Times Square, Empire State building, 5th Ave shopping 

The Bryant Park area of NYC is really very nice. It’s a bustling business district between 5th and 6th avenues, with tons of shopping and restaurants. You can check out the majestic New York City Public Library, which has an iconic entrance on 5th Avenue.

Bryant Park itself is a small but sprawling park behind the library which, on hot spring and summer days, is filled with sunbathers, people playing frisbee, and New Yorkers enjoying their day. It’s like a (very) tiny Central Park in many ways. A great place to grab a sandwich and relax from the busy city. Then, you can hop on the subway to see the Mets play at Citi Field.

Pros

• A great park to have lunch, or just catch some rays before the game
• Walking distance to both Times Square on the west side, and 5th Avenue on the east side
• Easy to get north to Central Park, or south to the Brooklyn Bridge

Cons

• The area can feel a little empty at night, as it is mostly filled with office buildings.

Times Square

Direct subway stations: Times Square / 42nd St.
Subway time to Citi Field: 40-45 minutes
What’s there: Times Square, restaurants, shopping, Broadway theaters

If you ask the average New Yorker to describe Times Square in a positive light it may take a few tries. To locals, it’s viewed as a place strictly for tourists, which should be avoided at all costs. But despite what the locals think, Times Square is one of the most iconic places in the world, and one of the biggest tourist attractions in New York. It’s also home to the Broadway Theater District, so if you’d like to see a show to balance out your sports adventure, then Times Square could be a great choice.

And in literal terms of convenience, its central location will allow you to get uptown, downtown, east and west by both foot and subway. With a general boundary of 42nd to 47th Street (south to north) and Broadway and Seventh Avenue (east to west), it’s incredibly convenient to the rest of Manhattan. 

So if you’re looking to sightsee around New York City and get to the ballpark for some baseball, Times Square is optimally located for both. And it’s also convenient to get to Yankee Stadium (although for Yankee Stadium, you’d catch the subway from the nearby Rockefeller Center station in order to avoid having to transfer).

To get to Citi Field from Times Square, you simply catch a 7-train from the Times Square station heading east towards Flushing-Main Street. Citi Field will be the second to last stop on the line (at the Mets-Willets Point station), and it will take you 40-45 minutes to get there once you’re on the train. So find a seat, get cozy, and pull out your phone for some Sudoku time.

Pros

• Must-see tourist attraction
• Direct subway to Citi Field, no transfer needed
• Convenient to most other tourist activities in Manhattan, including Yankee Stadium
• Relatively convenient (by NYC standards) to both Newark and LaGuardia airports

Cons

• Very crowded at all times
• Mostly chain restaurants and stores that you can find in any suburb
• Tourist only destination, you will not see any locals besides street performers

Hudson Yards

Direct subway stations:  34th St / Hudson Yards
Subway time to Citi Field: 45-50 minutes (direct on 7 train)
What’s there: More than 100 diverse shops and restaurants, The Shed concert and art show venue, Javits Convention Center, Hudson River Park, Chelsea Piers, Hudson River Greenway (walking/running path)

Hudson Yards, which used to be an old railroad yard, is now one of the hottest and trendiest spots on the West Side of New York City, and home to more than 100 diverse shops and culinary experiences. You’ll also find significant public art there, including the already-iconic Vessel, a 60-ton sculpture that resembles a honeycomb. 

Next door to Hudson Yards is Chelsea Piers, an entertainment complex with two ice skating rinks, a driving range, a bowling alley, restaurants, and other things that can keep you busy. Nearby is the Jacob Javits Convention Center and the Hudson River Greenway, one of the most popular places to ride, walk, and jog in New York City. The Greenway runs along the west side of Manhattan, offering beautiful views of the water and skyline along its two-lane, 12.9-mile paved path. There is also The Shed, an exciting shopping, culinary, and arts venue. The Shed also boasts the 500-seat Griffin Theatre, the home of various musical theater and dramatic performances.

Pros

• A number of high-end hotels in the area
• Chelsea Piers, West Side Highway running path
• Convenient to Citi Field by subway, no transfer needed on the 7 line
• Great restaurant options

Cons

• Can take you close to an hour to get to the stadium on the subway
• Not as convenient to get to spots to the north and south in the city

Penn Station

Direct commuter station: Long Island Railroad
Time to Citi Field: 25 minutes on LIRR train
What’s there: Madison Square Garden, Herald Square (Macy’s), Chelsea, trains to New Jersey/Newark Airport

New York’s Pennsylvania Station is not only a subway station that connects six different train lines, but is also a hub for the Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, and New Jersey Transit. So from Penn Station, you can get to a lot of places in New York and beyond. It’s also attached to Madison Square Garden, home to the New York Knicks and Rangers. It’s a bustling area with a lot going on, and it’s easy to walk to both Times Square and Chelsea. 

Pros

• Madison Square Garden, just in case you’ve got other entertainment plans in mind
• You can ride the LIRR to the game in more comfort and half the time versus the subway
• Access to NJ Transit trains, which means train service to Newark Airport, and Amtrak, if you’re taking the train to/from any other Amtrak cities. 

Cons

• LIRR costs about $7 per person, as opposed to the subway, which will cost you $2.90 per person.
• LIRR runs on a set schedule, so if you miss one train, you’ll have to wait a while for the next one.