Where to stay in New York

So you’ve figured out your travel plans, and now it’s time to figure out where to stay for your Yankee Stadium visit. And there’s no question that deciding which part of the city to stay in will go a long way in shaping what kind of experience you have.

As the largest city in the country, we recognize that this place can be intimidating. Which is why we’ve tried to make this as simple as possible, while still giving you a variety of options. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list of all the places you could stay, the reality is that you shouldn’t need any options beyond these to plan an enjoyable trip that fits your goals. 

In almost every case, we’ve focused on identifying hotel zones that provide a direct subway or train ride to Yankee Stadium. Even though transferring on the subway isn’t the most difficult thing, we know that it can be confusing. That’s why, in general, we’ve recommended areas where you can get on a train, zip up the island, and get off at Yankee Stadium with as little stress as possible. We’ve included one transfer option (Long Island City) specifically because it’s a good spot with less expensive hotels.

These ten zones are listed in order based on commute time to/from Yankee Stadium via the subway, once you step on the train:

1. Upper East Side – 15-25 minutes 
2. Upper West Side – 20-30 minutes (direct line on weekdays), 30-40 minutes on weekends with transfer
3. Midtown/Grand Central Terminal – 20-25 minutes (subway), 16-20 (train)
   
4. Times Square/Rockefeller Center – 25-35 minutes
5. Herald Square/Penn Station – 25-35 minutes
   
6. The Village – 30-40 minutes
7. Long Island City – 30-40 minutes (including subway transfer)
8. Soho – 35-45 minutes
9. Financial District – 35-45 minutes
10. Lower East Side/Chinatown – 40-50 minutes 

Where Yankee Stadium is located

Yankee Stadium is located at One E. 161st Street in the Bronx, and the Bronx is located on the north side of New York City, six miles north of Times Square. It’s located across the street from the B, D, and 4 lines of the subway, all of which are the best way to get to the stadium from Manhattan, plus the Metro North commuter train from Grand Central, which is a 5-10 minute walk away at 153rd St. Both of these are discussed in detail in our Local Transit chapter.

An important note on luggage storage on your departure day

Before we tell you about all of the fantastic neighborhoods where you can stay, it’s incredibly important to talk about the logistical travel issues with going to Yankee Stadium 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 departure (i.e. traffic, commute time, etc.). 

But… if you’re planning on departing from New York after a Yankees day game (like after a Sunday 1:35pm start), you’ll face the challenge of storing your luggage, then picking it up before heading to the airport or train station. Ideally, there’d be a place at/near Yankee Stadium to check your bags to avoid this—but there isn’t. The Yankees, unlike the Mets, don’t offer any such service and there aren’t any similar options near the stadium we’re aware of.

So, given that you can’t bring your luggage with you, you’ll need to leave it at your hotel with the bellhop and head back there after the game to retrieve it before traveling on. Because of this, depending on what time you need to get on that plane, train, or bus, it may be critical to stay at a hotel that is conveniently located for both Yankee Stadium and your point of exit. 

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:

For Newark: stay near Herald Square/Penn Station for easy connection to the train to EWR, or either Herald Square/Penn Station or Times Square/Rockefeller Center for the shortest rideshare/taxi to EWR. Both are direct subway rides from Yankee Stadium.

For JFK or LGA: stay on the Upper East Side, Midtown (east or central), or the Lower East Side for quicker taxi/rideshare access to both airports. All are direct subway rides from Yankee Stadium.

For Penn Station/Amtrak: stay near Herald Square/Penn Station (obviously), or stay in Times Square, which is only a 10-15 minute walk to Penn Station.

For Grand Central Station (regional trains): stay in Midtown (east or central) near the station. Both the Grand Central and Bryant Square subway stops connect directly to Yankee Stadium without a transfer.

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

What’s not on our list: staying in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium

While Yankee Stadium is iconic and monumental in its own right, the Bronx is not a tourist destination and we don’t recommend staying there. There aren’t many hotels near the ballpark, and the ones that are, honestly, aren’t in places that we’d recommend staying. 

In fact, there’s really only one that we’d even consider suggesting, the Best Western Plus Stadium Inn. It’s a half-mile walk to the stadium, and for day games we might be ok with it. But it’s simply not a place we’d recommend walking back to after an evening game, or walking around from the hotel at night in general. Between the lack of proximity to both NYC attractions and the subway, the difficulty of getting to airports, and concerns over general safety, we simply do not recommend staying in the Bronx for a Yankee Stadium visit. 

Ok… now that you know not to stay near the ballpark, let’s jump into the top ten areas we do recommend staying in New York on your trip and what each area has to offer.

Upper East Side

Direct subway stations: 59th St/Lexington OR 86th St (Green Line / 4 train)
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 15-25 minutes (direct)

It has long been the most affluent neighborhood in New York City. Certain streets, such as Park Ave, are home to some of the richest people in the world. If you’ve heard “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel or watched “Gossip Girl” then you know the upper echelon aura that’s synonymous with the area. 

It’s also home to some of the most famous museums in the world, including the Cooper–Hewitt Design Museum, the Frick Collection, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met).

Given its wealth, the sidewalks are clean (by NYC standards) and quiet at night—both plusses in our book. It’s also the most convenient location to get to the ballpark. While NYC neighborhoods seemingly blend together, its perimeter stretches from around 59th Street up to 96th Street and the East River to Central Park/Fifth Ave. 

Getting to Yankee stadium is a breeze from the Upper East Side using the subway. Jump on the 4 train at either 59th and Lexington or 86th Street and you should be there in 15-25 minutes. If you’re getting to New York via JFK or LaGuardia airports, the Upper East Side is our top pick for where you should stay in terms of convenience to both your airport and to Yankee Stadium.

Pros

• Fastest and easiest commute to Yankee Stadium (no subway transfer needed)
• Next to Central Park
• Immediate proximity to world-class museums
• Good location for those flying to/from LaGuardia or JFK
  

Cons

• Hotels can be pricey (by New York standards)

Upper West Side

Direct subway stations (weekdays only): 86th St (Blue Line)
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 15-25 minutes (direct line on weekdays), 30-40 minutes on weekends with transfer

While the Upper East Side is known for insane wealth and art museums, its west side counterpart is considered one the cultural and intellectual hubs of Manhattan. To the north you’ll find Columbia University and Barnard College. If you’re walking up or down Central Park West you’ll run into the American Museum of Natural History. If opera is your thing, the Opera House of Lincoln Center is also something that you can easily take advantage of. While not a tourist destination, if you want to get active and go for a walk or run, you can take in some amazing views of the Hudson River along the Westside Highway.

From a geographic perspective, the area spans from 59th Street all the way up to West 110th Street and then from Central Park West to the Westside Highway. 

Although located uptown, getting to Yankee Stadium from the Upper West Side takes longer than you would think. The B train, which goes directly to the stadium, only runs during weekdays. So if you plan on coming in for a weekend game then you need to take the B or C subway uptown to 125th and then transfer to the D train*. 

*Don’t let the transfer intimidate you! When you get to the station you will get off and the D subway will be directly across from you, on the same platform (there will be a sign that says “Uptown & The Bronx via Express, D to 205th St/The Bronx”). The transfer will add some extra time to your commute depending on how fast the connecting train arrives, so plan on getting to the stadium in around 40 minutes.

Pros

• Next to Central Park
• Great restaurants
• Surrounded by cultural institutions 
• During the week, it’s a quick and direct subway ride to the ballpark

Cons

• Limited number of hotels
• For weekend games, transfer required to get to/from Yankee stadium

Times Square / Rockefeller Center

Direct subway stations: 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center OR 42 St-Bryant Park 
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 25-35 minutes (direct)

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.

To get to Yankee Stadium from Times Square, it’s easiest to skip the Times Square station (which will require a transfer) and instead walk a handful of blocks to the Rockefeller Center station or Bryant Park/42nd St. station, where you can catch the D line which will take you directly to the stadium in about 25-35 minutes.

Pros

• Must-see tourist attraction
• Convenient to Yankee Stadium by subway (from Rockefeller Center or 42nd St/Bryant Park stations), no transfer needed
• Convenient to most other tourist activities in Manhattan
• Relatively convenient 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

The Village

Direct subway stations: West 4th St / Washington Square
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 30-40 minutes (direct)

Greenwich Village (or simply “The Village”), is a neighborhood that includes both the central and west side of Lower Manhattan, from Houston Street up to 14th Street and Broadway to the Hudson River. The Village is inclusive of the West Village, Greenwich Village, and Meatpacking neighborhoods. While all of these neighborhoods have distinct characteristics, attractions, and hotel options, due to the density of the location and for simplicity, it’s easier for us to reference the area as a whole. 

The Village is home to New York University (NYU) and there are always organic events happening in Washington Square Park. If you want to laugh, the Comedy Cellar is where many of the most famous stand-up comedians got their start, and they also drop in randomly to practice new sets. Heading west you can explore the West Village and learn more about the beginning of the Gay Rights movement by going to Stonewall Inn. If pop-culture is more up your alley then swing by Cornelia Street and see where Taylor Swift rented her apartment or see the building from Friends on the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets. We could dedicate a whole chapter of just things to do while in The Village so if you plan on staying here be prepared to eat, drink, and experience as much as you can. 

From The Village you’ll want to walk to the West 4th Street subway station, and once you’re on the train it’s a straight shot to Yankee Stadium. But plan on it taking you 30-40 minutes to get there once you’re on the subway.

Pros

• Amazing pop culture sightseeing
• Iconic landmarks
• One of the most beautiful areas in Manhattan
• No subway transfer needed to/from Yankee stadium

Cons

• Skews younger, not for those who don’t like nightlife 
• Some streets aren’t on a grid and it’s easy to get turned around

Long Island City

Direct subway stations: none
Connecting subway stations: Queensboro Plaza
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 30-40 minutes (with transfer)

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 (and then transferring to go up to the Bronx). 

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 you can get into the city via the 7 line in 10 minutes. From there, the city is your oyster. 

Pros

• More affordable hotels of very decent quality
• 10 minute train into Manhattan
• Clean, safe
• Great views of Manhattan
• Pretty quick to get to Yankee Stadium, even with a transfer required

Cons

• No significant tourist attractions—you’ll need to hop over to Manhattan for that
• Transfer needed to get to/from Yankee stadium
• If you’re trying to feel like you’re in the big city, LIC won’t really be that

SoHo

Direct subway station: Broadway/Lafayette St
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 35-40 minutes, direct

“South of Houston Street” is a Lower Manhattan neighborhood that was once synonymous with Andy Warhol and struggling artists (and galleries), but is now the fashion capital of the country and one of the go-to shopping destinations in the world. From high-end local boutiques to international luxury stores to TikTok influencers, the neighborhood keeps evolving. 

If architecture is your thing, SoHo has one of the greatest collections of cast-iron buildings in the world. You could spend all day walking up and down the streets and taking in the different building facades. Walking down Prince Street, Spring Street, or Broadway you’ll notice that the sidewalks are often crowded with tourists speaking a dozen different languages. On the weekends, you won’t see a local, except for the street vendors selling jewelry, art, clothing, and some tourist tchotchkes. Most recently it’s been known by its other name, Gen Z Times Square, due to the large number of young tourists taking photos and videos for social media posting. 

Similar to The Village, you need to walk to the D subway station (this one’s located at Broadway-Lafayette Street) to get up to Yankee Stadium. Depending on where you’re staying this could be a 5-minute walk or 25-minute walk, so be sure to map the distance to the station from your prospective hotel. Plan on it taking an hour to get there when you factor in getting to the subway. 

Pros

• Vibrant energy during the day, quiet at night
• Good for people watching, celebrity sightings
• Great shopping
• No subway transfer needed to/from Yankee stadium

Cons

• Expensive 
• Expensive
• Did we mention expensive?

Financial District

Direct subway station: Fulton St.
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 35-45 minutes (direct)

Frequently referred to as FiDi, the Financial District is located on the southern tip of the island. The neighborhood is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank, and, of course, Wall Street. It’s also home to the South Street Seaport and Pier 17, an entertainment hub for live music, movies, dining, and other activities. You can also swing by one of the highest rated bars in the world, The Dead Rabbit, on Water Street and take advantage of a delicious cocktail. 

It’s sandwiched between the West Side Highway to the west and the East River to the east. This means that you can see great views on either side. It’s also just south of City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. If you like landscapes, scenic views, or bridge architecture then this is a great place to take it all in, and of course it’s free. 

We deliberately didn’t include Brooklyn on our list of places to stay due to its distance from Yankee Stadium, but one of the best tourist activities in Lower Manhattan is walking the Brooklyn Bridge and exploring Brooklyn Bridge Park on a warm summer day/night. To the south of FiDi is the South Ferry terminal, where you can ride for free to Staten Island and back. 

By staying in FiDi, you have access to pretty much every single subway line that runs in the city via the Fulton Street station. This means that getting to anywhere else in Manhattan is easy and straightforward. That said, when it comes to game time, you are so far south it’s going to take some time to get up to the Bronx. For a straight shot, hop on the 4 train.

Pros

• Vibrant energy during the day
• Tons of eating, drinking, and entertainment options
• Sometimes good hotel deals on the weekends
• Multiple subway options, and a straight shot to Yankee Stadium on the 4 train

Cons

• More lively during the day than night so hard to find post-game activities in the neighborhood
• It’s a longer transit time that neighborhoods further north on the island

Lower East Side/Chinatown

Direct subway station: Grand St.
Subway time to Yankee Stadium: 40-50 minutes (direct)

The Lower East Side, aka LES, is one of the most historic neighborhoods in the city and that’s why it’s home to the Tenement Museum. Located roughly between the Bowery and East River and from Canal to Houston streets, there’s a grittiness to the area that reminds you of New York’s past self. It’s a neighborhood where immigrants from all over the world settled, creating a melting pot of culture. To this day, it is still one of the most ethnically diverse areas of New York. It’s home to the city institutions of Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters bagel shop, and also to some of the best live music venues, including Bowery Ballroom on Delancey Street and Mercury Lounge on East Houston Street. And it’s also right next to Chinatown, and if you like Chinese food, well, you could spend weeks discovering it all here.

With all that said, what LES is really known for now, locally, is its nightlife scene which is popular with early-to-late twenty-somethings. Most of the bars/lounges skew towards divey, which means that if you’re looking for a fun place to go out at night, you can stay in the neighborhood and hop around. On the flipside, if all of this sounds miserable, stay far far away. 

It’s a bit of a haul to get to Yankee Stadium from this far south on the island, so make sure to budget a full hour from your hotel to the ballpark (although at least it’s a direct trip on the subway with no transfer necessary). 

Pros

• Vibrant energy at night
• Tons of eating, drinking, and entertainment options
• No subway transfer needed to/from Yankee stadium

Cons

• Hotel and lodging options are limited compared to other areas on our list
• Not a ton of subway options for getting around the island

Bottom Line

There are a lot of places to stay in NYC, and the choices can seem overwhelming. Our advice is to think about what else you want to do while you’re there, and try to position yourself near those things. Ultimately the difference between each area to get the stadium is a range of 5 to 30 minutes—the subway really makes things easy. 

Lastly, and it can’t be overstated: all of NYC is expensive. There’s nothing you can do about it. When it comes to hotel stays, the cost is really a function of the hotel, not the area. If you do your research, you can probably find deals in any area that you choose to stay. 

TSI’s recommendations for picking a place to stay for a Yankee Stadium Visit

If you’re looking for world renowned museums, high-end/luxury shopping, being close to Central Park, fastest car access to LGA, and the easiest subway commute to the stadium: stay on the Upper East Side.

If you’re looking to be in the epicenter for entertainment, chain restaurants, and shopping, with easy access to all of Manhattan, and quick car access to Newark: stay in Times Square.

If you want access to great restaurants, quiet streets, intellectual destinations and Central Park, and are willing to make a quick transfer on the subway to the ballpark: stay on the Upper West Side.

If you’re looking for a trendy neighborhood, 24/7 food and drink options, high energy, a thriving LGBTQ+ community: stay in The Village.

If you want some seclusion, quieter moments, nice dinners, easy access to the Financial District, 9/11 Memorial, or ferry access, plus a shorter drive to Newark: stay in Tribeca.

If you want to be at the center of fashion and commerce, high end restaurants, hotels, and art galleries, and want to spend your days walking around people watching: stay in SoHo. 

If you are trying to find cheap and accessible lodging and don’t care about touristing around Manhattan, we recommend looking into zone-adjacent neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side or Long Island City. Staying in either of those locations won’t add much to your travel time to/from the stadium, which you can still get to via subway, and they’re all shorter drives to JFK.