How to Get to UBS Arena
LIRR, driving, or rideshare — what works depends on where you’re coming from, how you want the night to end, and one decision you should make before you buy the tickets.
Quick Answer: Best Way to Get to UBS Arena For Your Night
Where UBS Arena Actually Sits — and Why It Changes Everything
UBS Arena is at 2400 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, New York — just inside the Nassau County line, on the grounds of the historic Belmont Park racetrack. It is the first stop on the Long Island Rail Road’s Hempstead Branch east of the Queens border, which makes it extremely accessible by train from Manhattan. But it sits at the edge of suburban Long Island, bordered on all sides by parkways, racetrack grounds, and residential streets — not a dense urban grid you can walk out of into a neighborhood.
That geography shapes every transportation decision. There are no nearby subway stations. There is no cab rank outside the door. The surrounding roads — primarily the Cross Island Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike — move efficiently on normal days and congest meaningfully on sold-out event nights. The arena was designed with rail access as a primary mode of arrival, and that is reflected in how the LIRR and the venue itself talk about getting there.
The key difference from a Manhattan venue: the trip to UBS Arena is not something you figure out on the way. You decide before you leave the house which method you’re using, which parking lot or which LIRR station applies to you, and how you’re getting home. That 10-minute planning decision makes the actual experience significantly smoother.
Elmont-UBS Arena Station, a fitting lead image for planning the train-first transportation options that shape many UBS Arena concert nights.
Taking the LIRR to UBS Arena
Elmont-UBS Arena Station
The LIRR is the single best way to get to UBS Arena if you are coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, or anywhere within reasonable reach of Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or a Long Island Rail Road line. The venue itself says it: “We recommend taking the LIRR to and from UBS Arena.”
The Elmont-UBS Arena Station is the LIRR’s first new station built in nearly 50 years — opened specifically for the arena and now a full-time stop on the Hempstead Branch, with service from Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches also stopping during certain hours. From Penn Station or Grand Central Madison, the trip to the Elmont-UBS Arena Station takes approximately 30 minutes. The station serves trains in both directions on event days, meaning the westbound ride home after the show is as direct as the ride in.
Once at the station, free shuttle buses run continuously between the Elmont-UBS Arena Station and the arena entrance on event days — a 5-minute trip, with the shuttle loop on the northwest corner of the arena. Belmont Park Village also runs its own free shuttle on the same route for guests using the Village before or after the show.
Metro-North Riders and Westchester / Connecticut Visitors
Metro-North riders can connect to LIRR service via Grand Central Madison and ride directly to Elmont-UBS Arena Station. This makes UBS Arena one of the most train-accessible arenas in the region for visitors coming from Westchester, Connecticut, and the Hudson Valley. Transfer at Grand Central Madison to the LIRR Hempstead Branch, and the total trip from Grand Central is approximately 30 minutes.
Long Island Riders East of Belmont Park
For Long Island concertgoers living east of Elmont on the Hempstead, Ronkonkoma, or Port Jefferson branches, the Elmont-UBS Arena Station provides a one-seat ride directly to the arena. This is a meaningful upgrade from the arena’s first season, when eastbound riders faced more complicated connections. Check the LIRR TrainTime app for your specific branch — service patterns vary, and confirming your specific train stops at Elmont-UBS Arena Station before departing is worth the extra minute.
Driving to UBS Arena
The Cross Island Parkway — Know Your Exit Before You Leave
All parking at UBS Arena is accessed via the Cross Island Parkway. The specific exit you need depends entirely on which parking lot you are using — and this matters more than it might seem. Taking the wrong exit on a sold-out event night can mean significant backtracking on congested roads.
Exit 26B → Diamond Parking, Ruby Parking, Silver Parking (all require pre-paid passes; do not use this exit without one — the venue warns explicitly: “Do not take Cross Island Parkway Exit 26B unless you have a pre-paid Diamond, Ruby or Silver Parking pass”)
Exit 26A → Belmont Park Garage (closest to arena at ~0.15 miles; pre-paid pass required; UBS Arena attendees without a pass will be charged $125 upon exit)
The practical rule: buy your parking pass before you leave home, then program your GPS with the exact lot name — “UBS Arena Emerald Parking,” “UBS Arena Silver Parking,” and so on — rather than the arena address. This routes you to the correct entry point. Parking opens two hours prior to events. Arriving 60–90 minutes before the show puts you ahead of the heaviest traffic on the parkway exits.
Route Logic by Starting Point
From Manhattan and western Queens, the LIE (I-495 East) to the Cross Island Parkway South is the standard driving route. From Brooklyn and southern Queens, the Grand Central Parkway connects to the Cross Island Parkway — take Exit 26D for Emerald Parking if arriving from the north side. From southern Long Island, the Southern State Parkway or Belt Parkway to Cross Island Parkway North leads to Exit 26A (Belmont Park Garage / South lot). From eastern Long Island, the LIE or Northern State Parkway west to Cross Island is the main approach.
Post-show exit: the Emerald lot empties via shuttles that drop you at the lot, so the car-to-road transition is straightforward. The closer premium lots have more direct walking access to the arena but feed back onto Hempstead Turnpike and the Cross Island at the same bottleneck as everyone else. Waiting 15–20 minutes after the show ends before heading to your car consistently results in a faster exit from the lot.
Best Way to Get to UBS Arena By Starting Point
| Starting Point | Recommended Method | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan (any area) | LIRR from Penn Station or Grand Central Madison | ~30 min direct to Elmont-UBS Arena Station. Fastest and least stressful option from the city. |
| Brooklyn | LIRR via Jamaica Station → Elmont-UBS Arena | Take subway or bus to Jamaica Station, transfer to LIRR Hempstead Branch. Driving from Brooklyn requires crossing into Queens and managing parkway traffic. |
| Queens (near Jamaica) | LIRR from Jamaica Station | Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena is a short hop. Among the easiest connections in the entire metro area. |
| Long Island (Hempstead Branch) | LIRR or drive depending on location | If you are on the Hempstead Branch, the train is usually easier. If you are driving, Cross Island Parkway access is straightforward from Nassau County. |
| Long Island (east — Ronkonkoma / Port Jefferson) | LIRR (limited service) or drive | Check TrainTime for your branch — service patterns vary. Driving from eastern Long Island on the LIE or Northern State is often practical. |
| Westchester / Connecticut | Metro-North to Grand Central Madison → LIRR | Direct connection at Grand Central Madison. ~30 min LIRR leg to Elmont-UBS Arena after transfer. |
| JFK Airport Area | Car or rideshare (~10 min drive) | JFK is approximately 6 miles from UBS Arena. A taxi or rideshare is the cleanest option for visitors flying in and staying near the airport. |
| Staying Overnight Nearby | Depends on hotel — see guide | Garden City Hotel guests drive (~15 min). Hampton Inn Rockville Centre guests take the LIRR. Match the hotel to the transit method. See the hotels near UBS Arena guide. |
The One Decision That Changes Everything
At most Manhattan venues, transportation is almost an afterthought — you walk out, hail a cab, or hop a subway. UBS Arena is different. Because of its parkway-bounded campus location in Elmont, the transportation choice shapes the entire night: where you eat before the show, whether you are staying over, how the post-show exit feels, and how much the night actually costs.
Decide your transportation method when you buy the tickets. If you’re taking the LIRR, figure out your connection point before the night. If you’re driving, buy the parking pass at the same time as the event ticket — pre-paid parking sells out for major shows. If you’re doing rideshare, book the post-show pickup before the final song ends, not after you’re standing in the parking lot exit traffic.
Ten minutes of planning when you buy the tickets is worth an hour of stress on the night of the show.
Driving vs. LIRR: Which Is Better for UBS Arena?
This is the most common question, and the honest answer is that it depends on where you are coming from and what matters most to you about the night. Here is the real breakdown:
When the LIRR Wins
- You are coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, or anywhere near a LIRR connection
- You want a fixed, predictable return trip that does not surge price
- You are attending a sold-out event — no post-show parking lot traffic to wait out
- You want to have drinks without worrying about driving home
- Your group is small — two train tickets vs. one parking pass, the train often costs less
- You are pairing the night with dinner at Belmont Park Village (shuttle from train station to Village)
When Driving Wins
- You are on Long Island without a convenient LIRR connection or with an inconvenient transfer
- You are traveling with a group of 4+ where one parking pass splits more cheaply than four train tickets
- You are eating dinner somewhere nearby before the show (King Umberto, The Harrison) and driving in after
- You are staying overnight and the hotel is car-based (Garden City Hotel)
- You are attending a daytime event with lighter post-show traffic
- Late-night LIRR service on your specific branch is infrequent after midnight
The Post-Show Exit Reality
The post-show exit is where the train-vs-drive decision matters most. When a sold-out UBS Arena event ends, approximately 19,000 people leave within the same 20–30 minutes. Drivers face 20–45 minutes of congestion on the Cross Island Parkway exits — slower if you try to leave immediately, significantly better if you wait 15–20 minutes in your seat. LIRR riders board trains that run immediately after events, avoiding the lot traffic entirely. The train’s post-show advantage is real and consistent.
For a couple from the Upper West Side attending a concert, the LIRR math is almost always better: faster in, fixed schedule out, no parking cost, no surge pricing. For a family of four from central Nassau County driving in, a single parking pass and a 10-minute drive home still beats an hour of train logistics from the suburbs. Both options work — they just work differently.
How Transportation Fits the Full UBS Arena Night
If You’re Taking the LIRR
The LIRR plan pairs best with dinner at Belmont Park Village before the show — the Village runs a free shuttle from the Elmont-UBS Arena station, so you ride in, eat at Hundredfold or grab something quick at Pret, then walk to the arena. After the show, the train home is waiting. If you are staying overnight at the Hampton Inn Rockville Centre, your hotel is a short walk from a LIRR station on the return. See the full restaurants near UBS Arena guide for the Belmont Park Village dining options and timing.
If You’re Driving
The driving plan opens up dinner at King Umberto or The Harrison in nearby Elmont and Floral Park — eat well, then drive to the arena with a pre-paid parking pass already bought. After the show, give it 15–20 minutes before heading to the lot. If you are staying overnight, Garden City Hotel is the natural end to a driving-based UBS Arena night — free parking, a comfortable hotel, and you are clear of the congestion before most of the arena is even in their cars. For the full parking breakdown, see the parking near UBS Arena guide.
The Concert Ticket Timing Connection
The transportation decision also affects when you need to leave home. A 7:30 PM Islanders tip-off means the LIRR from Penn Station should depart by 6:45–6:50 PM. A 8:00 PM concert headliner (with an opener at 7:00) gives you more flexibility on departure time. Know your event’s start time — and specifically whether there’s an opener — before setting your departure. For concert ticket timing strategy, the when to buy concert tickets guide covers when to lock in and what timing options look like.
What Most People Get Wrong About Getting to UBS Arena
Not deciding the transit method before buying the tickets
The parking lot you need, the LIRR connection you should use, the hotel that makes sense — all of these flow from the transportation decision. People who buy tickets and then figure out how to get there later routinely end up with the wrong parking lot, a sold-out parking pass, or a rideshare bill that turns a good night into an expensive one. Decide method first, then buy the parking or check the train schedule, then buy the tickets.
Taking the wrong Cross Island Parkway exit
Exit 26B is for pre-paid Diamond, Ruby, and Silver Parking only. The venue warns explicitly: do not take Exit 26B without a valid pre-paid pass. If you end up in the Belmont Park Garage without a pre-paid pass, you face a $125 exit charge. Program your GPS with the exact lot name — “UBS Arena Emerald Parking” — not just the arena address, and the routing will put you on the right exit.
Assuming rideshare will solve the post-show exit problem
Rideshare after a sold-out UBS Arena show is congested, expensive, and unpredictable. Surge pricing activates immediately when 19,000 people simultaneously open their Lyft apps. If rideshare is your plan for getting home, use the indoor Rideshare Waiting Area at section 118, pre-set your pickup in the app before the show ends, and be prepared to wait. Do not assume rideshare will be faster or cheaper than the LIRR on a big event night — it usually is neither.
Assuming UBS Arena is “close enough to the city” to treat like a Manhattan venue
UBS Arena is in Nassau County on Long Island. It is not a quick cab ride from Midtown. From Penn Station to the arena door, the total LIRR trip takes approximately 30 minutes — efficient for what it is, but not a five-minute subway hop. From Manhattan by car, add realistic Midtown-to-parkway travel time before the Cross Island leg. Build in real travel time, not map-distance time.
Choosing dinner without thinking about how you’re getting there first
Dinner at King Umberto or The Harrison before driving to UBS Arena makes perfect sense. Dinner at King Umberto when you planned to take the LIRR means you now need a rideshare to the arena that costs time and money and might make you late. Match the dinner plan to the transit plan — they are the same evening decision. See the restaurants near UBS Arena guide for pre-event dining options organized by arrival method.
Not checking the LIRR TrainTime app before leaving home
LIRR service at Elmont-UBS Arena Station is primarily on the Hempstead Branch, with Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branch trains stopping during certain hours. Service frequencies vary by day, time, and season. There is ongoing maintenance work on nearby stations through 2027 that can affect connecting service. Check the LIRR TrainTime app or MTA.info for your specific event night before you leave — this takes two minutes and prevents arriving at Penn Station to find the next direct train is 35 minutes away.
Frequently Asked Questions
The LIRR is the venue’s own recommended method and the strongest option for most visitors coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. Direct service from Penn Station and Grand Central Madison to Elmont-UBS Arena Station takes approximately 30 minutes, with free shuttle buses running between the station and the arena on event days. For Long Island visitors closer to their car than a LIRR station, driving via the Cross Island Parkway with a pre-paid parking pass is practical. For visitors flying in through JFK, a car or rideshare from the airport takes roughly 10 minutes.
Yes — the Elmont-UBS Arena Station is a dedicated full-time LIRR station, the first new LIRR station built in nearly 50 years, opened specifically for the arena. It is on the Hempstead Branch, with additional service from Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches. From Penn Station and Grand Central Madison, the trip takes approximately 30 minutes. On event days, free shuttle buses run between the station and the arena entrance on a continuous loop — a 5-minute trip. Check MTA.info or the LIRR TrainTime app for your specific event night’s schedule.
For visitors coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, the LIRR is almost always better — faster, lower cost, no parking to buy, and a fixed post-show return schedule that avoids surge pricing and parking lot congestion. For Long Island visitors without a convenient train connection, or for groups of 4+ where one parking pass splits well, driving can be the more practical choice. The post-show exit consistently favors the train on sold-out nights — parking lots take 20–45 minutes to clear while trains run on schedule.
Take the LIRR from Penn Station or Grand Central Madison to Elmont-UBS Arena Station — approximately 30 minutes direct. At the station, board the free event-day shuttle to the arena entrance (~5 minutes). Check the LIRR TrainTime app for the specific departure time that gets you there with a comfortable buffer before your event. For most Manhattan visitors, this is the cleanest option available.
Long Island visitors have two real options: drive via the Cross Island Parkway (with a pre-paid parking pass), or take the LIRR to Elmont-UBS Arena Station if your local branch serves it. Long Islanders on the Hempstead Branch have a direct ride. Those on the Ronkonkoma or Port Jefferson branches should check TrainTime for event-night service — these branches have more limited Elmont stops. For those in central or eastern Nassau or Suffolk, driving via the LIE, Northern State, or Southern State to the Cross Island is often the more practical choice.
Rideshare works well for arrival — the designated drop-off zone on the north side of the arena via Cross Island Parkway Exit 26D is clearly marked and convenient. Lyft is the official rideshare partner. For the post-show return, rideshare is workable but requires preparation: surge pricing is common immediately after sold-out events, and wait times extend if you head straight to the pickup zone at the final horn. The arena’s indoor Rideshare Waiting Area near section 118 lets you monitor your driver from inside while the first wave of the crowd clears — using it consistently produces a better pickup experience.
The LIRR is the easiest post-show exit — trains run immediately after events and operate on a fixed schedule regardless of parking lot traffic. For drivers, the easiest approach is to stay in your seat for 15–20 minutes after the show ends, let the first wave of the lot traffic clear, then walk to your car. The Emerald lot’s shuttle continues running after events. For rideshare, use the indoor waiting area at section 118 and pre-set your pickup in the app before the final song rather than after — this typically produces a significantly shorter wait time than walking outside and ordering cold.
Worth considering if the show ends late, you are coming from a significant distance, or you want the night to feel like more than a commute. The Garden City Hotel is the area’s strongest full-service overnight option at 6.2 miles, with free parking and on-site dining. The Hampton Inn & Suites Rockville Centre is the best LIRR-accessible overnight, with a walkable station and free breakfast. For full hotel strategy, see the hotels near UBS Arena guide. The key: decide the hotel at the same time as the transit method — they are the same planning decision.
The Transportation Plan That Makes a UBS Arena Night Work
Getting to UBS Arena is not hard — but it rewards a small amount of advance thought in a way that most Manhattan venue trips do not. The LIRR is fast, fixed, and post-show surge-free. Driving works well when your starting point is Long Island or when the group size makes a parking pass the better math. Rideshare is fine for arrival and workable for exit if you use the indoor waiting area and plan the pickup before the show ends.
The version of the trip that goes wrong is the one where you buy the tickets and figure out the transportation the night of the show. The version that works is the one where the parking pass, or the train schedule, or the hotel room is already sorted when you leave the house. UBS Arena is a genuinely well-designed destination venue. The logistics are good — they just require a decision.