How to Get to Prudential Center: NJ Transit, PATH & Driving Guide
Complete transit and driving guide for Prudential Center — including the most important rule about Devils nights that most visitors learn too late.
Prudential Center sits two blocks from Newark Penn Station — one of the best transit positions of any major arena in the New York metro area. NJ Transit runs directly from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan in roughly 20 minutes. PATH connects from the World Trade Center. Newark Light Rail, multiple bus routes, and substantial parking within two blocks round out the options.
The arena is genuinely accessible. What requires planning is the return trip — specifically, knowing which train you are taking home before puck drops rather than figuring it out when you are tired and the arena is emptying. That single piece of planning separates a smooth Devils night from a frustrating one.
Newark Penn Station is a key arrival point for many Prudential Center trips — useful context for planning NJ Transit, PATH, Amtrak, walking routes, and postgame returns. Photo by takomabibelot via Wikimedia Commons.
Getting There — Route by Route
Transit
NJ Transit is the fastest and most direct option from Midtown Manhattan. Multiple lines run from Penn Station (34th Street) to Newark Penn Station — the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, and Raritan Valley lines all serve this route. The ride takes approximately 20 minutes. From Newark Penn Station, Prudential Center is a short two-block walk.
Purchase tickets at NJ Transit vending machines at Penn Station, through the NJ Transit app, or buy on board (surcharge applies). Visit njtransit.com/prudentialcenter for current schedules and fare information.
PATH offers a practical alternative for visitors in Lower Manhattan, Tribeca, the Financial District, or Jersey City who prefer not to travel up to Penn Station first. The PATH runs from the World Trade Center station directly to Newark — change at Journal Square if needed depending on the service pattern. The ride from WTC to Newark takes approximately 30–35 minutes.
Prudential Center is one of the more parking-accessible downtown arenas in the New York area — over 3,500 parking spaces in lots and garages within two blocks of the building. For New Jersey visitors and anyone driving in, this makes the arena genuinely car-friendly compared to Manhattan venues.
Confirmed parking options near Prudential Center: Lot C, Lot D, and the Lafayette Street Garage are the primary arena-adjacent lots. The Green Street Parking Garage (47-63 Green Street) is one block away. Book in advance through SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or ParkMobile for Devils games — guaranteed spots at pre-purchased rates are available on all three platforms.
Major highways serving the arena include I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike), I-78, I-280, US Route 1/9, NJ Route 21, and the Garden State Parkway. Check current traffic before leaving — Midtown-to-Newark driving can be significantly slower than transit on game nights.
Uber and Lyft both serve Prudential Center. Prudential Center has designated rideshare pickup locations outside the arena — check signage on exit for current pickup zones. Post-game surge pricing is common on sold-out nights. Rideshare is most useful as a backup for missed trains or late departures, not as the primary plan from Manhattan (where NJ Transit is faster and cheaper at most times).
From New Jersey destinations, rideshare can be practical for both arrival and departure, particularly for visitors staying in suburban areas not well-served by transit.
Arrival Tips for Devils Games
From Newark Penn Station to Prudential Center is approximately two blocks west — a 5-to-8-minute walk on Edison Place or Lafayette Street. To exit the arena toward Newark Penn Station after the game, use the Citizens Tower exit at the northeast corner of Prudential Center (near Sections 20–22, 130–133, or 231–233).
The Return Trip — The Most Important Planning Step
This is the single most common planning failure on Devils nights from Manhattan: not checking the return train schedule before the game. NJ Transit and PATH both reduce frequency late at night, and a 10pm game ending can put you at Newark Penn Station at 10:30pm when late trains are 20–30 minutes apart. Know your options in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
NJ Transit from Penn Station (34th Street) to Newark Penn Station is the fastest option — approximately 20 minutes on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, or Raritan Valley lines. From Newark Penn, the arena is a two-block walk. Buy tickets at the vending machines, on the NJ Transit app, or in advance online. Visit njtransit.com/prudentialcenter for current schedules.
Approximately two blocks — a 5-to-8-minute walk west on Edison Place or Lafayette Street. The arena entrance is at 25 Lafayette Street. Well-signed from the station on game nights.
Yes. PATH from the World Trade Center station runs to Newark Penn Station — a practical option for visitors in Lower Manhattan, Tribeca, or Jersey City. The ride takes approximately 30–35 minutes from WTC. Check the current PATH service pattern at panynj.gov/path, and importantly, check the late-night return schedule before the game.
Yes — over 3,500 parking spaces within two blocks of the arena, including Lot C, Lot D, the Lafayette Street Garage, and the Green Street Parking Garage (47-63 Green St). Book in advance through SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or ParkMobile for guaranteed spots at pre-purchased rates. See the full parking guide.
Check the return train schedule before the game, not after. NJ Transit and PATH reduce frequency late at night, and discovering that the next train is 40 minutes away when you are tired and the arena is emptying is an avoidable problem. Know your last practical train before puck drops.
For first-timers, families, and visitors: arrive at Newark Penn Station 45–60 minutes before puck drop. That gives you time for the walk, security, finding your section, concessions, and warmups. For regular attendees who know the arena, 25–30 minutes is sufficient.
Very — it is one of the most transit-accessible arenas in New Jersey, served by NJ Transit on six rail lines, two dozen-plus bus routes, and the Newark Light Rail system. For New Jersey residents, the arena’s downtown Newark location and abundant parking make it significantly easier to reach than Manhattan venues.
Getting There in Brief
NJ Transit from Penn Station is the cleanest option from Manhattan — 20 minutes, direct, no parking to worry about. PATH works from Lower Manhattan. Driving is practical for New Jersey visitors with 3,500-plus spots within two blocks. All three routes work when planned. None of them work as well when the return trip is figured out after the game ends.
Check the return schedule. Know your train or your lot exit. That is the one piece of advance planning that separates a smooth Devils night from a frustrating one.
For the full Devils game-night picture, see Prudential Center Hockey Venue Guide, Restaurants Near Prudential Center, and the New Jersey Devils team guide.
Parking, Dinner, Hotels & the Full Devils Night
Transit sorted — now build the rest of the evening. Parking, the Ironbound dinner, where to stay, and how the full Prudential Center night comes together.