How to Get to Forest Hills Stadium
The venue is transit-first by design, the walk through Forest Hills Gardens is part of the experience, and knowing the rideshare street closure rules ahead of time makes the difference between a smooth night and a frustrated one.
Forest Hills Stadium takes transit-first seriously in a way that most NYC concert venues do not. The official guidance says it plainly: the best way to get there is public transit via the LIRR or the E/F/M/R subway, there is no parking at the venue or on the surrounding residential streets, and the streets closest to the venue close on event days — which means your rideshare driver cannot pull up to the entrance even if they want to. Planning your arrival around these facts, rather than discovering them at 7:30pm, is what separates a smooth Forest Hills night from a frustrating one.
The good news: the transit situation here is genuinely strong. The LIRR from Penn Station takes about 14 minutes and deposits you in Station Square, steps from the venue entrance. The E or F express from Midtown Manhattan takes about 25 minutes. The walk through Forest Hills Gardens from either station is short, scenic, and part of what makes this venue feel unlike any other concert destination in the city.
The walk from Forest Hills Station Square to Forest Hills Stadium, one of the key arrival paths for concert nights.
Quick Answers — Getting to Forest Hills Stadium
The Forest Hills LIRR station sits in Station Square, the brick-paved Tudor plaza that leads directly to Burns Street and the venue entrance. From Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall, a 14-minute ride lands you about 5 minutes on foot from the entrance. Board one of the first six cars for an eastbound train to exit at Forest Hills Station.
The E and F run express to Forest Hills–71st Avenue from Midtown Manhattan in approximately 25 minutes. Use the SW corner exit (71 Av and Queens Blvd). Follow signs toward Forest Hills Stadium — the walk through the neighborhood to Burns Street is about 5–10 minutes. The E runs all night; F runs late.
Not all LIRR trains stop at Forest Hills. Verify your specific train on the MTA schedule before the show. Board one of the first six cars for eastbound trains. The LIRR is the cleanest round-trip option for most Long Island visitors — park-and-ride at a Long Island station and take the train in and back.
From Downtown Brooklyn, take the A/C to Queens via the 8th Avenue line or connect to the E at Jay Street or Fulton Street. From Jackson Heights or other Queens points, take the E or F toward Jamaica and exit at Forest Hills–71 Av. The R and M also serve the station (daytime weekdays for M; all times except late nights for R).
The venue’s official guidance is specific: the corner of 71-Continental Avenue and Queens Boulevard is the designated pickup and dropoff point on event days. Streets immediately surrounding the venue are closed. Do not ask a driver to go closer — they cannot.
The venue explicitly discourages driving: “please do not plan to drive and park.” There is no venue parking, no allowed street parking in the residential neighborhood, and event-night street closures block approaches to the entrance. If you need a car, see the parking guide for the honest picture.
Where Forest Hills Stadium Is — and Why It Matters for Arrival
Forest Hills Stadium is at 1 Tennis Place, inside the grounds of the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills Gardens, Queens. The venue entrance is on Burns Street near 69th Avenue. There is also an ADA entrance at the corner of Dartmouth Street and 69th Avenue.
The arrival geography is different from any other major NYC-area concert venue. The stadium sits inside Forest Hills Gardens — a private, planned early-20th-century residential community modeled on English garden city principles, with winding brick-paved streets, Tudor-style buildings, and no commercial infrastructure designed for event-crowd traffic. This is a neighborhood, not a venue district. You arrive by walking through it, not pulling into a parking garage next door.
Station Square — the brick-paved Tudor plaza at the heart of Forest Hills Gardens, where the LIRR station sits — is the natural gathering and staging point for most arrivals. Burns Street runs south from Station Square to the venue entrance. If you come by subway, you are a few blocks north of Station Square walking south. If you come by LIRR, you step off into Station Square directly. Either way, Burns Street is the final leg of the walk.
The venue entrance is not visible from Queens Boulevard. Arriving for the first time, follow the signs or the crowd south from Station Square along Burns Street. The route is well-marked and well-traveled on show nights, but it helps to know in advance that you are not walking directly off the subway onto a venue plaza — you are walking through a residential neighborhood to reach the gates.
Getting to Forest Hills Stadium by Subway
The Forest Hills–71st Avenue station is the primary subway stop for the venue. It is served by the E and F express trains at all times, the M train on weekdays during the day, and the R train at all times except late nights. The E and F are express — they skip several local stops between Midtown and Forest Hills, making them significantly faster than the M or R from Manhattan. For evening concert trips, E and F are the trains to be on.
The MTA’s own venue guide specifies the correct exit: the 71 Av and Queens Blvd SW corner exit. This exit puts you at the corner of Queens Boulevard and 71st Avenue, facing south — the right direction to walk toward Station Square and then Burns Street. From this exit, the walk to the venue entrance is approximately 5–10 minutes depending on your pace through the neighborhood.
- Take the E or F express train to Forest Hills–71st Avenue. From Midtown Manhattan (Rockefeller Center area on the E/F), the ride is approximately 25 minutes.
- Exit at the SW corner exit (71 Av and Queens Blvd). Follow signs toward Forest Hills Stadium — they are well-posted on show nights.
- Walk south on the path through the neighborhood toward Station Square and Burns Street. The LIRR station at Station Square is a useful landmark; the venue is a few blocks south from there down Burns Street.
- Follow Burns Street south to the venue entrance on Burns Street near 69th Avenue.
From different Manhattan starting points
The E train is the most direct from several Manhattan starting points. From 8th Avenue (A/C/E stations at 34th Street–Penn Station, 42nd Street–Port Authority, 50th Street, and others), take the E eastbound toward Jamaica. From 6th Avenue and 53rd Street (E/M at Lexington Av–53rd St), take the E or F toward Jamaica. All E and F trains from Midtown stop at Forest Hills–71st Avenue — no transfers needed.
From Grand Central: take the 4/5/6 one stop to 51st Street and walk to the E/M at Lexington Av–53rd Street, or use the S Shuttle to Times Square and transfer to the E or F downtown. Either way is straightforward — Grand Central to Forest Hills–71st Avenue takes about 30–35 minutes total.
From the Upper West Side: 1/2/3 to Times Square, then E or F toward Jamaica. About 35 minutes total. From Upper East Side: 4/5/6 to 51st Street, transfer to E/M, then E or F to Forest Hills. Similar total time.
Getting to Forest Hills Stadium by LIRR
For anyone arriving from Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall — or from Long Island — the LIRR to Forest Hills is the cleanest single transit move to this venue. The official venue FAQ states it takes only 14 minutes from Penn Station. The Forest Hills LIRR station is in Station Square, the Tudor plaza at the heart of Forest Hills Gardens, and the walk south down Burns Street to the venue entrance takes about 5 minutes.
The station experience itself is part of the Forest Hills character — an 1890s-era Tudor-style station building, the historic station house, and the brick-paved Station Square that has been the gateway to this neighborhood for more than a century. Dirty Pierre’s, the pre-show bar closest to the venue, is right in Station Square. For visitors arriving by LIRR with time before doors, there is no better pre-show stop than walking off the platform, dropping into Dirty Pierre’s for a pint, and walking around the corner to the gates.
- Board the LIRR at Penn Station (or Moynihan Train Hall). Verify your train stops at Forest Hills — not all trains do. Check the MTA TrainTime app or LIRR schedules before you leave.
- For eastbound trains arriving at Forest Hills: board one of the first six cars. This is the official venue guidance. If you are in the wrong car, you may miss the Forest Hills platform exit.
- Exit at Forest Hills Station. You are now in Station Square. The brick-paved plaza with the clock tower is directly outside the station.
- Cross through Station Square and head south on Burns Street. The venue entrance (Burns Street near 69th Avenue) is about 5 minutes on foot.
For Long Island visitors
The LIRR round-trip plan is the most practical overnight-free strategy for Long Island visitors. Take the LIRR to Forest Hills Station (14 minutes from Penn, longer from further out on Long Island), enjoy the show, and take the LIRR home. Late LIRR service runs from Penn Station — check the last trains on your line before the show so you know your post-show departure window. For visitors coming from the far end of Long Island, the train from Forest Hills to Jamaica followed by a connection is standard practice; the MTA guide notes that riders traveling east of Jamaica should take the next Forest Hills train to Jamaica and connect there.
From Grand Central / Metro-North
Metro-North riders can connect to the LIRR at Grand Central Madison — the LIRR now runs from Grand Central Madison (the underground concourse opened 2023) directly to Forest Hills. Take your Metro-North train to Grand Central, descend to Grand Central Madison, and board an LIRR train toward Forest Hills. Use the MTA TrainTime app to check schedules and buy your LIRR ticket. Some events at Forest Hills Stadium add special train service — check the MTA’s Forest Hills Stadium page for event-specific transit information.
Should You Drive to Forest Hills Stadium?
The venue’s own guidance answers this directly: “There is no parking at the venue or on the residential streets near the venue. For your own convenience, please do not plan to drive and park.” Forest Hills Stadium is not affiliated with any sales of parking in the vicinity. The residential streets of Forest Hills Gardens are not an event parking solution — they are residential streets in a private neighborhood, and they have no infrastructure or tolerance for concert-crowd parking.
If you genuinely need to drive — because transit is not available from your specific location, or because you are arriving from a place that requires a car — the parking near Forest Hills Stadium guide covers the realistic options, which are limited and distant from the venue. The most honest summary: driving to Forest Hills Stadium and expecting to park nearby is not a plan that works on show nights.
The one case where a car makes logistical sense: driving to a LIRR station with a commuter lot on Long Island, parking there, and taking the LIRR to Forest Hills. This is park-and-ride logic rather than drive-to-the-venue logic — and it is the version of “driving” that the venue’s transportation situation actually supports.
Best Arrival Strategies by Type of Night
Accessibility Notes
The Forest Hills–71st Avenue subway station has an elevator. The official venue site confirms it: “The MTA 71st–Forest Hills Station does have an elevator serving the southside of Queens Boulevard between 70th Road and 71st Avenue.” Verify current elevator status at mta.info before your visit — elevator operational status can change, and the MTA’s real-time elevator status page reflects current conditions.
The Forest Hills LIRR station has ramp access but is currently undergoing accessibility upgrades. Wikipedia confirms construction began in May 2025 on new ADA-compliant ramps and platform replacement. The MTA service changes page confirms this work is suspended on event nights at Forest Hills Stadium, but verify current station access conditions before attending, particularly for visitors who rely on step-free access.
The venue has an ADA entrance at the corner of Dartmouth Street and 69th Avenue — different from the main entrance at Burns Street and 69th Avenue. Visitors who require the ADA entrance should approach from Dartmouth Street rather than Burns Street. For the most current accessibility guidance, check the official Forest Hills Stadium accessibility page before your visit.
The venue’s FAQ notes: “I have a disability and cannot take public transit to a show. What are my options? Please visit our Accessibility Page for additional information.” For visitors with specific mobility needs, the venue’s own accessibility page at foresthillsstadium.com is the authoritative current source.
Building the Full Forest Hills Night
Getting to the show is the logistics layer. The experience layer — where to eat before the concert, where to go afterward, whether to stay the night in Queens or take the late train home — is covered in the full Forest Hills Stadium planning cluster.
For pre-show dining on Austin Street and the Station Square options (including Dirty Pierre’s, right on the path from the LIRR to the venue), see the restaurants near Forest Hills Stadium guide. For the hotel situation (which is less straightforward than most venues — no hotels within walking distance), see the hotels near Forest Hills Stadium guide. For seating decisions inside the venue, the Forest Hills Stadium seating guide covers floor vs club vs bowl in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
The LIRR from Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall — about 14 minutes, drops you in Station Square directly adjacent to the venue. Or the E or F express subway from Midtown Manhattan — about 25 minutes to Forest Hills–71st Avenue, then a 5–10 minute walk. Both are significantly better than driving. The venue itself says: “The best way to get to Forest Hills Stadium is via public transit on either LIRR (to Forest Hills) or MTA Subway (at 71st Forest Hills).”
The E, F, M, and R trains all stop at Forest Hills–71st Avenue. The E and F are express trains — the fastest from Manhattan and the ones running at night when most concerts end. The M runs weekdays during the day only. The R runs all times except late nights. For an evening concert, take the E or F.
Yes — and for many visitors it is the fastest option. Forest Hills LIRR Station is about 14 minutes from Penn Station and a 5-minute walk to the venue entrance. Important: not all LIRR trains stop at Forest Hills. Check your specific train on the MTA schedule before the show. For eastbound trains, board one of the first six cars to exit at Forest Hills Station. Also note that ongoing platform construction (May 2025–early 2027) may affect some weekend service — work is suspended on Forest Hills Stadium event nights, but confirm on mta.info before each show.
Yes, with the right transit. The E or F express from Midtown runs about 25 minutes to Forest Hills–71st Avenue with no transfer. The LIRR from Penn Station runs about 14 minutes. Both options are direct and well-served. The venue is less convenient for visitors arriving from the East Side or Brooklyn without a good E or F connection, but transferring to the E/F at any major Manhattan subway station is usually straightforward.
No. The venue explicitly states there is no parking at the venue or on the nearby residential streets, and advises visitors not to plan to drive and park. The surrounding streets of Forest Hills Gardens are residential, not commercial, and are not set up for event parking. See the parking near Forest Hills Stadium guide for what limited options do exist and where they are.
The corner of 71-Continental Avenue (71st Avenue) and Queens Boulevard. This is the official venue guidance: “The corner of 71-Continental Avenue and Queens Boulevard is the best place to get a Taxi or plan your Rideshare pickup/dropoff on event days.” The streets immediately surrounding the venue close on event days, so drivers cannot approach Burns Street or the venue entrance directly. Set your pickup point to this specific intersection rather than the venue address.
Yes. The Forest Hills–71st Avenue subway station has an elevator on the south side of Queens Boulevard between 70th Road and 71st Avenue — verify operational status at mta.info before your visit. The LIRR Forest Hills station has ramp access; full ADA renovation is currently underway (construction started May 2025). The venue has an ADA entrance at the corner of Dartmouth Street and 69th Avenue. Check the official Forest Hills Stadium accessibility page for current guidance on accessible entry and services.
Getting There Is Part of the Forest Hills Night
Few concert venues in the New York area turn the arrival into an experience in its own right. Walking from the LIRR platform through the Tudor-style Station Square and south on Burns Street through Forest Hills Gardens — past the ivy-covered buildings, through the curved residential streets, toward a 100-year-old outdoor bowl — is a different kind of arrival than pulling up to a Midtown arena entrance. It is slower, quieter, and more interesting.
Plan the transit in advance, know which car to board on the LIRR, use the SW corner exit from the subway, and set your rideshare drop-off at Queens Boulevard and 71st rather than the venue address. The few minutes spent getting those details right make the rest of the night frictionless. For everything else around the evening, the full planning cluster covers where to eat, where to stay, and where to sit.