Madison Square Garden: how to get there, entrances, doors and bag policy
Madison Square Garden sits above Penn Station at Seventh Avenue and 31st to 33rd streets. Here is how to get there, which entrance to use, the bag size limit and what to leave at home.
Madison Square Garden is at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, on Seventh Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd streets, directly above Penn Station. The simplest way in is the 1, 2, 3, A, C or E train to 34th Street-Penn Station. Any bag must fit under the seat, and bags larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches are prohibited, with no bag check on site.
How to get to Madison Square Garden by subway
The venue says the 1, 2, 3, A, C and E trains all stop at 34th Street-Penn Station, right under the arena. The B, D, F, M, N, Q and R trains stop at 34th Street-Herald Square, one block east. From there, walk one block west to the Garden.
Coming from Metro-North at Grand Central, the venue suggests taking the Shuttle or the 7 train to Times Square, then switching to a downtown 1, 2 or 3 train to 34th Street-Penn Station. Check live subway status before leaving, since weekend and late-night service changes can affect any of these lines.
PATH, LIRR, NJ Transit and ferry from New Jersey
According to the venue, PATH trains from New Jersey stop at 33rd Street and Avenue of the Americas. For NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road trips, the venue points riders to the NJ Transit and LIRR train schedules, which it links from its directions page.
NY Waterway runs ferries from Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City and Belford to Midtown at West 39th Street. According to the venue, a free NY Waterway shuttle connects that terminal to Madison Square Garden. Routes and schedules are linked from the directions page. For an overview of fares and ways to pay across the city’s systems, see the How2NewYork transport guide.
Buses and Access-A-Ride
The M4, M10, M16, M34 and Q32 buses stop at Seventh Avenue-Penn Station, according to the venue.
The Garden has an established Access-A-Ride stop on southbound Seventh Avenue just north of 31st Street, for both drop-off and pickup. Riders who need to collect tickets at the box office should ask the driver to use that Seventh Avenue drop-off.
Driving, parking and rideshare drop-off
The street address for navigation is 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001. The venue has an official parking app, linked from its directions page, that lists nearby garages and lots by date and time.
Drivers with a New York City Special Parking Permit for people with disabilities may park on the streets and avenues around the venue, following the rules printed on the back of the permit. The venue notes that New York City does not honor New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut or other out-of-state disability hangtags or plates for on-street parking, and that the Department of Transportation may ticket or tow vehicles without the city permit. Some indoor lots cannot take raised-roof vans because of low clearance. Most outdoor lots generally can, but the venue advises calling the facility first. City parking questions go to the Department of Transportation at 718-433-3100.
There is no official rideshare zone at the Garden. The venue says drop-off and pickup work nearby along Seventh Avenue or Eighth Avenue between 31st and 34th streets.
Madison Square Garden entrances and when to arrive
Each digital ticket shows which entrance to use based on the seat location, and the venue asks every guest to use that recommended entrance. Signs around the building lead to each entrance. Entrance options for specific events are posted on the venue’s entrances page.
Guests with disabilities arriving through Penn Station’s West End Concourse (Tracks 5 to 31) have two step-free routes:
- To 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue: take the elevator from the platform to the main level, find the Track 17 elevator opposite the Track 17 stairs, take Elevator PW-9 to street level (marked C), exit to the corner and enter the Garden through the 8 Penn Entrance.
- To 31st Street and Eighth Avenue: take the elevator to the main level, find the elevator at the far end opposite the Track 5 and 6 stairs, take Elevator PW-3 to street level (marked C) and exit to the corner.
A CLEAR lane runs at the Eighth Avenue Chase Entrances B and C for members of that service, subject to availability. The venue’s general pages do not list door times. The venue asks all guests to arrive early and leave enough time for security.
Madison Square Garden bag policy and security
Bags do not have to be clear, but they must fit comfortably under the seat. Bags larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches are prohibited, and every bag, whatever its size, goes through X-ray screening. The Garden has no bag or coat check, so anything that does not fit under a seat should stay at home.
Collapsible strollers are allowed if they fit under the seat. To move through screening faster, the venue asks guests to empty their pockets, including keys, wallets and phones, and to remove hats, sunglasses and face coverings such as costumes or ski masks. Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is banned everywhere in the building under city rules, and a violation is grounds for ejection.
Prohibited items at Madison Square Garden
The venue’s list is a set of examples, not a complete list, and it may vary by event. Items not allowed include:
- Weapons of any kind, including firearms, stun guns and knives of all sizes, plus mace and pepper spray
- Laser pointers, fireworks, aerosol cans and drones
- Signs, banners and flags
- Noisemakers such as cowbells, alarms and air horns
- Balls, frisbees, hoverboards and skateboards
- Outside food and drinks, including alcohol
- Professional cameras with telephoto or zoom lenses, video cameras, audio recorders and wearable cameras
- Tripods, monopods, selfie sticks and poles
- Clothing with explicit, inciting or derogatory language, and illegal substances
Phones are allowed unless an event is marked device-free. Anything MSG Entertainment or MSG Sports deems inappropriate or offensive will not be let in. Check the venue FAQ and the event page before leaving.
Tickets, device-free events and the box office
Entry uses digital tickets on a smartphone, and the venue recommends adding them to the phone’s digital wallet before arriving. One phone can hold several tickets. Tickets can be transferred through Ticketmaster. All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges.
Some events are marked device-free at the artist’s request, and the event detail page on the venue’s website says whether yours is one. At those events no recording devices are allowed, including phones, smart watches, cameras, tablets, laptops, fitness trackers and Bluetooth headphones. Small devices are secured in Yondr pouches that guests keep through the night and can open at designated unlocking stations, and the pouches are unlocked at the end of the event. Laptops and tablets are not pouched: the venue receives and stores them on site for the duration of the event. The venue encourages guests to leave devices at home when possible. Tickets for device-free events should be printed at home, though the venue says it will provide scanning options on site for anyone who could not print. Guests who need a device for medical reasons can ask Yondr in advance or on site about an exemption.
For most events, children under 2 can attend without a ticket if they sit on an adult’s lap. Some family shows require a ticket for every child over 1, so check the event page. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and is closed Sunday. On event days it stays open until one hour after the event begins, including Sunday events, when it opens at noon.
Accessibility, food and paying inside
Accessible seating is booked through the Accessibility Services Department at 888-609-7599, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Garden is Sensory Inclusive Certified by KultureCity and has the Aaron & Samantha Judge Sensory Room. Details are on the Accessibility Services page linked from the venue’s plan your visit page.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Accessible water fountains are near sections 101, 103, 111, 114, 117, 208, 217 and 221. Guests with a medical need for outside food should contact Guest Relations first. Food and drink options are listed under MSG Eats.
Purchases inside are by credit card, debit card or mobile payment such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Reverse ATMs throughout the building turn cash into a debit card. Guest Relations is at 212-465-6225, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on event days. The Madison Square Garden Store in Chase Square is open to visitors without a ticket. Since the venue asks guests to arrive early and allow time for security, it is worth checking the NYC weather before heading out.
Sources
Checked on October 15, 2026. This guide is updated as the organizers, the city and the MTA publish new details.
Quick answers
What is the closest subway stop to Madison Square Garden?
34th Street-Penn Station, served by the 1, 2, 3, A, C and E trains, is directly below the Garden. The B, D, F, M, N, Q and R stop at 34th Street-Herald Square, one block east.
How big a bag can I bring to Madison Square Garden?
Bags do not need to be clear but must fit under your seat. Bags larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches are prohibited, every bag is X-rayed and there is no bag check.
Which entrance should I use at Madison Square Garden?
Your digital ticket lists the recommended entrance for your seat. A CLEAR lane runs at the Eighth Avenue Chase Entrances B and C, subject to availability.
When do doors open at Madison Square Garden?
The venue's general pages do not list a door time. The venue asks all guests to arrive early and allow enough time to pass through security.
Can I bring food or water into Madison Square Garden?
No. Outside food and drinks are prohibited. Accessible water fountains are near sections 101, 103, 111, 114, 117, 208, 217 and 221.
Does Madison Square Garden take cash?
Purchases are by credit card, debit card or mobile payment. Reverse ATMs inside the building convert cash into a debit card.
