The US Open brings two weeks of incredible tennis to Flushing Meadows. But before you can enjoy the matches, you need to actually get there. If you’re flying in, figuring out the trip from Newark Airport to the US Open venue can be the difference between starting your day relaxed or already stressed.
You land at EWR, collect your bags, and now you’re 22 miles from the tournament grounds. Sounds simple enough, right? Not quite. During the US Open, traffic on the Van Wyck and Grand Central Parkway backs up for miles as tens of thousands of fans head to the same place. Parking lots fill up early, and if you arrive late, you’re walking half a mile from overflow parking in the late summer heat.
The train route from Newark to US Open goes through Penn Station with a transfer to the LIRR. Factor in waiting times and connections, and you’re looking at nearly two hours each way. After spending all day in the sun watching matches, navigating crowded trains and multiple transfers isn’t appealing.
If you’re wondering which airport is closest to US Open tennis, LaGuardia wins on distance alone. But Newark often has better flight options and prices. What matters more than proximity is having a solid plan for getting from the airport to the tournament without hassle.
Gives you control over timing, but tournament traffic is real. You’ll pay daily parking fees, circle for a spot, and walk from distant lots. It adds up in both time and money.
Work until everyone else has the same idea. Surge pricing kicks in during peak times, especially after evening matches when 20,000 people request rides simultaneously. What should cost $50 can easily triple.
The cheapest option. Trains and buses will get you there for under $30, but you’ll deal with crowds, transfers, and no flexibility if your plans change. It’s functional but not comfortable.
Removes the guesswork. You book ahead, know your cost upfront, and have a driver who knows the routes and where to drop you off near the entrance. After the matches, your ride is already waiting—no scrambling with everyone else.
A private car meets you at your terminal. The driver tracks your flight, so delays aren’t an issue. They know which routes avoid the worst backups and drop you close to the gates. No parking struggles, no surge pricing surprises.
At the end of the day, while other fans wait in taxi lines or watch rideshare prices climb, you walk to your pickup point and head back. If you’re going straight to your hotel or back to Newark, it’s already arranged.
Tennis fans usually value their time enough to want reliable transportation. You’ve bought tickets, maybe flown across the country—getting there shouldn’t be the stressful part. When you’re deciding between NYC airports, factor in both flight options and ground transportation.
Keep an airport transfer checklist handy so nothing gets missed. Smart planning turns a long travel day into a relaxed arrival at Flushing Meadows.
The US Open runs for two weeks every August and September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Arthur Ashe Stadium holds nearly 24,000 fans, making it the largest tennis venue in the world. Beyond the main courts, you’ll find dozens of outer courts where you can walk up and watch matches just feet from the players.
Plan for a full day. Most people arrive for the day session around 11 AM and stay through evening matches that can run past midnight. The grounds include food vendors, merchandise shops, and plenty of places to escape the heat between matches. Knowing your transportation is handled lets you stay as late as you want without worrying about the ride back.
Day session gates open at 10 AM, and the site gets crowded fast. If you’re coming from Newark Airport to US Open grounds for a specific match, give yourself extra time. Traffic builds throughout the morning, and security lines at the entrance can take 20-30 minutes during peak times.
Evening sessions start at 7 PM, and the exodus after night matches creates its own traffic jam. If you’re catching a flight out the same night, build in buffer time. The last thing you want is to miss your flight because you underestimated how long it takes to get back to EWR after a five-set thriller.
The US Open happens once a year. You should be thinking about amazing rallies and upsets, not whether you can find parking or how much your ride home will cost. Book transportation ahead, and you can focus on tennis from the moment you land.
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