Broadway or Madison Square Garden From Connecticut: Hourly Chauffeur or Round Trip?

Short answer: For a Broadway show or a Madison Square Garden event, an hourly chauffeur booking is usually the better fit than two separate one-way rides when you want your driver to stay with you for the whole evening. A one-way drop-off with a return pickup at a set time works if you'd rather not pay for the chauffeur to wait through the show. Either way, plan to be at the venue early: Broadway.com recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before curtain, and Ticketmaster's Madison Square Garden guidance asks guests to arrive at least an hour before the event. At Absolute Transportation we run both options from anywhere in Connecticut, around the clock, at (203) 938-0000.

Hourly booking or two one-way rides for a show?

You have two sensible ways to book a night in the city:

• Hourly (as-directed) service. A vehicle and chauffeur stay with you for a block of time and go where you direct. Your chauffeur waits on site between stops, so the same car takes you to dinner, the theater and home. See our hourly chauffeur service page.
• A round trip with a set return time. Your chauffeur drops you in Manhattan and comes back at the time you choose for the ride home. This suits a shorter evening with no dinner or after-show plans.

Hourly is simpler if the evening has more than one stop, if you have a late curtain or a long show, or if you want the car close by when the show lets out. A set return time can make sense for a single event with a firm end time. Tell us which you prefer and we'll lay out both for your date.

How early should you leave Connecticut for Broadway?

Work backward from the curtain time on your ticket, not from a general rule:

1. Start with curtain. The Broadway League's performance times list when each show runs. Evening shows generally start at 8:00 p.m., though many shows run 7:00 p.m. performances on some nights, and matinees fall on various afternoons, especially Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Build in arrival time. Broadway.com says to arrive at least 30 minutes early for security and seating. Many shows will seat latecomers only at a break, and some don't allow late seating at all.
3. Add the drive. Traffic into Midtown on I-95 or the Merritt and then the city streets can swing a lot by day and hour. We plan the route around traffic when we confirm your pickup time.
4. Add a cushion for the drop-off. The Theater District is crowded before curtain, so leave a few extra minutes rather than cutting it close.

If you're coming from New Haven County, we'll usually suggest a pickup well ahead of your arrival target and confirm the time with you before the day. Send us the show, the curtain time and your pickup address.

What about a concert or game at Madison Square Garden?

Madison Square Garden sits on Seventh Avenue between West 31st and 33rd Streets, directly above Penn Station, according to the MTA's Garden guide. The Garden doesn't own or operate any parking facility, and its ticketing page advises guests to arrive at least an hour before the event and to allow for Midtown traffic, especially during holidays, parades or special events. Security screening applies on entry, so leave time for that too.

For a chauffeur, that means agreeing on two things up front: where you'll be dropped off, and when and where you'll be picked up afterward. Concert and game end times can shift, so tell us your start time and we'll plan the return with you.

Where does the chauffeur wait, and what about the ride home?

On an hourly booking your chauffeur stays on site between stops. On a round trip, we agree on the return pickup time and place in advance. We pick up anywhere in Manhattan for the ride back to Connecticut, and Absolute is licensed for New York City service (NYC TLC). If the show or concert runs long, the booking can extend. Tell us your return plans when you book so we can set the right time.

What to ask any car service before you book a show night

1. Is this hourly, or two one-way rides with a set return time?
2. Where will you drop me off, and where will you pick me up afterward?
3. What happens if the show or concert runs late?
4. Are tolls included in the quote? (Ours are, and gratuity is applied.)
5. Is the Manhattan congestion charge for trips at or below 60th Street part of the quote? The MTA's congestion relief zone covers the Theater District and Madison Square Garden, and for-hire vehicles are eligible for a per-trip charge paid by the passenger, so it's worth asking any company how it handles it.
6. Is the company licensed to operate in New York City? (Ours is: NYC TLC, USDOT 1567094, CT livery permit 3117.)

Our checklist for comparing car service quotes covers more of the questions worth asking.

Which vehicle is best for a show night?

• A couple or two friends: a Lincoln MKT or Aviator executive sedan or crossover (up to 4).
• A family or small group: a Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban or similar black SUV (up to 6).
• A group celebrating: our super stretch limousine (up to 8).
• A large group or office outing: a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Ford Transit van (up to 13 to 14).

We confirm the exact vehicle, seating and availability when you book.

Is a car or the train better for a show?

Metro-North is a good choice for one or two people who live near a New Haven Line station and don't mind transfers. A car service tends to win when you have a group, want door-to-door service at both ends, or are heading home late. Our comparison of car service, Metro-North and driving to Manhattan goes through the trade-offs in detail.

Book a Broadway or Garden night with Absolute

Absolute Transportation is based at 341 Washington Ave in North Haven, CT, and takes reservations 24 hours a day. Start from our Connecticut to Manhattan car service page or call (203) 938-0000 with your date, the show or event, the curtain or start time, your pickup address and how many people are riding. We don't post a flat fare because every evening is different. We'll quote it once we have your details.