How Do I Get From Connecticut to a Giants or Jets Game at MetLife Stadium?
Short answer: From Connecticut, the easiest way to a Giants or Jets game at MetLife Stadium without driving is usually a chauffeured drop-off with a booked return pickup. MetLife sends every taxi, limo, and private car to the curb between Parking Lots D and E. Access is free and needs no parking pass. The train works, but from Connecticut it takes three changes. Driving yourself on an NFL day means buying a prepaid parking permit first. From New Haven County, plan on roughly 2 to 3 hours each way on game day. Absolute Transportation in North Haven runs game-day trips 24/7. Call (203) 938-0000 with the date, kickoff time, and group size.
Quick comparison: four ways to MetLife from Connecticut
| Option | Best when… | Game-day watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Chauffeur drop-off + booked return | You want door-to-door both ways | Meet at the D+E curb; text your chauffeur when you leave your seat |
| Hourly chauffeur who stays on site | You want the vehicle and extra bags close by | NFL days require a prepaid parking permit plus an extra fee, and the driver must stay with the car |
| Train (Metro-North + subway + NJ Transit) | One or two fans with light bags | Three changes from Connecticut; Penn Station trains to Secaucus bunch near the top of the hour |
| Drive and park | You have a permit and plan to tailgate | No permit means no entry; post-game lot traffic and a long drive home |
Rideshare is possible, but MetLife and the Giants both warn of post-game surge pricing and long waits. MetLife says the wait can run past an hour. For the wider question, see limo vs black car vs Uber vs taxi in Connecticut.
Where does a car service drop off and pick up at MetLife?
MetLife Stadium's NFL parking page is clear: all drop-offs and pickups happen between lots D and E, on curb space along the roadway, with no charge to access it. The stadium's fan map says the roadway is reached from Route 120 or from the New Jersey Turnpike via exit 16W.
Don't confuse it with two other zones:
- Uber/Lyft pickup is in Lot E, off West Peripheral Road outside the Verizon Gate.
- Drop-off for guests with disabilities is near Lot C, next to the Verizon Gate. Tell us when you book if your group needs it.
Drop-off and return, or an hourly chauffeur who waits?
Drop-off plus a booked return suits most game days. Your chauffeur drops you at the D+E curb, leaves the busy complex, and comes back to the same curb before the final whistle.
Hourly service fits days when you want the car within reach: a pre-game meal, a group with extra bags, or fans who may leave early. On NFL game days, every vehicle entering the Sports Complex needs a prepaid parking permit. A limo with a permit can enter after paying an extra fee. It cannot take striped spaces if it fills more than one, and the driver must stay with the vehicle. If you want the car on site, buy that game's permit first, then tell us.
Mind the bag rule. The Giants' Know Before You Go page allows one clear bag up to 12" x 12" x 6" plus a small clutch. With an hourly booking, everything else stays in the vehicle. With a drop-off, bring only what you can carry in, or use the bag check MetLife runs outside the gates.
For a night in Manhattan, the same choice is covered in Broadway or MSG from Connecticut: hourly or round trip.
Can I take the train from Connecticut instead?
Yes, but it is not one ride. The Jets transportation FAQ and the MTA's MetLife guide give this route:
- Metro-North New Haven Line to Grand Central
- Subway to Penn Station
- NJ Transit to Secaucus Junction, on trains marked "SEC" (about 12 minutes)
- Meadowlands shuttle train to the stadium (about 15 minutes)
You need a separate NJ Transit ticket for the Meadowlands leg. The Giants say riders get wristbands at Secaucus and must wear them on stadium trains both ways. The Jets FAQ adds that if you miss the cluster of Penn Station trains in the first 15 minutes of the hour, the next may be about 45 minutes away. Check NJ Transit Meadowlands for game-day schedules.
The train is fine for light travelers. With kids, a group, or a late return after a night game, a car is simpler. The same trade-off is laid out in car service vs train from Connecticut to Manhattan.
How early should I leave Connecticut for a MetLife game?
From New Haven County, the usual drive is I-95 to the George Washington Bridge, then the New Jersey Turnpike western spur to exit 16W, the route in the Jets' own directions. Plan on roughly 2 to 3 hours on game day. That is a planning range, not a promise: weekday rush, Cross Bronx traffic, and the line into the complex all add time.
- Lots open 5 hours before kickoff for Giants games, so traffic builds through the late morning before a 1:00 PM game.
- Night games start in evening traffic. Leave earlier than for a Sunday afternoon game.
- Check CT Roads and 511NJ before you go.
Example: For a 1:00 PM Sunday kickoff with a North Haven pickup, aim for the D+E curb around 11:30 AM to noon. That means leaving about 8:30 to 9:30 AM. We set the exact time when you book.
How does the pickup after the game work?
Everyone leaves at once. Meet your chauffeur at the D+E curb, not the Lot E rideshare zone, and text when you leave your seat. The way out of the complex is slow for everyone for a while. The difference is that your car is already there, at a known spot.
Concerts and other non-NFL events can use different pickup rules, set in each event's Know Before You Go sheet. Send us the event and we will check it.
What to tell us when you book
- Game date and kickoff time, and whether you want drop-off + return or hourly
- Pickup address in Connecticut, plus any extra stops
- Headcount: sedan or crossover up to 4, SUV up to 6, stretch limousine up to 8, Sprinter or Transit van up to 13–14 (fleet)
- Whether anyone needs the accessible drop-off near Lot C
- Whether you have a prepaid parking permit if the car should stay on site
- Quote details in writing: vehicle, times, tolls (included in Absolute quotes), and how gratuity is applied; see do you tip a limo or car service driver in Connecticut
Check any company's credentials before an out-of-state trip; see how to verify a Connecticut limo company is licensed and insured. Absolute Transportation: 341 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT 06473. USDOT 1567094, CT Livery Permit 3117, NYC TLC licensed since about 2009. Chauffeured service only.
MetLife game-day FAQ
Do I need a parking pass if a car service drops me off? No. MetLife says there is no charge to access the drop-off and pickup area between Lots D and E. A permit matters only if the vehicle stays in the lots.
Can a limo wait at MetLife during the game? Only with a prepaid permit for that game plus MetLife's extra fee, and the driver must stay with the vehicle. Otherwise, book a drop-off and a set return.
Do you go to non-NFL events at MetLife? Yes, including concerts and December's Army–Navy Game, which NJ Transit lists at MetLife on Dec. 12, 2026. See our Connecticut to NYC hotels and events page or call (203) 938-0000.
About Absolute Transportation
Absolute Transportation is a licensed Connecticut livery company in North Haven, running a black fleet of executive sedans, Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Suburban SUVs, Mercedes and Ford Sprinter vans, and stretch limousines. More game and show planning: booking a limo for sporting events in NYC and our Connecticut concert night guide.
Official references: MetLife NFL parking, MetLife A–Z guide, MetLife fan map (PDF), Giants Know Before You Go, Jets transportation FAQ, NJ Transit Meadowlands, MTA MetLife guide, CT Roads, 511NJ.