Quick Answer
Yes, you can prepay for parking at Citi Field in advance of New York Mets games and other events held at the stadium. Citi Field offers several parking options that allow you to reserve and prepay for parking spots online ahead of time through the stadium’s website or mobile app. Prepaying for parking is recommended to guarantee you have a spot and can proceed directly to the stadium without having to stop at a parking booth upon arrival.
Overview of Parking Options at Citi Field
Citi Field has over 9,300 parking spaces on site that can be prepaid online. The main parking options available include:
- Orange Parking – Closest parking to stadium entrances. Spots can be prepaid for $35-$45 depending on the game/event.
- Blue Parking – Second closest parking option. Prepay rates $27-$35 per spot.
- Green Parking – General parking further from stadium. Prepay cost is $17-$27 per spot.
- Mets-Willets Point LIRR Parking – Connected to Mets-Willets Point LIRR station. Prepay for $15-$22 per spot.
In addition to onsite parking, Citi Field partners with ParkWhiz to offer prepaid parking at nearby lots offsite from the stadium. These partner lots can provide cheaper parking starting from $15 per spot but require a bit more walking to reach stadium entrances.
When prepaying for parking, you will be able to select your specific parking zone/lot and reserve a guaranteed spot ahead of time. If you don’t prepay, parking is still available on a first-come, first-served basis but spots cannot be guaranteed. Prepaid parking rates are per game/event and allow entry about 2.5 hours before first pitch for baseball games.
Benefits of Prepaying for Parking
There are several benefits to reserving and prepaying for parking at Citi Field rather than just finding a spot when you arrive:
- Guaranteed Parking – Prepaying reserves your spot so you know you’ll have parking without having to arrive extremely early to find an open space.
- Avoid Parking Lines – You can bypass parking booth lines and proceed directly to your prepaid lot, saving you time.
- Cheaper Parking Rates – Prepaid parking rates are discounted compared to drive-up rates on the day of the event.
- Pick Your Location – Prepaid parking allows you to choose your parking zone/lot based on preferences like price or proximity.
- Easy Entry – If parking onsite, you can use special prepaid parking lanes for faster entry. For offsite lots, show your prepaid pass.
Without a prepaid pass, you may have to park further away, spend time waiting in parking lines to pay, and end up paying more for your parking on the day of the event.
How to Prepay for Parking at Citi Field
Prepaying for parking at Citi Field is simple and can be done online in just a few steps:
Prepay Online
1. Visit the Citi Field parking website or use the Citi Field app.
2. Select the specific game or event date you want to park for.
3. Choose your desired parking lot/zone and click to reserve a spot.
4. Enter your payment information to prepay for the parking pass.
5. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your prepaid parking barcode/pass.
Prepay Options
In addition to prepaying online directly through Citi Field’s website or app, you can also prepay for parking through:
- StubHub – When buying tickets to Citi Field events on StubHub, you can add on prepaid parking.
- Vivid Seats – Allows you to bundle prepaid parking with your ticket purchase.
- ParkWhiz – Prepay for parking at Citi Field partner lots offsite.
- ParqEx – Another site to book advance parking at lots near Citi Field.
Using these ticket reseller sites or third party parking apps allows you to handle both your parking and tickets in the same transaction.
Day-of Parking at Citi Field
If you did not prepay for parking in advance, you can still purchase parking on the day of your Citi Field visit. However, it will be subject to availability and you’ll have to pay at the time of arrival:
- Parking booths are located at each Citi Field parking lot entrance.
- Drive up and the attendant will take your payment before allowing you to enter.
- Rates are higher for day-of parking and availability is not guaranteed.
- Expect lines at parking booths, especially right before popular game/event start times.
- Cash and major credit cards are accepted for day-of parking payment.
Parking without a prepaid pass means you may have to arrive up to 1-2 hours before an event just to get a decent parking spot onsite. Offsite parking lots also fill up quickly for big games/events so don’t count on easily finding parking nearby without a reservation.
Getting to Citi Field Without Parking
If you don’t want to deal with parking at all when attending events at Citi Field, there are some alternative transportation options:
- Take Public Transportation – Citi Field is conveniently located next to the Mets-Willets Point LIRR station and Flushing bus lines.
- Use Ride Share – Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc can drop off/pick up at designated areas near stadium entrances.
- Get Dropped Off – Have friends or family drop you off close to stadium entrances before parking offsite.
- Ride a Bike – Bike racks are available at stadium entrances for cycling fans.
- Walk – The walk from nearby Flushing is approximately 1.5 miles.
Avoiding parking altogether can be easier and cheaper than parking onsite, especially for locals or those staying nearby. However, your transportation options may be more limited after events conclude.
Key Tips for Prepaying Citi Field Parking
To make sure your prepaid parking experience goes smoothly, keep these tips in mind:
- Reserve your parking pass early to get your preferred parking location.
- Print out your prepaid pass or have it ready on your phone.
- Know the directions to your specific prepaid parking lot/zone.
- Arrive before the prepaid parking opens to maximize time in your spot.
- Enter through designated prepaid parking lanes or entrances.
- Stay until the end of the event since parking is only valid for a single game/event.
- Save your parking pass if you need to leave and re-enter during the same event.
Conclusion
Prepaying for parking through Citi Field’s website, mobile app, or approved third party sellers allows you to save time, save money, and reduce stress by guaranteeing your parking spot in advance when attending New York Mets games or other events. This permits easy arrival to the stadium and avoids parking-related delays. While you can still pay for parking on the day of your visit, prepaying online ahead of time provides the most convenient parking experience when seeing your favorite team at Citi Field. Remember to reserve your desired spot early before availability runs out.