You leave Fort Lee thinking it's a quick 16-mile run down the Turnpike. Under normal conditions, that's right — south on I-95, Exit 15W onto I-280 west, Route 21 South into downtown Newark, left on Lafayette Street, and you're at Prudential Center (25 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ 07102) in about 25 minutes. What that mental math doesn't account for is what waits on a Devils game night: street closures on Broad Street and the surrounding blocks, zero on-site parking at the arena, partner garages charging $20 to $40 per car, and a post-game rideshare queue on Edison Place that backs up the moment the final horn sounds.
Renting a bus to Prudential Center from Fort Lee clears all of it — one vehicle for your group, one curbside drop at the corner of Mulberry Street and Clinton Street, and one agreed pickup after the game instead of a scattered scramble across four different garages.
partybusfortlee.com makes it easy to compare party buses, charter buses, and minibuses from a large network of bus companies serving Fort Lee and all of North Jersey. Fill out the quick online form or call 551-415-2460 any time to see available vehicles and pricing in under 30 seconds — no account needed, no obligation. For the full picture of group sports trips out of Fort Lee, the Fort Lee sporting event transportation page has the complete overview.
But if it's Prudential Center you're planning, every logistical detail you need is right here.
Why Rent a Party Bus or Charter Bus to Prudential Center?
Here is what first-timers figure out the hard way: Prudential Center has no on-site public parking. The arena sits in the heart of downtown Newark, bounded by Lafayette Street to the south and Mulberry Street to the north. The 3,500-plus spaces the venue advertises are spread across independently operated garages — the Hyundai Parking Deck at 15 Lafayette Street, the Green 3 & 4 lots at 30–42 Lafayette, the Green Street Garage at 47–63 Green Street, and Green 7 at 299 Mulberry Street — all within two blocks, all filling fast when 16,500 hockey fans or 18,700 basketball fans arrive within the same 90-minute window.
Event parking in those partner facilities typically runs $20 to $40 per car on Devils nights, with the closest spots along Edison Place hitting the high end of that range every big game.
Every car that drives in needs its own spot, its own parking fee, and someone who isn't drinking to navigate back out of downtown Newark — through the same congestion that backed everything up on the way in. A Fort Lee party bus or charter bus rental through partybusfortlee.com gives your entire group one curbside drop, one pickup, and none of that per-car math. The approach via Route 21 South from the Turnpike's Exit 15W — the exact road the venue's own traffic advisory tells everyone to use on event nights — puts a bus right where it needs to be, without touching the Broad Street closure zone at all.
Tailgating is not permitted in Prudential Center parking lots. The venue explicitly prohibits it across all partner facilities. If the pregame ritual your group is picturing involves a setup in the lot, that isn't happening at Prudential Center — the pregame energy on a party bus builds on the ride in instead.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Prudential Center
The official designated passenger pickup and drop-off zone at Prudential Center sits on Edison Place at the corner of Mulberry Street and Clinton Street — just east of the Citizens Tower entrance on the northeast side of the arena. That's the same zone the venue directs Lyft and rideshare passengers to, per the official Prudential Center rideshare page. Your group steps off curbside on Edison Place and walks directly into the Citizens Tower concourse, steps from the main seating bowl.
Unlike a stadium complex such as MetLife, Prudential Center does not operate a dedicated charter bus lot with its own gated entrance. Charter bus and party bus groups drop curbside at the commercial zone on Edison Place — the bus then stages in the surrounding street network or a nearby lot during the event. When you arrange your trip through partybusfortlee.com, the details from your provider cover that staging plan so your group has a clear pickup arrangement coming out of the game, not a question mark at 10:30 PM on Mulberry Street.
For questions specific to oversized vehicle staging on your event date, Prudential Center guest services can be reached at (973) 757-6000 or at guestservices@prucenter.com.
Driving from Fort Lee to Prudential Center: Event Night Closures and the Right Approach
The standard route from Fort Lee to Prudential Center covers roughly 16 to 18 miles via I-95 south to the NJ Turnpike, Exit 15W onto I-280 west, then Route 21 South (McCarter Highway) to Rector Street, south on Broad Street, and left onto Lafayette Street, per the official Prudential Center directions page. Under normal conditions that's a 22-to-30-minute drive. On Devils game nights and major concert evenings, plan for 45 to 60 minutes and budget your arrival time accordingly.
When the venue issues a traffic advisory for an event — which it does regularly for NHL games and high-capacity concerts — the following streets close around the arena: Broad Street between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Academy Street between Halsey Street and Broad, Commerce Street between Mulberry and Broad, Clinton Street between Broad and Mulberry, and Beaver Street between Market and Clinton. The venue's guidance is direct: approach via McCarter Highway to avoid closed streets. McCarter Highway is Route 21 — the exact road you exit onto at Turnpike Exit 15W.
Groups coming from Fort Lee via the Turnpike aren't fighting those closures on the way in; the natural route already sidesteps them. Anyone following a GPS into downtown Newark on Broad Street, though, can find themselves inside a wall of cones 20 minutes from the gates. Check the Prudential Center traffic advisory page before your specific event date for any additional closures.
The post-game situation is the sharper problem. When 16,500 hockey fans exit simultaneously, Mulberry Street and the Edison Place corridor back up quickly in every direction. Rideshare surge pricing on Uber and Lyft spikes for 20 to 30 minutes after the final horn, and the designated rideshare pickup zone fills fast.
A group that rode up on one bus has one thing to figure out — get back to it. A group that drove four separate cars has four cars spread across four different garages, four exit queues to navigate, and the post-midnight decision about who's clearing to drive back on a busy Saturday night.
Events That Fill Prudential Center
New Jersey Devils: 41 Home Games at Prudential Center
The Devils have called Prudential Center home since the arena opened in October 2007, winning three Stanley Cups during that run. The 2025–26 NHL home schedule opens on October 16 against Florida at 7:00 PM, with 41 total home games running through April — including 10 Saturday dates and a season-high seven-game home stand from March 3 through March 16 against Florida, Toronto, the Rangers, Detroit, Calgary, Los Angeles, and Boston. Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Timo Meier headline the roster.
Full game listings and ticket information are on the Prudential Center Devils page.
Fan groups heading from Fort Lee and North Jersey for a Devils game are among the most consistent Fort Lee sporting event bus rental requests heading into Newark. One vehicle carries a full group with everyone together for the ride up, and the return trip is already arranged so nobody is standing on Edison Place at 11 PM trying to agree on where the car is parked.
Seton Hall Pirates Big East Basketball
Seton Hall Men's Basketball plays its Big East home schedule at Prudential Center, now in its fourth season under head coach Shaheen Holloway. The 2025–26 home schedule includes notable matchups against Villanova on December 23, UConn on January 13, Marquette on January 31, Georgetown on February 21, and St. John's on March 6. Single-game tickets start at $35.
Group booking information and the full Pirates home schedule are on the Prudential Center Seton Hall basketball page.
Concerts and Major Events in 2026
Prudential Center keeps a full calendar. The 2026 concert lineup at the arena includes New Edition with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton on February 13, Cardi B on March 28, Romeo Santos and Prince Royce on April 22, and A$AP Rocky on July 11. Monster Jam runs January 23–25, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is booked for March 19–22.
The New York Sirens (PWHL) also play home games at the arena through the spring. All upcoming events are on the Prudential Center events page. For concert-night trips out of Fort Lee, the Fort Lee concert bus rental page covers available vehicles and pricing for those nights.
Rent a Bus to Prudential Center: Picking the Right Vehicle for Your Group
Group size and the shape of the night decide the right vehicle. partybusfortlee.com connects you to a range of options through the full vehicle lineup — here is how the choices break down for a Prudential Center run from Fort Lee.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15–35 passenger minibus | Up to 35 | Corporate outings, smaller fan groups, Seton Hall game groups, family sections | Reclining seats, powerful A/C, overhead storage — better maneuverability through downtown Newark's tight streets than a full coach |
| 25-passenger party bus | Up to 25 | Friend groups, birthday celebrations heading into a concert or Devils night | LED lighting, premium sound system, perimeter seating — the pregame atmosphere builds on the ride in from Fort Lee |
| Party bus (30–50 passengers) | Up to 50 | Large fan groups, season-ticket-holder groups, celebration nights for bigger parties | Full-length bar area, color-changing LED lighting, flat-panel TVs, Bluetooth sound |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large organized groups, company outings, groups picking up from multiple points across North Jersey | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead bins, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restrooms, deep undercarriage luggage bays |
For groups of 15 to 35 that want comfortable seating without the party bus amenities — a corporate group, a family section going to a Seton Hall game, a smaller group heading to a Friday Devils matchup — a minibus handles the narrow streets around Lafayette and Edison Place with much better maneuverability than a full coach. For any group where the ride itself is part of the experience, a party bus with its LED setup and sound system makes the 25-minute run from Fort Lee worth the price on its own. And for groups pushing 50 people or coming in from farther points across Bergen, Hudson, or Passaic counties, a full charter bus with onboard restrooms and deep undercarriage bays keeps everyone comfortable for the whole trip.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — just note the need when you request a quote.
Prudential Center Party Bus and Charter Bus Rental Prices
partybusfortlee.com shows vehicle availability and pricing in under 30 seconds — no account required, no obligation to book. What you pay depends on vehicle size, total hours reserved, event date, and mileage from Fort Lee. To give you a planning idea: a 15–35 passenger minibus runs roughly $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 on weekends.
A 25-passenger party bus lands in the $250–$350 per hour weekday range and $275–$375 on weekends. A full 40–56 passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour across both weekday and weekend dates.
For a typical Devils game night — a Fort Lee pickup at 5:30 PM, drop at Prudential Center around 6:15, the game running until roughly 10 PM, and everyone back in Fort Lee by 11 — a 5-to-6-hour reservation covers the full window comfortably. Those are planning ranges, not quotes. The real price moves with your vehicle choice, date, total hours, and pickup location.
Fill out the quick form or call 551-415-2460 and you can have actual pricing for your specific trip in about a minute. The Fort Lee party bus prices page breaks down what shapes the rate in more detail.
Split a 56-seat charter bus across 56 people on a big Devils night. At $200–$350 per hour for the vehicle, a 5-hour rental covering the trip in, the game, and the ride back runs $1,000–$1,750 total — roughly $18–$31 per person. Per-car parking in the partner garages alone runs $20–$40, before gas or any post-game rideshare at surge pricing.
One bus, one number, the coordination problem solved.
Every Way to Get to Prudential Center Compared
Prudential Center is genuinely one of the most transit-accessible arenas in the country. Two blocks from Newark Penn Station, PATH and NJ Transit connections right there, and EWR airport about five miles away via AirTrain and rail. That changes the calculation depending on your group size and starting point.
Here is the honest breakdown:
| Option | Cost shape | Arrive together? | Door-to-door | Best group size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | One flat rate, split across the group | Yes — one vehicle, one drop on Edison Place, one post-game pickup | Best — steps from Citizens Tower entrance | 15–56 |
| NJ Transit rail (from North Jersey stations) | ~$5–$9 per person each way | Only if boarded on the same train | Good — Newark Penn Station is 2 blocks east, ~10-min walk | Any size, but no group control once everyone splits at the platform |
| PATH (from NYC, Hoboken, Jersey City) | ~$3 per trip each way | Only if the group boards together | Good — same Newark Penn Station walk | Small groups; no oversized gear easily |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Per car each way + post-game surge | No — multiple vehicles, staggered ETAs | OK — Edison Place drop, but post-game zone fills fast | 1–4 per car |
| Everyone drives and parks | $20–$40 per car in partner garages, plus gas | No — different garages, different exits | Varies by which garage you pre-book | 1–2 cars before coordination becomes the main event |
For one or two people with NJ Transit accessible from their starting point, the PATH or NJ Transit train is a genuinely smart option — Newark Penn Station puts you two blocks from the gates, and you skip parking entirely. But once your group grows past a couple of cars' worth of people, coordinating separate vehicles tips decisively toward one bus. No parking reservations, no garage exit queue, nobody managing the ride-sharing situation after midnight.
Call 551-415-2460 or fill out the form and partybusfortlee.com connects you to the right vehicle for your headcount.
For out-of-town groups flying into the area, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is about 5 miles from Prudential Center. The AirTrain connecting to Newark Penn Station runs about $9 and takes 20–35 minutes total from the terminal — workable for one or two travelers with carry-ons. For a group arriving together with luggage, a direct bus from EWR to the arena or the team hotel is a cleaner first move.
The Newark Liberty EWR airport shuttle guide covers that route in full.
Group Tips for Visiting Prudential Center
- Bag policy: 12"×14" maximum, no backpacks. Each guest may bring one bag up to 12"×14" in size. All backpacks, hard-sided bags, and coolers are prohibited. Non-compliant bags can be stored in venue lockers for $8–$10. Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the arena. Full details are on the Prudential Center A-Z guide.
- Doors open 60–90 minutes before events. Build your arrival window around this. Security lines build quickly for sold-out Devils games and major concerts — give your group enough cushion after the bus drops off on Edison Place.
- No tailgating in the partner lots. This applies to all Prudential Center parking facilities. There is no designated tailgate area at or around the arena.
- No re-entry. Once your group is inside, re-entry is not permitted except for medical necessity. Coordinate in advance with guest services if anyone in your group has a medical need.
- Pre-purchase parking if members are driving separately. Partner garages fill early on big Devils nights and major concert dates. Pre-paid spots via ParkMobile or SpotHero typically run 10–20% less than walk-up rates and guarantee your space. Reserve through the official Prudential Center parking page.
- Check the traffic advisory before your event. The Prudential Center traffic advisory page posts event-specific street closures. Approach via McCarter Highway (Route 21) — the road you're already on from Turnpike Exit 15W — to stay clear of the Broad Street closure zone.
- Transit connects directly from Newark Penn Station. For members of your group coming from NYC or Hoboken, PATH to Newark Penn Station is about 25 minutes at $3. From Newark Penn, it's a 10-minute walk west on Raymond Boulevard to Lafayette Street. Route and schedule details are on the NJ Transit Prudential Center page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Prudential Center?
The designated commercial passenger drop-off area is on Edison Place at the corner of Mulberry Street and Clinton Street, just east of the Citizens Tower entrance on the northeast side of the arena. This is the same zone the venue directs Lyft and rideshare pickups to, per the official rideshare page. Your group steps off curbside and walks directly into the Citizens Tower concourse.
Because Prudential Center does not operate a dedicated charter bus lot, confirm staging arrangements when you book so the return pickup is sorted before the game, not during it.
Is there dedicated bus parking at Prudential Center?
No. Prudential Center does not operate an oversized-vehicle lot with its own gated entrance. Charter bus and party bus groups drop curbside on Edison Place and stage in the surrounding street network or a nearby lot during the event. For specific oversized-vehicle staging details for your event date, contact Prudential Center guest services directly at (973) 757-6000 or guestservices@prucenter.com before your visit.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Lee to Prudential Center?
About 22 to 30 minutes under normal conditions, covering 16 to 18 miles via I-95 south to the NJ Turnpike, Exit 15W to I-280 west, Route 21 South (McCarter Highway), Rector Street, Broad Street, and left on Lafayette Street. On Devils game nights and major concerts, the approach to downtown Newark adds significant time — budget 45 to 60 minutes on those evenings and plan to arrive at least an hour before the event.
Which streets close around Prudential Center on event nights?
Per the venue's own traffic advisory, typical event-night closures include Broad Street between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Academy Street between Halsey and Broad, Commerce Street between Mulberry and Broad, Clinton Street between Broad and Mulberry, and Beaver Street between Market and Clinton. The official guidance directs all traffic to approach via McCarter Highway (Route 21) — which is exactly the road Fort Lee groups exit onto from the NJ Turnpike's Exit 15W. Check the traffic advisory page for event-specific updates before your visit.
How much does parking cost near Prudential Center?
Event parking in the partner garages and lots within two blocks of the arena typically runs $20 to $40 per car on Devils game nights and major concerts. The closest spots along Edison Place hit the high end of that range. Pre-purchased spots via ParkMobile or SpotHero tend to run 10–20% less than walk-up rates.
Prudential Center has no on-site public lot — all 3,500-plus spaces are in independently operated facilities. Reserve in advance through the official Prudential Center parking page.
Can we tailgate near Prudential Center before a Devils game?
No. Tailgating is explicitly prohibited in all Prudential Center partner parking lots, and there is no designated tailgate zone at or around the arena. Some bars and restaurants in the surrounding Ironbound neighborhood and along Market Street offer a pregame option for groups willing to walk — but a traditional lot setup is not part of the Prudential Center experience.
How close is Newark Penn Station to Prudential Center?
Two blocks east, about a 10-minute walk. NJ Transit rail, PATH, Amtrak, and the Newark Light Rail all serve Newark Penn Station, making it one of the most accessible arena locations in the region for groups coming from New York City, Hoboken, or anywhere along the NJ Transit network. PATH from the World Trade Center to Newark Penn takes about 25 minutes at $3 per trip.
Trip planning details are on the NJ Transit Prudential Center page.
How far in advance should we book a bus from Fort Lee to Prudential Center?
For regular-season Devils games and Seton Hall home games, two to four weeks of lead time is workable. For major concerts — Cardi B, A$AP Rocky, Romeo Santos — and for Devils playoff games if New Jersey qualifies, book as soon as your date is set. Demand across North Jersey spikes quickly for the biggest nights, and the right-size vehicles go first.
Call 551-415-2460 to lock in your date and compare available options.
What is the bag policy at Prudential Center?
Each guest may bring one bag up to 12"×14" in size. Backpacks of any size are prohibited, as are hard-sided bags and coolers. Non-compliant bags can be stored in arena lockers for $8–$10.
Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the arena. Full details on entry policies are on the Prudential Center A-Z guide.
Book Your Fort Lee Party Bus or Charter Bus to Prudential Center
Whether it is a packed Devils home stand, a Big East showdown for the Seton Hall Pirates, or a major concert pulling your whole group into Newark for the night — one bus arranged through partybusfortlee.com handles pickup in Fort Lee, the approach down Route 21, curbside drop on Edison Place, and the return ride home, all in one booking. No per-car parking math, no post-game surge pricing wait on a cold corner, nobody coordinating who's clear to drive at 11 PM.
partybusfortlee.com is a website — not a bus company — and that's exactly what makes it useful for this trip. Instead of calling five different carriers and waiting on callbacks with quotes that never quite line up, you fill out one quick form or call 551-415-2460 any time and compare vehicles and pricing from a large network of bus companies serving Fort Lee in under 30 seconds. Party buses, charter buses, minibuses — see them side by side, no account required.
Also heading to a game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison or a show at MetLife Stadium? Those guides cover their own drop-off and parking setups for Red Bull Arena and MetLife Stadium separately. But for Prudential Center, you have everything you need right here.
Call 551-415-2460 or use the quick form to see what's available for your date — and get your group to Newark on time.
