MetLife Stadium Parking: Passes, Lots, Prices and What the Colors Actually Mean

Parking at MetLife Stadium runs from $40 at American Dream for a concert to well over $100 for a resale Platinum pass on a big Giants game. For NFL games you must buy in advance, because there is no cash parking inside the complex. The thing everyone gets wrong: red, blue, green, yellow and orange passes no longer exist. There are two tiers now, Gold and Platinum.

How the MetLife Stadium parking pass colors work

There are only two parking pass colors at MetLife Stadium now, Gold and Platinum, and the old red, blue, green, yellow and orange system has been retired.

The Jets used Green, Yellow and Orange. The Giants used Red and Blue. Both teams now share one two tier system:

• Old Green or Red (premium) is now Platinum: Lots E, F and G
• Old Yellow, Orange or Blue (general) is now Gold: Lots B, D, J, K, L, M, P, Deck A and the lots near American Dream

Platinum is the inner ring against the stadium, mostly held by suite and premium seat holders. Gold is everything else, and it is what most fans end up with. Your pass buys a tier, not a numbered space, so the number printed on it means nothing, and Gold will not get you into a Platinum lot.

If someone is reselling a "Green Lot" pass for an upcoming game, it will not scan.

MetLife Stadium parking lots explained

MetLife Stadium has around 17 lots and decks in two rings, lettered A through P, plus the American Dream lots across Route 120.

Lots E, F and G (Platinum). Inner ring, two to five minutes from the gates. Lot F holds the Bud Light Beer Garden, Lot G feeds the MetLife Gate and takes the off site shuttle, and Lot E is the rideshare zone by the Verizon Gate.

Lots B and D (Gold). East side, the pick of the Gold lots, five to ten minutes from the HCLTech and Bud Light gates.

Lots J, K, L, M and P (Gold). Outer ring, west and north, ten to twenty minutes out. Lot K takes the buses, Lot L is the charter bus, RV and limo lot.

Deck A (Gold). Enclosed deck near American Dream that empties onto different roads than the surface lots do. Lot C is the drop off point for guests with disabilities, not general parking.

One rule catches people out every week: you get sent to the lot nearest where you enter the complex, and circulation between lots is not allowed.

What MetLife Stadium parking costs

Expect $40 to $75 for a straightforward option, or $70 to $150 and up for a Platinum resale pass on a big game.

Treat the Gold and Platinum rows as market ranges, not fixed prices. Toll plazas take chip cards only and refuse swiped magnetic stripe cards.

How to buy a parking pass in advance

Buy NFL parking through the Ticketmaster NFL Ticket Exchange, and non NFL event parking through ParkWhiz.

For a Giants or Jets game, pick your game on Ticketmaster, click "Show Parking Tickets", and choose Gold or Platinum. For concerts you can prepay on ParkWhiz or pay on arrival, though that means gambling on the lots not filling.

Check the format. Hang tags go on the mirror, barcode passes must be printed for the dashboard, and only QR codes can stay on your phone. If in doubt, print it.

MetLife Stadium parking map

The official parking map is a PDF on metlifestadium.com, and it is keyed by tier rather than color name, which is exactly why people stay confused.

Picture a flat, open site with the stadium in the middle. Lots E, F and G wrap the west and south sides against the building. Around them: B and D east, then Deck A and Lots K, J, L, M and P sweeping north and west. American Dream sits north across Route 120, and the rail station is east, near Lot B.

The gates are MetLife (west), Verizon (southwest), HCLTech (southeast), Bud Light (northeast) and Moody's (northwest), which used to be the Pepsi Gate.

Best lot to park in, depending on where you sit

The best lot is whichever Gold lot sits nearest your ticketed gate, and your gate is printed on your ticket.

East side seats, entering at HCLTech or Bud Light? Lots B and D. West side, at MetLife or Verizon? Lots J and K, or Lot G with Platinum. Upper bowl on a budget? Take the cheapest Gold pass, because the gap between a good Gold lot and a bad one is about ten minutes.

Now the contrarian bit. If getting home fast matters more than the walk in, park further out on purpose: Lots J, L, M and Deck A reach the access roads sooner. Back into your space on arrival and you save twenty minutes of reversing into a river of pedestrians.

Free and off site parking near MetLife Stadium

There is no genuinely free parking near MetLife Stadium on an event day, and anyone telling you otherwise is quoting a policy that no longer applies.

American Dream is the option people mean, but the standard mall rate does not apply on event days. Anything over three hours is charged at MetLife event rates: $40 for a concert, up to $60 for a Giants game, up to $75 for a Jets game, cards only.

There is one real workaround. Buy a ticket for an American Dream attraction, show the confirmation at admissions, and parking drops to $5 plus tax. The walk from the decks is 15 to 20 minutes over the bridge across Route 120, safe and well signed, but not step free.

Do not improvise elsewhere. Roadways, medians and grass strips get you ticketed, towed, or both.

RV and oversized vehicle parking

RVs, charter buses and limousines park in Lot L, and nowhere else.

If your vehicle takes up more than one lined space you cannot use the standard Gold or Platinum lots, and you are banned outright from the enclosed deck at American Dream. Limos can enter with a prepaid permit and an extra fee, but still cannot occupy striped spaces if they overhang.

No public rate is published for oversized vehicles, so contact your client relations representative early and budget well above a car. Overnight parking is banned across the complex, so you cannot sleep in the RV.

Accessible parking

Accessible parking is in Lots E, F and G, and you need a DMV issued disabled person placard or license plate.

The person the permit was issued to has to be in the vehicle, and staff check on entry. Spaces are first come, first served, so arrive early for a sellout.

Being dropped off instead? The drop off point is next to Lot C by the Verizon Gate, at no charge. Skip the American Dream route entirely, because that pedestrian bridge is not step free and there is no other safe way across Route 120 on foot.

Tailgating rules

Tailgating is allowed in all the surface lots, but the one car, one space rule is enforced by a dedicated patrol.

Your setup stays inside your lined space and the area directly in front of or behind your vehicle. Not beside it, not in the empty space next door, not blocking a drive lane. Two passes does not buy two spaces, and you cannot save spaces for friends.

Grills are fine in the surface lots and banned in the decks. Propane, natural gas and electric are always allowed. Charcoal depends on whether New Jersey has a statewide fire restriction in force, so check the event's Know Before You Go page first. Hot coals go in the orange bins on the islands between lots.

What time the lots open and when to arrive

Lots typically open five hours before the event starts and close two hours after it ends.

That is one of the longest tailgate windows in the NFL, and people use it. For a 1pm kickoff the gates open at 8am, and the spots against the grass islands go early.

Turning up early does not help. You will not be let in, and you can be moved off the roads serving the complex, which means idling on Route 120 with your hazards on while everyone who timed it properly drives past.

Getting there without driving, and how bad the exit really is

The Meadowlands rail line drops you at the stadium door, and it is the single best way to avoid the exit.

Take any NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands shuttle downstairs, about 10 minutes. For football, service starts three and a half hours before kickoff and runs every 10 to 20 minutes. Buy a round trip in advance, because the machines at Secaucus back up badly. Rail only runs for large events, so check njtransit.com/meadowlands for your date. Driving part way? Edison ParkFast at Secaucus Junction is a 1,100 space lot, open 24 hours, on the same line.

Now the exit. Rideshare pickup is geofenced to one zone in Lot E, so tens of thousands of people request cars from one patch of tarmac at once, on cell towers already struggling. Surge pricing is routine and drivers cancel because they cannot reach you. The fixes are the same idea: walk to American Dream and call from there, take the train, or sit tight for 20 minutes.

Parking for Giants and Jets games versus concerts

NFL parking is prepaid only, concert parking is not, and that single difference changes how you plan.

For a Giants or Jets game there is no cash parking inside the complex. Turn up without a scannable pass and you get turned around at the toll plaza. The system is identical for both teams, so there is no Giants pass or Jets pass, just Gold and Platinum with the game date on it.

For concerts you can prepay or pay on arrival, so the whole thing is looser, though a big show can still sell out. American Dream follows the same split: $40 for concerts, up to $60 for Giants days, up to $75 for Jets days.

FAQ

How much is parking at MetLife Stadium?

A Gold pass typically resells for $40 to $100, a Platinum pass for $70 to $150, and the stadium publishes no face value. Fixed options are more predictable: $65 at the off site lot on Murray Hill Parkway, or $40 to $75 at American Dream.

Do I need to buy a MetLife Stadium parking pass in advance?

For Giants and Jets games, yes, without exception. Every vehicle entering the Sports Complex needs a prepaid permit and there is no cash parking on site. For concerts you can usually pay on arrival, but a big show can sell out, so buy ahead.

What do the red, blue, green, yellow and orange parking passes mean?

Nothing anymore. They were retired when both teams moved to a shared two tier system. Green and Red became Platinum, covering Lots E, F and G. Yellow, Orange and Blue became Gold, covering Lots B, D, J, K, L, M, P and Deck A.

Where do I buy a MetLife Stadium parking pass?

NFL parking goes through the Ticketmaster NFL Ticket Exchange: select your game, click "Show Parking Tickets", and pick Gold or Platinum. Non NFL event parking goes through ParkWhiz. Resale marketplaces also list passes, which is often the only route to Platinum.

Is there free parking near MetLife Stadium?

Not on an event day. American Dream charges MetLife event rates for anything over three hours. The closest thing to free is their validation deal: buy a ticket for a mall attraction, show it at admissions, and parking drops to $5 plus tax.

What is the best parking lot at MetLife Stadium?

For the shortest walk, Lots E, F and G, but those need Platinum. For value, Lots B and D are the closest Gold lots. For the fastest exit, park further out in Lots J, L, M or Deck A and back into your space when you arrive.

Is there a park and ride near MetLife Stadium?

Yes, two. The official off site lot at 20 Murray Hill Parkway charges $65, takes cash or card, and shuttles you to Lot G. Or park at Edison ParkFast at Secaucus Junction, open 24 hours, and take the Meadowlands rail shuttle in.

What is the MetLife Stadium parking address, and how many spaces are there?

Set your GPS to 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073. The off site satellite lot is 20 Murray Hill Parkway. The stadium publishes no exact space count, but the complex holds roughly 25,000 spaces across its lots and decks.