Game Day in Boston: Getting to Fenway, TD Garden and Gillette Without Losing Your Mind

Short answer: take the train. For Fenway, ride a Green Line B, C or D train to Kenmore, or a D to Fenway. For TD Garden, take the Green or Orange Line to North Station and walk upstairs. For Gillette, book a $20 round-trip event train out of South Station in the mTicket app the moment tickets go on sale. Bring a small clear bag (or no bag), have your mobile ticket loaded before you leave the house, and get there early enough to eat somewhere that isn't a concourse line.

That's the whole game plan. The rest of this guide is the detail: which stops, what the bag rules actually say, what parking really looks like, and where to eat before the first pitch, puck drop, tip-off or kickoff.

Fenway Park (Red Sox)

Fenway is the easiest of the three to reach and the hardest to drive to. It sits in a dense neighborhood that was laid out long before anyone imagined a sold-out ballgame letting out at once, and it shows.

Getting there by T

Per the MBTA's Fenway Park page, Kenmore and Fenway stations are both within walking distance. Take a B, C or D train to Kenmore, or a D train to Fenway. The big trap: E trains don't go to either station. If you hopped on an E downtown, get off at Park Street, Boylston, Arlington or Copley and switch to a B, C or D. Read the letter on the front of the train. We've all been the person who didn't.

Coming from the suburbs west of the city? Lansdowne station on the Worcester Line (it used to be called Yawkey) is a short walk from the park. From North or South Station, you'll be transferring to the Green Line. Ten bus routes stop nearby too, including the 1, 8, 47 and 55.

A subway ride is $2.40, and you can tap a credit card or phone at the gate. If you've never ridden the T, our how to ride the T guide covers fares, tap-to-pay and the unwritten rules in one read. Postgame, Kenmore gets packed. Walking a stop or two toward downtown and boarding there is a legitimate strategy.

Parking reality

The Red Sox's own Fenway Park A-Z guide puts it plainly: "Parking is extremely limited around Fenway Park." The team strongly encourages public transit and sells pre-paid parking through SpotHero. If you must drive, book a garage ahead, expect game-day pricing, and budget extra time to get out of the neighborhood afterward.

Bags, gates and rules

• Bags: single-compartment, no larger than 12" x 12" x 6". Backpacks, backpack-style purses and duffels aren't allowed (diaper bags and medical bags are exceptions). Clear bags are encouraged but must meet the same size. Clear backpacks are still backpacks.
• Bag storage: a third-party locker truck sits on top of the Lansdowne Garage across from Gate E, for a fee.
• Gates: all gates open 90 minutes before the scheduled start.
• Payment: food and drink sales are fully cashless.
• Re-entry: none. Leave, and you're done for the day.

All of that comes from the Red Sox security guidelines and the A-Z guide. Jersey Street, between Gate A and Gate D, closes to traffic three hours before game time and turns into part of the ballpark concourse for ticket holders once the park opens, with food, music and the team store.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Bleacher Bar at 82A Lansdowne St. is tucked under the center-field bleachers, with a garage-door window that looks right onto the field. It's the novelty move, and on game days you'll need patience. For a group that can't agree on anything, Time Out Market on Park Drive is a food hall next to the Fenway stop with a pile of stalls and bars. Want the full lay of the land before or after? Our Fenway walk covers the neighborhood beyond Lansdowne.

TD Garden (Bruins and Celtics)

The Garden sits on top of North Station, which makes it about as transit-friendly as an arena gets. You can literally get off a train and walk upstairs.

Getting there by T and Commuter Rail

The MBTA's TD Garden page says to take the Green or Orange Line to North Station, go upstairs and cross Causeway Street. From the Red Line, switch to the Green Line at Park Street. From the Blue Line, switch at Government Center. TD Garden's transportation page notes that Commuter Rail lines from the north run straight into North Station, and an underground passageway connects the Commuter Rail to the subway below Causeway Street. If you're coming in on a south-side Commuter Rail line, the Garden suggests getting off at Back Bay and taking the Orange Line to North Station.

Parking reality

There's a garage right under the building. Per TD Garden's A-Z guide, the North Station Garage has a $70 game rate if you enter within four hours of the event start. Seventy dollars. You could buy a lot of subway rides for that.

Bags, doors and rules

• Bags: TD Garden's policies page says bags, including clear bags, shouldn't exceed 6" x 4" x 1.5". That's a wallet, basically. Oversized bags can be checked on-site for $15.
• Doors: for Bruins and Celtics games, member doors open two hours before game time and general doors open one hour before. Individual game pages sometimes list different times, so check yours.
• Tickets: all events are mobile-ticket only.
• Payment: the Garden is a "cash-to-card" arena, meaning card and contactless for food, drink and merch.
• Re-entry: none, same as Fenway.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Hub Hall, the food hall in The Hub on Causeway at 80 Causeway St., is right next door, with 18 food and drink options under one roof. The Causeway Street bar strip fills up fast before Bruins and Celtics games, so if you want a seat, arrive early or wander. The North End is a short walk away (see our North End walk), and the West End walk covers the blocks around the arena itself.

Gillette Stadium (Patriots and Revolution)

Gillette isn't in Boston. It's in Foxborough, down Route 1, and that's the whole problem. On a Patriots Sunday, the drive in and especially the drive out can take a long time. The fix is the train.

The event train (the move)

According to the MBTA's Gillette Stadium page, special event trains run from South Station, with stops at Back Bay and Dedham Corporate Center, and drop you at Foxboro station, about a quarter mile from the stadium. For select events, a Providence train also stops at Pawtucket/Central Falls, Attleboro and Mansfield.

• Price: $20 round trip for Patriots games, Revolution matches and concerts.
• Where to buy: only in the mTicket app. Regular Commuter Rail tickets and passes aren't valid.
• When to buy: Patriots train tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. the Monday before the game. They can sell out, and they can't be refunded or exchanged.
• Timing: trains usually arrive about an hour before the event and leave Foxboro 30 minutes after it ends.
• Rules: alcohol isn't allowed on the train, and anything banned in the stadium is banned on board.

As of Oct. 8, 2026, the MBTA lists event trains for the Patriots' home games against the Raiders (Oct. 11) and Jets (Oct. 18), with Boston trains leaving South Station at 10:05 and 10:45 a.m. for those 1 p.m. kickoffs. It also lists a train for the Revolution's Nov. 1 match. Check the page for later games. If event trains sell out, the regular Franklin/Foxboro Line runs to Foxboro on weekdays only, which helps for a Thursday night game and not much else.

Parking and tailgating

Gillette's transportation page says lots open four hours before Patriots kickoffs and close two hours after day games, or right after night games. Free general parking is on the opposite side of Route 1 for ticket holders. Stadium-side passes are sold online in advance (Visa only), and were listed as sold out as of Oct. 8. For Revolution matches, lots open two hours before kickoff and parking is free for the regular season. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is in Lot 15, closest to the CVS Health Gate.

Tailgating rules from Gillette's event pages: no open-flame fire pits, fires and grills can't be left unattended, and dump your charcoal properly instead of leaving it smoldering on the asphalt.

Bags, gates and rules

Gillette's bag policy allows exactly three things: a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12" x 12" x 6", a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small wristlet or wallet up to 6.5" x 4.5". Umbrellas, backpacks, outside food, selfie sticks, seat cushions with pockets and air horns are all on the no list. The stadium won't hold prohibited items at the gate, so leave them in the car.

For the Oct. 18 Jets game, parking opens at 9 a.m. and gates at 11 a.m. for a 1 p.m. kickoff, so think "gates two hours early." Tickets are mobile-only in the Gillette Stadium app, and the ticket office in Patriot Place Plaza opens at 9 a.m. on event days.

Where to eat and drink nearby

Patriot Place, the shopping and dining complex next to the stadium, is your pregame base if you're not tailgating. Its directory includes places like The Harp, Six String Grill & Stage and Mass Appeal Draught House, plus the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Tickets basics

• Buy from the source first. Start with the team's or venue's official site before hitting resale. It's the easiest way to avoid fake tickets and surprise fees.
• Load your mobile ticket at home. All three venues lean on mobile tickets, and cell service near a gate with 20,000 other people is not your friend. Open the app before you get in line.
• Fenway day-of tickets: the Red Sox sell a limited number of same-day tickets at Gate E on Lansdowne Street starting 90 minutes before each game. One ticket per person, first come, first served, and you go straight in.
• Each person taps their own fare. On the T, tap your own card or phone instead of passing one around.

Timing cheat sheet

• Fenway: arrive 60 to 90 minutes early if you want to eat on Jersey Street or watch batting practice. Plan 20 extra minutes for the Green Line.
• TD Garden: doors open an hour before game time. Show up 45 minutes early if you want to eat inside without missing warmups.
• Gillette by train: the train arrives about an hour before kickoff, so there's no rushing. Postgame, you leave 30 minutes after the final whistle, which beats sitting on Route 1.
• Gillette by car: lots open four hours early for Patriots games.

Before any game, check MBTA alerts for weekend shutdowns or shuttle buses. A surprise diversion on the Green Line can turn a 15-minute ride into 45. Want more sports news and takes? Our sports page has it. Need something to do the rest of the weekend? Try things to do in Boston, and once the season turns cold, our Boston winter guide. And if a guy in the bleachers starts yelling and you can't understand a word, the Wicked Translator can help.

FAQ

What's the best T stop for Fenway Park?

Kenmore, on the Green Line B, C and D branches, or Fenway on the D branch. E trains don't stop at either, so check the letter before you board.

Can I bring a backpack to Fenway Park or TD Garden?

No. Fenway allows single-compartment bags up to 12" x 12" x 6" and bans backpacks, including clear ones. TD Garden limits bags to 6" x 4" x 1.5" and offers bag check for $15.

How do I get to Gillette Stadium without driving?

Take the MBTA special event train from South Station, Back Bay or Dedham Corporate Center. It's $20 round trip, sold only in the mTicket app, and Patriots tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. the Monday before the game.

Is parking free at Gillette Stadium?

Free general parking for ticket holders is on the opposite side of Route 1. Stadium-side passes cost extra and must be bought online in advance. Revolution regular-season parking is free.

How much is parking at TD Garden?

The North Station Garage under the arena has a $70 game rate if you enter within four hours of the event start, per TD Garden. The Green and Orange Lines stop right underneath.

Do Boston sports venues accept cash?

Not really. Fenway's food and drink sales are fully cashless, and TD Garden is a cash-to-card arena. Bring a card or phone.

Sources

• MBTA: Fenway Park
• MBTA: TD Garden
• MBTA: Gillette Stadium event trains
• MBTA: Fares
• Boston Red Sox: Fenway Park A-Z guide
• Boston Red Sox: Security guidelines
• TD Garden: A-Z guide
• TD Garden: Policies
• TD Garden: Transportation
• Gillette Stadium: Getting to Gillette Stadium
• Gillette Stadium: Bag policy
• Gillette Stadium: Patriots vs. Jets, Oct. 18, 2026
• Patriot Place
• Bleacher Bar
• Time Out Market Boston
• Hub Hall

Prices, hours and schedules change. Tap through to the official source before you go, and if we got something wrong, tell us. We log every fix on our corrections page.