Whether you’re a die-hard Rafa fan, in it for the Honey Deuce cocktails, or plotting your celeb sightings between sets, a little insider prep goes a long way at the US Open, so consider this a little ‘Know Before You Go’ from someone who went and will absolutely be going back.
First things first, you need to get to Queens.
Believe it or not the easiest way to get to Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows is by public transit. My two recommended options:
🚆 The Subway: Take the 7 train to Mets–Willets Point Station. Citi Field is on one side of the
track and the US Open Grounds are on the other. In all of my trips to Arthur Ashe Stadium taking the 7 has been the quickest (yes, even faster than a ride share).
🚆 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): From Penn Station (Manhattan), Woodside, or other LIRR
stops, take the Port Washington branch directly to Mets–Willets Point Station.
If you prefer a private car or ride share:
🚖 All ride share provides (including black car services) will drop off and pick up from the parking
lot within the NY Hall of Science. This is NEW for 2025 and they’ve created a direct walking
path between the Hall of Science and the Champion’s Entry.
Pro Tip: If you’re coming for your fair share of celebrity sightings, posting up at the Ride share drop off and pick up point, or at the Champion’s Entry will grant you the highest probability of seeing a few noteworthy individuals.
Second, let’s help you get a lay of the land.
The US Open grounds are like a small city dedicated to tennis, food, and fan experiences. At the heart is Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world with over 23,000 seats (find yours HERE) and it serves as home to the biggest matches of the Open. Right next door is Louis Armstrong Stadium, with a retractable roof and about 14,000 seats offering a slightly more intimate but still electric atmosphere.
For closer action, fans love the Grandstand (about 8,000 seats, known for its shade and lively vibe) and the dozen field courts, where you can sit just a few feet away from rising stars and doubles matches. The grounds also include practice courts, where you can watch top players warm up.
Beyond tennis, the complex is filled with plazas, bars, and food stalls with big video screens and shaded seating areas which make it easy to catch the action even when you’re not in a stadium.
Pro Tip: A few notable highlights from the grounds:
🎾 At Arthur Ashe Stadium make sure you check out the 5th floor Rooftop Bar for that Tik-Tok worthy video with skyline views.
🎾 Louis Armstrong Stadium should be used as your go-to, to catch doubles and early-round thrillers.
🎾 The Grandstand will provide the rowdiest vibe and is also a great spot for photos because you are so close to the action. So for upset alerts, and a young festival live, the Grandstand will serve you well (pun intended).
Third, and tennis action aside, here are a few notable Fan Experiences you may want to add to your itinerary.
🛍️ YES, go shopping at the Official US Open Shops located within the complex, and YES go there first to avoid long lines (and before your size or color disappear). The annual branded hats and polos can be found here as well as limited-edition collaborations with brands such as Nike or Ralph Lauren.
🎥 Carve out time to check out the partner activations. The US Open has tons of corporate partners and their booths often feel more like mini-experiences than ads. For example the Chase Lounge kept sucking me in last year because I’m a sucker for VR experiences (and oh did they have them) as well as prize giveaways. A lot of other booths had cooling towels and water bottles they were giving away for free, so be sure to pack that reusable tote)!
👨👩👧 If you’re traveling with little ones (which I wasn’t so thank you to my dear friends who contributed to this portion of the blog), their advice was to take your children to the grounds on Saturday (the 23rd this year) for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. At Kids day they have face painting, balloon artists, airbrush tattoos, hair braiding, storytelling and more. Your kids will be so tuckered out that the next day (if you want to go back to catch the start of the tournament) your babysitter will have it easy and you’ll have some uninterrupted adult time.
Final word(s) of wisdom 👉 The best way to experience the grounds is to arrive early, roam, and sample it all. That, and buy your premium Courtside Seats or Private Suite through Suitehop.com