Visiting Elmont for a Game?

JFK International Airport (JFK) is approximately 8 to 10 miles from Elmont and UBS Arena, making it the closest major airport for visiting fans. By car or rideshare, the drive takes roughly 13 minutes in light traffic, though Long Island traffic can extend that significantly. The most reliable transit option is the AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica Station, then the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) — via the Hempstead, Huntington, or Ronkonkoma Branch — to Elmont-UBS Arena Station, with the full trip taking around 40 to 55 minutes and costing approximately $12 to $17 depending on fare class and time of travel.

Elmont is a suburban community on Long Island, and while the LIRR provides solid direct service to UBS Arena on game nights, a car or rideshare gives you far more flexibility for getting around between neighborhoods, restaurants, and hotels. Uber and Lyft are widely available in the area, though post-game surge pricing near UBS Arena can be steep, so the LIRR back to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison is strongly recommended for the return trip. MTA bus lines including the Q2 and Q82, as well as NICE Bus N6, also serve the arena area but are slower and better suited for daytime travel than post-game rushes.

Elmont itself has limited hotel inventory, so most visiting fans stay near JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens, or in the nearby Garden City area on Long Island, both of which offer easy LIRR access to UBS Arena. JFK-area hotels like the Courtyard by Marriott New York JFK Airport, DoubleTree by Hilton New York JFK Airport, and Hampton Inn NY-JFK run roughly $150 to $275 per night and put you minutes from the AirTrain connection. Garden City options such as the Garden City Hotel or Residence Inn Long Island Garden City offer a quieter Long Island base and are within a short drive or one LIRR stop from the arena. Book early for Islanders playoff games and Belmont Stakes weekends in late spring, as the entire region sells out quickly.

Elmont is anchored by UBS Arena, which opened in 2021 and is home to the New York Islanders, ending the franchise's long exile from Long Island after years at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Islanders fan base is famously passionate and fiercely proud of the team's return home, making for one of the more energetic NHL atmospheres in the league. The arena sits directly at Belmont Park, the historic horse racing venue and home of the Belmont Stakes every June, so a trip timed to late spring can combine two very different but equally thrilling sports experiences. Manhattan's full slate of pro sports is also within striking distance, with Madison Square Garden (Rangers, Knicks), Citi Field (Mets), and Yankee Stadium all reachable via LIRR and subway connections.