Here is the thing nobody mentions when they first start planning a group trip to Westchester County Center (198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY 10606): the Bronx River Parkway runs right alongside it, and a charter bus or party bus cannot legally touch it. The parkway's stone bridges — some with clearances as low as 6'11" — and New York State's hard ban on commercial vehicles mean every group arriving in an oversized vehicle has to plan a different approach entirely. Get this wrong and the bus is circling White Plains hunting for a legal way in.
Get it right and your group is rolling up the Tarrytown Road curb in front of the building, stepping into one of Westchester's most storied arenas without a parking headache in sight.
Partybusyonkers.com makes it easy to find and compare party buses and charter buses from companies serving Yonkers and the surrounding area — fill out one quick online form or call 914-638-2880 and you'll have pricing in under 30 seconds. This guide covers exactly how group transportation works at Westchester County Center: where the bus drops off, what the parking situation looks like, the commercial routing from Yonkers that keeps you off restricted parkways, which events fill the lot fastest, and what size vehicle fits your group. Whether your group is catching a Westchester Knicks game, a concert, or a comedy show, the logistics below make the difference between a smooth arrival and a frustrating one.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Westchester County Center
Charter buses and party buses drop off on the Tarrytown Road side of the building — the west-facing curb along Tarrytown Road (NY-119), which runs perpendicular to Central Avenue and gives larger vehicles a workable approach without threading through the adjacent East Lot. The nearest public bus stop sits at the Tarrytown Rd @ Central Ave corner, approximately 103 yards from the venue entrance, and that same curbside stretch is where group drop-offs land. The West Lot at 218 Tarrytown Road — a Westchester County Parks-managed open-air surface lot directly on that same side of the building — is where the bus can stage during your event until you're ready to go.
That "open-air surface lot" detail matters more than it sounds. The West Lot and the adjacent East Lot (which opens directly onto Central Avenue) are both uncovered surface parking — no garage structure, no height barrier. An oversized charter bus that would get pinched out of every structured parking deck in downtown White Plains fits those lots without issue.
Coordinate the staging arrangement when you book so the pickup window is locked in advance and the bus is right there when your group walks out.
Metro-North's White Plains station is about a 9-minute walk from the County Center along Hamilton Avenue — genuinely useful for individuals coming from Manhattan or the southern suburbs who want to meet friends at the venue. For a group of 30 traveling from Yonkers as a single unit, though, one bus delivers everyone to that Tarrytown Road curb at one time, without anyone navigating the Metro-North schedule or sprinting to make a connection.
Parking at Westchester County Center: Event Rates and Open Lots
Westchester County Parks manages the on-site parking. The East Lot sits in front of the building off Central Avenue. The West Lot is at 218 Tarrytown Road — the same side as the bus drop-off curb.
A North White Plains lot handles overflow on big nights. All three are open-air surface lots, first-come-first-served, with no advance reservation sold at the venue.
Event-day parking runs $10 per vehicle. Non-event days are $7. No overnight parking is allowed in the East or West Lots.
On sold-out Knicks nights and high-demand concerts, those lots fill well before the opening buzzer — latecomers end up on surrounding White Plains streets or in the paid downtown garage circuit along Hamilton and Martine Avenues, which adds a longer walk in the cold. The bus eliminates this entirely: one vehicle, one staging spot, and your group doesn't scatter across three different parking approaches.
Run the numbers and the argument sharpens fast. A group of 40 people arriving in 10 separate cars pays $100 in parking alone before gas, before the lot-fill gamble. One 40-passenger party bus covers everyone in a single parking arrangement.
At $10 a car, 10 cars, that's $100 just to park — versus one flat bus rate split 40 ways. To give you an idea, a 40-passenger party bus on a weekend evening runs roughly $325–$500 per hour; a 4-hour round-trip runs $1,300–$2,000, or about $33–$50 per person — and that includes the ride there, the ride back, and nobody drawing straws over who's the designated driver.
Why Buses Cannot Use the Bronx River Parkway
The Bronx River Parkway looks like the obvious route to Westchester County Center on a map — the venue sits right off it. But the parkway is legally off-limits to every commercial vehicle, including charter buses and party buses. The New York State Department of Transportation is explicit: the official NYSDOT parkways brochure lists the Bronx River Parkway by name — twice, for both its Westchester County and Bronx segments — under the banned-commercial-vehicles list.
Stone bridges along the parkway system post vertical clearances as low as 6'11", and the penalties for violations run from fines and license points up to towing fees exceeding $10,000 for larger vehicles and reimbursement obligations for any bridge damage caused.
GPS navigation does not always flag this restriction, which is exactly the kind of thing that catches a first-trip bus group off guard. The good news: two commercial-vehicle-legal routes from Yonkers both work cleanly and deliver you to Central Avenue — the venue's own street — without touching the parkway at all.
The Two Bus-Legal Routes from Yonkers
I-87 North to I-287 East (Cross Westchester Expressway). From Yonkers, take the New York State Thruway (I-87) north to the I-287 interchange, then I-287 East toward White Plains. Exit onto Central Avenue and follow it north to the venue at 198 Central Avenue.
This is a fully unrestricted interstate-expressway route — no bridge clearance issues, no commercial vehicle bans. It's the faster option during off-peak hours and handles event-night volume better than surface roads.
Central Park Avenue (NY Route 100) North. Central Park Avenue is the main commercial corridor running between south Yonkers and White Plains. It picks up from I-87's service road junction in Yonkers and runs north through Greenburgh and Hartsdale before entering White Plains, where it becomes Central Avenue and ends near the Tarrytown Road intersection — essentially at the County Center's front door.
The entire run is on a commercial-vehicle-legal state highway. The tradeoff: signal timing on Central Park Avenue adds time during peak hours compared to I-287. Off-peak, it's a direct, no-transfer surface run.
Either route covers roughly 15 miles from downtown Yonkers — about 24 minutes off-peak. Build in 35–45 minutes for weekday evening events when both Central Park Avenue and I-287 slow through Greenburgh and White Plains during the 4–7pm window. Arriving 45–60 minutes before your event gives the bus time to land the Tarrytown Road drop-off before the East Lot fills up.
Events at Westchester County Center Worth Booking a Bus For
Westchester County Center opened in 1930 — an Art Deco building with a storied run that includes Bob Dylan in 1966, The Who performing Tommy in 1969, and more than 500 boxing cards stretching back to 1934. Today it seats 5,000 for basketball and concerts and runs a year-round calendar that keeps the lots busy across every category.
Westchester Knicks basketball. The New York Knicks' NBA G League affiliate has called the County Center home since 2014. The 50-game season runs from November through spring, with weekend and weekday home games that turn into genuine event nights when parent-club Knicks players are assigned down on developmental stints.
Fan groups from Yonkers heading up Central Park Avenue to a Knicks game are one of the most common requests on this site's northern Westchester circuit. For current home game dates, check the official Westchester Knicks schedule — it updates throughout the season as roster moves affect matchup interest.
Concerts and touring shows. The County Center's 5,000-seat mid-size configuration pulls in touring acts that bypass the larger arenas in the metro. Coming up on the calendar: Freestyle Forever 2026 on October 24, 2026 at 8pm, featuring TKA, George Lamond, Judy Torres, Shannon, and Cynthia.
Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays follows on December 7, 2026 at 8pm. For groups of 20 or 30 making the trip from Yonkers to a sold-out show, one bus means one parking problem — not eight. Check the full listing at the official Westchester County Center site for what's on when your group is ready to go.
WWE and combat sports. With 500-plus boxing cards in its history and a promoter-friendly layout, the County Center continues to draw combat sports crowds. WWE NXT Live ran in April 2026, and fight nights appear regularly on the calendar.
Groups heading to these events tend to be loud, energetic, and very much in favor of not asking anyone in the group to skip the fun so they can drive home sober.
Specialty events and expos. The 2026 Undiscovered Realm Comic Con ran June 13–14, and the venue hosts trade shows and public events throughout the summer and fall. For groups arriving in costume or hauling gear — display cases, rolling totes, props — the undercarriage bays on a full-size charter bus take care of equipment that would never clear a minibus overhead bin.
Rent a Bus to Westchester County Center: Vehicle Options by Group Size
Partybusyonkers.com helps you compare vehicles from a large network of bus companies serving Yonkers — from compact Sprinter vans for a small group to 40–56 passenger charter buses for a 50-person outing. Here is how the lineup maps to the trips people actually book to the County Center.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best for | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter Van | Up to 14 | Small groups, corporate outings, family groups | Easy to park on Tarrytown Road, premium leather, USB charging at every seat |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Mid-size groups — Knicks nights, birthday outings, friend groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, greater maneuverability on White Plains streets |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | 15–50 | Concert nights, comedy shows, celebrations, bachelorette groups | Full-length bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs, wraparound perimeter seating |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large fan groups, corporate outings, multi-stop event days, expo groups | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, deep undercarriage bays |
For a Knicks game with 30 fans making the I-87 run from Yonkers, a 30-passenger party bus hits the sweet spot — everyone boards together, the ride north covers 15 miles in under 30 minutes off-peak, and the bus stages in the West Lot at 218 Tarrytown Road while the game runs. For a corporate group attending a County Center trade show with rolling presentation cases and display gear, the deep undercarriage bays on a full-size charter bus handle equipment that a minibus simply cannot. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — flag it in your quote request so the right vehicle is matched from the start.
Browse the full vehicle lineup or call 914-638-2880 any time for a quick price comparison at no obligation.
Westchester County Center Charter Bus and Party Bus Rental Prices
Pricing for a Yonkers-to-White Plains run depends on vehicle size, how many hours the bus is reserved (event time plus any pre-show window), the date, and the round-trip mileage. To give you a planning range: a 15–35 passenger minibus typically runs $200–$250 per hour on weekdays and $200–$275 on weekends. A 25-passenger party bus runs roughly $250–$350 weekday or $275–$375 on weekends.
A full-size 40–56 passenger charter bus runs $200–$350 per hour regardless of day. Pricing for your specific date, headcount, and itinerary comes back with the quote — call 914-638-2880 or fill out the quick online form and you'll have a number in under 30 seconds.
The per-head math is where renting a bus earns its keep. A 30-person group on a 30-passenger party bus at a Friday evening rate of $325–$425/hr — a 3-hour rental covering pickup in Yonkers, the event, and the ride back — runs roughly $975–$1,275 total, or about $33–$43 per person. That covers the round trip and the designated driver problem in one number, versus $10 parking per car, gas per car, and at least one person in every vehicle who cannot have a drink.
See the Yonkers party bus prices page for more on what shapes the final rate.
Group Visit Tips for Westchester County Center
The bag policy is strict and applies to every event. All guests are subject to search on entry. Bags must be 14" x 14" x 6" or smaller — no backpacks, no large purses, no duffle bags, no luggage.
Guests with prohibited items are turned away at the entrance with no storage available. Tell every member of your group before the bus leaves Yonkers so no one is standing outside with a bag they can't bring in. Photography with a single-frame camera is allowed; selfie sticks and action cameras like GoPros are not.
The on-site lots fill fast on sold-out nights. The East and West Lots are first-come-first-served and uncovered — no height issue for buses, but no guarantee of space for latecomers in separate cars. On a big Knicks game or sold-out concert, groups arriving in individual vehicles 30–40 minutes before showtime often find the closest lots full and end up walking from White Plains' downtown garage circuit.
The bus stages once and it's done.
Box office hours run Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm. The box office is closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, though events run on weekends. Anyone in your group with a will-call ticket or a billing question needs to handle it before the weekend or arrive early on event day.
The box office number is (914) 995-4050.
Confirm event-specific policies before departure. The County Center applies additional rules on a per-event basis — age limits, re-entry policies, photography rules — that vary by promoter. Before your trip, review the event listing at the County Center’s official site and make sure your group knows what applies to your specific show or game date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Westchester County Center?
Drop-off is on the Tarrytown Road side of the building — the west-facing curb along Tarrytown Road (NY-119), where the West Lot at 218 Tarrytown Road is also located. This gives larger vehicles a clear approach that avoids threading through the East Lot on Central Avenue. Your group walks straight to the venue entrance from the Tarrytown Road curb.
Can a full-size charter bus park at Westchester County Center?
Yes. The County Center's on-site parking is entirely open-air surface lots — the East Lot, the West Lot at 218 Tarrytown Road, and the North White Plains overflow lot. No structured garage, no height restriction.
A full-size charter bus can stage in those lots while your event runs. Event-day parking is $10 per vehicle, first-come-first-served; coordinate the specific staging window when you book so the pickup is set before the lots fill.
Can charter buses use the Bronx River Parkway to reach Westchester County Center?
No. The Bronx River Parkway carries a hard ban on commercial vehicles enforced by New York State law. The parkway's stone bridges post clearances as low as 6'11", and violations carry fines, license points, and towing costs that can exceed $10,000. The commercial-vehicle-legal approach is I-287 East (Cross Westchester Expressway) from I-87, or Central Park Avenue (NY Route 100) north through Yonkers directly to Central Avenue — both of which bypass the parkway entirely and deliver you to the venue's street.
How far is Westchester County Center from Yonkers?
About 15 miles — roughly 24 minutes off-peak. During weekday peak hours (4–7pm), add 10–20 minutes on both Central Park Avenue and I-287. Leaving Yonkers 45–60 minutes before your event covers most scenarios with staging time to spare.
What is the parking cost at Westchester County Center?
Event-day parking runs $10 per vehicle in the Westchester County Parks-managed surface lots. Non-event days are $7. No overnight parking is permitted.
The lots are open-air with no height restriction and no advance reservation — first-come-first-served on event nights.
How much does it cost to rent a party bus from Yonkers to Westchester County Center?
Planning ranges by vehicle: a minibus runs about $200–$275/hr; a party bus runs $250–$425/hr depending on size and day; a full-size charter bus runs $200–$350/hr. A 3-hour evening rental for a 30-passenger party bus typically runs $975–$1,275 — about $33–$43 per person for the full round trip. For exact pricing on your date and headcount, call 914-638-2880 or use the online quote tool.
See the Yonkers party bus prices page for more detail on what shapes the rate.
What events happen at Westchester County Center?
The venue runs Westchester Knicks NBA G League basketball from November through spring, concerts, comedy nights, WWE and combat sports events, comic conventions, and trade shows. The 5,000-seat mid-size format draws touring acts that miss the larger arenas. Check the official County Center website for the current event calendar before locking in your date.
Does Westchester County Center have ADA-accessible parking and entry?
The venue's surface lots include accessible parking spaces, and the building was updated to accommodate accessibility needs. ADA-accessible bus rentals are available through the bus network — note your requirements in the quote request so the right vehicle is matched to your group. For venue-specific accessibility questions, contact the box office at (914) 995-4050, Tuesday through Friday, 10am–5pm.
Book Your Charter Bus or Party Bus to Westchester County Center
A Westchester Knicks game, a sold-out freestyle concert, a comedy night — whatever brings your group to 198 Central Avenue — Partybusyonkers.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, and minibuses from companies serving Yonkers, all in one place. No calls to 10 different bus companies, no waiting on callbacks. Fill out the quick online form or call 914-638-2880 any time for pricing in under 30 seconds.
The Bronx River Parkway isn't your problem. The parking lot isn't your problem. You just arrive.
Also heading to a show at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester? That guide covers its own drop-off and logistics for another major Westchester venue on the same touring circuit. And if your group itinerary extends south to the Bronx, the Yankee Stadium bus guide has the full game-day routing.
