Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts sits barely four miles from Woodlawn in the north Bronx — a short hop on a clear evening, but a genuinely tricky logistics puzzle once your group wants to come home at 2:00 AM. The casino runs daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 AM. Bee-Line bus service toward Bronx-connecting stops winds down well before midnight.
Rideshares from a Yonkers casino parking lot after 1:00 AM surge hard. And trying to coordinate six separate cars across the I-87 approach, the Yonkers Avenue lot, and the reverse trip at 3:00 AM is the kind of friction that turns a great night into a logistical headache. A Bronx charter bus rental solves both directions in one booking: one vehicle, one agreed pickup window, one flat rate split across the whole group — no surge pricing, no parking scramble, no one stuck navigating Yonkers Avenue in the dark.
Below is everything a group needs to know about getting to and from Empire City Casino by bus — where buses drop off and stage, how the two main Bronx approaches compare on race nights versus quiet evenings, why the 18-plus age policy changes who can make the trip, and how to set up the late-night return before anyone walks through the door. For transportation, call 929-259-3010 any time to compare vehicles and pricing through Partybusrentalbronx.com; for group packages at the casino itself, ask for the casino's group sales team when you call the main line.
Why Groups from the Bronx Rent a Party Bus to Empire City Casino
The math is straightforward. Empire City Casino operates until 6:00 AM. Bee-Line buses 20 and 21 — the lines that stop directly at the Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue intersection in front of the casino — have last departures toward Bronx-connecting stops that run well before midnight.
Metro-North from nearby Mount Vernon West station runs all night, but at low frequency after 1:00 AM, and it requires a separate ride each direction between the train and the casino. BX34 and other Bronx overnight routes don't reach Yonkers. So between roughly 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, every group trying to get home to the Bronx independently is looking at rideshares at unpredictable prices from a Yonkers parking lot — with no certainty about the wait at 3:00 AM on a Saturday.
A party bus or charter bus eliminates the entire problem. Set the pickup window before you walk in — say, 1:30 AM or 3:00 AM — and the bus is staged at the casino when your group is ready to leave. Everyone gets home to the same starting point in the Bronx instead of scattering across multiple rideshare vehicles at different times and prices.
Plus, on race nights — and Yonkers Raceway hosts live harness racing five nights a week with a first post at 7:10 PM — the parking lot and Central Park Avenue get noticeably busier in the early evening. One charter bus handles that approach far more efficiently than a caravan of cars competing for lot spaces while the first-post crowd is arriving.
The age policy is the other reason this run makes sense for groups that can't do Atlantic City. New York State sets the minimum age for Video Lottery Terminal facilities at 18, so Empire City Casino is a full-scale gaming destination where adults 18 and over can participate — no 21-plus requirement on the gaming floor. For groups with 18- or 19-year-old members who'd be turned away at most out-of-state casino floors, Empire City is a legitimate night out within reach of the Bronx.
A bus keeps the whole group together rather than having anyone left behind.
Charter Bus and Party Bus Drop-Off at Empire City Casino
Empire City Casino's address — 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704 — sits right at the intersection of Yonkers Avenue and Central Park Avenue, which is also the primary vehicle entrance to the property. The complex includes a large surface lot with free self-parking and an on-site shuttle that connects the farther sections of the lot to the building. Valet parking operates from the Central Avenue and Clark Street entrance on the western side of the property.
Charter buses and party buses enter the parking area from the Yonkers Avenue main entrance. The casino actively welcomes motorcoach groups — parties of 12 or more qualify for exclusive group packages through the casino's own group sales team. Calling the group sales line a few days before the trip is the right move for any larger group: the team can confirm your bus's staging spot, coordinate the arrival window, and make sure the bus isn't circling the lot while your group tries to figure out where to meet it.
That one call saves the confusion on the night.
Empire City Casino welcomes motorcoach groups of 12 or more with exclusive packages. Reach the casino's group sales team before your visit to confirm staging, coordinate arrival timing, and lock in group arrangements — especially on race nights, when the lot fills faster ahead of the 7:10 PM first post.
Getting to Empire City Casino from the Bronx: Central Park Avenue vs. I-87
Two main approaches carry Bronx groups to Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, and which one makes sense depends on where the pickup is. From the north Bronx — Woodlawn, Wakefield, Norwood, Baychester, Edenwald — Central Park Avenue northbound is the direct surface route. It runs straight from the Bronx-Yonkers line to the casino's intersection, covering about 3–5 miles in roughly 10–15 minutes on a clear evening.
The catch is that Central Park Avenue is a signalized corridor, and on race nights (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), volume heading toward the raceway ahead of the 7:10 PM first post can push that estimate to 25 minutes or more from the Woodlawn area.
From further south or east — Fordham, Kingsbridge, Co-op City, Pelham Parkway, the South Bronx — I-87 northbound (the Major Deegan Expressway, which transitions into the New York State Thruway at the Bronx-Yonkers line) is the faster option. Exit at Yonkers Avenue and the casino is immediately ahead. One note for charter bus groups using the Thruway: commercial vehicles are charged based on axle count, so a full-size charter bus should factor in the toll for that segment.
It is one flat cost shared across the group, and it remains the faster highway approach from south and central Bronx pickup points.
| Starting area in the Bronx | Best approach | Approx. distance | Off-peak time | Race-night caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlawn / Wakefield / Norwood | Central Park Avenue northbound | ~3–5 miles | 10–15 min | Add 10–15 min Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat evenings |
| Fordham / Bedford Park / Kingsbridge | I-87 (Major Deegan) North → NY Thruway → Yonkers Ave exit | ~8–10 miles | 15–20 min | Thruway merge point backs up on race nights; build in a buffer |
| Co-op City / Pelham Parkway / Baychester | I-95 N to I-87 N, or Bronx River Pkwy to Yonkers Ave | ~10–13 miles | 20–30 min | Multiple highway merges; depart 45 min early on race nights |
| South Bronx / Mott Haven | I-87 (Major Deegan) North full length to Yonkers Ave exit | ~14–17 miles | 25–35 min | Bridge and merge congestion; budget 45–50 min on busy nights |
Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway: Hours, Age Policy, and What Your Group Should Know
Empire City Casino is open every single day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 AM — a 20-hour operating window that makes it one of the longest-running gaming destinations within reach of the Bronx. The gaming floor is one of the larger Video Lottery Terminal facilities in the state, with thousands of slot machines, video poker, and fully automated electronic table games including roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, and sic bo. Several restaurants operate on the property, including Dan Rooney's Café & Bar — an Irish pub with dueling pianos — and the Empire Terrace, which looks directly out over the half-mile harness racing track.
The minimum age is 18. Under New York State rules for gaming facilities operating Video Lottery Terminals, guests 18 and older are eligible to play. No one under 18 is admitted on the premises at all.
This is a meaningful distinction from destination casinos in New Jersey and many other states that enforce a 21-plus minimum — Empire City Casino is one of the few full-scale gaming floors within range of the Bronx where a group that includes 18- and 19-year-olds can all walk in together. Bring valid government-issued photo ID for every person in the group; IDs are checked at the entrance.
Live harness racing at Yonkers Raceway runs five nights a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a first post at 7:10 PM. Race nights bring an additional crowd beyond the gaming floor, which fills the lot faster and pushes Central Park Avenue traffic earlier in the evening. If your group is targeting a 7:00 PM arrival on a race night, plan the approach accordingly.
Verify the current schedule at EmpireCityBets.com before finalizing your departure time.
What Size Bus Does Your Empire City Casino Group Need?
Partybusrentalbronx.com connects you to a large network of bus companies serving the Bronx and Westchester County, so your group can compare vehicles and find the right fit without overpaying for seats that will be empty. Here is how the full vehicle lineup maps to a typical Empire City Casino run.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best for | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van | Up to 14 | Small group outing, birthday run, double dates | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows, individual lighting |
| 20-passenger party bus | ~20 | Friend groups, casual birthday celebrations | LED lighting, Bluetooth sound system, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 25-passenger party bus / 28-passenger | 25–28 | Friend groups, work outings, milestone birthdays | Color-changing LEDs, premium sound, flat-panel TVs, perimeter seating |
| 30-passenger / 40-passenger party bus | 30–40 | Larger friend groups, office night out, community gatherings | Full-length bar setup, color-changing LEDs, premium sound, flat-panel TVs |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Groups who want comfortable, efficient transport without the party extras | Reclining seats, powerful A/C, overhead storage |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Large groups, company events, community organizations, club trips | Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays |
For most Bronx groups heading to Empire City Casino, a 25- or 30-passenger party bus hits the sweet spot — enough room for a solid friend group or work outing, with the amenities to make the ride itself part of the evening. For larger groups — a community organization, a milestone birthday with extended family, or a company night out — a full 56-seat charter bus makes the per-person math compelling and keeps absolutely everyone together from pickup to drop-off. ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network; note it in your quote request at least 48 hours before your departure date.
Empire City Casino Charter Bus Rental Prices
Pricing for a charter bus or party bus rental to Empire City Casino from the Bronx depends on your vehicle size, the total hours the bus is with your group (including wait time at the casino), your pickup location, and the date. To give you a planning baseline: a minibus typically runs $200–$275 per hour on weeknights and about the same on weekends; a 25-passenger party bus generally falls in the $250–$350 weekday / $275–$375 weekend range per hour; and a full 56-seat charter bus tends to run $200–$350 per hour across the week. These are planning estimates — real pricing moves with the specific date, available vehicles, and total hours booked — but they give you a solid baseline before the quote comes in.
The per-person case for the bus makes itself quickly. A 30-seat party bus for a 5-hour block — say, a 7:00 PM pickup from Woodlawn and a midnight or 12:30 AM return — might come to $1,500–$1,875 for a weekend night, or roughly $50–$63 per person for a group of 30. That is the ride both ways with no parking costs, no toll per car, no surge pricing at midnight, and nobody counting to make sure they have enough cash for an unexpected late-night Uber.
Check the Bronx party bus prices page for a fuller breakdown by vehicle type, or call 929-259-3010 any time to get a quote for your specific headcount and date. It takes about 30 seconds and no account is required.
Planning Your Late-Night Departure from Empire City Casino
The 6:00 AM closing time creates an unusual planning situation. Your group might be done by 11:30 PM, or they might be going until 4:00 AM — and both are valid. A charter bus accommodates either, but the key is setting the pickup window before anyone walks in, not while standing in the parking lot trying to reach consensus.
Once the night is going well, that conversation takes longer and the rideshare prices keep climbing.
The casino has historically recognized the demand for late-night Bronx connections specifically: the property previously operated a dedicated late-night shuttle connecting the casino to the 4 train at Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, running hourly between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM for patrons during the hours when public bus service had stopped. Whether or not a casino-operated shuttle is currently running — confirm directly at (914) 968-4200 — the demand that service answered is real and still exists. A private charter bus from the Bronx serves that same need without the schedule constraint or the extra transit leg: one vehicle, one door, one Bronx neighborhood, exactly when your group decides to leave.
Set your pickup window before you walk in. A 5- or 6-hour block with a confirmed 2:00 AM return gives everyone a clear plan — the bus is already staged in the parking area and right there when your group walks out. Negotiating the departure time at 2:00 AM in a parking lot, after a few hours inside, is when those conversations take the longest and cost the most.
For groups planning a longer session — arriving at 8:00 PM and staying until 3:00 or 4:00 AM — a 7- or 8-hour block covers the full round trip with comfortable wait time and flexibility if the night runs long. Split that across a 40-seat bus and the cost per person for door-to-door transportation with no parking, no tolls per car, and no one making the sacrifice of staying sober is usually less than what scattered rideshares would cost the group at that hour. Call 929-259-3010 to build a quote around your specific hours and pickup point.
Transit Options to Empire City Casino and Where They Stop Short
Getting to Empire City Casino from the Bronx by public transit is realistic in the afternoon and early evening. Getting home after midnight is a materially different situation. Here is the honest breakdown.
Bee-Line Bus 20 and Bus 21 stop at Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue — right at the casino's front entrance — and connect to the Woodlawn 4 train in the north Bronx, among other stops. This is a viable option for groups arriving in the afternoon or early evening. But service frequency drops off sharply later on, and the last departures toward Bronx-connecting stops run before midnight, leaving no viable public bus option from the casino to the Bronx during the hours the casino is busiest.
Metro-North Railroad serves the Harlem Line through Mount Vernon West station, approximately 1.5 miles from the casino. The property has historically run a shuttle between the station and the casino every 30 minutes. Train service continues overnight, but with very low frequency after 1:00 AM — and the shuttle's current operating status should be confirmed with the casino directly at (914) 968-4200 before your group routes through it.
Even when running, this option requires a train from Grand Central or 125th Street, a shuttle to the casino, then the reverse on the way home — four legs for what is, from north Bronx starting points, a 15-minute direct surface ride in the other direction.
After approximately 10:00–11:00 PM, there is no reliable transit from Empire City Casino back to most Bronx neighborhoods. A private party bus or charter bus rental covers both directions cleanly, without any of those gaps. For groups visiting the broader Yonkers area or nearby Westchester, the same network of bus companies serves the full corridor.
Tips for Your Empire City Casino Group Visit
Race nights change the parking and traffic math. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — the five live harness racing nights — the parking lot fills faster heading into the 7:10 PM first post and Central Park Avenue is significantly busier from about 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. If your group is targeting a 7:00 PM arrival, depart from the Bronx by 6:15 PM at the latest, or accept a longer approach.
Non-race nights — Sunday and Wednesday evenings — are noticeably quieter. Verify the current schedule before you finalize your departure time.
Free parking covers the lot, not necessarily the walk. The casino's self-parking is complimentary, and an on-site shuttle runs from the farther lot sections to the building. On race nights, the closer sections fill first.
A single charter bus from the Bronx drops the group at the main Yonkers Avenue entrance and stages in the lot — the internal shuttle is irrelevant because everyone is already at the door.
Call group sales before any group of 12 or more. The casino's group sales team handles motorcoach group arrangements and can confirm staging logistics, discuss available packages, and make sure your arrival is coordinated. A call a few days in advance — not the morning of — is the right move.
Bring ID for every person in the group. The 18-plus minimum is enforced at the entrance. Everyone who looks under 30 should expect to show government-issued photo ID.
Plan for that check at the door when estimating your arrival window, especially for a large group where the line takes a few minutes to move through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Bus to Empire City Casino
Where does a charter bus or party bus drop off at Empire City Casino?
Charter buses and party buses enter the property from the main Yonkers Avenue entrance at 810 Yonkers Ave and stage in the casino's large free parking area. Valet parking operates separately from the Central Avenue and Clark Street entrance on the western side. For groups of 12 or more, the casino's group sales team can confirm a specific staging area and arrival window in advance so the bus has a clear spot and the group doesn't have to search for it at the end of the night.
What is the minimum age at Empire City Casino?
The minimum age is 18 — for entry, for gaming, and for the entire premises. No one under 18 is admitted. New York State sets the 18-plus minimum for Video Lottery Terminal facilities, which is why Empire City Casino is accessible to adults 18 and older — unlike destination casinos in New Jersey and many other states that require 21.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID for everyone in the group. IDs are checked at the entrance.
What are the hours at Empire City Casino?
Empire City Casino is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 AM, seven days a week. It is a 20-hour daily operation. This is what makes the late-night transportation question so important: the casino runs well past midnight for your group, long after every public bus from Yonkers back to the Bronx has stopped running.
How far is Empire City Casino from the Bronx?
From Woodlawn in the north Bronx, the casino is approximately 3–5 miles via Central Park Avenue — about 10–15 minutes off-peak. From Fordham Road or the central Bronx, the I-87/Thruway route covers roughly 8–10 miles in 15–20 minutes with no traffic. From the South Bronx, plan for 25–35 minutes.
On race nights (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), add 10–20 minutes from most Bronx starting points due to increased lot traffic and Central Park Avenue congestion building toward the 7:10 PM first post.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Empire City Casino from the Bronx?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours booked, pickup location, and the date. To give you a planning range: a 25-passenger party bus typically runs $250–$375 per hour on weekends; a full 56-seat charter bus generally falls in the $200–$350 per hour range. A 5-hour block — enough for a round trip from the north Bronx with several hours at the casino — often lands at $40–$70 per person depending on vehicle and group size.
Call 929-259-3010 any time to get a pricing estimate for your specific date and headcount. No account required, and it takes about 30 seconds.
Is there late-night transit from Empire City Casino back to the Bronx?
Not reliably. Bee-Line buses 20 and 21 serve the casino during daytime and early evening hours, with last departures toward Bronx-connecting stops running before midnight. Metro-North from Mount Vernon West (about 1.5 miles from the casino) runs overnight but at very low frequency after 1:00 AM, and the shuttle connecting to that station should be verified with the casino directly before depending on it.
After approximately 10:00–11:00 PM, a private charter bus or party bus is effectively the only option that gets your group home to the Bronx without an extended wait for rideshares that may or may not arrive at a predictable price from a Yonkers parking lot at 2:00 AM.
Can the bus wait at Empire City Casino during our visit?
Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, and the vehicle stages in the casino's free parking area during your visit. Agree on your pickup window before you go in — 1:30 AM, 2:30 AM, 3:00 AM, whatever the plan calls for — and the bus is already staged when you walk out.
No waiting for a rideshare to accept the trip, no surge pricing, no one still inside when the rest of the group is ready to leave.
Does Empire City Casino have group packages for motorcoach groups?
Yes. Empire City Casino actively welcomes motorcoach groups of 12 or more and has a dedicated group sales team to coordinate packages and staging. Contact the casino's group sales team through the main line before your visit.
For the transportation side — lining up the right vehicle and confirming your headcount — call 929-259-3010 or use Partybusrentalbronx.com's online quote tool to compare options and pricing in under 30 seconds. No account required.
Which Bronx neighborhoods are closest to Empire City Casino?
The shortest drives come from Woodlawn, Wakefield, Norwood, Baychester, and Edenwald in the north Bronx — neighborhoods within 4–7 miles of the casino via Central Park Avenue. From Pelham Parkway, Fordham, and the central Bronx, the I-87/Major Deegan route is typically the faster option. From the South Bronx and Mott Haven, plan for a 25–35 minute drive depending on traffic and time of night.
How does the New York State Thruway toll affect a charter bus from the Bronx?
Groups coming from the central or south Bronx via I-87 northbound — the Major Deegan Expressway, which transitions into the NY Thruway at the Bronx-Yonkers line — will encounter Thruway tolls. Commercial vehicles including charter buses are charged based on axle count. It is one additional line in the group's trip budget, but split across a bus of 30 or 40 people it adds very little per person compared to the parking fees, tolls, and surge-priced returns that individual cars would otherwise pay.
Groups from Woodlawn or the north Bronx coming via Central Park Avenue bypass the Thruway entirely.
Book Your Empire City Casino Bus from the Bronx Today
Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is one of the closest full-scale gaming destinations to the Bronx — and one of the easiest to reach and return from by charter bus. Partybusrentalbronx.com makes it simple to find and compare party buses, charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans from a large network of bus companies serving the Bronx and Westchester, so your group gets the right vehicle at the right price without spending an evening calling around. One quick form or one call at 929-259-3010 pulls up options and pricing for your date in about 30 seconds — no account required, no obligation.
Heading to another venue on a different night? The Yankee Stadium group bus guide covers drop-off, staging, and game-day logistics for that run in the same detail. For the full range of Bronx group transportation occasions, the Bronx group transportation services page has the complete picture.
