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QUEENS · TENNIS · FLUSHING MEADOWS
You do not need a Grand Slam ranking to play at the home of the US Open. You need a court reservation. At the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the distance between watching tennis on television and putting your own serve under pressure can be surprisingly small. The crowd for your match, however, is your responsibility.
At a glance: This public tennis center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park offers outdoor courts at $42 an hour and indoor courts at $42–82 an hour. Book through Court Reserve up to two days ahead. These are playing-court fees, not US Open admission tickets.
Play here · Court prices · US Open visits · Guided tours · A Queens day · Questions
A famous address, with room for ordinary players
Arthur Ashe Stadium is the landmark, but the center is more than its biggest arena. The USTA describes it as one of the world’s largest public tennis facilities, with players, programs and events using the grounds and indoor center throughout the year. For a visitor who plays, the appealing part is simple: a New York sports outing in which you get to hit the ball yourself.
A court booking does not mean playing inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Court assignments are provided at check-in, and you must use the court assigned to you. Think of it as playing at the National Tennis Center, rather than buying an hour on the championship stage.
Traveling with someone who does not play? Make that part of the plan before booking. The center permits only a limited number of indoor spectators, guests and visitors. A companion is better served by a real nearby activity than by an assumed hour of unrestricted stadium sightseeing.
What an hour costs
Rates are per court, per hour. Two people splitting a $42 court pay $21 each; four sharing it pay $10.50 each for court time. Equipment, lessons and other extras are separate from that simple calculation.
| Court and time | Monday–Friday | Saturday–Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor hard court, 7 a.m.–11 p.m. | $42 | $42 |
| Indoor, 7–8 a.m. | $42 | $58 |
| Indoor, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. | $58 | $82 |
| Indoor, 3–10 p.m. | $82 | $58 |
| Indoor, 10–11 p.m. | $58 | $58 |
Sunday after 3 p.m. is a useful indoor option: the posted rate drops to $58, compared with $82 earlier in the day. Availability is a different question, so build the outing around a slot you can actually reserve.
Open the official court-booking page and current rate table.
The reservation is the part to get right
All players need a registered Court Reserve profile for online booking, which opens up to two days ahead. The center does not accept phone reservations. Fees are charged when you book, and court bookings are final: ordinary changes of plan do not qualify for credits or refunds. There is an important weather exception: the official FAQ says outdoor bookings are refunded when bad weather makes the courts unplayable, with a rescheduling option within 48 hours of the original reservation.
Open-time courts allow a maximum of four players. Staying beyond the reserved time brings additional charges. That makes a simple plan the best one: choose your players, agree on the hour, then book. For lessons or a program, use the center’s separate private-lesson information or program and camp listings; a court rental is not a coached session.
Your own hour on an indoor court
For this visit, reserve one hour indoors and arrive at reception 15 minutes before your slot. Collect your court assignment, play for the booked hour, then return to reception. Leave the park walk for afterward. The reservation covers a maximum of four players; it does not include stadium sightseeing or a lesson.
Pack tennis shoes, water and the required photo ID. Complete each player’s CourtReserve profile and annual waiver before arriving; the primary account holder signs for juniors under 18. Photography during ordinary court use requires written permission from NTC management. Guided-tour photo rules are different, so follow your guide on a tour.
Court booking requirements rechecked October 12, 2026 against the official booking information.
Coming to watch the US Open?
That is a different trip. During the tournament, your ticket type and session determine the experience you are buying. Start with the official US Open website for the next tournament’s published schedule and authorized ticket options. The court-rental prices above tell you nothing about the price of a seat at the championship.
For a tennis fan, there is a real choice between the drama of a stadium seat and the variety of a grounds-focused day. Read the access included with the specific ticket before deciding. Do not assume that a photograph of Arthur Ashe on a sales page means your ticket includes a reserved seat inside it.
Outside the tournament, choose a confirmed court booking, lesson or guided tour. The grounds are not open for visitors to wander independently; the official FAQ requires a planned visit. For the next championship, use the dates and ticket details published by the organizer.
What visitors make of the venue
4.7 / 5
CenterNYC audience blend · Google: 4.7/5 from 5,749 reviews; Tripadvisor: 4.5/5 from 450 reviews. Checked October 11, 2026.
Read the current reviews and open the map.
How this score works
We weight each platform score by its published review count and round the result to one decimal. Both sources have more than 50 reviews. Tripadvisor source.
Sergio S’s February 2025 Tripadvisor review praised the indoor playing experience and helpful reception. ThomasK229’s August 2024 tournament review enjoyed the tennis and train access while noting the expense. Those are individual reports, not a survey of every visitor.
This is the rating for the tennis center as a whole. When reading the comments, distinguish US Open spectators from people booking a public court: the crowds, costs and service they discuss can describe very different visits.
A guided visit, even if you never pick up a racket
The center offers approximately one-hour tours from late September to late July, on selected Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. The official rate is $40 for adults ages 16 and up and $20 for children ages 5–15, plus applicable taxes: $120 before applicable taxes for two adults and two children in that age range. Request a date through the official Facility Tours instructions; a request is not a confirmed reservation. The organizer requires advance payment to secure the booking.
The current tour page lists Louis Armstrong, Grandstand and field courts, plus a US Open souvenir. Arthur Ashe Stadium is currently inaccessible because of construction; exterior photos are allowed from the grounds. This is a visit to the wider tennis center, not an inside tour of Ashe. Bring government-issued photo ID and come to the front desk in the Chase/Indoor Training Center beside Parking Lot B; the FAQ lists free parking there for tour visitors. A waiver is completed on arrival.
Travel light. Tour rules allow a single-compartment drawstring bag within 12 × 12 × 16 inches, but prohibit backpacks, briefcases and luggage, and there is no bag storage. Bring water and clothing for the weather. Your guide explains where photography is allowed, including selected areas of Louis Armstrong and Grandstand. For a Shabbat-observant itinerary, Monday or Tuesday is the simpler choice.
For players, a few extra details save an awkward arrival: standard bookings exclude Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand and Court 17; check-in begins 15 minutes before your slot. The pro shop has demo rackets, but equipment prices and availability should be arranged separately.
Watch the grounds come to life
Watch the official 10-minute tour of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the US Open grounds. This 2019 archive film gives a sense of the venue, including areas that are not part of today’s tour while construction continues. The video opens on the official US Open site.
Give the tennis an afternoon in Queens
Keep the plan local. A one-hour court reservation pairs naturally with time in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, rather than a rush back to Manhattan for a second major attraction. The Unisphere gives the walk a memorable focal point and a good photograph without asking you to buy another timed ticket.
For an indoor cultural stop, the Queens Museum offers a very different way to look at New York. Families can instead choose New York Hall of Science or Queens Zoo. Pick one of these as the other main visit; tennis, a museum, a zoo and a meal make an ambitious list for a relaxed afternoon.
Citi Field is another nearby sports option. A Mets game needs its own date and ticket, while a ballpark tour has a separate schedule. Check those before connecting two sports experiences on the same day.
Kosher food and a Shabbat-friendly plan
For an ordinary court visit, plan your kosher meal separately. We have not verified a currently supervised food outlet inside the public tennis center. Bringing a picnic for the surrounding park is an easy option; tournament food offerings and admission rules need a fresh check for the event you attend.
Do not use an old photograph of a kosher stand as confirmation for the next US Open. Look for the current supervising agency and certificate at the specific outlet. Our kosher dining guides explain the checks to make when choosing a restaurant.
For Shabbat-observant visitors, choose Sunday through Thursday outside Jewish holidays. Sunday afternoon can also offer the lower indoor rate. A Friday outing needs time to finish, travel and prepare well before sunset; it is not the day for squeezing in one more set.
Getting there and choosing the right entrance
The official address is Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY 11368. USTA identifies Mets–Willets Point as the nearest station for both the No. 7 subway and the LIRR. Follow the center’s official directions and its Google Maps walking route from the station toward David Dinkins Circle.
The posted general operating hours are 7 a.m.–11 p.m. daily; your reserved slot and any event restrictions are what matter for your visit. If you need step-free access, confirm the current transit route and access to your assigned court before paying. A large sports campus can involve more walking than the station name suggests.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors book a tennis court?
Yes. The center offers public court bookings through Court Reserve up to two days ahead. All players need a registered profile, and open-time courts allow up to four players.
Does a $42 booking include US Open admission?
No. It is an hourly outdoor court rental, not a tournament ticket or reserved stadium seat. US Open tickets are sold separately.
Is there an indoor option for rain or cold weather?
Yes. Indoor hard courts have posted hourly rates from $42 to $82, depending on the day and time. Reserve an available indoor slot rather than assuming an outdoor booking will be moved inside.
Can I cancel a court booking for a refund?
Ordinary cancellations and adjustments are not refundable. The official FAQ makes an exception for outdoor courts that become unplayable in bad weather, offering a refund or rescheduling within 48 hours of the original reservation.