At a glance
- Nearest station
- Jolimont (MCG Station), 350 metres, a five-minute walk to Gate 2
- Other station
- Richmond, 850 metres to the Shane Warne Stand
- Trams
- Routes 75 and 48 to Stop 11 Jolimont Station/MCG; route 70 to Stop 7B or 7C
- Parking
- Yarra Park, when open: $20 per vehicle, eftpos only; capacity is limited
- Drop-off
- Clarendon Street, near the Pullman hotel
- Road closure
- Barassi Way closed to through traffic 2.5 hours before and 60 minutes after an event
- Next events
- Sheffield Shield from 11 November; T20 International on Saturday 21 November; Boxing Day Test from 26 December
The closest train station to the Melbourne Cricket Ground is Jolimont, a five-minute, 350-metre walk through Yarra Park to Gate 2. The MCG says car parking is extremely limited on event days and strongly encourages public transport. Where Yarra Park parking is open it costs $20 per vehicle, payable by eftpos only.
This guide covers how to reach the MCG by train, tram and bus, what the stadium says about parking and drop-off, and which cricket matches are on the calendar for the 2026/27 summer. The details come from the MCG’s Get to the MCG page, its parking page and its events calendar, checked on 19 October 2026.
Which train station is closest to the MCG?
Two stations are close, according to the MCG:
| Station | Distance and walk | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Jolimont (MCG Station) | 350 metres; five minutes through Yarra Park to Gate 2 | Hurstbridge and Mernda lines from Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central or Parliament |
| Richmond | 850 metres; past Punt Road Oval and through Yarra Park to the Shane Warne Stand on the south side | Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Frankston and Sandringham lines from the city |
The MCG adds that travellers from the west can now catch Werribee, Laverton, Williamstown and Sandringham line trains directly to and from Richmond Station. Flinders Street Station is a 20-minute walk (1.6 km) and Town Hall Station is a 23-minute walk (1.75 km), both along the William Barak Pedestrian Footbridge and the Yarra River.
Which trams stop near the gates?
Three tram routes serve the MCG:
- Route 75 (City to Vermont South) runs along Flinders Street and connects to the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade. Stop 11 Jolimont Station/MCG is 300 metres from Gate 2 and 400 metres from Gate 3.
- Route 48 (Docklands/City to North Balwyn) runs along Collins Street and also uses Stop 11 Jolimont Station/MCG, with the same 300-metre and 400-metre walks.
- Route 70 (Docklands/City to Wattle Park) runs along Flinders Street and detours via Melbourne Park. Stop 7B is for MCG Gates 1 to 3, and Stop 7C is for Gates 4 to 7.
Is there a bus?
Route 246 links Clifton Hill Station with Elsternwick Station and stops on Punt Road, about 600 metres from the MCG through Yarra Park. The MCG says this suits patrons coming from the northern and southern suburbs.
Can I park at the MCG?
Sometimes, with limits. The MCG’s parking page says all parking in Yarra Park is within grassed paddocks, so drivers cross grass to reach the asphalt paths. When open, parking costs $20 per vehicle, payable by eftpos only, and vehicles unable to pay by card are not allowed in. Parking is subject to capacity, and the gates close when Yarra Park is full or 30 minutes after the event starts. For some events, parking may be available only to Australian Disability Parking (ADP) permit holders.
For the 2026/27 Summer of Cricket, the parking page says parking information will be shared once available. Each event’s parking detail page will carry updates on opening times, gates and capacity, and the MCG posts updates on @MCG on X. The MCG also says pedestrians have priority when leaving events, which causes significant delays for vehicles exiting the park.
The 2026 AFL season has finished, and the MCG’s August 2026 notice about Yarra Park applied to the remainder of that season. In it, the MCG said the car park was closed because of the unstable state of the grassed paddocks after wet weather, with parking only for ADP permit holders who had pre-purchased passes through Ticketek. The notice covered AFL matches only up to Round 24, so check each cricket match’s parking page.
Where else can I leave the car?
The MCG lists these car parks and says they are not operated, owned or endorsed by the MCG and may have their own restrictions:
| Car park | Walk to the MCG |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Park Eastern Plaza (nearest accessible parking) | About 350m via the footbridge to Gate 6 |
| Pullman Melbourne on the Park | About 400m via Wellington Parade and Yarra Park to Gate 2 |
| 11 Exhibition Street (Wilson Parking) | About 1.1km via Batman Avenue and William Barak Bridge to Gate 2 |
| Collins Place, 28 Flinders Lane (First Parking) | About 1.1km |
| 114 Flinders Street (ACDC Garage) | About 1.1km |
| 172 Flinders Street (Wilson Parking) | About 1.3km |
| Federation Square (entry via Russell Street or Batman Avenue) | About 1.3km |
| Parkade, 34-60 Little Collins Street (First Parking) | About 1.4km |
Street parking is very limited. Metered parking is available around the Fitzroy Gardens, the Botanical Gardens and along the Yarra River.
Where do taxis and rideshare drop off?
The MCG advises patrons without a disability parking permit to use Clarendon Street, near the Pullman hotel, for taxi, rideshare or private vehicle drop-off and pick-up. Taxi ranks are in front of the Pullman hotel at the corner of Wellington Parade and Clarendon Street, and outside Rod Laver Arena on Olympic Boulevard. Patrons with accessibility needs can be dropped off by taxi, or by private vehicle with an ADP permit, at the bus turning circle at the corner of Jolimont Street and Jolimont Terrace. Vehicles without an ADP permit, including pre-booked Ubers, are not permitted to enter the turning circle.
The free G-Train Mobility Shuttle runs during MCG events for patrons who need help getting from the car park to the gates. Its route includes the entry gates, Jolimont Station and Richmond Station, and pre-booking is not required. The MCG says staff and the shuttle cannot operate in the Melbourne Park precinct.
Which roads close, and what about bikes?
Barassi Way (formerly Brunton Avenue) is closed to through traffic for 2.5 hours before an event starts and for 60 minutes after it finishes, with times subject to change. The closure lets pedestrians walk to and from Richmond Station safely.
Bicycles are not permitted inside the stadium or on the concourse. There are bike hoops next to the stadium in Yarra Park. For major summer events, extra bike parking is set up in the western part of Yarra Park, near the cricket nets outside Gate 1. The facilities are not manned, so you are responsible for securing your bike.
What is on at the MCG this summer?
The MCG’s events calendar lists these cricket dates, as checked on 19 October 2026:
| Event | Date and start |
|---|---|
| Sheffield Shield: Victoria v Western Australia | Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 November, 10:30am |
| T20 International: Australia v England | Saturday 21 November, 7:15pm |
| Sheffield Shield: Victoria v Queensland | Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December, 10:30am |
| BBL: Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers | Friday 18 December, 7:15pm |
| Boxing Day Test: Australia v New Zealand | Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 December, 10:30am |
| 150th Anniversary Test: Australia v England | Thursday 11 to Monday 15 March 2027, 2:00pm |
The calendar also lists further BBL and Sheffield Shield matches, and says the upcoming AFL Premiership Season fixture is yet to be released.
Quick plan
- From the city by train: Hurstbridge or Mernda line to Jolimont, then walk to Gate 2.
- From the south or east: Richmond Station, then walk past Punt Road Oval through Yarra Park.
- By tram: route 75 or 48 to Stop 11, or route 70 to Stop 7B or 7C.
- By car: check the match’s parking page first, or use one of the city car parks above and walk.
- Needing help with mobility: the free G-Train shuttle, and the accessible drop-off at the bus turning circle.
Use myki on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne; Transport Victoria says fares are half price until 1 January 2027. Plan your journey in the Journey Planner and check Disruptions before you travel.
Sources
- MCG — Get to the MCG (checked 19 October 2026)
- MCG — Parking (checked 19 October 2026)
- MCG — Events calendar (checked 19 October 2026)
- MCG — Yarra Park car park closed for remainder of the 2026 AFL season (4 August 2026)
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone (22 May 2026)
Featured image: Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Yarra River (photo: DXR / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Club or Transport Victoria. Times, fares and conditions can change; check the official pages above before you travel.