Friday Night Fireworks is the biggest draw on the RailRiders' calendar, and every car headed to it funnels through the same interchange: I-81 Exit 182. Get there late and you're circling the Montage Mountain Road corridor while a walk-up line forms at the gate. The other question nobody answers until game day: where does a bus actually go once it's off that exit?
PNC Field doesn't hand a charter bus the same instructions it gives a sedan.
Here's the short version. Buses and cars share the same entrance off Montage Mountain Road, get waved up the Middle Driveaway toward the Main Entry Plaza, and drop passengers within a short walk of the gates, per the team's own RailRiders parking page. Car parking runs a flat $5, cash or card, and lots open two hours before first pitch.
What that page does not publish is a dedicated oversized-vehicle lot — so a charter bus, party bus, or minibus rental to PNC Field is the kind of thing worth locking in ahead of time rather than figuring out at the gate. Below is everything a first-time group needs: the drop, the lots, what a bag actually has to look like to get through the gate, and what a season full of Fireworks Fridays does to the parking lots around Moosic.
Why Rent a Charter Bus or Party Bus to PNC Field
A RailRiders outing is an easy trip to overcomplicate. Coordinate ten cars from a company picnic or a bachelorette party, and you've got ten different arrival times, ten hunts for a spot in Lot A or Lot B, and at least one person who circles Montage Mountain Road twice before finding the entrance. A single Scranton party bus rental collapses all of that into one pickup and one drop, with everybody walking in together instead of trickling through the gate over twenty minutes.
It also solves the RailRiders' own math. Group outings start at 10 tickets, and the team's pregame field experiences — the parade around the warning track, the on-field photo, flag-holding during the anthem — carry their own ticket minimums, from 50 on a Tuesday through Thursday date up to 350 for a Friday or Saturday game, per the RailRiders group experiences page. A 50-ticket minimum lines up almost exactly with a full 56-passenger charter bus.
If your group is chasing one of those on-field moments, the bus that gets you there is also the bus that gets you to the headcount. For any outing built around a RailRiders game, the Scranton sporting event transportation page covers the rest of the season, not just PNC Field.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at PNC Field
PNC Field sits at 235 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, PA 18507 — three miles south of downtown Scranton, right off I-81 Exit 182. There's one access road in, and every vehicle, bus included, is directed the same way: up the Middle Driveaway toward the Main Entry Plaza in front of the ballpark, with the exit routed out the back of the Left Field lot, according to the team's own parking and drop-off information. That's the whole geography of the place — one road in, one road out, and a bus doesn't get a side entrance the way a stadium ten times its size might.
Suite parking sits at the top of that same driveaway, right in front of the plaza, so anyone entering through the Middle Driveaway is already close to the front doors. Handicapped parking is at the front of Lot B, with VIP tag spots directly behind it, and two golf carts run before and after games for guests who need help covering that last stretch, per the parking page above. None of that changes for a bus group — your group still walks in from wherever the vehicle sets down — but it does mean the drop point isn't a half-mile hike across a Hard Rock–sized lot.
It's a short, flat walk from the driveaway to the gate.
Parking Lots A, B & C — What a Bus Group Should Know
The ballpark runs three general lots: Lot A in the far left field corner, Lot B in left field, and Lot C in right field, all opening two hours before first pitch with $5 parking, cash or card, per the RailRiders' own parking page. Motorcycle parking sits near the Main Entrance, and tailgating is prohibited across the property except in a handful of designated spots — a parking attendant on-site points groups to them, so ask before setting up a grill.
What isn't published anywhere on the team's site is a marked bus or motorcoach lot. That's not unusual for a Triple-A ballpark this size — PNC Field seats a fraction of what a big-league stadium does, and the lots weren't built with a fleet of coaches in mind. In practice, that means the exact spot a charter bus stages during your game gets confirmed with the group sales office rather than guessed at from a parking map, which is one more reason a group calls ahead rather than showing up and hoping.
When you request a quote, that confirmation is part of what gets sorted before your date.
What Size Bus Fits Your RailRiders Group?
A company picnic of 15 people needs a different vehicle than a 45-person birthday outing chasing a Friday Night Fireworks game, and PNC Field's own group threshold — 10 tickets to start a group rate — means almost any size group qualifies for group pricing before you even pick a bus. Here's how the options break down for a PNC Field run.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for | Notable amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Small groups, suite holders | Comfortable seating, climate control, easy in-and-out at the Middle Driveaway |
| 25-passenger minibus | ~18–25 | Company picnics, mid-size birthday groups | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats |
| 35-passenger minibus | ~28–35 | Larger family or league outings | Overhead storage, reclining seats |
| Party bus | ~20–40 | Bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays chasing Fireworks Friday | Built-in bar area, LED lighting, premium sound |
| Charter bus | Up to 56 | School leagues, corporate groups, the 50-ticket on-field parade minimum | Reclining seats, overhead storage, onboard restroom on select coaches |
The full lineup — including every vehicle size available — is worth a look before you request a quote, since the right fit usually comes down to headcount plus how much gear the group is hauling (coolers, signs, gift bags for a birthday group). Charter buses and party buses cover the same footprint at PNC Field: both use the Middle Driveaway, both drop the group at the same short walk to the gate.
PNC Field Bus Rental Prices
There's no single number for a PNC Field trip — the quote moves with vehicle size, how many hours the bus is reserved (pickup, the game itself, and the ride home), the date, and how far the pickup point is from Moosic. To give you an idea: a Sunday-through-Thursday RailRiders game, when group tickets start at $12 each per the RailRiders group tickets page, tends to price lighter than a Friday or Saturday date, when both tickets and vehicle demand run higher.
Here's a worked example. A 40-person office outing books a 40-passenger charter bus for a Wednesday night game. Pickup from downtown Scranton at 5:45 PM, at PNC Field's Middle Driveaway by 6:10 PM — plenty of time before a typical 6:35 PM first pitch.
The bus stages nearby through the game and is back at the driveaway for an 9:45 PM pickup after the final out. An outing like that, booked as a roughly 4-hour rental, might land somewhere around $700–$900 total — about $18–$23 a person once the group ticket price is added in. Pricing always varies with the date and the vehicle, but that's the shape of it.
Fill out the quick form or call 272-772-3380 and you can have pricing for your date in about a minute — the Scranton bus rental prices page walks through what shapes a quote in more detail.
Getting to PNC Field: I-81 Exit 182 and Drive Times
Every route to PNC Field ends at the same interchange. Moosic sits three miles south of downtown Scranton and about 13 miles from downtown Wilkes-Barre by way of I-81 North — roughly a 21-minute drive under normal conditions. Off Exit 182, the road becomes Montage Mountain Road, which also happens to be the address for the Pavilion at Montage Mountain just up the hill — meaning a summer concert night up top and a RailRiders game at the bottom can back up the same exit ramp at the same time.
Worth knowing before you set a pickup window on a night when both venues have something going on.
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Scranton | ~3 miles | 5–10 minutes |
| Downtown Wilkes-Barre | ~13 miles | ~21 minutes |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int'l Airport (AVP) | ~2.6 miles | ~10 minutes |
Those numbers hold up on a quiet Tuesday. They stretch on a Fireworks Friday or a promotional giveaway night, when Lots A, B, and C fill in the two-hour window before first pitch and the Middle Driveaway backs up with everyone arriving at once. A charter bus sidesteps most of that — it's one vehicle merging into the flow instead of forty cars trying to find the same three lots, and it stages once instead of hunting for a spot.
If your group is coming from beyond the immediate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre corridor, the Scranton group transportation services page covers multi-stop pickups across the wider service area.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport (AVP) to PNC Field Bus Rental
Groups flying in for a corporate outing or a reunion weekend have it easy here — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) sits about 2.6 miles from PNC Field, roughly a 10-minute drive, making it one of the shortest airport-to-ballpark runs of any minor league stop in the country. AVP's own parking rate page lists daily garage parking at $17 and the outer lots at $13 a day (rates effective August 2025) — numbers worth knowing if part of your group is debating a rental car versus one bus meeting everybody at baggage claim.
For a group flying in for a weekend built around a RailRiders game, one bus collecting everyone at AVP and running straight to a hotel, then to PNC Field the next evening, beats coordinating rental-car returns around a first pitch. The Scranton airport transportation page covers pickup timing and flight-tracking details for a trip like that.
Bag Policy & Ballpark Rules for PNC Field Groups
PNC Field's entry rules are straightforward, but they're worth reading before your group loads up gear for a tailgate that isn't allowed to happen in most of the lot. Per the team's own ballpark rules and guidelines:
- Clear bags move fastest. Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags are welcome and go through the gates quickest. Non-transparent bags, purses, and backpacks are still allowed but get a closer look at the gate.
- Medical and diaper bags are always waved through and handled with discretion.
- No outside food or drink. Alcohol, glass, metal cans, and coolers stay outside the gates, along with air horns.
- One sealed water bottle is fine. Guests can bring one unopened 20 oz. water bottle, or an empty refillable one to fill inside.
- Weapons, drones, and laser pointers are prohibited outright — that includes off-duty law enforcement carrying a weapon.
- Aerosol cans are banned, including spray sunscreen — pack the lotion instead.
- Re-entry is allowed. Guests can leave PNC Field and come back during the same game, which matters if a bus group wants to step out to the vehicle mid-game.
None of this changes for a group arriving by bus — but it does mean coolers, tailgate spreads, and the sealed bottle of wine for a birthday celebration all need to ride along in the vehicle rather than come through the gate. A charter bus with underneath storage handles that trade-off better than a car trunk does.
Leaving PNC Field After the Final Out
Getting out follows the same single road that gets everyone in. Once the final out is recorded, traffic funnels back down the Middle Driveaway and out the rear Left Field exit toward Montage Mountain Road and I-81 Exit 182 — the same chokepoint that backed up on the way in, now running the other direction with every lot emptying at once.
A bus group skips most of the scramble simply by not needing to find a car in a dark lot. Set a pickup window before the game — the last inning or two, if you want to beat the crowd out, or right after the final out if your group wants to stay through — and the bus is already staged nearby rather than three lots away. Everyone climbs aboard together instead of forty phones lighting up trying to find each other in Lot C.
PNC Field Game Days Worth Booking Around in 2026
The RailRiders' 2026 home slate opens with a six-game series against the Rochester Red Wings, April 4–9, followed by a second homestand against Charlotte, April 18–23, per the team's own 2026 schedule. Weekly promotions repeat all season on a set pattern — TWO$Day, Winning Wednesday, Thrilling Thursday, Friday Night Fireworks, and Sensational Saturday — with Friday Night Fireworks consistently pulling the biggest crowd of any given homestand and the tightest lots.
PNC Field isn't only a baseball venue, either. The team's own facility rental page lists football games, company picnics, on-field weddings, concerts, and wine and beer events among the property's regular non-baseball bookings. A corporate group renting the field for a company outing has the same Middle Driveaway drop and the same $5 lots as a game-night crowd — worth knowing if your event is a corporate outing rather than a ballgame, or if you're one of the couples who book wedding transportation for an on-field ceremony at the ballpark.
Whatever the date on the calendar, booking your bus as soon as the date is set beats calling the week of — Fireworks Fridays and season-opening weekends are exactly when vehicles book out first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a bus drop off at PNC Field?
Buses use the same single access road as every other vehicle — up the Middle Driveaway toward the Main Entry Plaza, with an exit route out the back of the Left Field lot, per the RailRiders' own parking page. It's a short walk from that driveaway to the gates.
Is there a dedicated bus or motorcoach parking lot at PNC Field?
The team's published parking map covers Lots A, B, and C for general and accessible parking, but doesn't list a separate bus lot. Staging for a charter bus or party bus gets confirmed with the group sales office ahead of your date rather than assumed from the public map.
How much does parking cost at PNC Field?
Car parking is a flat $5, cash or card, and lots open two hours before first pitch, per the official parking page. There's no published day-of surcharge for group or promotional nights.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to PNC Field?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, the date, and your pickup location. To give you an idea, a roughly 4-hour trip for a mid-size group has landed around $700–$900. Fill out the quick form or call 272-772-3380 for pricing on your specific date.
What's the closest airport to PNC Field?
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), about 2.6 miles away and roughly a 10-minute drive — one of the shortest airport-to-ballpark runs of any minor league stadium.
Can our group tailgate at PNC Field?
Tailgating is prohibited across most of the property, with a handful of designated exceptions. A parking attendant on-site points groups to those spots — ask before setting up.
What's the bag policy at PNC Field?
Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags move fastest through the gate. Non-clear bags, purses, and backpacks are allowed but get a closer look. No outside food, alcohol, glass, cans, or coolers; one sealed 20 oz. water bottle per person is fine, and diaper or medical bags always get through.
How many people do we need for RailRiders group tickets?
Group rates start at 10 tickets, with pricing beginning at $12 a ticket for Sunday-through-Thursday games, per the RailRiders' group tickets page. Friday and Saturday dates run higher.
Can we do an on-field experience, like a pregame parade, with our group?
Yes — the RailRiders offer several on-field group experiences, including a pregame parade around the warning track and a National Anthem flag-holding spot. Minimums range from 50 tickets on a Tuesday-through-Thursday date up to 350 for a Friday or Saturday, per the team's group experiences page.
Can our group re-enter PNC Field if we step out to the bus?
Yes. PNC Field allows re-entry during the same game, so a group can step out to the vehicle and come back in without losing their seats.
When does the 2026 RailRiders season start?
The home opener is a six-game series against the Rochester Red Wings, April 4–9, 2026, followed by a homestand against Charlotte, April 18–23, per the team's published schedule.
How far in advance should we book a bus for a RailRiders game?
As soon as your date is set, especially for Friday Night Fireworks games or opening weekends, when both tickets and vehicles book out first. Most other dates on the schedule are workable with a couple of weeks' notice.
Book Your PNC Field Bus Today
Whether it's a company picnic chasing group ticket pricing, a birthday party built around Friday Night Fireworks, or a weekend trip flying into AVP for a RailRiders game, Scrantonminibuscompany.com makes it easy to compare charter buses, party buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans serving PNC Field and the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Fill out the quick online form or call 272-772-3380 any time, and you can have pricing for your date in about a minute — no account required.
Also planning a night at La Festa Italiana or a show at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain? Those guides cover their own drop-offs and parking.
