9/11 Memorial & Museum to Empire State Building by subway
Quick answer: Take an uptown 1 train from WTC Cortlandt to 34 St-Penn Station. The trip takes about 25 minutes door to door on a weekday. The 1 train comes about every 5 minutes during the day. It runs all night.
9/11 Memorial & Museum to Empire State Building
- 1
- Walk 3 minto WTC Cortlandt
- 1 1 trainFrom WTC Cortlandt, uptown10 stops, about 12 min
- Get off at 34 St-Penn Station
- Empire State BuildingWalk about 10 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 3 minutes from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to WTC Cortlandt.
- Take an uptown 1 train from WTC Cortlandt to 34 St-Penn Station. It's 10 stops, about 12 minutes.
- From 34 St-Penn Station, walk about 10 minutes to Empire State Building.
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown R or W train from Cortlandt St to 34 St-Herald Sq: about 26 minutes.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | 1 train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 25 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 26 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 26 min | About every 6 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 25 minutes, and the 1 train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 28 St. The next stop is 34 St-Penn Station. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Closest subway: 34 St-Herald Square, about a five-minute walk east. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Entrances. Observation Deck entrance: 20 West 34th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues (source).
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: WTC Cortlandt (1 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 34 St-Penn Station (1 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations. Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
9/11 Memorial & Museum to Empire State Building: common questions
How do I get from 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Empire State Building by public transit?
Take an uptown 1 train from WTC Cortlandt to 34 St-Penn Station.
How long does it take?
About 25 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 26 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The 1 train goes all the way.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 25 minutes, and the 1 train comes about every 20 minutes.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Related routes
- Empire State Building to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Times Square
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Rockefeller Center
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Central Park
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- LaGuardia Airport to Empire State Building
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Empire State Building
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- MTA subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
- Empire State Building: visitor information
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum: visitor information
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.