Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Midtown Manhattan by subway
Quick answer: Take an uptown R or W train from City Hall to 49 St. The trip takes about 39 minutes door to door on a weekday. The R or W train comes about every 4 minutes during the day. The R or W train doesn't run from City Hall to 49 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Midtown Manhattan
- R / W
- Walk 16 minto City Hall
- R / W R or W trainFrom City Hall, uptown9 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at 49 St
- Midtown ManhattanWalk about 6 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 16 minutes from the Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to City Hall.
- Take an uptown R or W train from City Hall to 49 St. It's 9 stops, about 16 minutes.
- From 49 St, walk about 6 minutes to Midtown Manhattan.
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown 6 train from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to Bleecker St, then take an uptown B or D train from Broadway-Lafayette St to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr: about 39 minutes.
- Take an uptown A or C train from Fulton St to W 4 St-Wash Sq, then take an uptown B, D, F or M train from W 4 St-Wash Sq to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr: about 39 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 | R or W train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 39 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 38 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 38 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 42 minutes. No W service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no W trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The R and W trains all stop at both City Hall and 49 St.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Times Sq-42 St. The next stop is 49 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: City Hall (W platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 49 St (W platform) is only partly accessible (Uptown only). 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.
Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Midtown Manhattan: common questions
How do I get from Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Midtown Manhattan by public transit?
Take an uptown R or W train from City Hall to 49 St.
How long does it take?
About 39 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 38 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The R or W 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 42 minutes. No W service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no W trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
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
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to JFK Airport
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to LaGuardia Airport
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Times Square
- Financial District to Midtown Manhattan
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Midtown Manhattan
- Williamsburg to Midtown Manhattan
- 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)
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side): 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.
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