Central Park to Chelsea Market by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown C train from 86 St to 14 St. The trip takes about 32 minutes door to door on a weekday. The C train comes about every 9 minutes during the day. The C train doesn't run from 86 St to 14 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Central Park to Chelsea Market
- C
- Walk 12 minto 86 St
- C C trainFrom 86 St, downtown8 stops, about 14 min
- Get off at 14 St
- Chelsea MarketWalk about 7 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 12 minutes from Central Park to 86 St.
- Take a downtown C train from 86 St to 14 St. It's 8 stops, about 14 minutes.
- From 14 St, walk about 7 minutes to Chelsea Market.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown B train from 86 St to 59 St-Columbus Circle, then take a downtown A train from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 14 St: about 36 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 | C train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 32 min | About every 9 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 31 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 31 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 33 minutes. No C service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no C trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 23 St. The next stop is 14 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 86 St (C platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St/8 Av (C 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.
Central Park to Chelsea Market: common questions
How do I get from Central Park to Chelsea Market by public transit?
Take a downtown C train from 86 St to 14 St.
How long does it take?
About 32 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 31 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The C 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 33 minutes. No C service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no C 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
- Central Park to Times Square
- Central Park to Empire State Building
- Central Park to Rockefeller Center
- Penn Station to Chelsea Market
- Grand Central Terminal to Chelsea Market
- Times Square to Chelsea Market
- 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)
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.