Central Park to New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue) by bus
Quick answer: Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 42 St. The trip takes about 38 minutes door to door on a weekday (26 to 40 depending on the connection). The M2 bus comes about every 10 minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Central Park to New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue)
- M2
- Walk 7 minto 5 Av/E 84 St
- M2 M2 busFrom 5 Av/E 84 St7 stops, about 27 min
- Get off at 5 Av/W 42 St
- New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue)Walk about 3 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 7 minutes from Central Park to 5 Av/E 84 St.
- Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 42 St. It's 7 stops, about 27 minutes.
- From 5 Av/W 42 St, walk about 3 minutes to the New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue).
Other ways to go
- Take the M4 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 41 St: about 34 minutes.
- Take the M1 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 42 St: about 33 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 | M2 bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 40 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 30 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 28 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 21 minutes, and the M2 bus comes about once an hour.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 5 Av/W 50 St. The next stop is 5 Av/W 42 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
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 New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue): common questions
How do I get from Central Park to New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue) by public transit?
Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 42 St.
How long does it take?
About 38 minutes door to door on a weekday, 26 to 40 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 30 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The M2 bus 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 21 minutes, and the M2 bus comes about once an hour.
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
- LaGuardia Airport to New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue)
- Financial District to New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue)
- 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:
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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