Central Park to NYU (Washington Square) by bus
Quick answer: Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to E 8 St/University Pl. The trip takes about 49 minutes door to door on a weekday (37 to 49 depending on the connection). The M2 bus comes about every 10 minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Central Park to NYU (Washington Square)
- M2
- Walk 7 minto 5 Av/E 84 St
- M2 M2 busFrom 5 Av/E 84 St12 stops, about 37 min
- Get off at E 8 St/University Pl
- NYU (Washington Square)Walk about 5 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 E 8 St/University Pl. It's 12 stops, about 37 minutes.
- From E 8 St/University Pl, walk about 5 minutes to NYU (Washington Square).
Other ways to go
- Take the M1 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to Broadway/Waverly Pl: about 49 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 | 41 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 45 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 42 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 38 minutes, and the M2 bus comes about once an hour.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after E 8 St/5 Av. The next stop is E 8 St/University Pl. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- NYU buildings are on the streets around Washington Square Park, in Greenwich Village. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
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 NYU (Washington Square): common questions
How do I get from Central Park to NYU (Washington Square) by public transit?
Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to E 8 St/University Pl.
How long does it take?
About 49 minutes door to door on a weekday, 37 to 49 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 45 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 38 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
- Times Square to NYU (Washington Square)
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to NYU (Washington Square)
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to NYU (Washington Square)
- 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
- NYU (Washington Square): 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.