Central Park to United Nations by subway and bus
Quick answer: Take a downtown B train from 86 St to 42 St-Bryant Pk, then take the M42 bus from W 42 St/6 Av to E 41 St/1 Av. The trip takes about 43 minutes door to door on a weekday (40 to 46 depending on the connection). The B train comes about every 8 minutes during the day. The B train doesn't run from 86 St to 42 St-Bryant Pk on weekends; the trip then uses another line. The B train doesn't run from 86 St to 42 St-Bryant Pk between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Central Park to United Nations
- B
- M42
- Walk 12 minto 86 St
- B B trainFrom 86 St, downtown6 stops, about 10 min
- Change at 42 St-Bryant PkWalk about 4 min
- M42 M42 busFrom W 42 St/6 Av8 stops, about 9 min
- Get off at E 41 St/1 Av
- United NationsWalk about 3 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 B train from 86 St to 42 St-Bryant Pk. It's 6 stops, about 10 minutes.
- At 42 St-Bryant Pk, walk about 4 minutes to W 42 St/6 Av for the M42 bus.
- Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/6 Av to E 41 St/1 Av. It's 8 stops, about 9 minutes.
- From E 41 St/1 Av, walk about 3 minutes to the United Nations.
Other ways to go
- Take the M2 bus from 5 Av/E 84 St to 5 Av/W 42 St, then take the M42 bus from W 42 St/5 Av to E 41 St/1 Av: about 48 minutes.
- Take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from E 84 St/5 Av to E 86 St/2 Av, then take the M15 Select Bus Service bus from 2 Av/E 87 St to 2 Av/E 42 St: about 46 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 | B train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 45 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 43 min | No B train trips | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 43 min | No B train trips | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 38 minutes. No B service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no B trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after E 42 St/1 Av. The next stop is E 41 St/1 Av. 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 (B platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 42 St-Bryant Pk/5 Av (B platform) is not 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 United Nations: common questions
How do I get from Central Park to United Nations by public transit?
Take a downtown B train from 86 St to 42 St-Bryant Pk, then take the M42 bus from W 42 St/6 Av to E 41 St/1 Av.
How long does it take?
About 43 minutes door to door on a weekday, 40 to 46 depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at 42 St-Bryant Pk.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 38 minutes. No B service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no B 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
- JFK Airport to United Nations
- LaGuardia Airport to United Nations
- Penn Station to United Nations
- 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.