Central Park to Williamsburg by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av. The trip takes about 44 minutes door to door on a weekday (42 to 46 depending on the connection). The 4 or 5 train comes every few minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Central Park to Williamsburg
- 4 / 5
- L
- Walk 16 minto 86 St
- 4 / 5 4 or 5 trainFrom 86 St, downtown3 stops, about 10 min
- Change at 14 St-Union SqWalk about 6 min
- L L trainFrom 14 St-Union Sq, Brooklyn-bound3 stops, about 6 min
- Get off at Bedford Av
- WilliamsburgWalk about 2 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 16 minutes from Central Park to 86 St.
- Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to 14 St-Union Sq. It's 3 stops, about 10 minutes.
- At 14 St-Union Sq, walk about 6 minutes to 14 St-Union Sq for the L train.
- Take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av. It's 3 stops, about 6 minutes.
- From Bedford Av, walk about 2 minutes to Williamsburg.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown C train from 86 St to 14 St, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 8 Av to Bedford Av: about 48 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 | 4 or 5 train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 44 min | Every few minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 44 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 44 min | About every 4 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 51 minutes, and the 4 or 5 train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The 4 and 5 trains all stop at both 86 St and 14 St-Union Sq.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 86 St (5 platform) is only partly accessible (Uptown local only); 14 St-Union Sq (5 platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St-Union Sq (L platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Bedford Av (L 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 Williamsburg: common questions
How do I get from Central Park to Williamsburg by public transit?
Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from 86 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av.
How long does it take?
About 44 minutes door to door on a weekday, 42 to 46 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 44 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at 14 St-Union Sq.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 51 minutes, and the 4 or 5 train comes about every 20 minutes.
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 Williamsburg
- LaGuardia Airport to Williamsburg
- Penn Station to Williamsburg
- 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.
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