Empire State Building to UBS Arena by LIRR
Quick answer: Take an LIRR train toward Long Beach from Penn Station to Jamaica, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena. The trip takes about 55 minutes door to door on a weekday (50 to 56 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about every 6 minutes during the day. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Empire State Building to UBS Arena
- LIRR
- Walk 12 minto Penn Station
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Penn Station toward Long Beach2 stops, about 20 min
- Change at Jamaica
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Jamaica toward Hempstead1 stop, about 13 min
- Get off at Elmont-UBS Arena
- UBS Arena
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 12 minutes from Empire State Building to Penn Station.
- Take an LIRR train toward Long Beach from Penn Station to Jamaica. It's 2 stops, about 20 minutes.
- Take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena. It's 1 stop, about 13 minutes.
Other ways to go
- Take the M3 bus from Madison Av/E 34 St to Madison Av/E 42 St, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena: about 56 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 | LIRR train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 55 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 53 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 53 min | About every 8 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 55 minutes. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Penn Station goes to Jamaica. Trains to Port Washington or Great Neck don't. On a weekday 168 trains do; look for Jamaica on the board.
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Jamaica goes to Elmont-UBS Arena. Trains to Babylon, Ronkonkoma or Huntington don't. On a weekday 37 trains do; look for Elmont-UBS Arena on the board.
- LIRR station Elmont-UBS Arena has daily service. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
What it costs
- LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Empire State Building to UBS Arena: common questions
How do I get from Empire State Building to UBS Arena by public transit?
Take an LIRR train toward Long Beach from Penn Station to Jamaica, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena.
How long does it take?
About 55 minutes door to door on a weekday, 50 to 56 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 53 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Jamaica.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 55 minutes. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
How much does it cost?
LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Related routes
- Empire State Building to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Empire State Building to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- Empire State Building to Central Park
- JFK Airport to UBS Arena
- LaGuardia Airport to UBS Arena
- Penn Station to UBS Arena
- 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: LIRR and Metro-North fares
- UBS Arena: visitor information
- Empire State Building: 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.
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