Grand Central Terminal to Brighton Beach by bus and subway
Quick answer: Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/Av of the Americas, then take a downtown B train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Brighton Beach. The trip takes about 66 minutes door to door on a weekday (63 to 68 depending on the connection). The M42 bus comes about every 7 minutes during the day. The B train doesn't run from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Brighton Beach on weekends; the trip then uses another line. The B train doesn't run from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Brighton Beach between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Grand Central Terminal to Brighton Beach
- M42
- B
- Walk 1 minto E 42 St/Park Av
- M42 M42 busFrom E 42 St/Park Av3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at W 42 St/Av of the AmericasWalk about 4 min
- B B trainFrom 42 St-Bryant Pk, downtown13 stops, about 44 min
- Get off at Brighton Beach
- Brighton Beach
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 1 minute from Grand Central Terminal to E 42 St/Park Av.
- Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/Av of the Americas. It's 3 stops, about 4 minutes.
- At W 42 St/Av of the Americas, walk about 4 minutes to 42 St-Bryant Pk for the B train.
- Take a downtown B train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Brighton Beach. It's 13 stops, about 44 minutes.
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) | 66 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 66 min | No B train trips | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 66 min | No B train trips | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 74 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 Sheepshead Bay. The next stop is Brighton Beach. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- LIRR trains stop at Grand Central Madison, on the west side of Grand Central Terminal, under Vanderbilt Avenue. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 42 St-Bryant Pk/5 Av (B platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Brighton Beach (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.
Grand Central Terminal to Brighton Beach: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Brighton Beach by public transit?
Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/Av of the Americas, then take a downtown B train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Brighton Beach.
How long does it take?
About 66 minutes door to door on a weekday, 63 to 68 depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at W 42 St/Av of the Americas.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 74 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
- Grand Central Terminal to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Grand Central Terminal to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- Grand Central Terminal to Central Park
- Times Square to Brighton Beach
- Penn Station to Brighton Beach
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Brighton Beach
- 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)
- Grand Central Terminal: 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.