Grand Central Terminal to Bushwick by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to DeKalb Av. The trip takes about 36 minutes door to door on a weekday. The 4 or 5 train comes every few minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Grand Central Terminal to Bushwick
- 4 / 5
- L
- Walk 4 minto Grand Central-42 St
- 4 / 5 4 or 5 trainFrom Grand Central-42 St, downtown1 stop, about 4 min
- Change at 14 St-Union SqWalk about 6 min
- L L trainFrom 14 St-Union Sq, Brooklyn-bound10 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at DeKalb Av
- BushwickWalk about 2 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 4 minutes from Grand Central Terminal to Grand Central-42 St.
- Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq. It's 1 stop, about 4 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 DeKalb Av. It's 10 stops, about 16 minutes.
- From DeKalb Av, walk about 2 minutes to Bushwick.
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 | L train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 36 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 36 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 37 min | About every 4 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 41 minutes, and the L 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 Grand Central-42 St and 14 St-Union Sq.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Jefferson St. The next stop is DeKalb Av. 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: Grand Central-42 St (5 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 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; DeKalb Av (L 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 Bushwick: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Bushwick by public transit?
Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to DeKalb Av.
How long does it take?
About 36 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 36 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 41 minutes, and the L 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
- 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
- Penn Station to Bushwick
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Bushwick
- Times Square to Bushwick
- 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.