Grand Central Terminal to Central Park Zoo by bus
Quick answer: Take the M1 bus from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St. The trip takes about 23 minutes door to door on a weekday (19 to 23 depending on the connection). The M1 bus comes about every 10 minutes during the day. The M1 bus runs only a few times from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Grand Central Terminal to Central Park Zoo
- M1
- Walk 3 minto Madison Av/E 43 St
- M1 M1 busFrom Madison Av/E 43 St8 stops, about 13 min
- Get off at Madison Av/E 63 St
- Central Park ZooWalk about 7 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 3 minutes from Grand Central Terminal to Madison Av/E 43 St.
- Take the M1 bus from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St. It's 8 stops, about 13 minutes.
- From Madison Av/E 63 St, walk about 7 minutes to Central Park Zoo.
Other ways to go
- Take the M3 bus from Madison Av/E 42 St to Madison Av/E 63 St: about 23 minutes.
- Take the M4 bus from Madison Av/E 42 St to Madison Av/E 63 St: about 24 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 | M1 bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 23 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 18 min | About every 11 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 18 min | About every 15 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 23 minutes. The M1 bus runs only a few times from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after Madison Av/E 61 St. The next stop is Madison Av/E 63 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- At 64th Street & 5th Avenue. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Subway: N, R, W to 5 Av/59 St, then walk north 4 blocks. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- LIRR trains stop at Grand Central Madison, on the west side of Grand Central Terminal, under Vanderbilt Avenue. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
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 Central Park Zoo: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Central Park Zoo by public transit?
Take the M1 bus from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St.
How long does it take?
About 23 minutes door to door on a weekday, 19 to 23 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 18 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The M1 bus goes all the way.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 23 minutes. The M1 bus runs only a few times from Madison Av/E 43 St to Madison Av/E 63 St between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
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 Central Park Zoo
- Times Square to Central Park Zoo
- 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
- Central Park Zoo: visitor information
- Central Park Zoo: visitor information
- 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.