Grand Central Terminal to Chelsea Piers by subway and bus
Quick answer: Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take the M14D Select Bus Service bus from E 14 St/Irving Pl to 11 Av/W 18 St. The trip takes about 33 minutes door to door on a weekday (29 to 34 depending on the connection). The 4 or 5 train comes every few minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Grand Central Terminal to Chelsea Piers
- 4 / 5
- M14D SBS
- 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 3 min
- M14D SBS M14D Select Bus Service busFrom E 14 St/Irving Pl9 stops, about 13 min
- Get off at 11 Av/W 18 St
- Chelsea PiersWalk about 6 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 3 minutes to E 14 St/Irving Pl for the M14D Select Bus Service bus.
- Take the M14D Select Bus Service bus from E 14 St/Irving Pl to 11 Av/W 18 St. It's 9 stops, about 13 minutes.
- From 11 Av/W 18 St, walk about 6 minutes to Chelsea Piers.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 23 St-Baruch College, then take the M23 Select Bus Service bus from E 23 St/Park Av South to W 23 St/11 Av: about 32 minutes.
- Take the M101 bus from Lexington Av/E 42 St to 3 Av/E 23 St, then take the M23 Select Bus Service bus from E 23 St/3 Av to W 23 St/11 Av: about 35 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 | M14D Select Bus Service bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 33 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 34 min | About every 7 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 33 min | About every 9 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 28 minutes, and the M14D Select Bus Service bus comes about every 31 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 11 Av/W 15 St. The next stop is 11 Av/W 18 St. 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 (4 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St-Union Sq (4 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 Chelsea Piers: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Chelsea Piers by public transit?
Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take the M14D Select Bus Service bus from E 14 St/Irving Pl to 11 Av/W 18 St.
How long does it take?
About 33 minutes door to door on a weekday, 29 to 34 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 34 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 28 minutes, and the M14D Select Bus Service bus comes about every 31 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 Chelsea Piers
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Chelsea Piers
- Times Square to Chelsea Piers
- 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.