Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University by bus and subway
Quick answer: Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/7 Av, then take an uptown 1 train from Times Sq-42 St to 116 St-Columbia University. The trip takes about 38 minutes door to door on a weekday (36 to 40 depending on the connection). The M42 bus comes about every 7 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University
- M42
- 1
- Walk 1 minto E 42 St/Park Av
- M42 M42 busFrom E 42 St/Park Av4 stops, about 7 min
- Change at W 42 St/7 AvWalk about 5 min
- 1 1 trainFrom Times Sq-42 St, uptown10 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at 116 St-Columbia University
- Columbia University
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/7 Av. It's 4 stops, about 7 minutes.
- At W 42 St/7 Av, walk about 5 minutes to Times Sq-42 St for the 1 train.
- Take an uptown 1 train from Times Sq-42 St to 116 St-Columbia University. It's 10 stops, about 16 minutes.
Other ways to go
- Take a Metro-North Hudson Line train toward Croton-Harmon from Grand Central to Harlem-125 St, then take the M60 Select Bus Service bus from E 125 St/Park Av to Broadway/W 116 St: about 36 minutes.
- Take an uptown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 125 St, then take the M60 Select Bus Service bus from E 125 St/Lexington Av to Broadway/W 116 St: about 39 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 | 1 train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 39 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 39 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 39 min | About every 6 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 40 minutes, and the 1 train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after Cathedral Pkwy (110 St). The next stop is 116 St-Columbia University. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Morningside campus: West 116th to West 120th Street at Broadway (College Walk is at 116th). (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)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (1 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 116 St-Columbia University (1 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 Columbia University: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University by public transit?
Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/7 Av, then take an uptown 1 train from Times Sq-42 St to 116 St-Columbia University.
How long does it take?
About 38 minutes door to door on a weekday, 36 to 40 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 39 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at W 42 St/7 Av.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 40 minutes, and the 1 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
- JFK Airport to Columbia University
- LaGuardia Airport to Columbia University
- Penn Station to Columbia University
- 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)
- Columbia University: 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.