Grand Central Terminal to Coney Island Boardwalk 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 D or F train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Coney Island-Stillwell Av. The trip takes about 81 minutes door to door on a weekday (76 to 83 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 Coney Island Boardwalk
- M42
- D / F
- 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
- D / F D or F trainFrom 42 St-Bryant Pk, downtown19 stops, about 56 min
- Get off at Coney Island-Stillwell Av
- Coney Island BoardwalkWalk about 11 min
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 D or F train.
- Take a downtown D or F train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Coney Island-Stillwell Av. It's 19 stops, about 56 minutes.
- From Coney Island-Stillwell Av, walk about 11 minutes to the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to Canal St, then take a downtown N or Q train from Canal St to Coney Island-Stillwell Av: about 79 minutes.
- 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 Sheepshead Bay, then take a Southbound Q train from Sheepshead Bay to Coney Island-Stillwell Av: about 76 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 | D or F train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 81 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 83 min | Every few minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 80 min | About every 5 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 82 minutes, and the D or F train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The D and F trains all stop at both 42 St-Bryant Pk and Coney Island-Stillwell Av.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Bay 50 St. The next stop is Coney Island-Stillwell 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: 42 St-Bryant Pk/5 Av (D platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Coney Island-Stillwell Av (D platform) is 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 Coney Island Boardwalk: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Coney Island Boardwalk 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 D or F train from 42 St-Bryant Pk to Coney Island-Stillwell Av.
How long does it take?
About 81 minutes door to door on a weekday, 76 to 83 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 83 minutes.
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 82 minutes, and the D or F 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
- LaGuardia Airport to Coney Island Boardwalk
- Penn Station to Coney Island Boardwalk
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Coney Island Boardwalk
- 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.