Grand Central Terminal to Museum of the Moving Image by subway
Quick answer: Take an uptown 4, 5 or 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 59 St, then take a Queens-bound R train from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway St. The trip takes about 35 minutes door to door on a weekday. The 4, 5 or 6 train comes every few minutes during the day. The R train doesn't run from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Grand Central Terminal to Museum of the Moving Image
- 4 / 5 / 6
- R
- Walk 4 minto Grand Central-42 St
- 4 / 5 / 6 4, 5 or 6 trainFrom Grand Central-42 St, uptown2 stops, about 4 min
- Change at 59 StWalk about 6 min
- R R trainFrom Lexington Av/59 St, Queens-bound3 stops, about 11 min
- Get off at Steinway St
- Museum of the Moving ImageWalk about 8 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 an uptown 4, 5 or 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 59 St. It's 2 stops, about 4 minutes.
- At 59 St, walk about 6 minutes to Lexington Av/59 St for the R train.
- Take a Queens-bound R train from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway St. It's 3 stops, about 11 minutes.
- From Steinway St, walk about 8 minutes to Museum of the Moving Image.
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 59 St, then take a Queens-bound N or W train from Lexington Av/59 St to 36 Av: about 36 minutes.
- Take a Queens-bound 7 train from Grand Central-42 St to Queensboro Plaza, then take an Astoria-bound N or W train from Queensboro Plaza to 36 Av: about 38 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 | R train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 35 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 35 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 35 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 36 minutes. The R train doesn't run from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway St between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The 4, 5 and 6 trains all stop at both Grand Central-42 St and 59 St.
- 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 (6 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Lexington Av/59 St (6 platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Lexington Av/59 St (R platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Steinway St (R 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 Museum of the Moving Image: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Museum of the Moving Image by public transit?
Take an uptown 4, 5 or 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 59 St, then take a Queens-bound R train from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway St.
How long does it take?
About 35 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 35 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at 59 St.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 36 minutes. The R train doesn't run from Lexington Av/59 St to Steinway 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 Museum of the Moving Image
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Museum of the Moving Image
- Times Square to Museum of the Moving Image
- 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.
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