Grand Central Terminal to Williamsburg by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av. The trip takes about 26 minutes door to door on a weekday. The 4 or 5 train comes every few minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Grand Central Terminal to Williamsburg
- 4 / 5
- L
- 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 6 min
- L L trainFrom 14 St-Union Sq, Brooklyn-bound3 stops, about 6 min
- Get off at Bedford Av
- WilliamsburgWalk about 2 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 6 minutes to 14 St-Union Sq for the L train.
- Take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av. It's 3 stops, about 6 minutes.
- From Bedford Av, walk about 2 minutes to Williamsburg.
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 | L train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 26 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 26 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 27 min | About every 4 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes, and the L train comes about every 20 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.
- 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 (5 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St-Union Sq (5 platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St-Union Sq (L platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Bedford Av (L 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 Williamsburg: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Williamsburg by public transit?
Take a downtown 4 or 5 train from Grand Central-42 St to 14 St-Union Sq, then take a Brooklyn-bound L train from 14 St-Union Sq to Bedford Av.
How long does it take?
About 26 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 26 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 30 minutes, and the L 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 Williamsburg
- LaGuardia Airport to Williamsburg
- Penn Station to Williamsburg
- 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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