Lower East Side to Midtown Manhattan by subway
Quick answer: Take a Brooklyn-bound F or M train from Delancey St-Essex St to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr. The trip takes about 20 minutes door to door on a weekday. The F or M train comes every few minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Lower East Side to Midtown Manhattan
- F / M
- Walk 4 minto Delancey St-Essex St
- F / M F or M trainFrom Delancey St-Essex St, Brooklyn-bound7 stops, about 14 min
- Get off at 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr
- Midtown ManhattanWalk about 2 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 4 minutes from Lower East Side to Delancey St-Essex St.
- Take a Brooklyn-bound F or M train from Delancey St-Essex St to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr. It's 7 stops, about 14 minutes.
- From 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, walk about 2 minutes to Midtown Manhattan.
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 | F or M train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 20 min | Every few minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 18 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 18 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 18 minutes, and the F or M train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The F and M trains all stop at both Delancey St-Essex St and 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr.
- Know your stop. Get ready after 42 St-Bryant Pk. The next stop is 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Delancey St-Essex St (M platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (M 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.
Lower East Side to Midtown Manhattan: common questions
How do I get from Lower East Side to Midtown Manhattan by public transit?
Take a Brooklyn-bound F or M train from Delancey St-Essex St to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr.
How long does it take?
About 20 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 18 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The F or M train goes all the way.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 18 minutes, and the F or M 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
- Lower East Side to JFK Airport
- Lower East Side to LaGuardia Airport
- Lower East Side to Financial District
- Financial District to Midtown Manhattan
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum to Midtown Manhattan
- Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) to Midtown Manhattan
- 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)
- Lower East Side: 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.