Penn Station to Central Park by subway and bus
Quick answer: Take an uptown 1 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 86 St, then take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from W 86 St/Broadway to W 86 St/Central Park West. The trip takes about 35 minutes door to door on a weekday. The 1 train comes about every 5 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Penn Station to Central Park
- 1
- M86 SBS
- 1 1 trainFrom 34 St-Penn Station, uptown7 stops, about 12 min
- Change at 86 StWalk about 4 min
- M86 SBS M86 Select Bus Service busFrom W 86 St/Broadway3 stops, about 4 min
- Get off at W 86 St/Central Park West
- Central Park
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Take an uptown 1 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 86 St. It's 7 stops, about 12 minutes.
- At 86 St, walk about 4 minutes to W 86 St/Broadway for the M86 Select Bus Service bus.
- Take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from W 86 St/Broadway to W 86 St/Central Park West. It's 3 stops, about 4 minutes.
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown 2 or 3 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 72 St, then take an uptown 1 train from 72 St to 86 St, then take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from W 86 St/Broadway to W 86 St/Central Park West: about 34 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 | 35 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 36 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 35 min | About every 6 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 37 minutes, and the 1 train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Newark Penn Station is a different station, in Newark, New Jersey. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Moynihan Train Hall, across the street, serves LIRR and Amtrak riders too. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 34 St-Penn Station (1 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 86 St (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.
Penn Station to Central Park: common questions
How do I get from Penn Station to Central Park by public transit?
Take an uptown 1 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 86 St, then take the M86 Select Bus Service bus from W 86 St/Broadway to W 86 St/Central Park West.
How long does it take?
About 35 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 36 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at 86 St.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 37 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
- Penn Station to Rockefeller Center
- Penn Station to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Penn Station to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- JFK Airport to Central Park
- LaGuardia Airport to Central Park
- Grand Central Terminal to Central Park
- 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)
- Penn Station: visitor information
- Penn Station: 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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