Penn Station to Chinatown by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown N or Q train from 34 St-Herald Sq to Canal St. The trip takes about 24 minutes door to door on a weekday. The N or Q train comes about every 4 minutes during the day. It runs all night.
Penn Station to Chinatown
- N / Q
- Walk 9 minto 34 St-Herald Sq
- N / Q N or Q trainFrom 34 St-Herald Sq, downtown2 stops, about 6 min
- Get off at Canal St
- ChinatownWalk about 9 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 9 minutes from Penn Station to 34 St-Herald Sq.
- Take a downtown N or Q train from 34 St-Herald Sq to Canal St. It's 2 stops, about 6 minutes.
- From Canal St, walk about 9 minutes to Chinatown.
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 | N or Q train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 24 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 25 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 25 min | About every 6 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes, and the N or Q train comes about every 5 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The N and Q trains all stop at both 34 St-Herald Sq and Canal St.
- Mulberry Street runs through Little Italy and Chinatown. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- 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-Herald Sq (Q platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Canal St (Q 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 Chinatown: common questions
How do I get from Penn Station to Chinatown by public transit?
Take a downtown N or Q train from 34 St-Herald Sq to Canal St.
How long does it take?
About 24 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 25 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The N or Q 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 30 minutes, and the N or Q train comes about every 5 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 Chinatown
- LaGuardia Airport to Chinatown
- Grand Central Terminal to Chinatown
- 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)
- Chinatown: visitor information
- 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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