Penn Station to American Museum of Natural History by subway
Quick answer: Take an uptown B train from 34 St-Herald Sq to 81 St-Museum of Natural History. The trip takes about 25 minutes door to door on a weekday. The B train comes about every 8 minutes during the day. The B train doesn't run from 34 St-Herald Sq to 81 St-Museum of Natural History on weekends; the trip then uses another line. The B train doesn't run from 34 St-Herald Sq to 81 St-Museum of Natural History between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Penn Station to American Museum of Natural History
- B
- Walk 9 minto 34 St-Herald Sq
- B B trainFrom 34 St-Herald Sq, uptown6 stops, about 10 min
- Get off at 81 St-Museum of Natural History
- American Museum of Natural HistoryWalk about 5 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 an uptown B train from 34 St-Herald Sq to 81 St-Museum of Natural History. It's 6 stops, about 10 minutes.
- From 81 St-Museum of Natural History, walk about 5 minutes to the American Museum of Natural History.
Other ways to go
- Take an uptown C train from 34 St-Penn Station to 81 St-Museum of Natural History: about 23 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 | B train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 24 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 25 min | No B train trips | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 25 min | No B train trips | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes. No B service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no B trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 72 St. The next stop is 81 St-Museum of Natural History. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- 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 (B platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 81 St-Museum of Natural History (B 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 American Museum of Natural History: common questions
How do I get from Penn Station to American Museum of Natural History by public transit?
Take an uptown B train from 34 St-Herald Sq to 81 St-Museum of Natural History.
How long does it take?
About 25 minutes door to door on a weekday.
Do I have to change?
No. The B 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. No B service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no B trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
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 American Museum of Natural History
- LaGuardia Airport to American Museum of Natural History
- Grand Central Terminal to American Museum of Natural History
- 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.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.