Port Authority Bus Terminal to Upper East Side by bus and subway
Quick answer: Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/8 Av to E 42 St/Park Av, then take an uptown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 77 St. The trip takes about 29 minutes door to door on a weekday (26 to 30 depending on the connection). The M42 bus comes about every 7 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to Upper East Side
- M42
- 6
- Walk 2 minto W 42 St/8 Av
- M42 M42 busFrom W 42 St/8 Av6 stops, about 11 min
- Change at E 42 St/Park AvWalk about 4 min
- 6 6 trainFrom Grand Central-42 St, uptown4 stops, about 7 min
- Get off at 77 St
- Upper East SideWalk about 2 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 2 minutes from Port Authority Bus Terminal to W 42 St/8 Av.
- Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/8 Av to E 42 St/Park Av. It's 6 stops, about 11 minutes.
- At E 42 St/Park Av, walk about 4 minutes to Grand Central-42 St for the 6 train.
- Take an uptown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 77 St. It's 4 stops, about 7 minutes.
- From 77 St, walk about 2 minutes to Upper East Side.
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 | M42 bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 29 min | About every 7 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 31 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 27 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 30 minutes, and the M42 bus comes about every 45 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 68 St-Hunter College. The next stop is 77 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- UES = Upper East Side. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Grand Central-42 St (6 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 77 St (6 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.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to Upper East Side: common questions
How do I get from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Upper East Side by public transit?
Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/8 Av to E 42 St/Park Av, then take an uptown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 77 St.
How long does it take?
About 29 minutes door to door on a weekday, 26 to 30 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 31 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at E 42 St/Park Av.
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 M42 bus comes about every 45 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
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Empire State Building
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- JFK Airport to Upper East Side
- LaGuardia Airport to Upper East Side
- Penn Station to Upper East Side
- 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)
- Upper 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.