Times Square to Madison Square Park by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown R or W train from Times Sq-42 St to 23 St. The trip takes about 15 minutes door to door on a weekday. The R or W train comes about every 4 minutes during the day. The R or W train doesn't run from Times Sq-42 St to 23 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Times Square to Madison Square Park
- R / W
- Walk 5 minto Times Sq-42 St
- R / W R or W trainFrom Times Sq-42 St, downtown3 stops, about 4 min
- Get off at 23 St
- Madison Square ParkWalk about 6 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 5 minutes from Times Square to Times Sq-42 St.
- Take a downtown R or W train from Times Sq-42 St to 23 St. It's 3 stops, about 4 minutes.
- From 23 St, walk about 6 minutes to Madison Square Park.
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 | R or W train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 15 min | About every 4 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 15 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 15 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 16 minutes. No W service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no W trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The R and W trains all stop at both Times Sq-42 St and 23 St.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (R platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 23 St (R 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.
Times Square to Madison Square Park: common questions
How do I get from Times Square to Madison Square Park by public transit?
Take a downtown R or W train from Times Sq-42 St to 23 St.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 15 minutes.
Do I have to change?
No. The R or W 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 16 minutes. No W service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no W 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
- Times Square to JFK Airport
- Times Square to LaGuardia Airport
- Times Square to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- 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)
- Times Square: 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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