Times Square to Rockaway Beach by subway
Quick answer: Take a downtown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Broad Channel, then take a Rockaways-bound Rockaway Park Shuttle from Broad Channel to Beach 98 St. The trip takes about 91 minutes door to door on a weekday (81 to 96 depending on the connection). The A train comes about every 14 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Times Square to Rockaway Beach
- A
- Rockaway Park Shuttle
- Walk 6 minto 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal
- A A trainFrom 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, downtown20 stops, about 56 min
- Change at Broad Channel
- Rockaway Park Shuttle Rockaway Park ShuttleFrom Broad Channel, Rockaways-bound2 stops, about 6 min
- Get off at Beach 98 St
- Rockaway BeachWalk about 9 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 6 minutes from Times Square to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal.
- Take a downtown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Broad Channel. It's 20 stops, about 56 minutes.
- Take a Rockaways-bound Rockaway Park Shuttle from Broad Channel to Beach 98 St. It's 2 stops, about 6 minutes.
- From Beach 98 St, walk about 9 minutes to Rockaway Beach.
Other ways to go
- Take a downtown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Rockaway Blvd, then take the Q53 Select Bus Service bus from Cross Bay Blvd/Liberty Av to Rockaway Beach Blvd/Beach 96 St: about 89 minutes.
- Take the QM16 express bus from 6 Av/W 44 St to Rockaway Beach Blvd/Cross Bay Pkwy: about 86 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 | A train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 90 min | About every 14 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 85 min | About every 20 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 80 min | About every 20 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 110 minutes, and the A train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- By subway: the A train (or the A plus the shuttle) to the Rockaways. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (A platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Broad Channel (A platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Broad Channel (S platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Beach 98 St (S 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 Rockaway Beach: common questions
How do I get from Times Square to Rockaway Beach by public transit?
Take a downtown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Broad Channel, then take a Rockaways-bound Rockaway Park Shuttle from Broad Channel to Beach 98 St.
How long does it take?
About 91 minutes door to door on a weekday, 81 to 96 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 85 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Broad Channel.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 110 minutes, and the A 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
- Times Square to JFK Airport
- Times Square to LaGuardia Airport
- Times Square to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Williamsburg to Rockaway Beach
- Penn Station to Rockaway Beach
- Grand Central Terminal to Rockaway Beach
- 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)
- Rockaway Beach: visitor information
- 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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