Times Square to UBS Arena by bus and LIRR
Quick answer: Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/7 Av to E 42 St/Madison Av, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena. The trip takes about 56 minutes door to door on a weekday (51 to 57 depending on the connection). The M42 bus comes about every 7 minutes during the day. LIRR trains from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Times Square to UBS Arena
- M42
- LIRR
- Walk 1 minto W 42 St/7 Av
- M42 M42 busFrom W 42 St/7 Av4 stops, about 8 min
- Change at E 42 St/Madison AvWalk about 7 min
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Grand Central toward Hempstead2 stops, about 35 min
- Get off at Elmont-UBS Arena
- UBS Arena
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 1 minute from Times Square to W 42 St/7 Av.
- Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/7 Av to E 42 St/Madison Av. It's 4 stops, about 8 minutes.
- At E 42 St/Madison Av, walk about 7 minutes to Grand Central for an LIRR train.
- Take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena. It's 2 stops, about 35 minutes.
Other ways to go
- Take the M20 bus from 7 Av/W 41 St to 7 Av/W 34 St, then take an LIRR train toward Huntington from Penn Station to Floral Park, then take an LIRR train toward Atlantic Terminal from Floral Park to Elmont-UBS Arena: about 61 minutes.
- Take a downtown 1, 2 or 3 train from Times Sq-42 St to 34 St-Penn Station, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Penn Station to Elmont-UBS Arena: about 48 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 | LIRR train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 56 min | About once an hour | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 56 min | About once an hour | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 53 min | About once an hour | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 56 minutes. LIRR trains from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Grand Central goes to Elmont-UBS Arena. Trains to Far Rockaway, Babylon or Port Washington don't. On a weekday 19 trains do; look for Elmont-UBS Arena on the board.
- LIRR station Elmont-UBS Arena has daily service. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
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.
- LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Times Square to UBS Arena: common questions
How do I get from Times Square to UBS Arena by public transit?
Take the M42 bus from W 42 St/7 Av to E 42 St/Madison Av, then take an LIRR train toward Hempstead from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena.
How long does it take?
About 56 minutes door to door on a weekday, 51 to 57 depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at E 42 St/Madison Av.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 56 minutes. LIRR trains from Grand Central to Elmont-UBS Arena run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
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. LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Related routes
- Times Square to JFK Airport
- Times Square to LaGuardia Airport
- Times Square to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- JFK Airport to UBS Arena
- LaGuardia Airport to UBS Arena
- Penn Station to UBS Arena
- 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: LIRR and Metro-North fares
- UBS Arena: 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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