How to Get to Times Square: 11 Subway Lines and No Good Reason to Drive
Times Square–42nd Street is the busiest and most connected subway station in New York. Here’s every route in, how to navigate the crowds, and how to leave without getting swallowed at peak hours.
Times Square is the most transit-accessible destination in New York City. The Times Square–42nd Street station complex sits under the intersection of 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue and serves 11 subway lines — the N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, and S shuttle to Grand Central. From virtually any starting point in Manhattan or the outer boroughs, you can reach Times Square directly or with a single transfer.
The only genuinely bad way to get to Times Square is by car. Midtown Manhattan traffic is slow on any evening, Times Square traffic is slower, and parking is expensive. The subway from Penn Station to 42nd Street takes approximately the same amount of time as parking near Penn Station would. The subway is not the backup plan — it is the plan.
The Times Square–42nd Street subway station entrance — a key arrival point for visitors planning subway routes, Port Authority connections, Broadway access, and the full Times Square night-out plan. Photo by JJBers via Wikimedia Commons.
Getting to Times Square from NYC Airports
A train via AirTrain · ~45–55 min
AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then the A train to 42nd Street–Port Authority. Approximately 45–55 minutes total. The cheapest airport-to-Times Square option. Buy a MetroCard at the AirTrain station. LIRR to Penn Station then walk 5 minutes north is faster but more expensive.
Bus to Subway · ~40–55 min
LaGuardia has no direct subway connection. Take the Q70 or M60 bus to a Queens subway station, then connect to Manhattan. The M60 runs to 125th Street for the A/B/C/D train. Rideshare from LaGuardia to Times Square runs $30–50 and 25–45 minutes in traffic.
NJ Transit to Penn Station · ~35–45 min
AirTrain to Newark Penn Station, then NJ Transit to Penn Station Manhattan. Walk 5 minutes north to Times Square. Approximately 35–45 minutes total. Most reliable option from Newark — rideshare adds tunnel time and variable traffic.
Arriving at Times Square — What to Know
Times Square–42nd Street is one of the largest and most complex subway station complexes in the world. It connects underground to Port Authority Bus Terminal and stretches across multiple city blocks. Follow signs for your specific exit — for the heart of the Bowtie (7th Avenue and Broadway), exit at 7th Avenue. For 8th Avenue theaters and Port Authority, exit at 8th Avenue. Know your theater’s cross street before you descend.
Navigating the Crowds
Leaving Times Square After the Show
Frequently Asked Questions
11 lines serve Times Square: N, Q, R, W and 1, 2, 3, 7 at Times Square–42nd Street station; A, C, E at 42nd Street–Port Authority (one block west); and the S shuttle between Times Square and Grand Central. From virtually anywhere in Manhattan or the outer boroughs, you can reach Times Square directly or with one transfer.
No. Midtown traffic is slow, Times Square traffic is slower, and parking is expensive. The subway from Penn Station to 42nd Street takes approximately the same amount of time as finding parking near Penn Station. See the parking guide if driving is genuinely unavoidable.
AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then the A train to 42nd Street–Port Authority. Approximately 45–55 minutes total. Buy a MetroCard at the AirTrain station. The LIRR to Penn Station then walking 5 minutes north is faster (~30 min from Jamaica) but more expensive.
A 5-minute walk. Penn Station is at 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Times Square begins at 40th Street on 7th Avenue — eight blocks north, a straightforward walk.
Arrive at the theater 20–30 minutes before curtain. Add 10 minutes of crowd navigation time on top of that for Saturday evenings and busy show nights. If you are eating in Hell’s Kitchen or Koreatown beforehand, build in a 10-minute walk to the theater from wherever you dine.
Getting to Times Square in Brief
Take the subway. The 11 lines at 42nd Street make Times Square the easiest destination to reach by transit in New York City. From JFK, Newark, or anywhere in the five boroughs, you can get here directly or with a single transfer. The crowds above-ground are real — navigate them by knowing your exit, your theater’s cross street, and your post-show plan before you arrive.
For everything else about planning the evening, see Times Square neighborhood guide, restaurants near Times Square, and hotels near Times Square.
Parking, Dining, Hotels & the Full Times Square Night
Transit sorted — now build the rest of the evening. Parking for when you must drive, where to eat, where to stay, and the Broadway picture around it all.