How to Go to Central Park by Subway | Pick The Right Stop

For Central Park, take A/C or 1 to the west side, N/R/W to 59th Street, or 4/5/6 to the east side.

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Central Park is long enough that the wrong subway stop can add a 25-minute walk before you reach the lawn, museum, reservoir, or zoo you came for. Most visitors solve how to go to Central Park by subway by choosing the entrance first: west, east, south, or north.

The west side is usually easiest for a first visit because the A/C, B when running, and 1 trains serve several entrances along Central Park West and Broadway. The east side works well for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Fifth Avenue, but Lexington Avenue stations can leave you with a longer walk across avenues.

Going To Central Park By Subway: The Stops That Matter

Central Park’s easiest subway approach is the west side for most first-time visitors because the A/C and 1 trains run close to several entrances. Use the N/R/W for the southeast corner, the 4/5/6 for the east side, and the 2/3 for the north edge near Harlem Meer.

Do not search for one station called “Central Park.” New York’s subway system circles the park instead of cutting through it, so the right stop depends on the part of the park you want to enter.

• Southwest corner: Use 59 St-Columbus Circle for Columbus Circle, Sheep Meadow, Heckscher Playground, and Tavern on the Green.
• Southeast corner: Use 5 Av-59 St or Lexington Av/59 St for the Plaza Hotel side, Central Park Zoo, and Wollman Rink.
• West mid-park: Use 72 St, 81 St-Museum of Natural History, 86 St, or 96 St on the B/C side.
• East mid-park: Use 77 St or 86 St on the 6 and 4/5/6 side, then walk west to Fifth Avenue.
• North edge: Use 110 St-Cathedral Pkwy on the B/C or Central Park North-110 St on the 2/3.

Transit tip: B and W trains do not run at all hours, and weekend work can change service. Check the route before you enter the station.

Which Subway Stop Should You Use For Central Park?

The right Central Park subway stop depends on the landmark, not the park name. Pick the station beside your first stop inside the park, then walk from there.

Central Park runs from 59th Street to 110th Street and from Fifth Avenue to Central Park West. A subway ride can put you at one edge, but the park’s paths curve, so crossing the park on foot can take longer than it looks on a flat map.

How Much Does The Subway To Central Park Cost?

A New York City subway ride to Central Park costs $3 for most riders. The MTA says riders can tap a contactless card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY Card at the turnstile, and subway riders do not tap out when leaving the station.

Use the same card or device for any transfer so the system can read it correctly. The MTA’s current subway and bus fare page lists the fare, tap-to-pay rules, free transfer window, weekly fare cap, and MetroCard changes.

For most visitors, the easiest setup is a phone wallet or contactless credit card. Families should note that up to three children under 44 inches ride free with a fare-paying adult on the subway and local buses.

From Common Starting Points In Manhattan

Midtown, Times Square, Penn Station, Grand Central, and Lower Manhattan each have a clean subway path to Central Park. The fastest choice changes by exact address, but these routes work well for common visitor areas.

From Times Square

Times Square travelers can take the 1 train uptown to 59 St-Columbus Circle for the southwest corner. Travelers near the N/R/W can ride uptown to 5 Av-59 St for the southeast corner.

From Penn Station

Penn Station travelers can take the A/C uptown from 34 St-Penn Station to 59 St-Columbus Circle. The 1 train also runs uptown from 34 St-Penn Station to 59 St-Columbus Circle, which is handy if your hotel is closer to Seventh Avenue.

From Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central travelers can take the 4/5/6 uptown to 59 St or 86 St, then walk west toward Fifth Avenue and the park. For the west side, it may be cleaner to take the shuttle to Times Square, then the 1 to 59 St-Columbus Circle.

From Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan travelers can ride the A/C uptown to 59 St-Columbus Circle, 72 St, 81 St, 86 St, or 96 St. This is the simplest spine for visitors coming from the World Trade Center area, SoHo, or the West Village.

When The Subway Is Not The Right Move

The subway is poor for a cross-park hop after you are already beside Central Park because most subway lines run north-south. A crosstown bus or a walk is often better for moving from the west edge to the east edge.

Use the subway when you are coming from another part of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx. Use a bus, taxi, rideshare, or your feet when you are already near the park and only need to cross from one side to the other.

• Use the subway for longer north-south trips, airport-linked transfers, and travel from downtown to the park.
• Use a crosstown bus for west-to-east moves around 66th, 72nd, 79th, 86th, 96th, or 110th Street.
• Walk when your next stop is less than 15 minutes away and the weather is decent.
• Check elevators before you ride if stairs are a problem, since not every station near Central Park is step-free.

Where To Stay Near The Easy Subway Entrances

Hotels near Columbus Circle, Lincoln Square, or the Upper West Side make subway access to Central Park easy without leaning on taxis. These areas keep you near the A/C, B when running, and 1 trains, while still giving you a direct walk into the park.

For the east side, look around Midtown East, Fifth Avenue near 59th Street, or the Upper East Side if the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Reservoir paths are high on your list. Compare hotel locations against the subway stop you plan to use most:

Pick Your Train By The Part Of The Park

The subway choice is simple once the Central Park section is fixed. Pick the train that lands beside your first entrance, not the line that looks closest to the words “Central Park” on a map.

1. For a first visit, choose 59 St-Columbus Circle. The A/C and 1 put you at the southwest corner with easy access to wide paths and south-park landmarks.
2. For Central Park Zoo or Wollman Rink, choose 5 Av-59 St. The N/R/W station lands near the southeast corner and keeps the walk short.
3. For Strawberry Fields or Bethesda Terrace, choose 72 St on the B/C. This stop saves time compared with starting at 59th Street.
4. For the American Museum of Natural History, choose 81 St-Museum of Natural History. The B/C stop sits right by the museum side of the park.
5. For the Metropolitan Museum of Art, choose 86 St on the 4/5/6. The walk west to Fifth Avenue is straightforward, and the museum sits along the park’s east edge.
6. For the north end, choose 110 St-Cathedral Pkwy or Central Park North-110 St. These stations work better than starting far south and walking up.

If service changes send your chosen line away from the stop you want, pick the nearest station on the same side of the park rather than crossing the full park from the other side. That small adjustment usually saves time, stairs, and confusion.