How to get to Penn Station, New York, NY Train Station

Travel from downtown New York City to Penn Station train station

It’s hard to think of a more exciting destination than New York City, a world-famous centre of the arts, theatre, culture, diversity, music, history, sports and so much more. From Little Italy to Wall Street, Broadway to Yankee Stadium, the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Freedom Tower, New York has something unforgettable for everyone. And luckily, New York City has an efficient and affordable public transport system that puts the wonders of the city within easy reach.

Penn Station train station is accessible from Times Square, which is the vibrant centre of city life. Trains from all over the country arrive at Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The train station is conveniently located 0.7 miles (1.13 km) south of Times Square, just a 10min walk along 7th Avenue or a 4min cab ride. It is also a 4min bike ride, a 7min bus ride or just one stop away on the subway.

From Times Square, you can easily visit Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station and the Broadway Theatre District, to name just a few attractions in the heart of New York City. If you are travelling on a long-distance train to New York City, you will likely disembark at Penn Station. Many Amtrak routes also stop at Penn Station.

How far is it from New York city centre to Penn Station train station?

In New York City, avenues run north-south, streets run east-west and Broadway runs diagonally across the island. Avenue blocks that run north-south tend to be shorter than street blocks, which run east to west. Penn Station train station is located underneath Madison Square Garden, bounded by 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue to the east and west and 31st Street and 33rd Street to the south and north. Times Square is just eight short blocks to the north of the station, where 7th Avenue and Broadway intersect at 42nd street. This distance of 0.7 miles (1.13 km) makes travelling from the city centre to Penn Station quick and easy. Once you arrive at the station, you might need to download Amtrak’s FindYourWay app to navigate around Penn Station.

What is the best way to get to Penn Station train station from New York city centre?

If you have no mobility limitations and are travelling light, walking is a fantastic way to get from the city centre to the Penn Station. If you are travelling with luggage, the subway is more suitable since it is one stop away from Penn Station. Subways 1, 2, 3, N, or R will get you there in less than ten minutes. Getting a taxi, Uber or Lyft straight down 7th Avenue should take about 4min. The M20 or M7 bus can get you there in about 8min.

Where are the airports near New York City and how to get there?

There are three major airports that serve New York City: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), La Guardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). La Guardia and JFK are both in Queens and are the closest to downtown New York. Newark Airport is a bit further away, in New Jersey. To get to La Guardia from Penn Station, take the E subway train to Roosevelt Avenue and then take the Q70 bus to your airport terminal. To get to JFK from Penn Station, the simplest way is to take any Long Island Railroad train (LIRR) to Jamaica Station and then take the AirTrain to your terminal at JFK. To get to Newark, take a NJ Transit train or an Amtrak train to Newark Liberty International Airport Station, then take the AirTrain to your terminal.

How accessible is Ney York train station for those with limited mobility?

If you have limited mobility, you should take advantage of Amtrak’s Red Caps at Penn station. These Amtrak agents in red caps and shirts are available to help passengers who need assistance. You can usually find them at the station entrance. Using their services is free, but tipping is encouraged. A Red Cap agent can help you to quickly navigate through the station. To further assist travellers with limited mobility, Penn Station’s newest addition, Moynihan Train Hall, features ramps and elevator access to all the platforms at Penn Station. Moynihan Hall has also installed cutting-edge design and technology to help differently-abled passengers find their way around the station. Service animals are allowed in the station and accessible restrooms are located throughout the station.

New York Train Station. Source: Shutterstock

Night trains to/from New York City Penn Station

One of the most exciting parts of travelling through Penn Station is the night trains. Amtrak operates night trains complete with sleeper cars and dining cars to New York City from a number of cities including Chicago, Savannah, Charleston, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami and Tampa. Most night trains offer three levels of accommodation. Roomettes have two beds and a toilet. Bedrooms have two beds, a toilet, a shower and a chair. Suites have two rooms, two toilets, two showers, two chairs and a total of four beds. The dining car offers hot meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and soft drinks and some alcoholic drinks are served as well. Dining times are flexible and you do not need to make a reservation. There is even complimentary room service.

Night train journeys tend to last more than 25h. Departure times for night trains from Penn Station vary, but they usually depart late in the morning or early afternoon. You can purchase cheap tickets for your night train adventure through Omio.

Travelling by train in New York : Sustainable journey

Moynihan Train Hall is more than just the most recent addition to Penn Station – it is the first transit building in the world to achieve certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED. The building uses green and innovative solutions for heating, cooling and lighting.

Local tips: New York City train station points of interest

Passengers access Amtrak trains through Moynihan Train Hall in Penn Station, except when the hall is closed between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., when passengers will need to use the main station. Passengers can find a wide range amenities and services at Penn Station, including restrooms, a food court, free Wi-Fi, ATMs, luggage storage, checked baggage service, vending machines, ticket machines, a ticket office and a lactation room. Passengers departing on an Amtrak train should arrive at the station 30min before their journey. If you need assistance or have to check in your baggage, you should arrive 45min before your train is scheduled to depart. For more information, you can check Omio The Window Seat.Following are some restaurants in New York City near Penn Station:

• Tir na Nog - Irish
• Macy’s Herald Square Cafe
• Lucy’s Cantina Royale - Mexican
• Her Name Is Han - Korean
• Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse

What to do in New York City

Once you arrive at Penn Station, New York is at your feet. Explore Times Square and buy a cheap same-day ticket to see a Broadway show from the kiosk in the heart of the Square. Stroll down the streets of the city that never sleeps and buy a hot dog or hot pretzel from a street vendor. Enjoy the museums, shops, restaurants and atmosphere of Greenwich Village. See the jugglers and take a juggling lesson in Bryant Park.

Take a handsome cab ride in Central Park. Catch a Yankees game and take a tour of the Metropolitan Opera House. Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. Drive over the Brooklyn Bridge or the George Washington Bridge. Visit Freedom Plaza and take a moment to reflect at the 9/11 Memorial. See the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall or go ice skating at Rockefeller Center in the winter. No wonder New York is the city that never sleeps – there is just so much to see and do.