You just walked off a Metro-North train. Your legs are a little stiff from the ride down from Connecticut or Westchester, and the chaotic majesty of the Grand Central Terminal main concourse is hitting you full force. It’s beautiful, sure. The constellations on the ceiling are great. But you’ve got a Broadway curtain to catch or a meeting at an office tower on 7th Avenue, and suddenly, the distance between Grand Central to Times Square feels like a marathon you didn't sign up for.
New York City isn’t always intuitive.
Most people see that it’s only a few blocks on a map and think, "I'll just walk it." Sometimes, that's a mistake. Especially in January. Or July. Or when the cross-town traffic on 42nd Street looks like a parking lot that someone forgot to clear. You've got options, but honestly, one of them is vastly superior to the rest if you actually value your time and sanity.
The S Train: A 90-Second Lifeline
The 42nd Street Shuttle—officially the "S"—is a weird little quirk of the MTA. It doesn’t go anywhere else. It literally just bounces back and forth between two stations: Grand Central and Times Square-42nd St. It’s been doing this since 1918, which is kind of wild when you think about the millions of people who have sat on those benches.
It’s fast. Like, really fast. Once the doors close, the ride itself takes about 90 seconds.
Walking from the main concourse at Grand Central to the Shuttle platform takes about three to five minutes depending on how many tourists are standing still in the middle of the hallway. Look for the grey "S" icons. Follow the floor markings. The MTA recently spent a massive amount of money—about $235 million—renovating this specific line to make it accessible and way more spacious. They turned what used to be a confusing, curved three-track system into a much cleaner two-track layout with a massive center platform. It’s basically a horizontal elevator.
If you’re traveling with a stroller or a suitcase, this renovation was a godsend. No more "mind the gap" moments where the gap was wide enough to swallow a small dog. It’s all level now.
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Is Walking Better?
Let's talk about the walk. It is roughly 0.6 miles.
If it’s a crisp October afternoon and you aren't in a rush, walking from Grand Central to Times Square is actually pretty nice. You pass the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. You can grab a coffee or just watch the skaters if it's winter. It’s about a 12 to 15-minute stroll.
But here’s the thing. Midtown wind tunnels are real. In the winter, 42nd Street acts like a giant straw for freezing air coming off the East River. In the summer, the heat radiating off the asphalt can make those six blocks feel like a trek through the Mojave. Plus, the sidewalk congestion near 5th and 6th Avenues is legendary. You will get stuck behind a family of five wearing matching "I Love NY" shirts who are walking at a speed best described as "glacial."
If you have 20 minutes to kill, walk. If you have 10, take the S.
The 7 Train Alternative
Sometimes the Shuttle is down for maintenance, or maybe you're already deep underground near the lower level of Grand Central. That’s where the 7 train comes in.
The 7 is the "International Express," but for this specific trip, it’s just the backup. It runs one level below the Shuttle. It also stops at 5th Avenue (Bryant Park) before hitting Times Square. This is a crucial distinction. If your destination is actually near 5th or 6th Avenue, do not take the Shuttle. The Shuttle overshoots those and dumps you right at 7th. Take the 7 and get off at 5th Ave.
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Wait times for the 7 can be slightly longer than the Shuttle during off-peak hours, but during the morning rush, they're basically coming every two minutes.
The Myth of the Midtown Taxi
Never take a cab or an Uber from Grand Central to Times Square.
Just don't do it.
I’ve seen people spend $15 and 20 minutes to go those six blocks because 42nd Street is restricted to buses and "authorized vehicles" in many sections, forcing cars into a labyrinth of one-way side streets. Gridlock is the default state of Midtown. You will literally watch people on the sidewalk outpace your Toyota Camry. Unless you have physical mobility issues that prevent you from using the subway elevators, the "convenience" of a car is a total illusion here.
Navigation Hacks for the Disoriented
Grand Central is a maze. If you’re looking for the Shuttle, don't just wander.
Find the "42nd Street" exit near the main information booth (the one with the expensive clock). As you head toward the street, look for the stairs leading down with the grey "S" and the purple "7." If you find yourself in the "Dining Concourse" near the Shake Shack, you’ve gone too far down. Head back up.
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Once you arrive at the Times Square end of the Shuttle, you aren't just at Times Square. You are in one of the largest transit complexes in the world. From that platform, you have an underground connection to:
- The N, Q, R, W lines (Yellow)
- The 1, 2, 3 lines (Red)
- The A, C, E lines (Blue - though this is a very long walk through an underground tunnel)
Basically, once you make the jump from Grand Central, the rest of the city opens up.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Shuttle is "dangerous" or "gritty."
Honestly, it’s one of the cleanest parts of the system because it’s so heavily trafficked and recently renovated. It’s well-lit, has high ceilings, and is usually crawling with MTA staff and commuters. It’s not the 1970s anymore.
Another misconception: thinking you need a MetroCard. You don't. Use OMNY. Just tap your credit card, phone, or smartwatch on the turnstile. It’s $2.90. If you take 12 rides in a week, the rest are free. It’s seamless.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
To make this transition like a local, follow this sequence:
- Check the MTA TrainTime App: Before you even get off your Metro-North train, check the status of the "S" and "7" lines. If there's a "planned service change," you'll want to know before you start walking.
- Aim for the Front: If you’re on a Metro-North train, try to sit toward the front of the train. This puts you closer to the main concourse and the subway entrances.
- Tap and Go: Have your phone or contactless card ready. Fumbling at the turnstile is the fastest way to get a collective "sigh" from the New Yorkers behind you.
- Position Yourself on the Platform: At the Grand Central Shuttle platform, the train doors open on both sides sometimes. Look for the overhead signs.
- Exiting at Times Square: If you want the "classic" Times Square view (the screens and the red stairs), follow signs for 42nd Street and 7th Avenue. If you follow the signs for the A/C/E, you will walk for another five minutes underground.
The move from Grand Central to Times Square is the quintessential NYC experience. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it’s surprisingly efficient if you know the rules. Stick to the rails, avoid the taxis, and keep your eyes up.