You’ve just stepped off an Amtrak or an LIRR train. You’re lugging a suitcase. The air is a weird mix of Auntie Anne’s pretzels and damp concrete. Welcome to Penn Station. It's the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere, and honestly, it’s a bit of a nightmare if you don't know where you’re going. The NYC subway from Penn Station is your ticket to the rest of the city, but finding it is a skill. People live in New York for a decade and still take the wrong exit here.
Penn Station isn't just one room. It's a sprawling subterranean maze that sits under Madison Square Garden. If you look up and see a giant screen or a jersey, you’re in the right neighborhood, but you’re still deep underground. To get to the subway, you have to understand that Penn is served by two distinct "lines" of trains. They aren't in the same place. If you go to the wrong one, you’re walking three blocks underground.
The Red Line vs. The Blue Line: Choosing Your Adventure
The most important thing to figure out is where you’re actually going. New Yorkers don't really call them "red" or "blue," we call them the 1/2/3 or the A/C/E.
On the West Side of the station—closer to Eighth Avenue—you’ll find the A, C, and E trains. This is the "blue" line on the map. It’s perfect if you’re heading to Chelsea, the West Village, or up toward the Port Authority. The A train is an express, meaning it skips a ton of stops. The C and E are locals. Don’t get on an A train if you’re trying to go to 23rd Street; you’ll end up at 14th Street before you can blink.
Then there’s the Seventh Avenue side. This is where the 1, 2, and 3 trains live. The 1 is the local—it stops everywhere. The 2 and 3 are the express rockets. These are your best bet for getting to Times Square (it’s only one stop away) or heading down to the Financial District. If you’re trying to reach the Upper West Side, these are your lifeline.
How to actually find the turnstiles
Look for the globes. The MTA uses green and red globes outside station entrances. Green means the entrance is open; red usually means it’s exit-only or closed, though that rule is a bit hit-or-miss these days with modern renovations. Inside Penn, look at the floor. Often, there are colored tiles or strips on the walls that lead you toward the respective lines.
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Follow the "Subway" signs with the circular icons. If you see a "1-2-3" in a circle, you're heading East toward Seventh Ave. If you see "A-C-E," you're heading West toward Eighth Ave.
Paying the Fare Without Looking Like a Tourist
Forget the MetroCard. Seriously. Unless you’re a collector of yellow plastic, don't stand in line at the vending machines. The machines in Penn Station are notoriously finicky and the lines are long.
Instead, use OMNY. It’s the MTA’s contactless payment system. You just tap your credit card, debit card, or smartphone (Apple Pay/Google Pay) right at the turnstile. It works for the NYC subway from Penn Station just as well as it does anywhere else. It’s $2.90 per ride. The best part is the fare capping; if you tap 12 times in a week, the rest of your rides are free.
One weird quirk: if you have a huge suitcase, don't try to shove it through the regular turnstiles. You’ll get stuck. It’s embarrassing. Look for the "Auto-Gate"—it’s a wide door. You still have to tap your card or phone at the little black sensor next to it before it let's you push through.
Staying Safe and Navigating the Crowds
Penn Station is crowded. Always. Even at 3:00 AM, there’s a vibe.
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Keep your bag in front of you. Pickpockets aren't as common as the movies make them out to be, but in a crowd where everyone is bumping into each other, it’s better to be safe. Also, don't stop moving in the middle of a hallway to check your phone. You will get run over by a commuter trying to catch the 5:14 to Babylon. Pull over to a wall if you need to orient yourself.
The "Which Way is North?" Trick
When you finally get onto the platform for the NYC subway from Penn Station, you need to know your direction.
- Uptown & The Bronx: This means you’re going North (toward higher-numbered streets like 42nd, 59th, 96th).
- Downtown & Brooklyn: This means you’re going South (toward lower-numbered streets or across the river).
If you’re on the 1/2/3 platform, "Uptown" takes you toward Times Square. If you’re on the A/C/E, "Uptown" takes you toward the Museum of Natural History.
Realities of the 34th Street Corridor
There is a long hallway called the "Hilton Corridor" or the "Gimbels Passageway" that used to connect Penn Station to the Herald Square station (where the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains are). It has been closed to the public for decades. This means if you need the N/Q/R/W or the B/D/F/M, you actually have to go up to the street, walk one block East to Sixth Avenue, and re-enter the subway there.
Don't wander around the basement looking for a secret tunnel to Macy's. It doesn't exist anymore. Just walk outside. You’ll get some fresh air—or at least, New York City air.
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Dealing with the Heat and the Noise
In the summer, the subway platforms at Penn Station are roughly the temperature of the sun's surface. The trains have great air conditioning, but the stations do not. If you’re waiting for the NYC subway from Penn Station in July, stay near the middle of the platform where there’s occasionally a slight breeze from the tunnel.
The screeching of the wheels on the A/C/E line can be deafening. If you have sensitive ears, keep your headphones in. It’s a literal metal-on-metal grind that has been the soundtrack of the city since 1904.
Actionable Steps for a Seamless Transfer
To make your trip out of Penn Station as painless as possible, follow this sequence:
- Check your map before you deboard your Amtrak or NJ Transit train. Know if your final destination is on the Seventh Ave (1/2/3) or Eighth Ave (A/C/E) side.
- Have your payment method ready. Whether it's your phone or a tap-to-pay card, don't wait until you're at the turnstile to dig through your wallet.
- Ignore the "helpful" strangers. If someone offers to sell you a "discounted" swipe or "help" you with the machine, keep walking. Use the official MTA staff in the booths if you’re genuinely stuck.
- Check the MTA Service Status. Use the MYmta app or the live screens on the platform. The subway is old. Construction happens. Sometimes the 2 train runs on the 1 line, and sometimes the A train goes local.
- Look for the Exit signs. When you arrive at your destination, the signs will tell you which corner of the street you’ll pop out on (e.g., NW corner of 50th and 8th). This saves you from crossing the street in the rain later.
Navigating the NYC subway from Penn Station isn't about luck; it's about reading the signs and moving with purpose. Once you're on that train, you're a real New Yorker. Sorta.