Getting From Times Square To Coney Island: A Comprehensive Guide
Getting from Times Square to Coney Island can be a little tricky, especially if you’re not a native New Yorker, although both of these locations are within walking distance of one another, they’re two completely different neighborhoods.
Luckily, there are several ways to get from one place to the other – no matter how long it takes!
Fortunately, the area surrounding Times Square is relatively well-connected. You can easily hop on the subway, bus or street car to reach many different parts of Midtown Manhattan and beyond.
That being said, Coney Island isn’t quite so well-connected. However, thanks to the continued development of its waterfront and nearby communities like Sheepshead Bay, this might change in the future.
Get To Coney Island From The Brooklyn Bridge
Coney Island easily accessible from the Brooklyn Bridge, a local’s tip for first-timers. While crossing the mighty span of the East River is impressive, it’s the small section of Brooklyn just beyond the foot of the bridge that truly draws visitors.
The diverse, colorful neighborhood offers pockets of hipster culture alongside some of New York’s most famous eateries, including Shake Shack and Katz’s Delicatessen. It’s easy to see why Brooklyn Bridge Park’s six-acre waterfront promenade and cultural institutions, like the Brooklyn Bridge Houses, are a must for visitors.
By Subway From Times Square To Coney Island
The New York City Subway is the most efficient way to get from Times Square to Coney Island. The line offers a range of routes, including the M7, M15 and M9, which connect the two Manhattan neighborhoods.
By Street Car: M42 And L Train
The M42 and L train are some of the best ways to get from Times Square to Coney Island. Both routes originate at the West 4th Street subway station and run along 7th and 9th Avenues, connecting Times Square with the Boardwalk. The M42 runs from 6am to midnight, while the L trains are available from 6am to 11:59pm daily.
To make the trip more affordable, you can buy a one-way subway ticket for either of these routes. If you would prefer to take a street car instead, you have two options. The first is to take the M42 to 9th Avenue and then transfer to the L train. This will cost you $2.25, but it’s the most expensive way to get to Coney Island.
The second option is to take the M42 to 8th Avenue and transfer to the F train. This will cost you $1.75, but it’s the cheapest way to get to Coney Island.
By Bus: M52 And Q58/Q64
There are a number of bus routes that can get you from Times Square to Coney Island for a fraction of the cost of taking a car. The most affordable option is to take the M52 bus, which costs $2.75. Alternatively, you can take the Q58/Q64 bus for $2.25. Both of these routes originate at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, just outside of Midtown Manhattan.
The Q58/Q64 begins service at 6:15am daily, while the M52 begins at 5:35am and ends at 11:33pm daily. If you would like to save some money while getting to Coney Island, you can also take the bus to the Borough of Manhattan bus terminal, where you will be able to access Manhattan out-of-zone and Coney Island bus routes.
Get To Times Square By Car
It’s recommended that you take your car to Coney Island, as the city is more lightly developed than the rest of Brooklyn. Unfortunately, there are no direct routes between Coney Island and Manhattan. If you want to get to Times Square by car, however, there are a few options.
If you have access to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, you can head west and get on the Van Wyck Expressway, which will take you directly to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.
Alternatively, you can take the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway all the way to Exit 1, where you can then get on the Belt Parkway and head to Coney Island. Once you arrive in Coney Island, you will have to make your own way to Times Square. As a general rule of thumb, you can take the Belt Parkway to either exit 4C or 4F to get to Times Square.
Walk: 14th St & Surf Ave Or West End And Boardwalk
If you want to get to Coney Island by walking, it can be a bit of a challenge especially in the summer but if you do, you’ll want to start in Midtown Manhattan.
You can walk to Times Square, where you will board the subway or street car to get to the Boardwalk or alternatively, you can walk to Chelsea, where you will board the subway or street car to get to Coney Island.