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About Penn Station
The busiest transportation hub in the Western Hemisphere, Pennsylvania Station — AKA Penn Station — serves up to 650,000 daily riders. This NYC train station in the center of Manhattan is a primary stop for Amtrak and Long Island Railroad. New Jersey Transit, six subway lines, and several bus routes also make their way through Penn Station.
Following a $1.6 billion renovation completed in 2018, Moynihan Train Hall opened at Penn Station. The redesigned train hall provides travelers with impressive amenities, including cleaner, more modern restroom facilities, a food hall, a lounge, and even a brewery.
Penn Station originally opened to much fanfare in 1910, but the original structure was demolished in the 1960s, replaced by a smaller version adjacent to Madison Square Garden. Penn Station NYC had long been renowned for its lofted steel and glass ceilings and column-lined exterior. However, its overcrowded, labyrinthine halls were also infamous. Many issues were addressed by the decades-long renovation that expanded the station with the Moynihan Train Hall annex.
The more streamlined and attractive hub, complete with 92-foot ceilings and a similar glass atrium, is located across 8th Avenue from Penn Station. New York City’s rail hub now matches the hustle and bustle of its daily activity.
New York, NY 10001
Hours
5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Amtrak and LIRR trains operate from Penn Station (across the street from Moynihan Train Hall) between 1:00AM and 5:00AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Located on both 7th and 8th Avenues between 31st and 34th Streets, Penn Station is in Midtown Manhattan. Madison Square Garden is right around the corner, while Times Square and the Empire State Building are only a few blocks away.
The main entrance to this NYC train station is on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, but there are other 34th Street Penn Station entrances on 7th and 8th Avenues. All these options make it easy to get in and out of Penn Station, regardless of where you’re coming from.
There are plenty of options to get to Penn Station conveniently. Subway trains 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E take passengers directly to the 34 St–Penn Station stop, while others (including B, D, F, M, N, Q, and R lines) drop passengers nearby at 34th Street and 6th Avenue, one block east. The M34 MTA bus also goes directly to Penn Station.
Taking the subway is generally the fastest way to get to Penn Station, as you get to avoid traffic. But you can of course also take a taxi or rideshare to the station. Penn Station is an easy walk from Times Square, the High Line, Hudson Yards, and the Empire State Building.
It’s easy to grab a cab at Penn Station’s taxi stand on 8th Avenue and 33rd Street. If exiting the station from another street, you can simply hail any passing cab from the sidewalk. Taxis frequently pass by the station at all hours.
Uber and Lyft both operate rides to Penn Station. There is no designated pickup or drop-off spot, so drivers typically stop near the Departures entrance. Be sure to tell your driver where you need to go (for example, to Amtrak gates or MTA bus stop) in order to save some time.
Expect longer wait times and some difficulty ordering a rideshare during high-traffic times, like when there’s an event at Madison Square Garden. Regular fares to Penn Station usually hover around $10 from Port Authority, $20 from Central Park, and $25 from the World Trade Center.
Getting from Penn Station to JFK Airport takes between 45 minutes and an hour via transit. You can take the Long Island Railroad or the E line train on the subway. The LIRR is 10 minutes quicker, but tickets are also $10 more expensive.
Take either the train or subway from Penn Station to Jamaica Station, where you’ll transfer to the AirTrain to get to JFK. AirTrain operates every few minutes 24/7, and you can pay the $8 fare on a MetroCard.
Driving the 15 miles from Penn Station to JFK can take upwards of an hour, so only take a cab or rideshare if you factor in traffic conditions.
Penn Station is only a few blocks away from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. It’s a 10-15 minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride to get from Port Authority to Moynihan Train Hall. The stations are just one stop apart on the A, C, and E subway lines.
Penn Station’s Manhattan location lets you pack in some NYC sightseeing, even on a short layover!
To get some fresh air, walk 10 minutes to the start of the High Line, an elevated walking trail with gorgeous city views.
You can also check out the Empire State Building, only an 8-minute walk from Penn Station. Koreatown and the Garment District are each within five-minute walks, both lively places for taking a stroll.
Just outside the station, NY Pizza Suprema is a quick, inexpensive stop to get a quintessential New York-style slice and you can also walk 34th Street or 8th Avenue to do some shopping.
Amenities
Parking
There is no dedicated parking lot for Penn Station. Its location in the center of Manhattan makes parking around Penn Station a bit of a hassle, since scoring a street spot is near impossible. For those who must drive, there are a few private lots close to the station, with rates from $25 a day.
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-fi is available throughout Penn Station, and in most areas, speeds are fast and reliable enough for video calls and streaming. Note that an email or social media login is necessary to access the network.
Baggage Storage
Luggage storage is available at Penn Station’s baggage claim service station. It costs $10 per bag for Amtrak commuters and $20 for non-ticketed customers. You can store bags via this service for up to 24 hours.
Restaurants
The Moynihan Food Hall at Penn Station offers travelers a diverse range of dining options, like salads, burgers, brews, and quintessential New York pizza slices. This premier food court is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. There are many more restaurants near Penn Station, from fast food to hip bars.
Waiting Area
A newly-renovated waiting area on the upper level of Penn Station is open to ticketed Amtrak passengers. This area has far more seating than the open main level of Moynihan Train Hall. The more premium Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge, accessible to first-class ticket holders, ups the ante with a bar and luxe furnishings.
Accessibility
Moynihan Train Hall improved accessibility with its renovation, adding numerous wheelchair ramps and elevators to reach train platforms. There are also accessible stalls in the restrooms. All entry points are wheelchair accessible, and Red Cap personnel stationed at the 8th Avenue entrance are available to assist travelers with disabilities.
Restrooms
Moynihan Train Hall has four restroom locations, while Penn Station has three. Bear in mind that the restrooms are open 24 hours a day and accessible to the public. You can find Penn Station’s cleanest toilets in ticketed waiting lounges.
Convenience Stores
The Duane Reade convenience store and pharmacy is located on the Amtrak level of Penn Station, next to the 7th Avenue entrance. This location is open 24 hours for travelers to grab a quick snack, beverage, or other travel essentials.
Inside Penn Station
Moynihan Train Hall is directly across 8th Ave from Penn Station. It’s easiest to enter via the south entrance on 31st St or the east entrances on 8th, 31st, or 33rd Sts. Travelers can also walk directly between Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall via the Moynihan Lower Concourse on the LIRR concourse level. The station is logically laid out and the platforms are easily navigable.
Shops and services are centered on the Hall’s west side, closest to 9th Avenue, while the boarding zone is opposite. When it’s time to board your train at Penn Station, find the escalator with your platform number on the concourse level. Take the escalator down one level to the lower train platforms and board your assigned train car.
Besides the Metropolitan Lounge on the upper floor, most points of interest are on the concourse level.
Near Penn Station
- Distance to Empire State Building0.6 miles
- Distance to Rockefeller Center1 mile
- Distance to Port Authority Bus Terminal0.5 miles
- Distance to Grand Central Station1 mile
- Distance to JFK Airport13.7 miles
- Distance to LaGuardia Airport6.6 miles
Train Carriers at Penn Station
Penn Station is utilized by three train companies: New Jersey Transit, Long Island Railroad, and Amtrak. The latter two rail companies depart from the Moynihan Train Hall, while NJT departs from Penn. Make sure to double-check the station screens for each carrier’s specific platform information.
New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road are commuter rail systems. NJT connects Penn Station with major New Jersey commuter hubs including Newark, Hoboken, Gladstone, and Trenton. LIRR, part of the MTA, runs through Manhattan and Queens to Long Island. Amtrak runs intercity train service on the United States’ national rail network, from short journeys across the Hudson to multi-day trips spanning several states.
Penn Station’s local transit connections include the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E subway lines, plus bus stops at 34th and 9th Avenues.
AmtrakPenn Station is Amtrak’s principal NYC train station, with all but a few of the company’s trains departing from Moynihan Train Hall. The complex is well-designed for Amtrak customers, with the ticketing, baggage service, and customer assistance desks located in the center of the concourse, close to the 31st Street entrance.
The renovated waiting area for ticketed passengers is just across the hall, next to the platform entrances. The premium staffed Metropolitan Lounge is on the mezzanine level, accessible via a private escalator. Keep in mind that all Amtrak services in the station close between 1:00am and 5:00 am.
AcelaThe Amtrak Acela is one of the most popular intercity routes at Moynihan Train Hall. Acela trains from Boston to Washington DC, connecting major cities including New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore in between. High-speed Acela trains reach 150 mph, so the Acela is the quickest way to get from NYC to DC!
Penn Station platforms aren’t assigned until 10-15 minutes before departure. Keep an eye on monitors and be prepared to line up at the assigned gate once the platform is posted.
Amtrak Northeast RegionalAmtrak’s Northeast Regional trains depart from Washington DC and stop at Penn Station on their way to Boston. Northeast Regional train schedules vary, and can include extensions to Norfolk or Roanoke in Virginia, or Springfield in Massachusetts.
At Penn Station, Amtrak trains usually use tracks 5-16, shared with NJT and LIRR. Check the station’s screens for platform assignments when it’s time to board the Northeast Regional train.
Amtrak Silver ServiceAmtrak’s Silver Service technically comprises two individual train routes, the Silver Star and the Silver Meteor. Both routes go from New York to Miami, but the Silver Meteor’s service makes fewer stops.
There are usually two Silver Service departures from Penn Station each day. The exact platform within Moynihan Train Hall is assigned about 15 minutes before the trains depart.
Amtrak CrescentThe Amtrak Crescent runs from New York City to New Orleans. Along the way, Crescent trains stop at cities including Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
The Amtrak train schedule includes one Crescent departure from Penn Station each day. Prepare for boarding the train from the Concourse Level of Moynihan Train Hall by lining up at the assigned platform number.
Amtrak VermonterAs its name implies, the Amtrak Vermonter train heads north from Washington DC to Vermont, making 28 stops along the way. The route terminates in St. Alban, Vermont, just a stone’s throw from the Canadian border.
The Vermonter stops at Penn Station each morning on its way north and connects the Big City with many smaller towns.
Amtrak CardinalOne of the least popular Amtrak routes in the east, the Cardinal connects New York City with Chicago, making 30 stops en route. The route itself is not unpopular, but the Cardinal’s schedule sure is.
The Cardinal has only three departures each week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with one departing train and one arriving train on each of those days.
If the odd schedule works for you, however, this train is well worth the ride. From Penn Station, the train travels through the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allegheny and Shenandoah Valleys, and major cities like Indianapolis and Philadelphia.
Amtrak CarolinianThe Amtrak Carolinian starts its daily service to Charlotte from Moynihan Train Hall in New York City. The route passes through Philadelphia, Washington DC, and several Virginian destinations along the way.
The Carolinian train boards at one of Amtrak’s platforms between 5 and 16, depending on the other trains running through Penn Station that day. Listen for the platform announcement 10-15 minutes before your train departs.
Amtrak PalmettoPenn Station and Savannah, Georgia are the two station termini of Amtrak’s Palmetto route. Palmetto trains depart each of the stations in the morning, and finish their route in about 15 hours.
If you’re boarding a Palmetto train at Moynihan Train Hall, note that the platform for boarding is not assigned in advance. Platform assignments appear on the station’s screens with the name of the train route, Palmetto, ahead of departure.
Amtrak Keystone ServiceThe Amtrak Keystone Service was primarily built to link Philadelphia with Harrisburg in western Pennsylvania. However, many Keystone Service trains continue further to New York City for efficient connections throughout the Northeast region.
There are several Amtrak Keystone Service departures from Penn Station each day. Boarding is accessible from Moynihan Train Hall, where platform assignments are announced on the day of travel.
Amtrak Lake Shore LimitedThe Lake Shore Limited provides an overnight option for traveling from NYC to Chicago. The daily train departs Penn Station in the afternoon and arrives in Chicago the following morning, making it an excellent way to kill two birds with one stone: accommodation and travel.
If you’re traveling eastbound, the train departs Chicago in the evening and gets to the Moynihan Train Hall the following day around dinnertime.
Top routes from Penn Station
| Destination | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 45 | 1 hr, 24 min | RON 654.04 |
| Washington, DC | 36 | 3 hr, 37 min | RON 1,066.70 |
| Baltimore | 36 | 2 hr, 57 min | RON 1,006.55 |
| New Haven | 21 | 1 hr, 53 min | RON 509.27 |
| Boston | 14 | 4 hr, 29 min | RON 1,127.75 |
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