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What is the best route to get from Penn Station to the Guggenheim Museum? It would be on a Saturday, if it matters. I know that the museum is at the corner of 5th Ave and 89th St. A few ideas that I have are:
Option 1: Take the M4 bus from 32nd St (just east of 7th Ave) to Madison Ave and 89th St. Walk one block down 89th St to the museum.
Option 2: Take the E train to Lexington Ave / 53rd St. Transfer to the 6 train to 86th St. Walk west to 5th Ave and then north to the museum.
Option 3: Take the C train to 86th St. Transfer to the M86 bus across Central Park to 5th Ave, and walk to the museum.
Option 4: Take the C train to 86th St. Walk across Cenral park to 5th Ave, and walk to the museum.
Option 5: Take the 1, 2, or 3 train to Times Square. Transfer to the Shuttle (S Train) to Grand Central. Transfer to the 4 or 5 train to 86th St. Walk west to 5th Ave and then north to the museum.
Option 6: Walk to 33rd St and Park Ave (or take the M34 bus, but walking is probably faster). Take the 6 train to 86th St. Walk west to 5th Ave and then north to the museum.
Which of these do you recommend? Or is there another route that you would recommend? Thank you.
For what it's worth, the MTA trip planner suggests Option 1 as its first choice (probably since it's a one-seat ride with little walking), but gives a slightly shorter travel time for Option 2.
Another thing I should mention is that if I take Option 1, I would have to first go to a subway station to reload my Metro Card, and then go outside to wait for the M4 bus. The MTA's website shows the M4 bus running every 15 minutes. In the time I will spend waiting in line and reloading my card, I will probably miss the next M4 bus, and have to wait another 15 minutes for the next one.
It seems the M86 runs much more frequently; it seems to run every 5-6 minutes.
I would do the M4 bus and eliminate the walking and the ups and downs into and out of the subway system.
In fact, I do it often, Tuesday in fact:
I shop at Penny's, Macy's. culminating in JACK'S and then a couple slices at Cafe Arome ($.99 pizzas) and then drag the immense volume of Jack's purcases out the door and into a waiting M4 (first stop.) Bus stops at the Whitney's front door in a very relazing 30 minutes or so.
(Plus, I get a free return trip becasue I can always be on the bus within 2 hours and 18 minutes. Cannot beat that round-trip for $1.10)
I usually do option 5 going to the Met, which is about the same route. Probably faster than anything with buses, except the M86.
How is that better than Option #2? Option #5 has an extra transfer? Is it in order to take the express 4 or 5 instead of the local E and 6? Is that worth the extra transfer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kefir King
I would do the M4 bus and eliminate the walking and the ups and downs into and out of the subway system.
Keep in mind that I would have to first reload my MetroCard at one of the Penn Station subway stations, and the M4 only runs every 15 minutes on the weekend. Do you still suggest it in my case?
If you do recommend the M4, where exactly do I get it near Penn Station? I remember a few years ago waiting in front of the sign on 32nd St (east of 7th Ave), but it stopped somewhere else and didn't wait for me, so I had to wait another 15 minutes.
Thank you. Are you suggesting that route because it's the fastest, or because it's the most scenic?
Because it's the most scenic. I love walking through the park. Busses can take a long time to get through Midtown, even on a Saturday. Busses through the park are very fast because there's less traffic.
Keep in mind that I would have to first reload my MetroCard at one of the Penn Station subway stations, and the M4 only runs every 15 minutes on the weekend. Do you still suggest it in my case?
ABSOLUTELY on weekends. With current weekend trends a subway that is SUPPOSED to get you to the Upper East side might just as likely get you somewhere near TRENTON.
They don't reroute buses just for "fun" like they do with subways.
PS...you can still use exact fare on the buses, so no need to refill your card to get a paltry 5%...twelve cents.
And of course the ride up Madison Avenue is pretty interesting for tourists, a LOT better than under the bowels of Lexington.
At most the bus to the Guggenheim will take you 10 minutes longer than the subway and all the while you will be sitting and enjoying the scenery.
Last edited by Kefir King; 02-28-2013 at 08:53 AM..
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