Subway Routes to Rockefeller Center: A Practical Guide
Rockefeller Center is served by its own station, but only certain lines stop there. Travelers coming from different parts of the city or from airports may find it simpler to use a nearby station and walk a short distance.
By Finley White
The view from the Top of the Rock is one of NYC's best.
Rockefeller Center is home to a dedicated subway station, which might sound straightforward. However, depending on your starting point, the journey can be more involved. Not every train stops at that station. In many cases, it's less complicated to get off at a neighboring stop and cover the remaining distance on foot rather than switch between trains. For someone unfamiliar with New York City's subway network, that approach can be far easier than trying to figure out the whole system.
The Orange Line Serves the Station Directly
The station is officially named 47-50th Street Rockefeller Center. It is served by the orange line trains: B, D, F, and M. New York City subway lines are all color-coded. Only the orange line trains stop at Rockefeller Center. The B and D trains operate between Brooklyn and the Bronx, while the F and M trains run between Brooklyn and Queens. Each of these trains makes numerous stops throughout Manhattan.
Alternative Stations Within Walking Distance
Several other subway lines can bring you close to Rockefeller Center, though you'll need to walk a block or two. The 1 train (red line) stops at 50th Street; the N, Q, and R trains (yellow line) stop at 49th Street; the 6 train (green line) stops at 51st Street; and the E train (blue line) stops at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street. Each of these stations is a short walk from Rockefeller Center, which spans the area from Fifth to Sixth Avenue between 48th and 51st Streets.
Coming from Popular Destinations
If you're starting in Lower Manhattan, the green line trains—4, 5, and 6—can get you to Rockefeller Center. Board at Bowling Green station if you're coming from Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty dock; at Wall Street station from the Financial District; or at Brooklyn Bridge station. Exit at Grand Central. Walk west on 45th Street, then north on Fifth Avenue. From the Museum of Natural History and other locations along Central Park West, take the B or D train heading south to Rockefeller Center station. Times Square is close enough to Rockefeller Center to walk; its subway station is served by many trains across different lines.
Arriving from NYC Airports
John F. Kennedy International Airport is the only New York City airport with a direct subway connection into Manhattan. To reach Rockefeller Center, take the airport's Airtrain from your terminal to the JFK Airport stop, where you can catch the E train (blue line) in Queens. Get off at the Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street stop in Manhattan and walk south. LaGuardia Airport is a bit trickier because it lacks subway service. You'll need to take the M60 bus from the terminal, transfer to the N or Q train (yellow line) at Astoria Boulevard station in Queens, exit at 49th Street station in Manhattan, and walk east.
