One of the nice things about being a tour guide in Brooklyn is the close proximity to Coney Island. The truth is that most of us visit at least once a year for sun and fun (and Nathan’s Hot Dogs!)
In this post, I will explain how to get to Coney Island by either subway or vehicle. I'll also include information on things to do while you're in the area. (See our post Things to Do on Coney Island for in-depth information).
In addition to providing my own personal recommendations, I'll also include some suggestions from the roughly 200k members of our popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook group.
This group consists of locals, including some of our tour guides, veteran NYC visitors, as well as newbies to the city.
The best part about this Facebook Group is that you don't need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations!
Check out the group when you are finished reading this post.
- How to Get Here
- Things to Do and See
- Tips from Locals and Travelers
- Other NYC Beaches
- Summer in NYC
- Things to Do in NYC All Year
WHERE IS CONEY ISLAND IN NYC?
Coney Island is located on the southern tip of Brooklyn, approximately 14 miles from Midtown Manhattan.
For a point of reference, we use Times Square as a starting location in this post and in the map below.
Use this link for exact directions to Coney Island from Manhattan or anywhere in the NYC area.
Subway to Coney Island
Taking the train to Coney Island from Times Square will take you about one hour.
While driving can sometimes be a faster trip, we recommend using the subway, because driving in New York City is a major drag.
Hopping on the subway is quick, cheap, you won't encounter traffic, nor will you have to deal with finding parking. Most locals agree that this is the easiest way to get here.
You can take the Q line, N line, F line, or D line to the "Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue" stop at 1243 Surf Avenue.
The subway station is just a 5-minute walk away from most famous Coney Island sites.
I suggest you use this Google Maps for directions to Coney Island from your point of departure.
If you are new to the NYC subway, you may also find the following guides helpful, as they provide additional details you'll need to know before heading out the door.
In he video below you can see Katie, one of our tour guides, sharing 7 tips on using the subway.
By Car
Driving from Times Square can take anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour, but this depends on traffic. If we're being honest, there almost certainly will be traffic to deal with between Manhattan and Coney Island, so you should expect this journey to take longer than 35 minutes on average.
Your drive will commence in Midtown Manhattan and go into Brooklyn through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
Before choosing to drive, please keep in mind that the tunnel toll is quite expensive at just over $11 each way.
Directions
- Take 7th Ave west and then head south on West Street/I-478 to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
- Exit the tunnel onto Belt Parkway/Leif Ericson Dr to Shore Pkwy.
- Get off at Exit 7 onto Ocean Parkway. Take Ocean Pkwy to Sea Breeze Avenue.
- This will leave you at the NY Aquarium. You can walk along the Boardwalk from here.
I highly recommend you use this link to Google Maps for exact directions to Coney Island from your point of departure.
Parking
Most streets have metered parking. If you can't find a spot with a meter, you can opt for a parking lot.
There is a big parking lot next to MCU Park at 1904 Surf Ave.
More paid parking lots are at West 12th between Mermaid Ave and Surf Ave, on Neptune Ave between West 12th and Stillwell Ave, and on West 15th Street between the boardwalk and Surf Ave.
Use this Google Maps link to find parking lots and addresses.
Manhattan to Coney Island Ferry
Back in 2018, the NYC Ferry began its planning and construction of a ferry route between Manhattan and Coney Island.
The project came to a halt in 2021 and as of 2025, the launch of this new route is postponed indefinitely. That said, a bill was introduced in 2024 to assess the feasibility for a ferry route, so there's always a chance in the future!
Unfortunately, there is not currently a direct ferry from Manhattan to Coney Island. While you can take a ferry from NYC to Brooklyn, there are no connecting ferries that dock near the beaches.
The NYC Ferry system does travel to many parts of NYC and is a great alternative to the subway. It's more scenic too! Find out more here.
Sadly, the closest ferry stop to Coney Island is currently in Bay Ridge, a neighborhood of Brooklyn that is still about an hour away from the excitement.
That means even after you take the NYC ferry across the water and pay for those tickets, you'll still need either a car or subway ticket to get the rest of the way, and it will take longer.
At the moment, we simply cannot recommend taking any ferry to Coney Island.
THINGS TO DO ON CONEY ISLAND
You can relax on the sandy beach, take a thrilling ride on the iconic Cyclone roller coaster, indulge in delicious boardwalk treats, and explore amusement parks like Luna Park.
Additionally, you can visit the New York Aquarium or watch a Brooklyn Cyclones Game.
During the summer, they have fireworks on the beach every Friday night, making it the perfect time to go for a stroll on the boardwalk.
Locals like to go fishing off the Steeplechase Pier, which is actually legal without a fishing license because it is considered New York State public saltwater.
If you're not interested in that kind of activity, there are also basketball and handball courts where visitors can join or start a game, and there are quite a few unique and interesting shops to visit in the area as well.
Read our post Things to Do on Coney Island for a complete list of activities, events and where to eat - including the original Nathan's Hot Dogs!
TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS
Here are some tips on getting to Coney Island from members of our New York Travel Tips group on Facebook.
Group members also share suggestions of what to do there.
Nearly all replies to this question said that the subway ride takes around an hour from Times Square, though some people get lucky with a train pulling into the station immediately, shaving some time off their trip.
So... you’ve made it there, no what is there to do? Lots!
After her hour-long ride there, Vera made the most of her time by going to the amusement park, the aquarium, the boardwalk, and the museum.
She suggests you go to Brighton Beach at the eastern end of Coney Island, referred to as “Little Odessa” due to the large Russian population. Try some yummy piroshki!
Caroline found her subway ride from Times Square to Coney Island very easy. She went twice, one time to see the Aquarium and a second time to the Luna Park amusement park.
On her second trip, she experienced the true Coney Island! Nathan’s Hot Dogs and a ride on the Cyclone roller coaster which opened in 1927!
Marjan also had a super smooth ride on the subway and loved the nostalgic feel of Coney Island. It dates back to the early 1900s!
Given it does take an hour each way, many people want to know if Coney Island is worth a visit.
Perhaps it isn't the best way to spend your time if you are here on a short vacation.
But if you find yourself with time to spare, it can be a great place to go to see a non-touristy part of NYC.
Alexander and Anina say it is definitely worth a trip and both had a blast!
If you have any more questions about how to get to Coney Island (or anything else about NYC) that we haven't covered here, check out our New York Travel Tips Facebook group!
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