Whether you’re heading out of town for the holiday or staying in town, here’s what you need to know about travel on the subway, buses, LIRR, and Metro-North over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Updated November 25, 2024 12:00 p.m.
Holiday travel tips
- To save time, tap and go with OMNY, our contactless fare payment system. You can use it on the subway and buses.
- Traveling on the Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North? Use the TrainTime app to check schedules and buy tickets.
- If you’re traveling out of LaGuardia Airport , consider using the free Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link. The bus takes travelers to the airport from the at Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av/74 St-Broadway, as well as the at 61 St-Woodside, and the LIRR at Woodside.
- If you’re traveling out of JFK Airport , remember that you’ll have to use AirTrain for the last leg of your trip. The AirTrain fare is $8.50, is separate from your subway, bus, or LIRR fare, and can be paid using OMNY or MetroCard.
- Check out our Planned Service Changes before heading out to ensure you have the most up-to-date information for your trip.
- Subscribe to the MTA Weekender, a newsletter sent every Friday with weekend service updates for the subway, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad.
Service details
Subways
Thursday, November 28: Subways will operate on a Sunday schedule. The Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule. There will be additional service on the and the 42 St Shuttle in the early morning.
To prevent overcrowding, some subway station entrances and exits along the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route will be closed. trains won’t stop at 81 St-Museum of Natural History from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Friday, November 29: Subways will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Buses
Thursday, November 28: Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. Many buses in Manhattan may experience delays, and will be affected by reroutes, detours, and/or frozen zones, especially those routes operating in Midtown near the parade route. Plan a trip to see the latest schedules.
Friday, November 29: Buses will operate on a reduced schedule. Most routes will be running, but they may come less often. Limited-stop service will not run on some routes in Queens and Staten Island. Plan a trip to see the latest schedules.
See special schedules for express bus routes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. There will be no SIM4X or SIM8X service.
Long Island Rail Road
Wednesday, November 27: The LIRR will run on a regular weekday schedule. Alcohol will not be allowed on trains or at stations from 8 p.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.
Thursday, November 28: The LIRR will run on a weekend schedule. Extra trains will run to and from Manhattan on the Babylon, Port Jefferson, and Ronkonkoma branches before and after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Friday, November 29: The LIRR will run on a regular weekday schedule. Off-peak fares will be valid on all trains.
Metro-North Railroad
Wednesday, November 27: The Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines will run on a Friday schedule with extra outbound trains in the early afternoon. The Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines will run on a regular weekday schedule, with extra service on the Port Jervis Line in the early afternoon.
Thursday, November 28: The Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines will run on a special schedule, with extra service before and after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines will run on a weekend schedule, with extra trains on the Port Jervis Line before and after the parade.
Friday, November 29: The Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines will run on a Saturday schedule, with extra rush hour service. Off-peak fares will be valid on all trains. The Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines will run on a weekend schedule, with extra trains on the Port Jervis Line.