Coming From Long Island? Why a Hotel Near Penn Station Makes Sense
I grew up in Massapequa and Deer Park, so I know the Long Island habit well. You take the train into Manhattan and head home at the end of the day. Sometimes the better move is a hotel near Penn Station for the night.
Quick answer
If you are coming in from Long Island, a hotel near Penn Station puts you steps from the Long Island Rail Road and several subway lines. Prices there can be lower than in Midtown.
Long Island and the city
Massapequa has a way of coming up whenever people talk about New York. The four Baldwin brothers, Alec, Daniel, Stephen and William, are all listed as Massapequa natives. Jerry Seinfeld went to Massapequa High School, and Brian Setzer is tied to the town as well.
Deer Park, a hamlet in the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County, got its railroad in the early 1840s, when the Long Island Rail Road reached the area. The train has been the link between the island and the city ever since.
Why a hotel near Penn Station is the smart choice
Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and several subway lines all meet at Penn Station. Madison Square Garden sits right above. If your train comes in there, a hotel nearby means you can walk from the platform to the lobby.
The area around it, Chelsea, Flatiron and Penn Station, can also cost less than Midtown, and you stay close to good food. Chelsea Market and the Flatiron restaurants are among the best places to eat in the city.
Hotels near Penn Station
- The New Yorker: an Art Deco tower beside Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, at 481 Eighth Ave.
- Ace Hotel New York: a stylish NoMad hotel with a lively lobby, at 20 W 29th St.
- Hotel Chelsea: a historic arts hotel with a long creative history, at 222 W 23rd St.
- The Standard, High Line: a Meatpacking District hotel that straddles the High Line, at 848 Washington St.
Our Chelsea, Flatiron and Penn Station guide covers the area in more detail. See also hotels near Penn Station and hotels near Madison Square Garden.
Turning a day trip into a night away
A night away changes the trip. You can see a show without watching the clock, walk the High Line and eat at Chelsea Market. Hudson Yards, with its shops and viewing platform, is a short walk west, and Times Square is walkable from Penn Station.
If you plan a late trip home, check the Long Island Rail Road schedule and the MTA TrainTime app for your line first, since service changes.
Skip the car
New York doesn’t need a car. Transit and walking are easier and cheaper. Most vehicles entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street pay a congestion toll. Our getting around NYC guide explains the options.
Flying out of JFK?
AirTrain JFK ties into the subway at Jamaica and Howard Beach. It meets the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica too. So the railroad ties the island to JFK as well as Penn Station. See our NYC airports comparison.
Long Island City vs. New York Penn Station: Comparing Walking Distance, Central Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Access
When deciding between a hotel in Long Island City and a hotel near New York Penn Station for a short New York stay, your arrival train and daily sightseeing map make the choice clear. If you ride the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or Amtrak straight into New York Penn Station or Grand Central Station, booking a hotel within walking distance of 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan saves you from transferring with luggage. From Penn Station, you are within walking distance of the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, and Times Square, with direct access to express subway lines reaching Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Ellis Island ferry in minutes.
Staying Near New York Penn Station and Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan
On the other hand, travelers seeking larger rooms, lower nightly rates, and sweeping skyline views often choose Long Island City around Queens Plaza and Court Square. Just one subway station stop across the East River from Midtown and Grand Central, Long Island City hotels frequently feature a scenic rooftop bar, modern fitness spaces, and easy strolls to waterfront Gantry Plaza State Park.
Queens Plaza, Gantry Plaza State Park, and Subway Station Connections from Long Island City
While nearly all the rooms in Long Island City give you more floor space per dollar, staying right by Penn Station in New York eliminates a late-night borough commute after Broadway shows or concerts.
Travelers who compare weekday corporate rates against weekend leisure pricing across Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side routinely save fifteen to twenty-five percent on comparable four-star rooms.
If your flight or train arrives hours before standard three o-clock check-in, nearly every full-service New York hotel bell desk will store your bags free of charge so you can start exploring Central Park, Fifth Avenue, or the High Line right away.
For families and small groups sharing a room, requesting a higher floor away from street-facing elevators and confirming whether two queen beds or a sofa sleeper are guaranteed in writing prevents surprises at the front desk. Comparing weekday and weekend hotel rates across.
Common questions
Which NYC hotel is next to Penn Station?
The New Yorker is an Art Deco tower beside Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, at 481 Eighth Ave.
Is staying near Penn Station a good idea?
It is if you travel by rail. Penn Station serves Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and several subway lines, and prices around it can be lower than Midtown.
Do I need a car in New York City?
No. Public transit and walking are easier and cheaper.
Where is Deer Park, New York?
Deer Park is a hamlet in the Town of Babylon, in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Keep reading
Hotels near Penn Station · Penn Station hotel guide · Hotels near Madison Square Garden · Cheap hotels in NYC · Getting around NYC · NYC airports