The PATH 33rd Street Station — the northern terminus of the PATH system and the most direct rail link between Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey.
Most people traveling between New York and New Jersey think of Penn Station first. It is the obvious choice — large, well-known, served by NJ Transit trains that reach every corner of the Garden State. But there is another option that is faster, cheaper, simpler, and far less crowded for a significant portion of the New Jersey commuter population, and it sits right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan on 33rd Street. The PATH 33rd Street Station is the northern terminus of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson rail system, and for anyone traveling between Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken, Jersey City, or Newark, it is one of the most practical and underappreciated transit resources in the entire region. For a complete guide to the southern end of the PATH system, see our detailed article on the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.
It is easy to walk past the 33rd Street PATH entrance without a second glance. The station does not have the architectural grandeur of Grand Central Terminal or the soaring geometry of the Oculus downtown. What it has instead is something arguably more valuable: efficiency. Trains run every few minutes during rush hours, fares are flat and affordable, and the ride to Hoboken takes approximately 8 minutes. For tens of thousands of daily commuters, that combination makes the 33rd Street PATH station not just a transit option but the transit option — the one they rely on, day in and day out, to keep their working lives moving.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the PATH 33rd Street Station — from its history and layout to every line it serves, every connection it offers, how to buy tickets, when to avoid it, and the practical details that make the difference between a smooth commute and a confusing one.
📋 Table of Contents
- What Is the PATH 33rd Street Station?
- History and Background
- Location, Address, and Entrances
- Station Layout: Levels and Key Areas
- PATH Lines Serving 33rd Street
- Subway Connections at 33rd Street
- Full Connectivity: Penn Station, Buses, and More
- PATH Tickets, Fares, and How to Pay
- Real Navigation: How to Use 33rd Street PATH
- New Jersey Destinations: Complete Guide
- Peak Hours, Crowds, and Best Times
- PATH 33rd Street vs Penn Station: Which to Use?
- What Most Websites Don't Tell You
- Hidden Insights and Real Traveler Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the PATH 33rd Street Station?
The PATH 33rd Street Station is the northern terminus of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rail system in Manhattan. It sits beneath 33rd Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, placing it squarely in the heart of Midtown Manhattan — within walking distance of the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Herald Square, and the Koreatown restaurant corridor on 32nd Street.
PATH — short for Port Authority Trans-Hudson — is a heavy rail rapid transit system operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It is entirely separate from both the NYC subway and NJ Transit, with its own rolling stock, fare system, and network. The system runs under the Hudson River, connecting Manhattan to several key New Jersey cities: Hoboken, Jersey City, and Newark. The 33rd Street station is where the Manhattan portion of the PATH network reaches its northernmost point.
In practical terms, the 33rd Street PATH station functions as a critical commuter gateway. Every weekday, tens of thousands of New Jersey residents arrive here in the morning and depart in the evening. Many of them work within walking distance — in the office towers of Midtown, in the tech companies clustered around 34th Street, in the media businesses of the West 30s. For these commuters, the 33rd Street station is not just a transit node; it is the beginning and end of each working day.
📍 Address: 33rd Street & 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10001
🕐 Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
🚆 Operator: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH)
🚇 Subway Connections: 1, 2, 3, B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W, 6
🔄 PATH Lines: 33rd Street–Hoboken, 33rd Street–Journal Square
💰 Fare: $2.75 per ride (OMNY contactless)
📅 Original Opening: 1908 (as Hudson & Manhattan Railroad)
🏙️ Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan, Herald Square area
History and Background of the 33rd Street PATH Station
The history of the 33rd Street PATH station is inseparable from the history of the trans-Hudson rail tunnel itself — one of the great infrastructure achievements of the early 20th century. Before the tunnels existed, crossing the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey required a ferry. The river is wide, the currents are strong, and in winter, ice made crossings dangerous and unreliable. The dream of a rail tunnel under the Hudson had existed for decades before it was finally realized.
The project was undertaken by the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Company, led by the engineer William Gibbs McAdoo. Construction of the tunnels was an extraordinary engineering challenge — workers dug through the soft sediment beneath the Hudson River using pressurized air chambers, a technique that was cutting-edge at the time but also extremely dangerous. The first tunnel opened in 1908, and regular rail service between Manhattan and New Jersey began almost immediately. The 33rd Street terminal in Manhattan was one of the original stations in the system.
For much of the early and mid-20th century, the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad was a vital piece of infrastructure for the New York metropolitan region. It carried millions of passengers annually and was central to the daily lives of New Jersey commuters. By the 1950s and 1960s, however, the system was struggling financially — competition from automobiles and the opening of the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel had reduced ridership significantly. The railroad went bankrupt in 1954 and limped along for years before the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took over operations in 1962, renaming the system PATH.
Modernization Under the Port Authority
Under Port Authority management, the PATH system was gradually modernized — new rolling stock, upgraded stations, improved signaling systems. The 33rd Street station received significant upgrades over the decades, with the most notable renovation occurring in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The station today is functional and well-maintained, though it retains an aesthetic that is distinctly utilitarian compared to the landmark architecture of some other New York transit facilities.
The Port Authority's stewardship of PATH has been consistent in prioritizing reliability and service frequency over architectural grandeur — a philosophy that the daily commuters who depend on the system tend to appreciate. An on-time train in a plain station is worth considerably more than a delayed train in a beautiful one.
The PATH platform at 33rd Street — during rush hours, trains arrive every 3–5 minutes, making this one of the most frequent rail services in the New York metro area.
Location, Address, and Entrances
The PATH 33rd Street Station is located beneath the intersection of 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The main station entrance is on the southeast corner of 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, with additional entrances on the surrounding block. The station's location places it in one of the most densely trafficked pedestrian areas of Manhattan — Herald Square is one block east, the Empire State Building is two blocks east, Penn Station and Madison Square Garden are two blocks west.
Street-Level Entrances
The 33rd Street PATH station has several street-level entrances, which is one of its practical advantages — you are unlikely to walk past the station without noticing an entrance. The primary entrance is on Sixth Avenue at 33rd Street, marked with PATH signage. Additional entrances are accessible from the surrounding streets, and the station connects underground to the Herald Square subway complex, allowing transfers to multiple subway lines without returning to street level.
Surrounding Neighborhood
The neighborhood around the 33rd Street PATH station is one of the most useful in Manhattan for transit purposes. Within a 5-minute walk you have:
- Penn Station — Two blocks west on 34th Street, serving NJ Transit, Amtrak, and LIRR
- Madison Square Garden — Directly above Penn Station, events here significantly affect 33rd Street PATH crowds
- Empire State Building — Two blocks east on 34th Street and Fifth Avenue
- Herald Square / Macy's — One block east, the major retail hub of Midtown West
- Koreatown (K-Town) — 32nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, one of Manhattan's most vibrant dining corridors
- Farley Building / Moynihan Train Hall — Three blocks west, the expanded Amtrak facility connected to Penn Station
The 33rd Street and 6th Avenue area — the PATH station entrance sits in one of Midtown Manhattan's busiest pedestrian corridors, steps from the Empire State Building and Herald Square.
Station Layout: Levels and Key Areas
The 33rd Street PATH station is a relatively compact facility compared to the major terminal stations of the NYC subway system. But compactness, in this case, is a feature rather than a limitation — the station is easy to navigate, and the distance from street entrance to train platform is short enough that many commuters can be on a train within 2–3 minutes of descending from street level.
Mezzanine Level
Descending from street level, the first thing you reach is the mezzanine level, where the PATH fare gates, ticket vending machines, and customer service facilities are located. This is where you tap in with your OMNY contactless payment or SmartLink card. The mezzanine is also where the underground connection to the Herald Square subway complex is accessible, allowing fare-paid transfers to several subway lines.
Platform Level
Below the mezzanine are the train platforms. The 33rd Street station has a relatively simple platform configuration — a terminal station layout, since 33rd Street is the northern end of the line. Trains arrive, discharge and load passengers, and depart back toward New Jersey. Because it is a terminal, trains always originate here rather than passing through, which means you do not need to worry about boarding the wrong direction.
The platforms are served by electronic information displays showing the next departures, destinations, and estimated waiting times. These displays are generally accurate and are one of the features that makes the PATH system more user-friendly than it sometimes gets credit for.
Here is something that surprises many first-time PATH riders: because 33rd Street is a terminal station, you can board the train before it officially departs and sit comfortably while the platform fills. You never have to sprint for this train the way you might for a through-station service.
PATH Lines Serving 33rd Street Station
Two PATH lines serve the 33rd Street station, both operating between Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey. Understanding the difference between them — and knowing which one you need — is the foundational knowledge for using this station effectively.
1. The 33rd Street–Hoboken Line
This line runs from 33rd Street southward through Manhattan, making stops at 23rd Street, 14th Street, 9th Street, and Christopher Street in Manhattan, before crossing under the Hudson River to Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey. It is a relatively short line — the full journey from 33rd Street to Hoboken takes approximately 18–22 minutes — but it serves some of the most densely populated commuter corridors in the metropolitan area.
Manhattan stations on this line:
- 33rd Street (northern terminus)
- 23rd Street
- 14th Street
- 9th Street
- Christopher Street
- Hoboken Terminal (New Jersey terminus for this service)
Hoboken Terminal is itself a significant transit hub. NJ Transit trains from Hoboken serve communities throughout northern and central New Jersey, including the Morris and Essex Lines (Morristown, Dover, Summit), the Pascack Valley Line (Hackensack, Spring Valley), and the Montclair-Boonton Line. Hoboken is also served by NY Waterway ferries crossing to Midtown and Lower Manhattan, and by the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which runs along the New Jersey waterfront connecting communities from Bayonne to Weehawken.
2. The 33rd Street–Journal Square via Hoboken Line
This line shares the Manhattan stations with the Hoboken line but continues beyond Hoboken into Jersey City, with additional stops at Exchange Place and Grove Street before terminating at Journal Square in Jersey City. Journal Square is the major transit hub of Jersey City — a dense, increasingly developed urban center with its own commercial district, residential towers, and connections to NJ Transit buses throughout Hudson County.
Full route of this line:
- 33rd Street (Manhattan)
- 23rd Street (Manhattan)
- 14th Street (Manhattan)
- 9th Street (Manhattan)
- Christopher Street (Manhattan)
- Hoboken Terminal (New Jersey)
- Newport (Jersey City)
- Grove Street (Jersey City)
- Journal Square (Jersey City terminus)
Travel time from 33rd Street to Journal Square on this line is approximately 25–30 minutes. The line serves a heavily populated corridor of Jersey City that has grown dramatically in recent years, with new residential and commercial development along the Hudson waterfront and around Journal Square itself.
The Relationship Between 33rd Street and WTC PATH Lines
It is important to understand that the 33rd Street PATH lines are distinct from the lines serving the World Trade Center PATH station downtown. The WTC station serves the WTC–Newark line and the WTC–Hoboken line. The 33rd Street station serves the 33rd Street–Hoboken and 33rd Street–Journal Square lines. These are separate services with separate schedules, though they share track infrastructure in New Jersey.
The practical implication: if you are in Midtown Manhattan and need to reach Newark or Newark Airport by PATH, the 33rd Street station is not your best option. For Newark, you need either the WTC PATH station downtown (then direct to Newark) or Penn Station above (NJ Transit to Newark). The 33rd Street PATH goes to Hoboken and Jersey City — from Hoboken, you can connect to NJ Transit to reach Newark, but it requires a transfer.
A PATH train departs 33rd Street Station heading toward New Jersey — the journey to Hoboken takes approximately 8 minutes once the train enters the Hudson River tunnel.
Subway Connections at 33rd Street PATH Station
One of the most significant advantages of the 33rd Street PATH station is its subway connectivity. The station sits at the intersection of multiple subway lines, making it a true multi-modal transit hub for Midtown Manhattan. Understanding these connections allows you to reach virtually any point in New York City efficiently from this single location.
Herald Square Subway Complex (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W)
The 34th Street–Herald Square subway station, one block east of the PATH entrance, is one of the most well-connected subway stations in Manhattan. It serves:
- B and D trains — Run along Sixth Avenue through Midtown, connecting to Bryant Park (42nd Street), Rockefeller Center (47th-50th Streets), Columbus Circle (59th Street), and continuing to the Bronx (D) and Brooklyn (B).
- F and M trains — Also on Sixth Avenue, serving the Lower East Side, East Village, Queens (F to Jamaica, M to Forest Hills), and providing access to the financial district via connections.
- N, Q, R, and W trains — Broadway line trains running through Herald Square, connecting to Times Square (one stop north), 14th Street–Union Square, Canal Street, and continuing to Queens (N, Q, W) and Brooklyn (N, Q, R).
The underground connection between the 33rd Street PATH mezzanine and the Herald Square subway complex allows transfers without going to street level, though the connection requires navigating a somewhat complex underground passage. Signs within the station indicate the direction to the subway, but first-time users should allow a few extra minutes for this transfer.
34th Street–Penn Station Subway (1, 2, 3, A, C, E)
Two blocks west on 34th Street, the 34th Street–Penn Station subway complex serves some of the most heavily used lines in the entire New York City subway system:
- 1, 2, and 3 trains — The West Side Broadway Line, running from Lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side and the Bronx. The 2 and 3 are express trains; the 1 is local. This is the primary subway connection to Times Square (one stop north), Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, and continuing to Washington Heights and the Bronx.
- A, C, and E trains — The Eighth Avenue Line, connecting Midtown to the Far West Side (Hudson Yards is one stop further west on the 7 train), the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, and JFK Airport (A train via Far Rockaway or Howard Beach).
33rd Street Subway Stop (6 train)
The 33rd Street stop on the Lexington Avenue 6 train is on the eastern side of Midtown, accessible via a short walk east along 33rd Street. The 6 train is the local service on the east side, connecting to Grand Central (one stop north at 42nd Street), the Upper East Side, and eventually the Bronx. This connection is useful for reaching the east side of Midtown without going through the congestion of Herald Square.
The Herald Square subway complex at 34th Street — directly connected to the PATH 33rd Street Station, offering access to the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains.
Full Connectivity: Penn Station, Buses, Ferries, and More
The 33rd Street PATH station's value goes beyond the trains it directly serves. Its location in the heart of Midtown places it within easy reach of virtually every major transit option in the New York metropolitan area.
Penn Station (2 Blocks West)
Penn Station is a 5-minute walk west along 34th Street from the PATH entrance. This proximity creates an effective multi-modal connection that many commuters use strategically. You can, for instance, take PATH from Hoboken to 33rd Street and then walk to Penn Station to catch an Amtrak train — a connection that is faster and simpler than it might appear on a map. The two stations are close enough that the walk between them is a genuine option rather than a last resort.
Penn Station serves:
- NJ Transit — All NJ Transit rail lines, connecting to destinations throughout New Jersey
- Amtrak — Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington), Acela high-speed service, and long-distance trains
- Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) — Service to all of Long Island
Port Authority Bus Terminal (3 Blocks North)
The Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue is a 10-minute walk north from the 33rd Street PATH station, or a single subway stop on the A, C, or E train. The Bus Terminal is the largest bus terminal in the United States and serves extensive bus networks connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and beyond. For destinations in New Jersey not served by PATH or NJ Transit rail, the Bus Terminal offers bus routes covering the entire state.
Getting to the Airports
To Newark Airport from 33rd Street PATH: Take PATH from 33rd Street to Hoboken, then transfer to the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line or Northeast Corridor to Newark Penn Station (approximately 20 minutes from Hoboken), then AirTrain to the terminal. Alternatively, take the 33rd Street PATH to Hoboken and take a NY Waterway ferry to Weehawken, then a connecting bus — though this is less common. The most straightforward PATH-to-Newark option remains using the WTC PATH station downtown for the direct service.
To JFK Airport from 33rd Street: Take the A or E train from the 34th Street–Penn Station subway entrance to the Howard Beach AirTrain connection (A train) or Jamaica station (E train, then AirTrain). Total journey time approximately 55–70 minutes.
To LaGuardia Airport from 33rd Street: Take the 7 train from Times Square (one stop north on the N/Q/R/W) to 74th Street–Jackson Heights in Queens, then the Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link bus to the airport. Total time approximately 40–55 minutes.
Hoboken Ferry (via Hoboken Terminal)
Once you reach Hoboken Terminal via the 33rd Street PATH line, you have access to NY Waterway ferry services from the Hoboken terminal. Ferries cross to the Midtown Manhattan ferry terminal at West 39th Street and to the World Financial Center terminal in Lower Manhattan. For commuters who enjoy the river crossing and have the time for it, the ferry is a pleasant alternative to the reverse PATH journey, and the views of the Manhattan skyline from the Hudson are genuinely spectacular on clear days.
The mezzanine level of the 33rd Street PATH Station — fare gates, ticket vending machines, and clear signage make the station easy to navigate even for first-time PATH riders.
PATH Tickets, Fares, and How to Pay
PATH uses a flat fare system — every trip costs the same regardless of distance. Whether you are traveling one stop to Christopher Street or the full length of the line to Journal Square, the fare is identical. This simplicity is one of PATH's most commuter-friendly features.
Current PATH Fares (2026)
| Payment Method | Cost Per Trip | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| OMNY Contactless (tap card/phone) | $2.75 | Visitors and occasional riders |
| SmartLink Card (single ride) | $2.75 | Those who prefer a dedicated card |
| SmartLink 10-trip | $24.75 ($2.475/trip) | Regular but non-daily riders |
| SmartLink 20-trip | $46.00 ($2.30/trip) | Frequent commuters |
| SmartLink 40-trip | $88.00 ($2.20/trip) | Daily commuters — best per-trip value |
Fares are approximate and subject to change. Verify at panynj.gov before traveling.
How to Pay
- OMNY Contactless — Tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover card directly at the PATH fare gate. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay also work. This is by far the simplest option for visitors — no card purchase needed, just tap and go.
- SmartLink Card — PATH's dedicated reloadable card. Purchase and load at vending machines in any PATH station. Useful for daily commuters who want to track their balance or load multi-trip packages.
- Ticket Vending Machines — Located on the mezzanine level at 33rd Street. Accept credit/debit cards and cash. Can issue SmartLink cards and load balances.
Real Navigation: How to Use the 33rd Street PATH Station
Knowing that the PATH station is on 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue is one thing. Knowing how to actually move through it quickly and confidently is another. Here is a step-by-step guide to the most common navigation scenarios.
Arriving in Manhattan via PATH at 33rd Street
- Disembark the train on the platform level. Follow the flow of passengers toward the stairs and escalators heading upward.
- Tap out at the fare gate on the mezzanine level using your OMNY or SmartLink card.
- Choose your exit — the main exit leads to Sixth Avenue and 33rd Street. Follow signs if you need specific street exits or subway connections.
- If you need the Herald Square subway (B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W), follow signs for the subway connection within the mezzanine before exiting the fare-paid zone — this saves you re-paying a subway fare separately.
- If you need Penn Station, exit to Sixth Avenue and walk two blocks west on 33rd or 34th Street. Total walk time approximately 5 minutes.
Departing from 33rd Street to New Jersey
- Find the entrance on the southeast corner of 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue (or alternate entrances nearby — all lead to the same mezzanine).
- Descend to the mezzanine and tap in at the fare gate with OMNY or SmartLink.
- Check the departure boards on the mezzanine or platform level — these show next trains and their destinations (Hoboken or Journal Square).
- Descend to the platform and board the appropriate train. Since 33rd Street is a terminal station, all trains depart rather than passing through — so you will always be boarding a train that is about to leave, not one that has already been running.
- Confirm your destination on the train's destination board or by checking the digital displays inside the car before doors close.
So what does this actually mean for your daily routine? It means that with practice, you can go from Sixth Avenue sidewalk to seated on a departing PATH train in under 3 minutes. That kind of efficiency compounds meaningfully over a year of commuting.
Inside a PATH train departing 33rd Street — the cars are clean, modern, and air-conditioned, offering a comfortable ride across the Hudson River to New Jersey.
New Jersey Destinations: Complete Guide from 33rd Street PATH
The 33rd Street PATH station is the gateway to a significant portion of northern New Jersey. Understanding where you can go — directly and via connections — transforms the station from a simple transit stop into a comprehensive access point for the entire region.
Hoboken, NJ (Direct — ~18 minutes)
Hoboken is the most direct New Jersey destination from the 33rd Street PATH. Once a working-class industrial waterfront city, Hoboken has transformed over the past 30 years into one of the most desirable residential communities in the New York metropolitan area. Its mile-square footprint packs in an extraordinary density of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, boutiques, and brownstone residential streets, all with views of the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson. For commuters, Hoboken Terminal is also the gateway to NJ Transit rail services reaching much of New Jersey.
Jersey City, NJ (Direct to Exchange Place, Grove Street, Journal Square — ~20–30 minutes)
Jersey City has undergone perhaps the most dramatic transformation of any city in the northeastern United States over the past two decades. What was once a largely industrial waterfront has become a dense, mixed-use urban environment with some of the highest residential density in the country, a thriving restaurant and cultural scene, and a financial sector centered around Exchange Place that houses back-office operations for many of Wall Street's major firms. The 33rd Street PATH line serves Jersey City at Exchange Place, Grove Street, and Journal Square — three stations that between them cover a wide swath of the city.
Beyond PATH: NJ Transit Connections from Hoboken
From Hoboken Terminal (reached via the 33rd Street PATH in ~18 minutes), NJ Transit trains serve:
- Morris & Essex Lines — Morristown, Dover, Madison, Summit, Maplewood, South Orange
- Montclair-Boonton Line — Montclair, Boonton, Mount Tabor
- Pascack Valley Line — Secaucus, Hackensack, Westwood, Spring Valley (NY)
- Main/Bergen County Line — Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Ridgewood, Suffern (NY)
This means that by combining a PATH ride from 33rd Street to Hoboken with an NJ Transit train from Hoboken, you can reach destinations throughout northern and central New Jersey — all while avoiding the congestion of Penn Station during peak commute hours.
Hoboken Terminal — the New Jersey endpoint of the 33rd Street PATH line and a major transit hub connecting to NJ Transit rail, buses, and Hudson River ferries.
Peak Hours, Crowds, and Best Times to Use 33rd Street PATH
The crowd patterns at the 33rd Street PATH station are tightly linked to the Midtown Manhattan work schedule. Because the station serves primarily financial and commercial district workers, it experiences sharp, predictable peaks — and relatively quiet periods in between.
Peak Hours
- Morning rush inbound (7:30–9:30 AM) — PATH trains from New Jersey arriving at 33rd Street are at their fullest. The platform and mezzanine can become crowded, and the wait for a seat on an inbound train from New Jersey can be significant at peak stations. Outbound trains from 33rd Street at this time are relatively uncrowded — if you are traveling to New Jersey during the morning rush, you will likely find available seats.
- Evening rush outbound (5:00–7:30 PM) — The reverse pattern. The 33rd Street station platform fills with workers heading home to New Jersey. Trains fill up quickly and the wait for a comfortable ride may require allowing one or two trains to depart before boarding.
Madison Square Garden Event Surges
The proximity of Madison Square Garden (two blocks west) creates an additional demand pattern that casual users of the 33rd Street PATH station may not anticipate. After major events at MSG — Knicks and Rangers games, concerts, boxing matches — thousands of additional passengers descend on the 33rd and 34th Street transit complex simultaneously. The PATH station can become dramatically more crowded than normal for 30–60 minutes after an event ends. If you are traveling through 33rd Street on an event night, plan for delays or allow extra time.
Best Times for a Smooth Journey
- Midmorning weekdays (9:30 AM–12 PM) — Rush hour has cleared, trains run frequently, and seats are available in both directions.
- Early evening (4:00–5:00 PM) — Slightly before the full rush hour surge, this window often offers uncrowded outbound trains to New Jersey.
- Weekends — Service frequency is lower but crowds are dramatically reduced. Weekend PATH is a pleasant, unhurried experience compared to the weekday commute intensity.
- Late night (10 PM–5 AM) — Very low crowds, trains running every 20–30 minutes. PATH's 24-hour service makes this a genuinely useful late-night option that most transit riders underutilize.
PATH 33rd Street vs Penn Station: Which Should You Use to Reach New Jersey?
This is the most important practical question for anyone traveling between Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey, and the answer is more nuanced than most people expect. The choice between PATH at 33rd Street and NJ Transit at Penn Station depends on your specific destination in New Jersey, your time sensitivity, your budget, and your tolerance for crowds.
Choose PATH 33rd Street When:
- Your destination is Hoboken — PATH is direct, fast (~18 minutes), and far cheaper than NJ Transit
- Your destination is Jersey City (Exchange Place, Grove Street, Journal Square) — PATH serves these directly
- You are traveling during off-peak hours — PATH runs 24/7 when NJ Transit is limited
- You want to avoid Penn Station crowds — the 33rd Street PATH entrance is significantly less congested
- You are connecting to NJ Transit from Hoboken for Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton, or Pascack Valley Line trains
- Cost is a priority — PATH costs $2.75 flat vs. NJ Transit fares that vary by zone and can reach $15+ for longer trips
Choose Penn Station (NJ Transit) When:
- Your destination is Newark — NJ Transit to Newark Penn is direct from Penn Station; PATH requires a transfer
- Your destination is central or southern New Jersey — Trenton, Princeton, Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore
- You need Amtrak — Penn Station only
- Your destination is served only by NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line
- You are traveling with heavy luggage — Penn Station's larger platforms and more spacious train cars are easier to manage
The bottom line: for the northern New Jersey communities closest to Manhattan — Hoboken, Jersey City, and the communities served by NJ Transit from Hoboken — the 33rd Street PATH station is almost always the faster, cheaper, and less stressful option. For the rest of New Jersey, Penn Station remains the primary option.
The 34th Street corridor in Midtown Manhattan — both the PATH 33rd Street Station and Penn Station are located within this two-block stretch, giving travelers immediate access to both options.
What Most Websites Don't Tell You About the 33rd Street PATH Station
The basic facts about the 33rd Street PATH station are well-covered. What is less well-documented are the behavioral and operational details that make the difference between a smooth experience and a frustrating one. These are the things that experienced commuters know and rarely share.
The 33rd Street Station Gets Much Emptier After 9:30 AM
The intensity of the 33rd Street PATH morning rush is real and significant — but it ends surprisingly abruptly. By 9:30–10:00 AM, the rush is largely over and the station transitions into a much calmer, lower-volume operation. Trains still run frequently (every 8–10 minutes during midday), but the platform crowds are minimal and seats are readily available. If you have any flexibility in your schedule, shifting your commute by even 30–45 minutes can transform the experience dramatically.
The Station Is Closer to Penn Station Than Google Maps Suggests
Many apps route the walk from 33rd Street PATH to Penn Station at 6–8 minutes. In practice, a brisk walking pace gets you there in 4–5 minutes via the direct route along 33rd Street. This matters for anyone trying to make a tight connection — particularly if you are transferring from PATH to an Amtrak or NJ Transit train. The walk is simple: exit the PATH station onto Sixth Avenue, head west on 33rd Street past Seventh Avenue, and Penn Station's entrance is on your right at Eighth Avenue.
Hoboken Is More Than a Transfer Point
Many Manhattan residents think of Hoboken purely as a transit node — the place where you change trains for further New Jersey destinations. It is worth knowing that Hoboken is also a genuinely enjoyable destination in its own right. The waterfront park along the Hudson offers some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline from New Jersey. Washington Street, Hoboken's main commercial corridor, has dozens of excellent restaurants, cafes, and bars. The PATH journey from 33rd Street to Hoboken is just 18 minutes — making Hoboken a more accessible day trip or dining destination from Midtown than many Manhattanites realize.
Weekend Service Changes Are Significant
PATH weekend schedules differ meaningfully from weekday schedules in ways that catch first-time weekend riders off-guard. On weekends, the 33rd Street–Journal Square service does not run — instead, passengers traveling beyond Hoboken to Grove Street or Journal Square must transfer at Hoboken. This is posted on departure boards and announced on trains, but it is easy to miss if you are not expecting it. Always check the destination board before boarding on weekends, particularly if your destination is in Jersey City rather than Hoboken.
The Fare Gate Area Can Back Up Badly During Events
After major events at Madison Square Garden — particularly Knicks playoff games, major concerts, and boxing events — the PATH fare gate area at 33rd Street can back up significantly as thousands of people try to enter simultaneously. The physical bottleneck of the fare gate line in a relatively compact mezzanine means that the wait can stretch to 10–15 minutes at peak moments. If you are catching PATH after an MSG event, budget extra time for this.
The view of Manhattan from Hoboken — reachable in just 18 minutes from 33rd Street PATH, Hoboken offers some of the most spectacular skyline views in the entire metropolitan area.
Hidden Insights and Real Traveler Tips
The PATH App Is More Useful Than Most People Know
The official PATH app provides real-time train arrival information, service alerts, and system status updates. For regular commuters, checking the app before leaving the office can save significant waiting time — knowing that the next Hoboken train is 4 minutes away versus 12 minutes away changes the calculus of when to leave your desk. The app is free, reliable, and updates in real time. It is one of the most genuinely useful transit apps in the New York metropolitan area.
Late Night Is When PATH Shines Most
New York is famously a 24-hour city, and PATH's 24-hour service is a genuine asset for late-night travelers between Manhattan and New Jersey. After midnight, when NJ Transit has stopped running and taxis across the bridge are expensive and slow in traffic, the PATH train is running reliably — every 20–30 minutes, but running. For anyone who has stayed late in the city and needs to get back to Hoboken or Jersey City, the 33rd Street PATH is often the only transit option and a very good one.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a MetroCard at PATH gates — Will not work. Use OMNY contactless or SmartLink.
- Expecting 33rd Street PATH to reach Newark directly — It does not. For Newark, use Penn Station or the WTC PATH station.
- Not checking weekend service changes — The Journal Square through-service does not operate on weekends. Transfer at Hoboken if needed.
- Forgetting the MSG event schedule — The station gets dramatically more crowded after events. Plan accordingly.
- Assuming PATH and NJ Transit fares are interchangeable — They are not. Separate systems, separate fares, separate tickets.
- Walking to the wrong entrance — The PATH entrance is on 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, not Seventh Avenue. The Penn Station entrance is further west at Eighth Avenue.
The 33rd Street PATH as a Commuting Strategy, Not Just a Transit Option
Many New Yorkers who live in Manhattan but work in Jersey City — or vice versa — have built their entire daily commuting strategy around the 33rd Street PATH line. The combination of frequent service, flat fare, 24-hour operation, and direct connection to Hoboken and Jersey City makes it one of the most efficient commuting tools in the region. For anyone considering a move to Hoboken or Jersey City while working in Midtown Manhattan, the existence of the 33rd Street PATH station is a significant quality-of-life factor that deserves serious weight in the decision.
The PATH 33rd Street Station entrance at night — one of the few transit options in New York that runs around the clock, making it invaluable for late-night travelers between Manhattan and New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 33rd Street PATH Station
The 33rd Street PATH Station is located beneath the intersection of 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The primary entrance is on the southeast corner of that intersection. The station is one block west of Herald Square, two blocks west of the Empire State Building, and two blocks east of Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.
The 33rd Street PATH station is served by two lines: the 33rd Street–Hoboken line (which runs to Hoboken, NJ via Christopher Street, 9th Street, 14th Street, and 23rd Street in Manhattan) and the 33rd Street–Journal Square via Hoboken line (which continues from Hoboken through Jersey City to Journal Square). On weekends, the Journal Square through-service does not operate and passengers must transfer at Hoboken for Jersey City destinations.
PATH uses a flat fare — every trip costs the same regardless of how far you travel. The current fare is $2.75 per ride when using OMNY contactless payment (tap your credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay at the gate). Multi-trip SmartLink cards offer modest discounts: a 10-trip card costs $24.75 ($2.475/trip), a 20-trip costs $46.00 ($2.30/trip), and a 40-trip costs $88.00 ($2.20/trip).
The PATH journey from 33rd Street to Hoboken Terminal takes approximately 18–22 minutes, including stops at 23rd Street, 14th Street, 9th Street, and Christopher Street in Manhattan before crossing under the Hudson River. The actual time under the river is approximately 3–4 minutes. Travel time is consistent throughout the day, though actual elapsed time can vary slightly based on dwell times at intermediate stations.
No. PATH and the NYC subway are completely separate transit systems with separate fare systems. Your MetroCard will not work at a PATH fare gate. Use OMNY contactless payment (tap any contactless credit/debit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay directly at the PATH gate) or purchase a PATH SmartLink card at a ticket vending machine in the station.
No. The 33rd Street PATH station serves Hoboken and Jersey City only. There is no direct PATH service from 33rd Street to Newark. To reach Newark via PATH, you need to go to the World Trade Center PATH station in Lower Manhattan, which has direct service to Newark Penn Station (approximately 25–30 minutes). Alternatively, NJ Transit trains from Penn Station (two blocks west) run directly to Newark in approximately 20 minutes.
Yes. PATH operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the 33rd Street station is open around the clock. Late-night service (roughly midnight to 5 AM) runs every 20–30 minutes rather than every 3–5 minutes during peak hours, but service never fully ceases. This 24-hour operation is one of PATH's most significant advantages over NJ Transit and Metro-North, which do not run around the clock.
The 33rd Street PATH station has direct underground connections to the Herald Square subway complex, which serves the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains at 34th Street–Herald Square. The 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E trains are a 5-minute walk west at 34th Street–Penn Station. The 6 train's 33rd Street stop is a 5-minute walk east along 33rd Street on Lexington Avenue.
Both are PATH stations in Manhattan, but they serve different lines and are located miles apart. The 33rd Street station is in Midtown Manhattan and serves the lines to Hoboken and Journal Square via Hoboken. The World Trade Center (WTC) station is in Lower Manhattan and serves the lines to Newark and Hoboken directly. If you need to reach Newark by PATH, you must use the WTC station. If you are in Midtown and going to Hoboken or Jersey City, use 33rd Street.
Exit the 33rd Street PATH station onto Sixth Avenue, then walk west along 33rd Street. Penn Station's entrance is approximately two blocks west, at the corner of 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue (or from the 34th Street side). The walk takes approximately 4–5 minutes at a brisk pace. There is no underground connection between the PATH station and Penn Station — the walk is above ground along 33rd or 34th Street.
Final Thoughts: The Quiet Efficiency of the 33rd Street PATH
There is something almost deliberately modest about the 33rd Street PATH station. It does not have a famous ceiling or a soaring atrium or a landmark clock. What it has is a train that leaves every few minutes, crosses the Hudson River in under four minutes, and arrives in New Jersey with the kind of reliability that makes daily commuting not just manageable but genuinely easy.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has operated the PATH system with a consistent focus on what matters most to commuters: frequency, reliability, and accessibility. The result, at the 33rd Street station, is a facility that has earned the quiet trust of the hundreds of thousands of daily riders who depend on it — not through dramatic architecture or expensive renovation, but through showing up, on time, every time, at 2 PM and at 2 AM.
For anyone navigating the New York–New Jersey corridor for the first time, the 33rd Street PATH station is a revelation. For the veterans who have been using it for years, it is simply part of how life works — a fast, affordable, 24-hour bridge between two of the most dynamic urban environments in the world. Understanding it fully, as this guide has tried to help you do, transforms it from a confusing underground maze into one of the most useful tools in the New York metropolitan transit toolkit.
Explore the Complete New York Transit Network
The 33rd Street PATH is one piece of a remarkable transit puzzle. Understanding how it connects to the rest of the system — and to the other major hubs across New York and New Jersey — is what makes you a truly confident traveler in this region.
Updated for 2026. PATH fares, schedules, and services are subject to change. Always verify current information at panynj.gov before traveling.