Quick trip to NYC- a few questions

[DisneyDebbie]

I am planning a brief trip to NYC with my husband. I haven't been to NYC in 30 years! We are landing at LGA on a Friday at noon ( will only have a small backpack). I was hoping to Uber to Central Park area - the south side by 1:30ish. Is that realistic? Is it better to Uber partway and then walk the rest?

We are staying at a Hilton on W 57th and is it safe to walk back after a concert at Madison Square Garden? (about 10:30pm)

Thanks for any suggestions or help

 

[SPINster]

I'm a local.

Yes, that's realistic, it should only take about 40 minutes. But, keep in mind that flights into LGA are often delayed.

As far as safety, I pretty much never feel unsafe here, and I've been on the subway/walked around at all hours of the night. At 10:30pm, most of the theaters will be letting out around that time as well, it's a Friday night, there's going to be a lot of people still on the street. If you walk up 7th avenue, that's the busiest street usually.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

@SPINster thank you!

 

[design_mom]

I am not a local -- I'm from the midwest and have only been to NYC once (moving my son there for a college internship two summers ago). Our hotel was very close to MSG and we walked back to it after a broadway show. (And from several other places also at night). I honestly felt safer walking around at night in Manhattan than I would walking around downtown in my local Midwestern city at night. There were still LOTS of people around at 10-11pm.

 

[rlk]

I am local and agree with everything @SPINster wrote.
If it's a nice day and you're not in a rush, I would consider getting dropped off partway to enjoy a walk through Central Park.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I am from CT and frequently go to MSG I would have no concerns about that walk after a concert.

If you have a chase CC I highly recommend seeing if the chase lounge at MSG has space. It’s free to chase CC holders but you need a reservation. They have a bar, free food, uncrowded bathrooms, a free photo both, and if you ask the bartender they will give you free water bottles to take into the concert.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

I am from CT and frequently go to MSG I would have no concerns about that walk after a concert.

If you have a chase CC I highly recommend seeing if the chase lounge at MSG has space. It’s free to chase CC holders but you need a reservation. They have a bar, free food, uncrowded bathrooms, a free photo both, and if you ask the bartender they will give you free water bottles to take into the concert.

Wow! Thank you so much, I'll look into that

 

[OctavioHo]

Ubering to Central Park by 1:30 should be doable, but traffic can be unpredictable. You could Uber partway and then stroll the rest if you're up for it. As for walking back from Madison Square Garden, it's generally safe, especially around 57th. Just stay aware of your surroundings.

 

[NotUrsula]

You could also have your Uber take you to the Astoria/Ditmars MTA station and take the N train directly to the 57th St./7th Avenue stop. No worrying about traffic that way. From Ditmars to 57th is 3 stops (about a 20-minute ride, and the N train runs about every 18 minutes.)

The Ditmars station is quite close to LGA; the ride there will take less than 10 minutes, especially if you insist that the driver stay off the parkway and go the ground route via Runway Drive toward the rental car area; that road turns off onto Ditmars Blvd, and the station is less than 1.5 miles from the Ditmars turnoff, which is right by the Hertz facility. (I have family who live very near the Ditmars station; I've done that route many times; the parkway is further because of the limited exits.)