NYC Route QM2 Bus Schedule: Times & Stops

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MTA express bus rider guide

Plan the QM2 Between Bay Terrace and Midtown

The QM2 is an MTA Bus Company express route connecting Bay Terrace, Queens with Midtown Manhattan via the Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Expressway and Manhattan streets.

The current official timetable is effective June 28, 2026. This guide explains weekday and weekend times, direction labels, major stops, the express-bus fare, live MTA Bus Time tracking, current detours, and the important difference between QM2 and QM32 trips.

QM2 Schedule Stops & Directions Express Bus Fare Live Bus Time
Operator MTA Bus Company
Route Bay Terrace – Midtown Express
Regular express fare $7.25
Schedule effective June 28, 2026
Information checked October 2, 2026
Quick answer

QM2 Runs Seven Days a Week

QM2 provides express service between Bay Terrace and Midtown. The exact first and last trip depends on your direction and service day.

Weekdays Midtown-bound QM2 service begins from Bell Blvd/23 Ave at 5:45 AM. Bay Terrace-bound QM2 service begins from 6 Ave/W 35 St at 8:15 AM.
Saturday Midtown-bound service begins at 6:40 AM. Bay Terrace-bound service begins at 9:10 AM. Service is generally hourly.
Sunday Midtown-bound service begins at 7:40 AM. Bay Terrace-bound service begins at 10:10 AM. Service is generally hourly.
QM2 and QM32 are not interchangeable labels. The current combined timetable includes QM2 and QM32 trips. Trips labeled 32 are QM32 service; unlabeled trips are QM2. A trip marked SX is super-express service.

QM2 Rider Guide

Schedule Weekday Times Weekend Times Directions Stops Fare & OMNY Travel Time Live Tracker Current Alerts Accessibility Map FAQs
Current official timetable

QM2 First Bus, Last Bus & Service Span

Service day To Midtown To Bay Terrace Typical weekend spacing
Weekday 5:45 AM – 9:00 PM from Bell Blvd/23 Av 8:15 AM – 11:00 PM from 6 Av/W 35 St Frequency varies by period
Saturday 6:40 AM – 9:40 PM 9:10 AM – 12:10 AM About every 60 minutes
Sunday 7:40 AM – 8:40 PM 10:10 AM – 11:10 PM About every 60 minutes
Important: those are terminal/timepoint departure spans, not the time at every QM2 stop. A bus reaches intermediate Queens and Manhattan stops later. Use MTA Bus Time for your actual stop.
Weekday examples

Weekday QM2 Times Riders Actually Need

The official timetable has many weekday trips, plus some QM32 and super-express trips. Instead of copying a huge timetable, these key timepoints show how to read it correctly.

Direction Starting timepoint Example departure Later timepoint Scheduled example
To Midtown Bell Blvd / 23 Av 5:45 AM E 57 St / Lexington Av 6:49 AM
To Midtown Bell Blvd / 23 Av 8:15 AM E 57 St / Lexington Av 9:54 AM
To Bay Terrace 6 Av / W 35 St 8:15 AM 212 St / 15 Av 9:32 AM
To Bay Terrace 6 Av / W 35 St 6:30 PM 212 St / 15 Av 8:09 PM
Ride-time planning: official scheduled examples show that a full end-to-end QM2 trip can take roughly an hour or considerably longer depending on time of day. Manhattan traffic, expressway traffic, detours, and weather can extend the trip, so use the MTA app for your specific departure.
Saturday & Sunday

Weekend QM2 Schedule

The weekend timetable is much easier to remember because QM2 normally runs approximately once an hour in each direction.

Saturday to Midtown Departures from Bell Blvd/23 Av are listed hourly from 6:40 AM through 9:40 PM.
Saturday to Bay Terrace Departures from 6 Av/W 35 St are listed hourly from 9:10 AM through 12:10 AM.
Sunday to Midtown Departures from Bell Blvd/23 Av are listed hourly from 7:40 AM through 8:40 PM.
Sunday to Bay Terrace Departures from 6 Av/W 35 St are listed hourly from 10:10 AM through 11:10 PM.
Weekend routing note: the QM2 timetable continues weekend trips through the Linden Hill area. Always check your exact stop rather than relying only on weekday commuting patterns.
Direction decoder

Which QM2 Direction Do You Need?

Queens → Manhattan

To MIDTOWN 57 ST via 6 AV

Use this direction when traveling from Bay Terrace, Bayside, Whitestone or College Point toward Midtown Manhattan.

Main origin: Bell Blvd/23 Av.

Manhattan endpoint: E 57 St/Lexington Av.

Manhattan → Queens

To BAY TERRACE BELL BL via WHITESTONE EXY

Use this direction when leaving Midtown for Whitestone, Bayside and Bay Terrace.

Main Midtown start: 6 Av/W 35 St.

Queens terminal timepoint: 212 St/15 Av.

Do not board by route number alone. Check both QM2 and the destination displayed on the coach. The combined schedule also contains QM32 trips, which use different Manhattan stop patterns.
QM2 stops

Major QM2 Stops & Corridor

The published timetable shows only selected timepoints, while MTA Bus Time lists the full stop sequence. The route travels between Bay Terrace and Midtown using streets in northeast Queens, the Cross Island Parkway/Whitestone Expressway corridor, and Manhattan express-bus stops.

1Bell Blvd / 23 Av 2212 St / 15 Av 3Cross Island Pkwy 4166 St / Powells Cove 5Whitestone Expwy 6E 34 St / 3 Av 76 Av / Midtown 8E 57 St / Lexington

QM2 Stops Toward Midtown

  • Bell Blvd / 23 Av
  • 211 St / 23 Av
  • 211 St / 18 Av
  • 18 Av / 212 St
  • 212 St / 15 Av
  • Cross Island Pkwy / 212 St
  • Cross Island Pkwy / Baybridge Condo
  • Cross Island Pkwy / Utopia Pkwy
  • 166 St / Powells Cove Blvd
  • Powells Cove Blvd / 162 St
  • Cross Island Pkwy / 160 St
  • Cross Island Pkwy / Clintonville St
  • 14 Av / 147 St
  • Whitestone Expwy / 14 Av
  • Whitestone Expwy / 20 Av
  • Whitestone Expwy / Linden Pl
  • E 34 St / 3 Av
  • E 34 St / Park Av
  • W 34 St / 5 Av
  • 6 Av / W 35 St
  • 6 Av / W 42 St
  • 6 Av / W 44 St
  • 6 Av / W 48 St
  • 6 Av / W 55 St
  • E 57 St / Madison Av
  • E 57 St / Lexington Av

QM2 Stops Toward Bay Terrace

  • 6 Av / W 35 St
  • 6 Av / W 42 St
  • 6 Av / W 44 St
  • 6 Av / W 48 St
  • 6 Av / W 55 St
  • E 59 St / Park Av
  • E 59 St / Lexington Av
  • Whitestone Expwy / Linden Pl
  • Whitestone Expwy / 25 Rd
  • Whitestone Expwy / 20 Av
  • Whitestone Expwy / 14 Av
  • 14 Av / 146 Pl
  • Cross Island Pkwy / Clintonville St
  • 160 St / Cross Island Pkwy
  • Powells Cove Blvd / 162 St
  • 166 St / 9 Av
  • Cross Island Pkwy / 201 St
  • Cross Island Pkwy / Estates Ln
  • Bell Blvd / 212 St
  • Bell Blvd / 16 Av
  • Bell Blvd / 23 Av
  • 211 St / 23 Av
  • 211 St / 18 Av
  • 18 Av / 212 St
  • 212 St / 15 Av
Why your stop may not appear in the printed timetable: MTA timetables show selected timepoints, not every stop. Search QM2 in MTA Bus Time to find the nearest boarding stop and estimated arrival.
Express bus fare

QM2 Fare & OMNY Payment

QM2 is an express bus, so the higher express-bus fare applies. The MTA express bus fare increased to $7.25 starting January 4, 2026.

Regular express ride $7.25 Current express-bus base fare

QM2 is not charged at the local-bus fare because it is an MTA express route.

Tap with OMNY Tap Contactless payment

Use an OMNY Card, contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or supported wearable device.

Reduced fare ½ Fare Eligible riders, off-peak express trips

The timetable states that eligible seniors and riders with qualifying disabilities can receive half fare on express buses outside weekday peak hours.

Reduced-fare timing matters: the current QM2 timetable identifies weekday peak hours as 6:00–10:00 AM and 3:00–7:00 PM for this reduced-express-fare rule.
Trip planning

How Long Does the QM2 Take?

There is no single guaranteed QM2 travel time. Official timetable examples range from roughly an hour to well over 90 minutes between Bay Terrace and Midtown depending on departure time and traffic.

Early Midtown trip The weekday 5:45 AM departure from Bell Blvd/23 Av is scheduled at E 57 St/Lexington Av at 6:49 AM — about 64 minutes.
Peak Midtown example The weekday 8:15 AM departure from Bell Blvd/23 Av is scheduled at E 57 St/Lexington Av at 9:54 AM — about 99 minutes.
Evening Queens example A 6:30 PM weekday departure from 6 Av/W 35 St reaches the 212 St/15 Av timepoint at about 8:09 PM on the published schedule.
Practical planning: leave extra time if you have an appointment, train connection, flight connection, or other fixed deadline. Expressway and Manhattan traffic can change running time substantially.
Real-time arrival tool

Track the QM2 With MTA Bus Time

MTA Bus Time uses real-time bus-location information to show upcoming buses. This is more useful at your stop than reading a terminal departure from a printed timetable.

1
Open Bus Time

Use the official MTA tracker.

2
Search QM2

Make sure the result says Bay Terrace – Midtown Express.

3
Pick direction

Bay Terrace Bell Blvd or Midtown 57 St.

4
Select stop

Use the intersection or six-digit stop code.

5
Check alerts

Detours can make predictions less reliable.

Text-message option: MTA Bus Time supports stop-code searches by SMS. The most precise method is to use the six-digit stop code shown on the bus stop sign and send it to 511123.
“Real Time” Indicates vehicle-location-based information is available for the trip.
“Estimated” May rely more heavily on schedule or prediction data. Construction and detours can reduce accuracy.
QM2 MTA Bus Time

View current buses, stops, directions, and route-specific alerts.

Open QM2 Live Tracker
MTA App

The official timetable also directs riders to the MTA app for the nearest stop, estimated arrivals, and service alerts.

MTA Apps
Alerts checked October 2, 2026

Current QM2 Detours to Know About

MTA Bus Time was showing QM2 service advisories when this page was reviewed. These conditions can change, so treat this section as a dated snapshot and recheck immediately before travel.

Westbound QM2 / QM20 detour Service is being detoured between 138 St and Linden Pl because of DEP Linden Place pump-station construction.

The westbound stop on 31 Rd at 138 St is closed. MTA directs riders to the temporary westbound stop on 138 St at 31 Rd.

Eastbound Manhattan detour Eastbound QM2 and QM20 buses are detoured because of construction along Madison Ave between E 58 St and E 59 St.

MTA says no stops are missed for this detour, but riders may experience additional turns.

Live-tracking warning: MTA specifically notes that bus-arrival information may be inaccurate or unavailable while buses are detoured.

Check the latest QM2 alert now

Holiday schedules

Which QM2 Schedule Runs on Holidays?

Holiday QM2 schedule
New Year’s Day Sunday schedule
Memorial Day Sunday schedule
Independence Day Saturday schedule
Labor Day Sunday schedule
Thanksgiving Day Sunday schedule
Christmas Day Sunday schedule
Presidents Day Special schedule — check MTA
Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Friday after Thanksgiving Special schedule — check MTA
Accessible bus service

QM2 Accessibility

MTA reports that its bus fleet is wheelchair accessible. Buses include wheelchair ramps or lifts, securement equipment, priority seating features, and kneeling capability.

Wheelchair boarding MTA buses are equipped for wheelchair access.
Priority seating Priority seating and wheelchair securement areas are provided on the bus fleet.
Stop conditions A bus may be accessible while a particular curb or temporary detour stop is harder to use. Check current alerts when accessibility is critical.
Useful location map

Bay Terrace QM2 Boarding Area

For Midtown-bound trips, Bell Blvd/23 Av is the first major timetable timepoint. The route then travels through the Bay Terrace/Whitestone corridor before entering the express section toward Manhattan.

  • Confirm the bus says QM2.
  • Confirm the sign says Midtown 57 St via 6 Av.
  • Check MTA Bus Time before leaving home.
  • Arrive several minutes before the scheduled departure.
  • Do not confuse QM2 with QM32 trips in the combined timetable.
  • Check current construction detours.
Local rider tips

Avoid These QM2 Mistakes

Reading a QM32 trip as QM2 On the combined timetable, rows marked “32” belong to QM32. Use an unlabeled row when you specifically need QM2.
Using a timepoint as your stop time The PDF timetable does not show every bus stop. Use MTA Bus Time for your exact intersection or stop code.
Waiting on the wrong Manhattan street Queens-bound and Midtown-bound stop patterns differ. Check direction and exact intersection.
Assuming weekend frequency on weekdays Saturday and Sunday are largely hourly, but weekday service varies considerably by time of day.
Forgetting the express fare QM2 is an express bus, not a local Queens bus. The regular express fare is higher.
Ignoring detours Construction can relocate stops and make live predictions temporarily less accurate.
60-second trip check

Before You Leave for the QM2

  • Confirm you need QM2, not QM32 or QM20.
  • Choose Bay Terrace-bound or Midtown-bound service.
  • Check weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or special holiday schedule.
  • Find your exact stop rather than only a timetable timepoint.
  • Check MTA Bus Time for real-time information.
  • Review current detours and temporary stop closures.
  • Have OMNY/contactless payment ready for the $7.25 express fare.
  • Arrive about 5–10 minutes early when practical.
  • Allow extra travel time during rush hour.
  • Verify your return trip before late-evening travel.
Official MTA resources

QM2 Official Schedule, Stops & Live Tools

Official QM2/QM32 Timetable

Effective June 28, 2026. Includes weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday notes, timepoints and stop lists.

Open QM2 Timetable
MTA Bus Time — QM2

Use for live bus positions, full stop lists, direction selection and current service alerts.

Open QM2 Bus Time
MTA Bus Time Help

Explains mobile tracking, stop-code lookup, map tracking and SMS arrival searches.

Bus Time Instructions
MTA Fare Information

Use MTA fare information for current express-bus, OMNY and Reduced-Fare rules.

MTA Fares
FAQs

QM2 Bus Schedule FAQs

What is the QM2 bus route?

The QM2 is an MTA Bus Company express route between Bay Terrace in Queens and Midtown Manhattan via the Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Expressway and Manhattan streets.

What time does the QM2 start on weekdays?

Weekday Midtown-bound QM2 service begins from Bell Blvd/23 Av at 5:45 AM. Bay Terrace-bound service from 6 Av/W 35 St begins at 8:15 AM on the current timetable.

What time is the last weekday QM2?

The last listed Midtown-bound terminal departure is 9:00 PM from Bell Blvd/23 Av. The last listed Bay Terrace-bound departure is 11:00 PM from 6 Av/W 35 St.

Does the QM2 run on Saturday?

Yes. Saturday service is generally hourly. Midtown-bound trips run from 6:40 AM through 9:40 PM and Bay Terrace-bound trips from 9:10 AM through 12:10 AM.

Does the QM2 run on Sunday?

Yes. Sunday Midtown-bound trips run hourly from 7:40 AM through 8:40 PM, while Bay Terrace-bound trips run from 10:10 AM through 11:10 PM.

How much is the QM2 bus fare?

The regular MTA express-bus fare is $7.25 as of 2026. QM2 is an express route, so the local-bus fare does not apply.

Can I pay for QM2 with OMNY?

Yes. The QM2 timetable directs riders to tap and ride with a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device, or OMNY Card.

How can I track the QM2 live?

Search QM2 in MTA Bus Time, select the correct direction and then choose your stop. You can also search using the stop’s six-digit code.

What is the difference between QM2 and QM32?

The current combined timetable contains both routes. Unlabeled timetable trips are QM2 service, while trips marked “32” are QM32 service and use a different Manhattan stop pattern.

How early should I arrive for the QM2?

For a fixed express-bus trip, arriving about 5–10 minutes before the scheduled stop time is a practical buffer. Recheck MTA Bus Time and current service alerts shortly before leaving.

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