Route M4 Bus Schedule: Times, Stops & Map

NYC MTA • Manhattan • 2026

Route M4 Bus Schedule: Times, Stops & Map

Looking for the M4 bus schedule? New York City’s MTA M4 bus connects Midtown Manhattan at East 32nd Street/Fifth Avenue with Washington Heights and Fort Tryon Park, offering access to The Met Cloisters, Broadway, Harlem and Central Park’s eastern side.

Find the current weekday and weekend timetable, M4 local versus limited-stop service, first and last departures, stop locations, OMNY fares, live bus tracking, major subway connections and instructions for visiting The Cloisters.

M4 Bus Times Stops & Map Fare Prices Track M4 Live

MIDTOWN ↔ WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

Transit agency MTA New York City Transit

Route number M4

Service Daily

Adult base fare $3.00

Reviewed October 9, 2026

Quick answer

What Is the Current M4 Bus Schedule?

The MTA M4 bus operates daily between Midtown Manhattan and Washington Heights. It follows Fifth Avenue southbound, Madison Avenue northbound, and parts of Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue.

The official M4 timetable currently has an effective date of September 6, 2026 and includes separate weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules.

Toward Midtown Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard to East 32nd Street/Fifth Avenue.

Toward Washington Heights Madison Avenue at East 32nd Street to Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard.

Special museum extension Selected northbound trips continue to The Met Cloisters when museum service operates.

Important: The Cloisters stop is different from the main bus terminal The M4 normally starts and ends at Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard. When museum service operates, some northbound M4 buses continue into Fort Tryon Park to Margaret Corbin Drive/The Cloisters. For the southbound return, confirm boarding and transfer instructions at Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard.

Official M4 Bus Timetable Live M4 Arrivals

MTA M4 route overview

Where Does the M4 Bus Go in Manhattan?

The M4 connects a long Manhattan corridor, from East 32nd Street in Midtown to Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights. Its principal roads include Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Central Park North, Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue.

Northbound: Toward The Cloisters

Starting point: Madison Avenue/East 32nd Street.

Travel north on Madison Avenue, along the Central Park North connection, then via Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue toward the Cabrini Boulevard terminal.

Selected buses continue to Margaret Corbin Drive inside Fort Tryon Park during museum service.

Southbound: Toward Midtown

Starting point: Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard.

Travel south through Washington Heights and along Broadway, then toward Central Park North and Fifth Avenue.

Destination: East 32nd Street/Fifth Avenue.

Important direction difference In much of Midtown and the Upper East Side, the M4 generally travels northbound on Madison Avenue and southbound on Fifth Avenue. Do not wait on Fifth Avenue for a northbound bus without verifying a temporary detour or special routing.

Visual 1 — major stops and route map

M4 Bus Stops: Midtown to Washington Heights

This simplified diagram follows the general northbound travel sequence. The published MTA timetable includes more timepoints and the live tracker contains individual stops between them.

Illustrative route diagram only. It is not geographically scaled. The museum extension and local/limited-stop service do not necessarily operate on every trip.

Main stops and timepoints

Area	Representative M4 timepoint or stop	Why it matters
Midtown	Madison Avenue/East 32nd Street	Northbound terminal area
Midtown	Madison Avenue/East 57th Street	Major northbound timetable timepoint
Upper East Side	Madison Avenue/East 95th Street	Upper Manhattan northbound timepoint
Central Park North	Central Park North/Fifth Avenue	Major cross-Manhattan timepoint
Broadway	Broadway/Tiemann Place	Broadway corridor connection
Harlem	Broadway/West 135th Street	Major Harlem timepoint
Hamilton Heights	Broadway/West 145th Street	Upper Broadway connection
Washington Heights	Fort Washington Avenue/West 168th Street	Medical center and subway connections
Fort Tryon	Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard	Regular northern terminal
The Cloisters	Margaret Corbin Drive/The Cloisters	Selected northbound museum extension

View Official M4 Route Map See Every M4 Bus Stop

First and last bus times

M4 Bus Schedule: Weekdays, Saturday and Sunday

MTA publishes direction-specific schedules for the M4. The approximate main-terminal service spans below are a practical overview; some earlier or later trips begin or end at intermediate stops instead of covering the entire route.

Service day	Toward Midtown	Toward Fort Tryon Park
Monday–Friday	Approximately 5:35 AM–9:57 PM	Approximately 6:50 AM–11:20 PM
Saturday	Approximately 6:01 AM–10:00 PM	Approximately 7:15 AM–11:25 PM
Sunday	Approximately 6:35 AM–9:45 PM	Approximately 7:56 AM–11:26 PM

These are approximate full-corridor service spans based on MTA service information, not a list of every departure. The September 6, 2026 detailed timetable contains short-turn trips with additional operating times. Always use the exact route PDF or stop tracker for your journey.

How frequently does the M4 run?

Weekday daytime Frequent service, with roughly 10-minute intervals during many periods and limited-stop trips at selected peak times.

Saturday Service generally runs at intervals of around 10–15 minutes during many daytime periods, with variations.

Sunday Service generally runs every 10–20 minutes during parts of the day, with longer intervals at selected times.

First bus versus first bus from your stop A terminal’s first departure is not the pickup time at a stop farther along the route. For an exact M4 arrival at 168th Street, 135th Street, Museum Mile or any other location, select that stop in MTA Bus Time.

Official September 2026 timetable

M4 Weekday Bus Times: Actual Scheduled Trips

The selected weekday trips below come from the official MTA timetable effective September 6, 2026. They illustrate how the bus moves between major timepoints.

Northbound: Midtown to Washington Heights

Madison Av/E 32 St	Madison Av/E 57 St	Central Park N/5 Av	Broadway/W 135 St	Ft Washington/Cabrini
6:50 AM	7:02 AM	7:30 AM	7:55 AM	8:31 AM
7:02 AM	7:21 AM	7:49 AM	8:14 AM	8:50 AM
7:14 AM	7:33 AM	8:01 AM	8:26 AM	9:02 AM
7:26 AM	7:45 AM	8:13 AM	8:38 AM	9:14 AM

Southbound: Washington Heights to Midtown

Ft Washington/Cabrini	Broadway/W 145 St	Central Park N/5 Av	5 Av/E 72 St	E 32 St/5 Av
5:35 AM	5:51 AM	6:14 AM	6:29 AM	6:44 AM
5:45 AM	6:01 AM	6:28 AM	6:43 AM	6:58 AM
5:55 AM	6:14 AM	6:41 AM	6:56 AM	7:11 AM
6:05 AM	6:27 AM	6:54 AM	7:09 AM	7:24 AM

How long does the entire M4 route take? These published full-corridor examples take approximately 69–79 minutes southbound in the early morning and about 100–110 minutes on selected northbound morning trips. Travel time can be longer during heavy Manhattan traffic. These are examples, not fixed journey-time guarantees.

M4 timetable rows sometimes represent short-turn buses or LTD (limited-stop) trips. A row that does not show all terminal timepoints may not operate the entire route.

Full Weekday M4 Timetable

Weekend timetable

M4 Bus Schedule on Saturday and Sunday

The M4 runs seven days a week, but weekday, Saturday and Sunday departures are not identical. Weekend service may also be affected by park activity, road closures, museum operating hours and planned events.

Saturday M4 Service

Southbound service begins from the northern area during the early morning, while full northbound Midtown departures start later.

The detailed timetable includes regular daytime trips and certain short-turn services.

Sunday M4 Service

Northbound Midtown departures begin later than on weekdays. Some early morning buses start at intermediate locations rather than East 32nd Street.

Use the Sunday table when planning a trip to The Cloisters or returning from Washington Heights.

Selected official Sunday departures

Direction	Starting stop	Departure	Destination timepoint	Arrival
Toward Midtown	Ft Washington/Cabrini	6:35 AM	E 32 St/5 Av	7:36 AM
Toward Midtown	Ft Washington/Cabrini	6:55 AM	E 32 St/5 Av	7:58 AM
Toward Washington Heights	Madison Av/E 32 St	7:56 AM	Ft Washington/Cabrini	9:00 AM
Toward Washington Heights	Madison Av/E 32 St	8:16 AM	Ft Washington/Cabrini	9:20 AM

Selected Sunday full-route timepoints. All additional departures, short turns and museum-extension trips are shown in the official MTA schedule.

Saturday & Sunday M4 Schedules

Local vs limited-stop

M4 Local and M4 Limited: What Is the Difference?

CTA-style route-number confusion is not the issue here: New York’s M4 has local and limited-stop service patterns on the same route. Limited-stop trips are marked LTD in the official timetable.

M4 Local

Stops at the regular designated M4 bus stops along the route.

Best choice: for local shopping, residential streets, neighborhood trips and intermediate stops not served by limited buses.

M4 Limited

Runs during selected weekday rush-hour periods and makes fewer stops on parts of the corridor, particularly south of West 157th Street.

Best choice: when your boarding and destination stops are both served by the limited service.

Limited-stop buses can pass your stop If the bus headsign says M4 LTD, confirm whether your stop is designated for limited service. Do not assume that every local M4 stop is served by a limited-stop bus.

The MTA schedule also notes that limited-stop service does not run on certain reduced-weekday holidays, when buses instead operate as local trips.

Identify LTD Trips in Official Timetable

Visual 2 — museum travel guide

How to Take the M4 Bus to The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters is located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive in Fort Tryon Park, Upper Manhattan. The museum’s official directions identify the M4 as a transportation option.

1 Find an uptown M4

Use Madison Avenue or another official northbound stop.

2 Check the sign

Look for Washington Heights/Cloisters direction.

3 Confirm the extension

Check whether the bus serves Margaret Corbin Drive.

4 Exit at museum

Use the Cloisters stop when the extension operates.

5 Plan return

Check Cabrini Boulevard and southbound M4 connections.

What are The Met Cloisters opening hours?

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday–Sunday 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Wednesday Closed

Major closures Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1

The museum’s published directions suggest about 1 hour 25 minutes for an M4 trip from the Madison Avenue/83rd Street area near The Met Fifth Avenue to The Cloisters. Traffic and selected service can change actual travel time.

Alternative by subway Take the A train to 190th Street, then walk north through Fort Tryon Park for approximately 10 minutes, or use the M4 connection when available. The Met also provides accessibility-specific directions involving the A train at 181st Street.

Returning from The Cloisters The normal southbound terminal is Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard. Some northbound museum trips do not directly become a southbound boarding opportunity at the museum. Check MTA’s current transfer guidance and the actual southbound stop rather than assuming the return bus departs from the same museum-side location.

Official The Met Cloisters Directions Check Cloisters M4 Stop Service

Visual 3 — tickets and fare comparison

M4 Bus Fare in 2026: OMNY, Reduced Fares and Transfers

The M4 is an ordinary New York City local/limited-stop bus, not an express bus. The regular fare is the MTA local-bus fare introduced in January 2026.

Adult base fare $3.00 Regular local-bus boarding.

Reduced fare $1.50 Eligible seniors and people with qualifying disabilities.

Rolling 7-day cap $35 Full-fare eligible OMNY rides using the same payment method.

Reduced 7-day cap $17.50 Eligible reduced-fare OMNY customers.

How can you pay on the M4?

Contactless bank card Tap your accepted contactless credit or debit card at the bus reader.

Mobile wallet Use an accepted phone or wearable payment method at the OMNY reader.

OMNY card Load fare value onto an OMNY card and tap when boarding.

Free transfers

OMNY supports eligible transfers between local buses and subways. Use the same physical card, OMNY card or mobile payment device for both parts of the journey to receive the transfer benefit within the applicable window.

If you change from one payment method to another—for example, tapping a physical bank card on the bus and a phone wallet on the subway—the system may treat them as separate fare media.

Children and reduced fares MTA’s M4 timetable states that children under 44 inches tall may ride free when accompanied by an adult. Reduced fares are available to eligible seniors and riders with qualifying disabilities.

Cash-payment transition The September 2026 M4 timetable still describes exact-coin payments and paper transfers. MTA has also announced the eventual retirement of coin fareboxes as OMNY replaces MetroCard. Confirm which cash or coin options are currently accepted before relying on them; bills and change-making are not supported at the bus farebox.

Official MTA Fare Information OMNY Card and Fare-Capping Information

Visual 4 — how to board and pay

How to Pay on the M4 Bus in Five Steps

1 Find the stop

Confirm your direction and local or LTD service.

2 Prepare payment

Use your OMNY card, contactless card or wallet.

3 Board

Tap at the reader near the front door.

4 Check stop

Follow announcements and stop information.

5 Transfer

Reuse the same payment medium when eligible.

Visitor and sightseeing information

M4 Bus for Central Park, Museum Mile and Midtown

Beyond ordinary commuting, the M4 is useful for visitors traveling along Manhattan’s east side and toward northern Manhattan attractions.

Museum Mile

The Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue corridors provide access to museums and cultural sites near Central Park’s eastern edge.

For northbound journeys, use the appropriate Madison Avenue stop; for southbound journeys, verify Fifth Avenue boarding.

Central Park

The M4 passes the Central Park North/Fifth Avenue area, offering connections between the Upper East Side, Harlem and other Manhattan neighborhoods.

Washington Heights

Fort Washington Avenue stops provide access to residential streets, medical facilities, subway connections and northern Manhattan attractions.

Midtown to The Met Fifth Avenue The museum is near Fifth Avenue/East 82nd Street. When traveling uptown from Midtown, check the appropriate M4 northbound stop on Madison Avenue, then walk toward the museum.

Visual 5 — real-time tracking

How to Track M4 Bus Arrivals in Real Time

MTA Bus Time displays the Route M4, its available stops, buses along the route and estimated arrivals. It can also show stop-specific service alerts or special trip patterns.

1 Open M4

Visit the official MTA Bus Time page.

2 Pick direction

Midtown or Washington Heights/Cloisters.

3 Select stop

Find the exact street intersection or stop code.

4 Check ETA

Review the approaching vehicles and predictions.

5 Review alerts

Check detours and stop changes before leaving.

If a bus is on a detour, its predicted arrival may become inaccurate or temporarily disappear. Combine live tracking with official MTA service alerts.

Open Live M4 Bus Tracker Official MTA Service Alerts

Example: finding a stop by code

MTA Bus Time identifies Fort Washington Avenue/West 185th Street with stop code 400642. Search for that code to see the available M4 arrivals at that specific stop. For any other intersection, use its own posted stop code.

Important 2026 stop changes

Current M4 Bus Detours and Removed Stops

MTA Bus Time has published changes affecting some M4 stops. These details are useful for planning, but temporary conditions can change, so always confirm on the day of travel.

Madison Avenue/East 45th Street

Northbound M3 and M4 buses bypass this stop because of construction.

Use the nearby Madison Avenue stops at East 42nd Street or East 47th Street according to the active MTA alert.

Fifth Avenue/West 46th Street

The southbound M4 limited-stop boarding location has been removed as part of operational improvements.

For limited-stop service, use Fifth Avenue at West 41st Street or West 49th Street.

Do not wait at a removed or temporarily bypassed stop Even when a bus continues to operate on the street, it may not serve that specific stop. Check the route map and current stop alerts rather than relying on an old stop sign, search snippet or outdated travel app screenshot.

See Current M4 Stop Alerts

Visual 6 — map and location

M4 Bus Map: Fort Tryon Park and The Met Cloisters

The map below shows The Met Cloisters area, near the northern M4 route. The M4’s full route extends south through Washington Heights and Manhattan to Midtown.

Google Maps can help locate the museum and walking paths. For the exact M4 street route, bus stops and temporary detours, use the MTA route map and Bus Time.

Official M4 Bus Map Open Cloisters in Google Maps

Subway and bus connections

M4 Bus Connections to NYC Subway Stations

The M4 intersects several important subway corridors. The best transfer depends on your boarding point, destination, walking distance and whether service changes are in effect.

168th Street

Washington Heights connections to A, C and 1 subway services, depending on current subway operation.

181st Street and 190th Street

A train stops provide useful alternatives for visiting Fort Tryon Park and The Met Cloisters.

Broadway corridor

Several Broadway intersections connect to nearby subway stations and other Manhattan bus routes.

Central Park North

Check local walking distances to nearby subway and bus connections.

Upper East Side

Madison and Fifth Avenue stops can connect by walking or bus transfer to subway stations farther east.

Midtown Manhattan

The East 32nd Street area is useful for connections to the surrounding subway network and other buses.

Transfer reminder The closest subway entrance may not be on the same side of the street as your M4 stop. Use the MTA trip planner for precise walking directions and to confirm station accessibility.

MTA Subway and Bus Trip Planner

Holiday bus timetable

Does the M4 Bus Run on Holidays?

MTA Route M4 operates on major holidays, but certain holidays follow a Saturday or Sunday schedule instead of an ordinary weekday timetable.

Holiday	Published M4 service pattern
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	Saturday schedule
Selected other holidays	Reduced-weekday or other published service; some limited-stop trips do not operate

Based on MTA’s September 2026 M4 timetable holiday notes. Observed holiday dates and temporary changes should always be confirmed on the official site.

Check Current M4 Holiday Notes

Accessibility and passenger assistance

M4 Bus Accessibility, Boarding Assistance and Reduced Fare

MTA buses are accessible, but the actual boarding experience can be affected by stop conditions, curb access, temporary construction, road closures and vehicle equipment.

Accessible boarding Request the bus ramp or other assistance when needed.

Mobility devices Check the agency’s wheelchair securement and onboard mobility-device rules.

Reduced fare Qualifying seniors and riders with disabilities may use discounted OMNY fares.

Stop access Verify sidewalk access, bus-stop location and temporary construction.

The Cloisters accessibility detail The Met Cloisters has its own step-free entrance and assistance arrangements. Museum accessibility is separate from the accessibility of the M4 bus and bus stop. Consult The Met’s visitor information when planning an accessible museum visit.

MTA Accessibility Information The Cloisters Accessibility Guidance

Visual 7 — journey planner

How to Plan an M4 Bus Trip Without Missing Your Stop

1 Set origin

Enter your starting address or landmark.

2 Set destination

Choose the exact building, stop or museum.

3 Select date

Choose weekday, weekend or holiday travel.

4 Check service

Confirm local or limited-stop M4.

5 Check ETA

Verify live arrivals and any alerts.

Practical Manhattan travel advice Plan extra time during weekday rush hours, major parades, street events, bad weather or temporary diversions. A long bus route such as the M4 can experience significant differences between scheduled and actual arrival times.

Important rider information

Common M4 Bus Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Wrong avenue Northbound buses generally use Madison Avenue; southbound buses generally use Fifth Avenue.

Wrong headsign Check whether the bus is traveling toward Midtown or Washington Heights/Cloisters.

Local vs limited M4 LTD buses skip certain stops. Use local service when your stop is not designated for limited service.

Museum extension Not every northbound bus continues directly to The Cloisters museum stop.

Removed or bypassed stops Check current Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue construction or stop-change alerts.

Wrong fare medium Use the same OMNY payment method across eligible transfers to avoid an extra fare.

Visual 8 — boarding checklist

M4 Bus Rider Checklist

Confirm you need the NYC MTA M4 bus.
Open the current September 2026 M4 timetable.
Check weekday, Saturday, Sunday or holiday service.
Choose northbound or southbound direction.
Confirm whether the bus is local or limited-stop.
Locate your exact stop or street intersection.
Verify first and last bus times from that stop.
Prepare your OMNY payment method.
Review live arrivals before leaving home.
Check removed stops and temporary detours.
Confirm museum-extension service if visiting The Cloisters.
Plan enough time for transfers and the return trip.

Official MTA and museum resources

Verified M4 Bus Schedules, Maps, Fares and Rider Guides

The resources below provide the operating agency’s official timetable, exact stop list, real-time service information, fare policies and visitor travel instructions.

MTA M4 Bus Timetable

Detailed weekday, Saturday and Sunday timepoints. Official timetable effective September 6, 2026.

Open Official M4 Schedule

MTA Bus Time — M4

Individual stop list, direction selector, live arrivals and route service alerts.

Open M4 Bus Tracker

MTA Fare Information

2026 local-bus fare, reduced fare, OMNY transfer rules and fare-capping information.

Official MTA Fares

OMNY

Contactless payment, OMNY cards and fare-capping information.

Official OMNY Website

MTA Trip Planner

Plan bus, subway and walking connections using a particular starting point and destination.

MTA Trip Planner

MTA Service Alerts

Temporary stop changes, construction, detours, delays and transit advisories.

Official Service Alerts

The Met Cloisters

Museum location, opening hours, public transportation directions and accessibility.

Official The Met Cloisters Guide

MTA Accessibility

Accessible bus service, subway accessibility, reduced fares and customer assistance.

MTA Accessibility Guide

Research reviewed October 9, 2026. The route timetable is effective September 6, 2026. Published bus schedules, fare policies, museum hours and active stop locations may change. Use MTA’s official live information before travel.

Frequently asked questions

M4 Bus Schedule FAQs

What is the M4 bus schedule in NYC?

The M4 is an MTA bus operating daily between Midtown Manhattan at East 32nd Street/Fifth Avenue and Washington Heights near Fort Tryon Park. Separate weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules are available in the official MTA timetable.

Where does the M4 bus go?

The M4 runs via Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Central Park North, Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue, connecting Midtown Manhattan with Washington Heights and Fort Tryon Park.

What time does the M4 bus start?

Full-corridor service toward Midtown generally starts around 5:35 AM weekdays, 6:01 AM Saturdays and 6:35 AM Sundays. Northbound full-route trips from Midtown start later. Some short-turn trips begin earlier at intermediate stops.

Does the M4 bus run on Sundays?

Yes. The M4 operates on Sundays with a separate Sunday timetable. Weekend and holiday departures can differ from weekdays.

Does the M4 bus go to The Met Cloisters?

Selected northbound M4 trips continue into Fort Tryon Park to Margaret Corbin Drive/The Cloisters when museum-extension service operates. Other buses terminate at Fort Washington Avenue/Cabrini Boulevard.

How much is the M4 bus fare in 2026?

The standard MTA local-bus fare is $3.00. Eligible Reduced-Fare riders pay $1.50. The full-fare OMNY rolling seven-day cap is $35.00 when using the same eligible payment method.

Can I transfer from the M4 bus to the subway?

Yes. Eligible MTA local-bus-to-subway transfers are available with OMNY under the applicable transfer rules. Use the same physical card or device for both parts of the trip.

What is the difference between M4 local and M4 limited?

M4 local buses serve regular designated stops. M4 limited-stop buses operate during selected weekday rush-hour periods and skip some stops along parts of the route.

Which avenue does the M4 use in Midtown?

The M4 generally travels northbound on Madison Avenue and southbound on Fifth Avenue. Always confirm current detours and boarding locations.

How long does the M4 bus take from Midtown to Washington Heights?

Selected weekday full-corridor trips take approximately 70–110 minutes, depending on direction, traffic and time of day. Use the current timetable or MTA trip planner for your exact journey.

Where can I track the M4 bus live?

Use the official MTA Bus Time website at bustime.mta.info. Search M4, select the correct direction and boarding stop, and review available real-time arrival predictions.

Is the M4 bus accessible?

MTA buses are accessible. Riders with mobility needs should also check their particular boarding stop, temporary construction conditions and the accessibility of their destination.