Getting Around Washington Heights
Washington Heights sits at the northern tip of Manhattan, and getting around it is mostly a matter of choosing between the subway, city buses, regional buses, and your own two feet. The neighborhood is well connected to the rest of New York City, and it also serves as a gateway to New Jersey thanks to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
Arriving by Regional Bus
If you are coming from New Jersey, the George Washington Bridge Bus Station is your main point of entry into Washington Heights. It is located at 4211 Broadway, near West 178th Street and Fort Washington Avenue, and it is one of the two major New York City bus destinations served by NJ TRANSIT (the other being Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan).
- NJ TRANSIT operates bus service into the station from throughout New Jersey.
- Other major carriers using the station include Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Short Line Buses, Adirondack Trailways, and Martz Trailways.
- Peter Pan serves destinations across the northeastern United States, including Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
- Gates are assigned by carrier: Gates 200–212 for NJ TRANSIT, Gates 300–316 for carriers such as Adirondack Trailways, Greyhound, Martz Trailways, and Peter Pan, and Gates 400–417 for Short Line Buses.
Buying Tickets and Passes
NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes can be purchased through the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App, at ticket vending machines (available at major bus boarding locations and terminals), or at ticket offices. Ticket types include one-way, ten-trip, and round-trip.
- Valid weekly or monthly NJ TRANSIT rail passes are accepted for free travel on connecting bus service.
- Group discounts of up to 25% are available for parties of eight or more travelers.
- The Family SuperSaver lets two children ages 5–11 ride free with a fare-paying passenger on buses on weekends and holidays, from 7 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday.
- MTA (New York City) tickets must be purchased separately from NJ TRANSIT tickets; check MTA.info for transit within the city.
Connecting to the Subway and City Buses
The bus station is accessible by bus, subway, or car. For subway connections, the nearby 175th Street station on the A line serves the area. Once you are on the New York City network, you can reach the rest of Manhattan and the wider city using MTA services, which are ticketed separately from your regional bus or rail fare.
Facilities at the Bus Station
The George Washington Bridge Bus Station is designed to make transfers comfortable, with several practical amenities for travelers.
- Free Wi-Fi is available for passengers.
- Luggage storage is offered at the station for a fee, and some carriers also allow luggage on board.
- There is ample seating in the waiting area, along with restrooms on site.
- Accessibility features include ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms; the station itself is accessible.
- There are no restaurants or food vendors inside the station, but fast-food outlets, cafes, and diners are within walking distance.
- A parking garage on site offers over 2,300 spaces; fees apply and rates can be expensive.
Getting to and from the Airport
Washington Heights is convenient to the region's airports, though none of them are inside the neighborhood itself.
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the nearest, roughly 10 miles east of the bus station.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) lies about 20 miles to the southeast.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is in New Jersey, across the Hudson River.
Because the bus station connects to both the subway and city buses, you can combine those services with a taxi or ride-hailing trip to reach any of the three airports. If you are arriving from New Jersey, note that EWR is on the New Jersey side, while LGA and JFK are within New York City.
Walking the Neighborhood
Washington Heights is a walkable part of Manhattan, and many of the practical stops you will need — food, cafes, and diners near the bus station, for example — are within walking distance of the terminal. Walking is a straightforward way to cover short trips between the bus station, the nearby subway, and local businesses.