Like other New Yorkers, you’re likely utilizing the city’s public transportation on a daily basis to get around New York City. One of these options includes the subway system, which runs through the different parts of the city, from the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, to Brooklyn. Folks who need to commute daily to work will often choose to live in a neighborhood that has an NYC subway stop that directly connects to work. During the last few months, we spent time going over the various train routes and neighborhoods along those particular subway lines and covered the F train route in our last article. Today, we’re moving on to the local and express M train in the orange B, D, F, M train route.  We’ll go over each of the subway stations the M train stops at and discuss the best neighborhoods to live in on its route. 

M train stops NYC

There are a total of 17 stops in Queens, 11 stops in Manhattan, and 8 stops in Brooklyn for the M train route. This is the first train route to start off in Queens, go through Manhattan and Brooklyn, then circle back in Queens. The M train route starts in Queens at the Forest Hills-71 Av terminal station then works its way westward until it leaves Queens at the 21 St-Queensbridge station.

From there, it passes through Roosevelt Island with a singular stop then enters Manhattan proper at the Lexington Av/63 St station. The M train continues westward until 57 St station and then continues south until West 4th St. The train then turns southeast until it exits Manhattan at the Delancey St-Essex St station. From there, it enters Brooklyn at Marcy Av station and continues eastward until it enters the borough of Queens once again at Seneca Av. The M train ends at its terminal station three stops later at Middle Village-Metropolitan Av. 

In order from Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, then Queens is a list of stops that the M train stops at. We’ve specifically pointed out stops that service both the local and express M train. For your convenience, we’ve also marked the stops that are ADA accessible.

Queens Stops:

• Forest Hills-71 Av (ADA accessible) (Express) – also services E, F, R route
• 67 Av (Local) – also services R route
• 63 Dr-Rego Park (Local) – also services R route and transfer on Q72 to Laguardia Airport
• Woodhaven Blvd (Local) – also services R route
• Grand Av-Newtown (Local) – also services R route
• Elmhurst Av (Local) – also services R route
• Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services E, F, R, 7 route
• 65 St (Local) – also services R route
• Northern Blvd (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services R route
• 46 St (Local) – also services R route
• Steinway St (Local) – also services R route
• 36 St (Local) – also services R route
• 21 St-Queensbridge (ADA accessible) (Local)

Manhattan stops:

• Roosevelt Island (ADA accessible) (Local)
• Lexington Av/63 St (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services 4, 5, 6, Q, R, W route and free transfer to N at Lexington Av/59 St
• 57 St (Local)
• 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, D, F route
• 42 St-Bryant Pk (Local and Express) – also services B, D, F, 7 route
• 34 St-Herald Sq (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, D, F, N, Q, R, W route
• 23 St (Local) – also services F route
• 14 St (ADA Accessible) (Local) – also services F, L, 1, 2, 3 route
• W 4 St-Washington Sq (ADA Accessible) (Local and Express) – also services A, C, E, B, D, F route
• Broadway-Lafayette St (ADA Accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, D, F, 6 route
• Delancey St-Essex St (Local) – also services F, J, Z route

Brooklyn stops:

• Marcy Av (ADA Accessible) (Local and Express) – also services J, Z route
• Hewes St (Local) – also services J route
• Lorimer St (Local) – also services J route
• Flushing Av (ADA Accessible) (Local) – also services J route
• Myrtle Av (Local and Express) – also services J, Z route
• Central Av (Local)
• Knickerbocker Av (Local)
• Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs (ADA Accessible) (Local) – also services L route

Queens stops:

• Seneca Av (Local)
• Forest Av (Local)
• Fresh Pond Rd (Local)
• Middle Village-Metropolitan Av (ADA Accessible) (Local)

You can also locate a M train stops map in PDF format directly on the MTA’s site. Alternatively, you can read through a text format of the M train stops map here. 

Best Queens neighborhoods along M train stops

Woodside

Located between Astoria, Sunnyside, and Jackson Heights is the neighborhood of Woodside. This neighborhood is mostly residential with most of its commercial businesses centralized around Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway Avenue. Woodside is home to a large number of Asian Americans. According to the most recent 2020 Census, Woodside is home to 30% Asians. Specifically, the neighborhood has such a large population of Filipino Americans that it is also home to Little Manila, or Filipinotown. Local residents can easily access a large number of Filipino-owned businesses such as Jollibee and Ihawan. Commuters can access the neighborhood via the 65 St and Northern Blvd stations. 

Best Manhattan neighborhoods along M train stops

Roosevelt Island

The neighborhood of Roosevelt Island can only be accessed by the M subway train via the Roosevelt Island station. Given the island’s size, residents have limited options for apartments to live at and will settle either in the Northtown or Southtown communities. Along with residential buildings, the island is also home to six New York City designated landmarks including the Smallpox Memorial Hospital, the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse, and the Blackwell House. Additionally, there are a number of beautiful waterfront parks such as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park and the Lighthouse Park.

Best Brooklyn neighborhoods along M train stops

Bushwick

Bushwick is a large neighborhood in Brooklyn. This neighborhood is bordered by Ridgewood, Queens to the north, then Williamsburg, the Evergreens Cemetery, and Bedford–Stuyvesant. Due to its gentrification in recent years, the neighborhood has become popular with young professionals and students. The neighborhood is home to a large number of parks such as the Irving Square Park, Bushwick Park, and Maria Hernandez Park. Commuters can access this neighborhood through a number of stations at Flushing Av, Myrtle Av, Central Av, Knickerbocker Av, and Myrtle-Wyckoff Av.