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 Q train route in our last article. Today, we’re moving on to the yellow local and express R train train route. We’ll go over each of the subway stations the R train stops at and discuss the best neighborhoods to live in on its route. 

R train stops NYC

There are a total of 13 stops in Queens, 16 stops in Manhattan, and 16 stops in Brooklyn for the R train route. This route starts off in Forest Hills in Queens and works its way westward until it crosses from Queens to Manhattan at the Queens Plaza station. In Manhattan, the R train continues westward until it reaches the 57 St-7 Av stop and then heads southward towards downtown Manhattan. At the Whitehall St-South Ferry stop, the R train crosses the East River and enters Brooklyn at the Court St stop. It then swings northward then southward through the Jay St-MetroTech, DeKalb Av, and the Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr stops then continues southward until its terminal station at the Bay Ridge-95 St stop.

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

Queens stops:

• Forest Hills-71 Av (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) (Terminal) – also services E, F, M route
• 67 Av (Local) – also services M route
• 63 Dr-Rego Park (Local) – also services M route
• Woodhaven Blvd (Local) – also services M route
• Grand Av (Local) – also services M route
• Elmhurst Av (Local) – also services M route
• Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services E, F, M, 7 route
• 65 St (Local) – also services M route
• Northern Blvd (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services M route
• 46 St (Local) – also services M route
• Steinway St (Local) – also services M route
• 36 St (Local) – also services M route
• Queens Plaza (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services E, F route

Manhattan stops:

• Lexington Av/59 St (Local) – also services N, W, 4, 5, 6, F, Q route
• 5 Av/59 St (Local) – also services N, W route
• 57 St-7 Av (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services Q, N, W route
• 49 St (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services N, W route
• Times Square-42 St (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services A, C, E, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, 7 route
• 34 St-Herald Square (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, D, F, M, Q, W route
• 28 St (Local) – also services W route
• 23 St (Local) – also services W route
• 14 St-Union Sq (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services L, Q, N, W, 4, 5, 6 route
• 8 St-NYU (Local) – also services W route
• Prince St (Local) – also services W route
• Canal St (Local and Express) – also services J, Q, N, W, Z, 6 route
• City Hall (Local) – also services W route
• Cortlandt St (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services A, C, E, W, 2, 3 route
• Rector St (Local) – also services W route
• Whitehall St-South Ferry (Local) – also services W, 1 route

Brooklyn stops:

• Court St (Local) – also services 2, 3, 4, 5 route
• Jay St-MetroTech (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services A, C, F route
• DeKalb Av (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, Q route
• Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr (ADA accessible) (Local and Express) – also services B, D, N, Q, 2, 3, 4, 5 route
• Union St (Local)
• 4 Av-9 St (Local) – also services F, G route
• Prospect Av (Local)
• 25 St (Local)
• 36 St (Local) – also services D, N route
• 45 St (Local)
• 53 St (Local)
• 59 St (ADA accessible) (Local) – also services N route
• Bay Ridge Av (Local)
• 77 St (Local)
• 86 St (ADA accessible) (Local)
• Bay Ridge-95 St (ADA accessible) (Local) (Terminal)

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

Best Queens neighborhoods along R train stops

Forest Hills

The neighborhood of Forest Hills is currently easily accessible via either the 67 Av or Forest Hills-71 Av stop. Forest Hills can feel very residential, even suburban and has a good mix of single-family Tudor homes, pre-war co-ops, art deco buildings, and modern condos for folks to select from. It is bordered by Flushing Meadows Corona Park to the east and Forest Park to the south. Additionally, it is surrounded by a number of other neighborhoods such as Rego Park, Kew Gardens, and Corona. Many notable people, such as Helen Keller, have lived here in Forest Hills.

Best Manhattan neighborhoods along R train stops

NoMad

The next neighborhood on our list is the relatively small NoMad located in Manhattan. The neighborhood is bounded by 30th Street to the north, 24th Street to the south, and Avenues of the Americas and Lexington Avenue to the east and the west. Given its location, NoMad isn’t as residential as some of the other neighborhoods on our list. However, for folks who do rent here, there are a plethora of restaurants, shops, cafes, bars, and nightlife to enjoy. 

Best Brooklyn neighborhoods along R train stops

Bay Ridge

The neighborhood of Bay Ridge is accessible from a number of stops including Bay Ridge Av, 77 St, 86 St, and the Bay Ridge-95 St terminal station. The neighborhood is located right on the south west corner of Brooklyn and is right on the waterfront surrounded by a number of parks such as Owl’s Head Park, Shore Road Park, John Paul Jones Park, and Dyker Beach Park. The neighborhood even has its own promenade, the Bay Ridge Promenade, which has a great view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The neighborhood itself is a quiet residential neighborhood and is home to a large population of Norwegians and Arab Americans. Additionally, the neighborhood is also home to the Fort Hamilton Army Base which is headquartered by the Military District of Washington.