Theater District Traffic Question

My wife and I are frequent visitors to NYC and we know the traffic can be very congested an hour before show times. We haven't been since the pandemic began and are wondering if it is still as bad. We are planning on dining in the Flatiron District on a Saturday night before The Music Man at 8. Any advice is appreciated. We aren't keen on the subway since we once got stuck for 40 minutes and missed a good portion of our show. Thanks.

Midtown traffic on the weekends is pretty much back to where it was pre-pandemic. So definitely allow yourself plenty of time to get there. And agree with taking a cab so you don't have to worry about parking (if you're driving into the city, may actually be easier to leave your car near your restaurant and take a cab to and from the theatre. And with the crazy parking price hikes near the theatres, actually won't be that much more expensive).

Updated On: 1/27/22 at 10:30 AM

30-40 min walk from Flatiron Building to the theatre (used the Flatiron building since I don't know what restaurant they are eating at). Although the walk is pretty straightforward from there, a cab should get you there quicker if you're running late getting out of the restaurant.

I'd just walk up Broadway if you have enough time. Cab if the weather is bad. The Subway is also probably fine if the R isn't messed up that weekend.

I’ve been living in NYC going on 7 years and I use the subway daily - all thru Manhattan and Brooklyn and I’ve NEVER been stuck on a subway train. Longest delay I’ve ever experienced (due to train delayed ahead of us) was maybe 5-10 minutes. Based on this, as others have mentioned, the subway in NYC is the most reliable. Traffic is unpredictable. Especially in midtown/Times Square area.

stlrod said: "My wife and I are frequent visitors to NYC and we know the traffic can be very congested an hour before show times. We haven't been since the pandemic began and are wondering if it is still as bad. We are planning on dining in the Flatiron District on a Saturday night before The Music Man at 8. Any advice is appreciated. We aren't keen on the subway since we once got stuck for 40 minutes and missed a good portion of our show. Thanks.

"

I’ve driven into the city (from NJ) 7 times since Broadway has reopened as I don’t feel comfortable taking public transit yet. I have done street parking 2x (so, went driving through the city) and parked at Port Authority 5x. I’ve gone on a Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I didn’t find it traffic to be bad at all. I would however leave at least an hour between when you’re done eating and show time, especially if you’re looking for street parking.

This time have dinner near the theatre because on top of everything to deal with there is a snow storm coming. Play it safe and make it easy on yourselves.

Sutton Ross said: "Which is completely being overblown by the media.

"We could get zero to 20 inches!!!"

Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool.

Enjoy your evening, Op!!!!"

Seriously. I live outside of Philly. My local news is saying "if you're THIS SIDE of Philly (points left), you get this many inches, but if your THIS SIDE of Philly by the Jersey shore points (points right), you get this many inches, but really, we won't know what happens until Saturday".

Sutton Ross said: "Which is completely being overblown by the media.

"We could get zero to 20 inches!!!"

Cool. Cool. Cool. Cool.

Enjoy your evening, Op!!!!"

Lol! I’m in RI and we’re forecasted to have blizzard conditions and 18”+ of snow Saturday. That closes our state down.

Well what did you decide to do ? Was it a good evening out ?

Somewhere along the line, it was assumed I was talking about this past Saturday. It is Saturday 2/12. I am watching for matinee tix to show up.