Miles vs. Minutes in New York City

In Ohio, 1 mile = 1 minute.

This is true nearly everywhere, except in the heart of the state's biggest cities and during the unavoidable rush hours.

In New York City, 1 mile = ? This is true in all locations, at all times.

A trip by subway from Bay Ridge to, for example, Times Square could be 30 minutes if the train pulls up as you step on the platform and you then transfer from a local to an immediately arriving express train. Make the same trip after midnight, when the trains are local and you might have to wait up to a half hour for a train, and the trip can easily take over an hour.

What's more, a destination that's further away in miles isn't necessarily further away by subway. It all depends on the nearest subway station and whether that station has express trains.

The distances from our apartment to New York landmarks are deceivingly small, even if you travel by car. It may take only about 20 minutes to drive the 9 miles to Greenwich Village, but by the time you find a parking spot (let alone pay the exorbitant fee), you may just as well have taken the subway.

Here's just a few of our commuting conundrums, from closest (in miles) to our apartment to furthest away:

Staten Island
2 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway/ferry: 1 hour

Coney Island
6 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Battery Park (Statue of Liberty)
7 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway: 30 minutes

Greenwich Village
9 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 40 minutes

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
9 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Union Square
10 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 40 minutes

Herald Square
11 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway: 45 minutes

Times Square
12 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Central Park
13 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Metropolitan Museum of Art
14 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 50 minutes

LaGuardia Airport
16 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway/bus (yup, you need both!): 1 hour 30 minutes

Citi Field (Home of the Mets)
18 miles
By car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 20 minutes

JFK Airport
20 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 45 minutes

Yankee Stadium
21 miles
Car: 35 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 30 minutes