Manhattan to Greenwich CT Guide

Greenwich, Connecticut is 30 miles from Midtown Manhattan. On a Sunday morning, that's a 40-minute drive. On a Tuesday at 5pm, it's 90 minutes of crawling through Westchester.

The Manhattan-to-Greenwich corridor is one of the most traveled commuter routes on the East Coast. Finance executives, lawyers, and consultants make this trip daily. Some drive. Some take Metro-North. Some have a driver waiting. The right choice depends on what you value: time, cost, or productivity.

Here's an honest comparison of the options.

The Distance and Timing

Manhattan to Greenwich: ~30 miles

Mode	Off-Peak Time	Rush Hour	Cost
Car Service	45-55 min	70-90 min	$195-250
Metro-North	45-50 min	45-50 min	$14-20
Driving Yourself	40-50 min	75-120 min	Gas + tolls (~$25)
Uber/Lyft	45-55 min	70-90 min	$90-150 (surge varies)

Metro-North is the only option where rush hour doesn't add time. Trains run on schedule regardless of I-95 traffic.

Option 1: Car Service

Pricing:

• Sedan: $195-225 one-way
• SUV: $250-295 one-way
• Round-trip: 15-20% discount typically available

Add gratuity (18-20%) and tolls (~$15-20). Total for a sedan one-way: roughly $250-280 all-in.

When car service makes sense:

• Airport connections: Going from Greenwich to JFK/LGA/EWR? Car service is door-to-door, handles luggage, and doesn't require transfers.
• Executive meetings: You need to arrive at a client's Greenwich office looking composed, not sweaty from running to catch a train.
• Working during the ride: Private calls, document review, and prep time. The back seat is your office.
• Groups: 3-4 people traveling together? An SUV is competitive with individual train tickets plus station transportation.
• Late night/early morning: When Metro-North runs less frequently, car service is reliable.

When it doesn't:

• Solo travel on a budget
• Rush hour when time matters (train is faster)
• You're comfortable with Metro-North and don't mind the walk to/from stations

Option 2: Metro-North Railroad

Route: Grand Central Terminal → Greenwich Station (New Haven Line)

Time: 45-50 minutes, regardless of traffic

Cost: $14-20 depending on peak/off-peak and one-way vs. round-trip

Advantages:

• Predictable timing—trains run on schedule
• By far the cheapest option
• Productive time (Wi-Fi, quiet cars, tables)
• No parking headaches
• Express trains during rush hour are fast

Disadvantages:

• Last mile problem: Greenwich Station isn't downtown. You need a taxi, Uber, or someone to pick you up.
• Grand Central isn't everywhere. If you're in FiDi or on the West Side, getting to GCT adds time.
• Luggage is cumbersome on trains.
• Late night: Trains run less frequently after 10pm.

The hybrid solution:

Many Greenwich commuters use Metro-North daily but book car service for specific occasions: airport trips, late meetings, days with heavy luggage or equipment. Best of both worlds.

Option 3: Driving Yourself

Route: FDR Drive or West Side Highway → I-95 North → Greenwich exits

Time: 40-50 minutes (off-peak), 75-120 minutes (rush hour)

Cost: Gas (~$10-15) + tolls (~$10-15) = $20-30 round trip

Advantages:

• Your own car, your schedule
• Flexibility to continue to other destinations
• No waiting for rides

Disadvantages:

• Parking in Manhattan is expensive ($40-80/day) or nonexistent
• You can't work while driving
• Rush hour is brutal—the Bruckner Interchange and I-95 through Pelham are nightmares
• Arriving stressed and tired isn't ideal for business meetings

For daily Manhattan-Greenwich commuting, driving is usually the worst option. For occasional trips, especially continuing to other CT destinations, it can work.

Option 4: Uber/Lyft

Pricing: $90-150 depending on time and surge

Uber and Lyft work for this route, but the variability is the problem. No surge? Great. 2x surge during rush hour? You're paying car service prices without car service quality.

Also: many drivers won't accept Greenwich trips from Manhattan because they lose money on the dead return. Expect higher wait times or cancellations.

The Airport Connection

One of the most common use cases for Greenwich car service is airport transportation:

Greenwich to JFK: $275-350 (sedan), 60-90 minutes

Greenwich to LGA: $225-295 (sedan), 45-75 minutes

Greenwich to EWR: $275-350 (sedan), 60-90 minutes

For flights, car service is almost always superior to train + rideshare combinations. You have luggage. You have a flight time. You don't want to miss connections or deal with transfers. A car picks you up at home and delivers you to the terminal.

For Frequent Travelers

If you're traveling Manhattan-Greenwich regularly, consider:

Metro-North monthly pass: Significant savings for daily commuters

Car service corporate account: 10-15% discounts for volume, consolidated billing, preferred drivers

Hybrid strategy: Train for routine days, car service for flights and special occasions

Track your transportation spending for a month. The numbers will tell you what makes sense for your pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster: train or car?

Train is faster during rush hour (45-50 min vs. 70-90 min). Off-peak, they're similar—but car is door-to-door while train requires getting to Grand Central and from Greenwich Station.

Can I take Uber from Greenwich Station?

Yes, though availability varies. During rush hour, there are usually cars. Late at night, it can be thin. Some people arrange a regular car service pickup at the station.

Is car service worth it for one person?

Depends on what you're doing. For a routine meeting? Probably not. For a critical client presentation where you need to prep during the ride and arrive composed? Yes.

What about Stamford instead of Greenwich?

Similar dynamics. Stamford is slightly closer, slightly cheaper. If your destination is closer to Stamford, the math shifts. Many car services quote both routes.

Do car services pick up in Greenwich for Manhattan drop-offs?

Absolutely. Many Greenwich executives use car service for morning commutes into Manhattan and take Metro-North home (or vice versa). One-way bookings are standard.

The Bottom Line

There's no single best option for Manhattan to Greenwich. Metro-North wins on cost and rush-hour consistency. Car service wins on door-to-door convenience, privacy, and productivity. Driving yourself is rarely optimal.

For most people: take the train for routine trips, book a car for airports and special occasions. That combination optimizes cost and convenience.

Need car service to Greenwich? See our Greenwich, CT transportation options and get a quote.