You have found yourself at Penn Station. It might have been because you took an Amtrak train from somewhere else. You might also have taken either the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) or New Jersey Transit here. There are a lot of subway stops in the city that lead here. You may have taken a taxi or car service. But now you need to try to get around this winding underground sprawl. 

Penn Station is bustling and crowded enough even without luggage. You want to put your bags somewhere. Vertoe is one of the best options for luggage storage at Penn Station.

Then it’s all about finding your way around.

Madison Square Garden

This, also known as MSG, is one of the main gathering areas in the city. People come here to see the Knicks play basketball or the Rangers play ice hockey. There are a lot of shows and concerts there as well.

Penn Station is right below it. So you can follow the signs to the escalators that will take you out to the street that is directly in front of MSG. You just need to follow the throngs of people headed to the entrance.

LIRR

Perhaps you’re taking an excursion from the city to Long Island. You can follow the signs to the Long Island Railroad. At one point, you will walk by turnstiles for the New York Subway’s 1, 2, and 3 lines. That means you’re in the right spot. If the next thing you see is a huge display with things like Ronkokoma, and Port Washington on it, you’re right where you need to be.

Get ready to hustle though – if you know what line your LIRR is on, look at the display board. Usually they list the track 10 minutes before final boarding. When you see it … move. Do not hesitate to get to the right track and go down the stairs. Then you can board the train.

One good thing about Penn Station is that there are a lot of food options. Most are grab-and-go, but others allow for more leisurely sitting. You want to get there early if you are doing that.

Amtrak

This is also widely used. Follow the signs to the Amtrak waiting area. This one also lists destinations and track numbers. Again, get ready to hurry to your track. It’s busy enough during the year. Be extra ready when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around. It’s not uncommon to have trains too full and the conductors turn people away until the next train comes.

Ultimately, the main thing to do when navigating around this place is to look at the signage. If you are not certain, do not hesitate to ask an employee there. They are there to help. You can also see if you can ask a local – they tend to be friendly, just rushed.

Bottomline

When Penn Station, the original one, first opened to the public in 1910, the city was at a much different time in its history. Those newfangled cars were still gaining a foothold in society. Trains were popular and the place was busy, but it was nowhere near the labyrinth that it became. Fortunately for the people riding the trains, there’s no Minotaur in this labyrinth. Unless someone cosplays as one.

Penn Station, which still retains a 20th-century feel to it, is moving to the 21st Century. The first step was the Daniel Moynihan Train Hall, which opened in 2021. Ultimately, the city wants to completely modernize Penn Station. So, eventually, you might need a different guide to getting around Penn Station. Until then, hopefully, this will serve you well.