Clark Street

Clark Street station drops you right in the middle of Brooklyn Heights, one of New York's quietest and most photogenic residential neighbourhoods. It is one of the few subway stations in the city where the primary exit is a bank of elevators rising into a building lobby rather than a stairway to the sidewalk. Opened in 1919, it is deep by New York standards, tunneled well below the surface as the 2 and 3 trains cross under the East River from Manhattan.

Above ground, tree-lined streets of pre-war brownstones lead a few short blocks to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with its unbeatable view across the harbor to Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It is a favorite stop for visitors who want a quieter, more residential slice of Brooklyn without straying far from the subway.

Station Overview

Clark Street station opened in 1919 and is served by the 2 and 3 trains, part of the IRT Seventh Avenue Line that runs beneath the East River between Wall Street and Brooklyn Heights. It is one of the deeper stations in the system, reached by a long elevator ride from street level. A single flat fare covers travel from here anywhere in the system, paid by OMNY tap or MetroCard swipe.

Lines and Connectivity

The 2 and 3 trains run express through much of Brooklyn and Manhattan, linking Clark Street to Wall Street and Downtown Manhattan in one direction, and to Downtown Brooklyn, Flatbush and East New York in the other. Both lines continue north through Manhattan's West Side up to Harlem and the Bronx, making this a fast route into Midtown outside of rush hour.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is deep underground, and the primary way up to street level is by elevator rather than stairs, a legacy of how far below the neighbourhood's bedrock the tunnel sits. There is a stair option for those who prefer it, but it is a long climb. The elevators exit into a lobby on Clark Street itself, just steps from Brooklyn Heights' main shopping strip on Montague Street.

Accessibility

Clark Street is a step-free station. Because the station relies on elevators as the main means of reaching the platform for all riders, not just those who need them, elevator uptime here matters more than at most stations, so it is worth checking the MTA's elevator status before you travel.

Travel Tips

• Take the elevator rather than the stairs unless you specifically want the exercise. It is a long way down.
• The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is about a 5 minute walk and offers one of the best free skyline views in the city, especially near sunset.
• Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights' main commercial strip, has cafes and restaurants right by the station exit.
• For the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront, walk downhill from the Promenade toward the piers.

Nearby Attractions

Brooklyn Heights Promenade - about a 5 minute walk. A landscaped esplanade with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor.

Brooklyn Bridge Park - about a 10 minute walk downhill. A long waterfront park with piers, lawns and a carousel, built along the old Brooklyn shipping docks.

Montague Street - directly at the station exit. Brooklyn Heights' main street for cafes, restaurants and shops.

Plymouth Church - about a 5 minute walk. A 19th-century church historically tied to the abolitionist movement, with architecture worth a look even from outside.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The 2 and 3 trains run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, though service thins out overnight as on most lines. Weekday rush hours bring commuters heading into Manhattan, while the neighbourhood above is at its best in the late afternoon when the Promenade catches the sunset light over the harbor. Weekend mornings tend to be the quietest time to use the station.