Penn Station with Kids

The One Rule: Use Moynihan

At NYC Penn Station, the most important decision you can make with kids is to enter via Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets) instead of the underground concourse at 7th Avenue. The two buildings serve some of the same trains, but the experience is night and day for families.

If you're taking Amtrak, you should be in Moynihan regardless. If you're taking NJ Transit, you have to use the underground concourse for ticketing and departure boards — but you can still walk over to Moynihan for restrooms, food, and waiting before walking back. See our Moynihan vs Penn Station guide for the full breakdown.

Strollers, Carriers & Mobility

Strollers are doable at any Penn Station but easier at some than others. Moynihan is the easiest in NYC; the underground concourse is the hardest. Newark, Philadelphia 30th Street, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh are all easier than NYC underground — smaller stations with shorter walks.

• ▶Travel with a compact, foldable stroller when possible — wide "jogging" strollers struggle in crowded corridors and on subway transfers.
• ▶Many parents prefer a carrier (front or back) for the actual train station and reserve the stroller for the destination. Easier to navigate elevators, escalators, and platform gaps.
• ▶Elevators at the underground portion of NYC Penn occasionally go out of service — check the MTA app or 511 status before you arrive if you absolutely need one.
• ▶Bridge plates and assisted boarding are available on Amtrak and NJ Transit — ask any conductor or station staff member if you have a stroller, wheelchair, or mobility considerations. They will help.
• ▶At Moynihan, the elevators are clearly marked and well-maintained. Use them rather than the long escalators when you have a stroller.

Restrooms & Changing Tables

Restroom situation varies dramatically across Penn Stations:

• ▶Moynihan Train Hall: modern, clean, with changing tables. Best option in NYC.
• ▶Underground NYC Penn: basic restrooms, often crowded at rush hour, family-unfriendly. Use Moynihan if you have a choice.
• ▶Newark Penn: standard restrooms in the main concourse; not as modern as Moynihan but generally fine.
• ▶Philadelphia 30th Street: well-maintained restrooms on the main concourse with changing facilities.
• ▶Baltimore Penn: smaller station with standard public restrooms.
• ▶Pittsburgh Union Station: smaller station; check current restroom availability on arrival.

Pro tip: Use the restroom before boarding. Onboard restrooms on commuter trains (NJT, LIRR, SEPTA) are basic; Amtrak restrooms are better but still small. Stationhouse restrooms are almost always cleaner.

Where to Feed Them

At NYC Penn, the Moynihan food hall is dramatically better than the underground options for families. Casual sit-down spots, recognizable kid food, and enough space to manage a meltdown without spectators.

• ▶Moynihan: Shake Shack, Magnolia Bakery, H&H Bagels, plus a rotating cast of casual food-hall spots. Easy enough for ages 3+.
• ▶Underground NYC Penn: grab-and-go counters, chains like Au Bon Pain and Krispy Kreme, convenience stores. Less ideal for sit-down but workable for a snack.
• ▶Other stations: each has at least one or two food options. Newark has Dunkin' and similar; Philly 30th has more variety than the others; Pittsburgh is limited in-station but the Strip District is a short walk.

For the full food rundown, see our where to eat at Penn Station guide.

On the Train Itself

• ▶Avoid the Amtrak Quiet Car. It's one car per train, marked, and strictly enforced. Bringing chatty or restless kids in is asking for confrontation.
• ▶Pick a row at the end of a car if possible — quieter, fewer people walking past, easier escape route for a tantrum trip to the vestibule.
• ▶Window seats win — the view holds attention better than the screen.
• ▶Bring snacks. The Amtrak café car is fine but expensive, and runs out of popular items. Commuter trains (NJT, LIRR, SEPTA) have no food.
• ▶Download offline content (Netflix, YouTube Kids, Spotify) before boarding — cell signal is patchy in the tunnels and through New Jersey.
• ▶Headphones for kids are not optional on a commuter train. Other passengers will appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Surviving the Board Rush

The NJ Transit “board rush” at underground NYC Penn — where the track posts and several hundred people move at once — is hard enough as a solo traveler. With kids and luggage, it's genuinely stressful. A few strategies make it manageable:

• ▶Arrive earlier than you would solo. An extra 15–20 minutes of buffer gives you bathroom + snack + last-minute everything time.
• ▶Position 15–20 feet back from the departure board, not pressed against it. You'll have a clear path to walk when your track posts.
• ▶Compact bags. Strollers folded if you can. Anything that has to be carried should be on your back, not in your hands.
• ▶Take Amtrak from Moynihan instead of NJ Transit from the underground if you have a choice — the boarding process is dramatically calmer.
• ▶Ask a station agent for help if you feel overwhelmed. Many parents do this. Staff will usually walk you to the right area as soon as the track is known.

For the full picture on how tracks get assigned and why, see our track assignments explainer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions