Leave Thursday or Friday for the Hamptons
In summer 2026 the Cannonball took 92 minutes to Westhampton on Thursdays and 96 on Fridays, and the winter timetable adds a Friday-only Penn Station express that Thursdays do not get.
Fares and schedules checked October 2026.
Thursday is the quiet shoulder of the weekend. The comparison below uses the operators' published timetables, so it shows what runs rather than what traffic does. For the fastest Friday options, see the Montauk and Southampton pages.
| Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| LIRR Penn Station trains to Montauk, winter 2026-27 | The 5:13 PM weekday train only | The 4:07 PM express and the 5:13 PM train |
| Cannonball, summer 2026 | 92 minutes to Westhampton | 96 minutes to Westhampton |
| Jitney afternoon Montauk Line trips from Midtown | Trips marked Thursday or 7 days | Trips marked Friday or 7 days |
| Jitney fare | $43 prepaid; peak days can add 4 to 8 percent | Same; peak days can add 4 to 8 percent |
| Extra summer service | Cannonball on Thursdays except June 18 and July 2 in 2026 | Cannonball on Fridays except June 19 and July 3 in 2026 |
Sources: MTA timetable data (winter), amNY report of the 2026 Cannonball announcement, Hampton Jitney fare table and schedule viewer.
What this means
If your work allows it, a Thursday evening train on the 5:13 PM service or a Thursday Cannonball in summer avoids the Friday crowd. Friday has the express trains that the train-minded want. The Cannonball page explains the summer schedule.
For people who work from the Hamptons part of the week, see working remotely from the Hamptons.
Common questions
Is it faster to go on Thursday?
The Cannonball was scheduled 4 minutes faster to Westhampton on Thursdays than Fridays in summer 2026. Beyond that, Thursday mostly means fewer people.
Does the Jitney cost more on Fridays?
Its fare page says peak-day fares can be 4 to 8 percent higher. It does not publish which days.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Operators revise schedules and fares; use the official pages below for the final word.