To take the subway from Penn Station to the Statue of Liberty ferry, the MTA Trip Planner has us taking the 1 train and getting off at Rector Street. Is that better than taking it all the way to the end at South Ferry? Thanks.

Inexact science - thinking it's close to six of one, half dozen of the other. If you get on in front, better to exit at Rector; if you get on in back, better to stay on until South Ferry. But the ferry area at S Ferry will be more congested than walking to Battery Park from Rector and the line for the Liberty ferry forms northward toward Rector.

From Penn Station that is the "most direct" - that is a single train ride - and you'd get off at South Ferry, not Rector Street. When you exit to the street enter Bowling Green Park and walk to Castle Clinton National Monument (a round brown-colored building). That is where the ticket office for the SOL Ferry is and the entrance to the ferry as well.

If you take the 1 train, make sure you are in one of the first 5 cars of the train. South Ferry is a shirt platform and only the front half of the train will be at the platform.

If you don't mind a two train ride from Penn Station - take the A or C train to Fulton St, use the last staircase on the platform and transfer to a downtown 4 or 5 train for two stops to Bowling Green.

At Bowling Green use the staircase at the front of the platform to exit to the street. When you get to the street, Bowling Green Park will be to your right. Enter the park (due to construction there may be a slight detour to an entrance around the corner on Battery Place) and walk to Castle Clinton National Monument.

CORRECTION - I meant Battery Park, not Bowling Green Park.

there are often planned service changes for specific subway lines due to planned track work, station work, etc. you can check the same day or a day in advance on the mta website under service advisory .. just click on the line number or letter and put in the date.