Will arrive at Penn Station and want to walk to Times Square and then down to Battery Park and pick up the Staten Island Ferry. We'll cab it back! Can anyone tell me the approximate number of miles involved? Thanks!

I would guestimate Penn Station to Times Square to be 1/2 mile.

Times Square to Battery Park is probably about 4 1/2 miles.

This is just thinking off the top of my head, but somebody else may have a more accurate figure.

I believe the formula for converting blocks to mileage in NYC is about 20 North-South blocks for one mile and about 5 long East West blocks to a mile.

Plummie is right about the north/south blocks. (Unfortunately, the numbered streets end at Houston, so it's tough to figure distances below that point.)
For east/west blocks, the figure is closer to 7-10 blocks per mile, depending on where you are.

I'm investing in Nike stock if you are going to walk this. Walk from Penn Station to Times Square is no problem. However, to Battery Park is quite a distance. Take a cab or subway.

If you intend doing this consider taking subway from Penn Station to near Battery Park and walk up to Times Square. I don't know the exact distance but if walking in a straight line (up Broadway) the distance is less than 5 miles. Add at least one mile or so if you decide to meander - Battery Park, Ground Zero, South Street Seaport. Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Little Italy, SOHO, East Village, Greenwich Village, Empire State, Times Square.

I wouldn't go from Penn Station to Times Square and THEN downtown, as Times Sq is uptown from Penn Station. Unless you really don't mind a lot of wlaking, which you probably don't--but you'll be re-tracing your steps on this plan.

If it's five miles, give yourself about two hours. 5 miles=100 blocks, a New York walker walks about a block a minute.

Almost without fail my first day in New York I walk from Times Square area to Battery Park, and walk back again. I usually leave about 8 in the morning and get back at about 5 in the evening. I wind a bit through the Village, Soho, and Wall Street area heading down, usually have lunch in Little Italy or Chinatown and head back up via Union Square. I know some people would prefer the subway or a taxi -- but I live for that first day in New York and feel exhilarated by the diversity I see in that wonderful full day walk. By the way, the concierge at the Marriott Marquis once told me it is "almost exactly" 5 miles from there to South Street Seaport, so I'd say thereuare is about right.