New Year's Eve in New York
New York's Times Square as the year 2005 is welcomed in by a crowd of hundreds of thousands, Jan. 1, 2005 Reuters

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square is a tradition and a bucket list staple for many, but there's one question that plagues partygoers year in and year out: where to find a bathroom. While the public restrooms at the Charmin Times Square Museum & Visitors' Center are always an option, lines can get especially long during the annual ball-drop festivities.

According to data from SitorSquat.com and NYRestroom.com, here are 14 locations near Times Square (and the approximate driving/walking distance) known to offer free restroom service: (Keep in mind that the following locations do not indicate if a purchase is required to use their facilities, or if the facilities are still open to the public.)

Port Authority Bus Terminal - 625 8th Avenue (8-minute walk/2-minute drive to Times Square)

New York Marriott Marquis Hotel - 1535 Broadway (18-second walk)

Barnes & Noble Midtown @ Rockefeller Center - 555 Fifth Avenue (4-minute drive, 9-minute walk)

McDonald’s - 220 W. 42nd Street (2-minute drive, 5-minute walk)

Bryant Park - 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue (3-minute drive)

Penn Station - W. 34th Street & 7th Avenue (3-minute drive, 7-minute subway ride)

Macy’s - 151 W. 34th Street (3-minute drive, 6-minute subway ride)

Old Navy - 150 W. 34th Street (3-minute drive, 7-minute subway ride)

Red Lobster - 5 Times Square (6-minute walk)

Starbucks - 1530 Broadway (3-minute walk)

Wendy’s - 1211 Avenue of the Americas (5-minute walk)

TGI Friday’s - 761 7th Avenue (4-minute walk)

Grand Central Station Public Restroom - 87 E. 42nd Street (4-minute drive, 7-minute subway ride)

Times Square Museum & Visitor Center- 1560 Broadway (3-minute walk)

NBC News reported Sunday that U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been given the honor of pressing the ball-drop activation button at this year's New Year’s Eve celebration in Manhattan Tuesday night. According to event organizers, more than 1 million spectators are expected to attend the annual celebration.

For those who prefer to celebrate the evening from the comfort of their own home, there are five different TV specials scheduled to air for the estimated 1 billion TV viewers this holiday. Fans of the classic "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” can tune in to ABC from 10-11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.-1:07 a.m. Younger viewers can dance to FUSE's “New Year’s Eve Dance Party” from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Nickelodeon’s “TeenNick Top 10,” featuring host Nick Cannon, from 10-11 p.m.

For viewers who seek a little controversy to kick off their New Year, tune in to “New Year’s Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” from 6-10 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. Musical performances are planned for Carson Daly’s annual special (10-11 p.m., 11:30-12:30 a.m.) with season 3 winner of “The Voice,” performer Cassadee Pope. Multiple guests, including Panic! At the Disco, J.Cole, New Politics and Krewella, will perform at Mario Lopez’s “New Year’s Live” (11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) on Fox.