Getting from a New York City Airport to Manhattan
The New York City area has three airports (Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark) and all are located outside of Manhattan. Each airport has multiple transportation options for getting to Manhattan.
Follow these directions to get from any New York City airport to Manhattan by taking public transportation, taxis, or an express bus.
KENNEDY (JFK) to MANHATTAN
Public Transportation:
Cost: *$7.25/person if taking the subway or $13/person if taking the Long Island Railroad
Time Estimate to Midtown Manhattan: 1.5 hours if taking the Subway and 1 hour if taking the Long Island Railroad
The AirTrain connects JFK Airport to the New York City subway system and the Long Island Railroad, both of which go to Manhattan. If you get confused with the AirTrain, ask an agent wearing a red coat for assistance.
- Follow the AirTrain signs for the AirTrain Station located outside of each terminal. Take the elevator or escalator to the main level of the station.
- Get on a Jamaica Station train. Three trains run on the AirTrain Track: one to Jamaica Station, one to Howard Beach Station, and one that just circles around and stops at every terminal. You can take either Jamaica or Howard Beach to get to Manhattan, but we recommend the Jamaica Station train.
- Get off at Jamaica Station, the final stop, and exit into the AirTrain Station. Here, you will have to pay for your ride at a vending machine before proceeding further. You can just pay for the AirTrain ($5) or combine it with a subway pass ($7.25) or with a Long Island Railroad pass ($13) to get all the way to Manhattan.
- Follow the signs to go to either 1.) the subway station and take the E train to Manhattan or 2.) the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Station to take the LIRR train to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
* Cost is one-way to Manhattan (AirTrain + subway fare) and does not take into account buying an unlimited subway pass.
Taxi:
Exit the airport and go to the taxi stand located outside the arrivals level of every terminal. There is a flat fare of $45 to get from JFK to Manhattan.
New York Airport Service Express Bus:
Catch the bus at the Express Bus Stop located at each airline terminal. The bus departs every 30 minutes and goes to Grand Central Station and Penn Station, both located in Midtown Manhattan. The fare is $15/person.
Phone number: (718) 875-8200
LAGUARDIA (LGA) to MANHATTAN
Public Transportation:
Cost: *$5
Time Estimate from the Airport to Midtown Manhattan: 1.5 hours
You will be arriving at one of the following four terminals depending on which you airline you fly on:
- Delta Terminal (Delta, Northwest, Comair)
- US Airways Terminal (US Airways, Colgan)
- Central Terminal (American, American Eagle, United, AirTran, Frontier, JetBlue, Midwest, Southwest, Spirit, AirCanada, Continental)
- Marine Air Terminal (includes all Delta Shuttle Flights)
From the Central Terminal, Delta Terminal, or US Airways Terminal:
- Follow the Ground Transportation Signs to exit the airport and go to the bus stop in front of your respective terminal.
- Take the Q33 Bus to the Jackson Heights Subway Station, the last stop on the Q33 bus route. Each person must have $2.25 in coins to pay the bus fare.
- At the Jackson Heights Subway Station, purchase a MetroCard for the New York City subway system (either $2.25 for a one-time use pass or an unlimited use pass).
- Take the E, F, R, V, or 7 line to Midtown Manhattan.
- Take the M60 Bus to 125th Street in Upper Manhattan. Each person must have $2.25 in coins to pay the bus fare.
Option 1:
Option 2:
From the Marine Air Terminal:
- Follow the Ground Transportation Signs to exit the airport and go to the bus stop in front of the terminal.
- Take the Q47 Bus to the Jackson Heights Subway Station, the last stop on the Q47 bus route. Each person must have $2.25 in coins to pay the bus fare.
- At the Jackson Heights Subway Station, purchase a MetroCard for the New York City Subway System.
- Take the E, F, R, V, or 7 line to Manhattan.
- Take the M60 Bus to 125th Street in Upper Manhattan. Each person must have $2.25 in coins to pay the bus fare.
Option 1:
Option 2:
* Cost is one-way to Manhattan (Bus + Subway fares) and does not take into account buying an unlimited subway pass.
Taxi:
Exit the airport and go to the taxi stand located outside the arrivals level of every terminal.
New York Airport Service Express Bus:
Catch the bus at the Express Bus Stop located at each airline terminal. The bus departs every 30 minutes and goes to Grand Central Station and Penn Station, both located in Midtown Manhattan. The fare is $12/person.
Phone number: (718) 875-8200
NEWARK (EWR) to MANHATTAN
Public Transportation:
Cost: $15
Time Estimate from the Airport to Midtown Manhattan: 45 minutes
- Follow signs to the AirTrain Station.
- Purchase a ticket to Penn Station from a New Jersey Transit vending machine ($15).
- Take the Airtrain to the New Jersey Transit train station.
- Take the train to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. There are three trains per hour during the day and two per hour at night.
Taxi:
Exit the airport and go to the taxi stand located outside the arrivals level. The fare is approximately $50 to $75 to get from Newark to Manhattan, depending on the destination.
Newark Liberty Airport Express Bus:
Catch the bus at the Express Bus Stop located at each airline terminal. The bus departs every 15-30 minutes and goes to Bryant Park and Grand Central Station, both located in Midtown Manhattan. The fare is $15/person.
Phone number: (908) 354-3330
Didn't find what you're looking for? Try searching here:
Return from Airport to Manhattan to New York Travel Tips
Return from Airport to Manhattan to
Essential New York City Guide Home
Copyright © 2009-2010 Essential New York City Guide. All rights reserved.
