JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark? How to Get From New York’s Airports Into Manhattan

JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark are all airports in New York. All of them have differences in how they work. And hence, that makes getting from New York to Manhattan also different,  based on what you pick.

There is a flat taxi fare and a train link at JFK; LaGuardia has no train at all but a free bus to the subway. And because Newark is in New Jersey, it has its own rail line and taxi rules different from others.

Read this blog to learn which one is the right fit for your travel.

At a Glance

From JFK

• Subway and AirTrain. The AirTrain joins every JFK terminal to the subway at two stations: Jamaica (E, J and Z trains) and Howard Beach (A train). The total is $11.75 for most riders: $3 for the subway and $8.75 for the AirTrain, from MTA’s JFK guide. It is the cheapest way in, but also the slowest, with at least one transfer.
• Long Island Rail Road and AirTrain. If you are going to Midtown or Downtown Brooklyn and want to save time, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and change to the LIRR to Penn Station, Grand Central, or Atlantic Terminal. The MTA puts the total at $14 off-peak or $16 at peak times for most riders.
• Taxi. Yellow cabs charge a flat $70 between JFK and anywhere in Manhattan, in any direction, set by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. That number is only the start. The TLC adds a $2 airport access fee on pickups, a 50-cent state surcharge, a $1 improvement surcharge, a $5 surcharge on weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m., and congestion charges for trips into lower Manhattan, plus tolls and tip.

From LaGuardia

• The free Q70 bus and the subway. LaGuardia has no rail link, but the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free and runs without break from Terminals B and C to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue, where you can take the E, F, M, R, and 7 trains. One more stop takes you to Woodside for the LIRR. From MTA, buses come every 8 to 10 minutes; the ride is 15 minutes in normal traffic, and the buses have luggage racks. You only pay the $3 subway fare.
• Taxi. There is no flat fare from LaGuardia. Cabs run on the meter, and the TLC adds a $5 LaGuardia surcharge, the $2 airport access fee on pickups, and the usual city surcharges, plus tolls and tip. LaGuardia is the closest airport to Midtown, but traffic on the Grand Central Parkway and the bridges into Manhattan decides what you pay.

From Newark

• NJ Transit and AirTrain Newark. Take AirTrain Newark from your terminal to the airport rail station, then an NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station in 30 minutes. NJ Transit lists the adult fare at $17.25, and the AirTrain fee is included in your ticket. Buy it in the NJ Transit app or at a station machine before you get on, as buying on the train adds a $5 surcharge.
• Taxi. NYC’s flat fare does not apply here. Newark cabs into Manhattan charge Port Authority zone fares, from $60 for Lower Manhattan up to $80 above West 185th Street, from the airport’s taxi page. On top of that come a $2 airport access fee, $1 per bag, a $10 surcharge at rush hour for trips into New York, $5 for East Side destinations, tolls, and tip.

Rideshare Apps

Uber and Lyft pick up at all three airports, but their fees change with demand. A price that looks good at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday can rise when many flights land at once, on holiday weekends, ds or in bad weather. Pickup zones can also be a long walk from baggage claim.

When a Pre-booked Car Makes Sense

Public transport is hard to beat if you are traveling light. A pre-booked car starts to make sense when:

• you are traveling with children, older relatives,s or a lot of luggage
• you land late at night, after a long international flight
• you are a group of three or four, as train prices add up per person and a car is priced per vehicle
• you have a meeting, a show or a dinner reservation and can’t  wait in a taxi line

With a New York chauffeur service like Artisan Limo, which covers JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Teterboro, the price is shown before you book and there is no surge pricing, even on holidays. Airline flights are followed in real time. For sedans and SUVs, the chauffeur waits 60 minutes after a domestic landing and 90 minutes after an international one, counted from wheels-down, which takes the pressure off a long customs line. Families can ask for two child seats in an SUV in advance, with each child’s age, weight, and height, subject to availability. An optional meet-and-greet is $25 for eligible airport arrivals.

Tips For Any Arrival

1. Check your terminal before you land. JFK and Newark have many terminals, and pickup areas for each one.
2. Tap to pay. On the subway and the JFK AirTrain, you can tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile, so you do not need a separate fare card.
3. Watch the clock. Weekday afternoons from about 4 to 8 p.m. bring heavy traffic and, at JFK and Newark, higher taxi surcharges.
4. Save your address offline. Keep your hotel or host’s address and cross street in your phone in case you lose signal.
5. Leave extra time going back. Construction continues at JFK, so give yourself a cushion for the trip to the airport, whichever one you use.

The Bottom Line

If you are traveling light and the timing is right, the train or the free Q70 bus will get you into Manhattan for a few dollars. If you are tired, traveling with family or carrying a week’s worth of luggage, a taxi or a pre-booked car is worth the extra cost. Picking before you land is the easiest way to start your New York trip on the right foot.