Articles/Smart Transfers
New York Airport Strategy: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark
How to choose between the three New York area airports based on where you are staying, what time you arrive, and how much you want to pay for the last mile.
New York has three main airports. Each one has a distinctly different relationship with the city. Getting the choice right means the difference between being at your hotel in 45 minutes or in 2 hours. The variables are your terminal, your Manhattan destination, and the time of day.
None of these airports has a direct subway link the way European airports do. Every option involves a transfer of some kind, and the marketing language on the airport websites is optimistic. What follows is what actually happens on the ground.
JFK: the largest, and the slowest into Manhattan
JFK is on the far edge of Queens, 24 kilometers from Midtown. It has eight terminals arranged around a central AirTrain loop. The cheapest transfer is the AirTrain to Jamaica for 8.50 dollars, then the LIRR to Penn Station for another 10 dollars off peak or 15 during rush hour. This takes about 65 minutes and involves one bag hoist onto the LIRR train.
The alternative is the AirTrain to Howard Beach and then the A train subway to lower Manhattan. This costs 8.50 plus 2.90 dollars but takes 75 to 90 minutes and is a genuine subway ride with all that involves at 22:00 on a Saturday night. Not recommended for a first arrival with luggage.
Taxis from JFK to Manhattan are a flat 70 dollars plus tolls and tip, roughly 90 dollars total. Rideshare varies from 65 to 140 dollars depending on time of day. In heavy traffic the taxi is faster because it can use bus lanes.
LaGuardia: closest to Manhattan, no train
LaGuardia is only 13 kilometers from Midtown. It has been rebuilt over the last decade and it is now an entirely modern airport. The catch is that it still has no direct rail link. The Q70 SBS bus to Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Queens is free with a MetroCard connection, takes 15 minutes, and connects to the E, F, M, R, and 7 trains toward Manhattan.
For most arrivals with luggage, this option is grim. Taxis from LaGuardia to Midtown are metered, average 40 to 55 dollars, and take 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Rideshare is similar. LaGuardia is the airport where a taxi is genuinely worth the money.
LaGuardia handles almost no international flights. If you are landing on a US domestic route, LaGuardia usually wins over JFK on total travel time.
Newark: not the New York airport, but often the right one
Newark is in New Jersey, 27 kilometers southwest of Manhattan. It handles a lot of United long haul flights and it should be considered a genuine third option, not a last resort. The best transfer is the AirTrain to Newark Airport Station, then a NJ Transit train to Penn Station Manhattan. This costs 15.50 dollars combined and takes about 40 minutes on a good day.
The trap at Newark is the Amtrak trap. Amtrak stops at the same station as NJ Transit but costs 40 to 90 dollars for the same ride and is only marginally faster. Buy the NJ Transit ticket from the machine, not from the counter, and confirm it is NJ Transit, not Amtrak.
Taxis from Newark to Manhattan cost around 90 dollars including the New Jersey tolls. Rideshare is 65 to 130. On a weekday morning arriving at 08:00, the train is not just cheaper, it is faster.
How to actually decide
If your Manhattan destination is Midtown East and you have a choice, LaGuardia wins for time and taxi cost. If you are staying downtown, near Wall Street or Tribeca, JFK plus a taxi is best because the ride uses the Brooklyn Battery route. If your flight lands late at night, JFK plus a taxi is safer and more predictable than any of the transit options. If you are on United and the fare from Newark is 200 dollars cheaper, take Newark and the train.
None of these decisions is close. The wrong airport for your destination costs an hour of your day and 40 dollars extra.
Rideshare pickup traps
At all three airports, rideshare pickup zones are on a different level or terminal from arrivals, and the walk is 8 to 15 minutes. Prices surge during weather events and after major sports games. If you see a wait time above 20 minutes in the app, cancel and take a taxi. Taxi queues are always shorter than they look because dispatch is aggressive at LaGuardia and JFK.
Frequently asked
Questions we get about this trip
Which airport is safest for a late night arrival?+
JFK. It has the largest taxi dispatch and the best signage. Late night arrivals into LaGuardia and Newark are fine but the taxi queues can be shorter, so demand can outstrip supply on bad weather nights.
Do I need to tip the taxi driver?+
Yes. Fifteen percent on the meter or flat fare is standard. Taxi drivers depend on tips more than in any European country.
Is the subway from JFK really usable with luggage?+
The A train from Howard Beach is usable if you can carry your bags up two flights of stairs at 42nd Street. Off peak on a Saturday morning it is fine. At 21:00 on a Sunday with two suitcases, take the taxi.
