How to get from New York airports to New York City

You have the flights to New York booked, but how are you going to get to and from the airport? This article will help you on your next trip to New York City. New York City is served by three main airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). If, like me, you are travelling to New York from abroad, you will be landing at either JFK or Newark, but all three of these airports will serve domestic flights within the US. With Taxi fares from each airport to New York City starting from $60 dollars, New York’s public transport offers the most economical form of transportation.

NYC from the Empire State Building

John F. Kennedy International Airport

JFK is New York’s largest airport. Serving all its eight terminals, the JFK Air Train allows you to move between each terminal and connect you onto the main metro network at Jamaica Centre. By using this service, you can be in Manhattan within an hour and a half, at a cost of $10.75 per person. Transfers between terminals are free of charge but it will cost $8 to get off at Jamaica centre and connect to the rest of the metro network. Here, you will be able to get the ‘E’ train on the blue line to Manhattan. This metro will cost $2.75 with a metro card, and you will be able to get off at any stop on the New York metro system. It should be noted that the metro card costs an additional $1 but will reduce the single ticket fare from $3 to $2.75, and this card is required for the JFK Air Train. To use this card, you add a value to it and each time you swipe through a ticket barrier it takes the money off.

Total Cost: $10.75

Estimated Journey Time – 1 hour, 30 minutes

Newark Liberty International Airport

The best way to get between Newark and New York City is the train between New York Penn Station and the airport, a NJ transit service. The air train at Newark airport is completely free to use between the three terminals and New York Liberty International Airport train station. Then the main train between the airport and New York Penn Station will cost $15.50 per person and should take approximately 30 minutes. The Air Train is then dependent on whether you are terminal A,B or C and terminal C will be the first stop. If you are coming from New York Penn Station, you will require the North East Corridor line (Red) or the North Jersey Coast line (Blue), as long as you are only aiming for the airport there is no difference between them. Tickets should be bought before boarding the train as there will be an additional charge if you buy it onboard.

Total Cost: $15.50

Estimated Journey Time: 45 minutes

LaGuardia Airport

You only need to be aware of getting from LaGuardia to New York City, if you are planning on taking domestic flights during your stay in New York. Unlike JFK and Newark, LaGuardia does not have an Air Train but instead a series of buses that will connect you with the Metro line. This will be the number seven line (purple) that connects flushing with the Hudson Yards. You have two bus options - the Q72 or the Q70. Both of these buses are free of charge and will connect you with the subway, I recommend you get on the first one that shows up. If you take the Q72 you need to connect with the subway at Junction Boulevard. If you take the Q70 you can either get on the subway at Jackson Hts Roosevelt Avenue or 61-St Woodside. If you are looking to really maximise your time in New York or looking to get from the airport as quickly as possible, the express metro service between Flushing and Hudson Yards can only be joined at Junction Boulevard and 61-St Woodside.

Total Cost: $2.75 (with NY metro card, $3 without)

Estimated Journey Time: 1 hour