Transportation · New York
New York Airport Transfers: Getting from the Airport to the City
How to get from New York's airports into the city: train, taxi flat fares, transfers and typical costs, plus arrival and entry notes.
Updated 2026-07-01
Getting from the airport into New York
New York is served by three major airports and they behave very differently. JFK is the furthest out but has the most reliable dedicated rail connection; LaGuardia has no direct rail link at all despite its 2022 terminal overhaul; Newark sits in New Jersey and needs a train change to reach Manhattan. Journey times below are typical for a Midtown Manhattan hotel, not best case.
John F. Kennedy International (JFK) — 26 km south-east, in Queens
Six terminals connected by the free AirTrain JFK, which itself requires a paid transfer once you leave the airport perimeter to reach the subway or LIRR.
AirTrain + subway (A train)
60–75 minutes to Midtown. AirTrain fare plus standard subway fare, together under $12. Best for budget travelers and light packers with no strict time pressure.
AirTrain + LIRR
45–55 minutes to Penn Station. AirTrain fare plus LIRR fare, together roughly $17–20 off-peak. Best for travelers staying near Midtown who want the fastest reliable rail option.
Taxi (flat fare to Manhattan)
45–75 minutes depending on traffic. Regulated flat fare of $70 plus tolls and tip to anywhere in Manhattan. Best for late arrivals, families, and anyone with more than one large case.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
45–75 minutes. Typically $55–90 depending on demand and time of day. Best for groups of two or three wanting door-to-door service without the taxi rank queue.
LaGuardia (LGA) — 13 km north-east, in Queens
Closest airport to Manhattan by distance but has no dedicated rail link, so road traffic determines almost everything about the journey time.
Q70 Select Bus + subway
45–65 minutes to Midtown depending on connection. Standard subway fare, under $3 total. Best for budget travelers with light luggage and no rush.
Taxi
30–60 minutes depending heavily on traffic. Metered fare, typically $40–65 plus tolls and tip to Manhattan. Best for most travelers — the shortest distance of the three airports makes the taxi genuinely competitive.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
30–60 minutes. Typically $35–60 depending on demand. Best for solo travelers and couples wanting door-to-door pickup.
Newark Liberty International (EWR) — 26 km south-west, in New Jersey
Often the best-value long-haul option for fares, but adds a state-line train change that first-time visitors underestimate.
AirTrain + NJ Transit
35–45 minutes to Penn Station. AirTrain fare plus NJ Transit fare, together around $17. Best for most travelers — the fastest and most predictable option regardless of traffic.
Taxi
40–70 minutes depending on the Hudson River crossing traffic. Metered fare plus tolls, typically $70–100 to Manhattan. Best for late arrivals and travelers with heavy luggage.
Newark Airport Express coach
45–60 minutes to select Midtown stops. Around $18–20. Best for travelers staying near a drop-off point who want one seat and no station transfer.
Which option should you choose?
Two rules cut most of the friction. First, only use the official taxi stand at any of the three airports — New York regulates flat fares from JFK and meters elsewhere, so the marked queue is both fairer and safer than anyone approaching you in arrivals. Second, budget extra time for Newark and JFK if landing during weekday rush hour, since the Hudson River crossings and the Van Wyck Expressway are two of the region's worst bottlenecks; the AirTrain-and-rail combinations are immune to that traffic and are often faster despite feeling less direct. A rental car is rarely useful for a Manhattan-based stay given parking costs of $50–80 a day and congestion pricing in the core, but makes sense if you are continuing on to upstate New York or New England.
Arriving by train
Amtrak from Penn Station reaches Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC on the Northeast Corridor.
Entry and arrival formalities
US CBP handles all immigration; expect longer waits at JFK Terminal 4 in peak evenings.
Visa Waiver Program nationals need an approved ESTA before boarding; others require a B-1/B-2 visa. Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa for short stays.
New York FAQs
Which New York airport is closest to Manhattan?
LaGuardia by distance, but it has no dedicated rail link, so traffic often erases the advantage. JFK and Newark both have faster, more predictable rail options despite being further away.
What is the cheapest way from JFK into Manhattan?
The AirTrain connecting to the subway, together under $12, though it is also the slowest option at 60–75 minutes. The AirTrain-to-LIRR combination costs a little more but is notably faster into Penn Station.
How much is a taxi from JFK to Manhattan?
New York uses a regulated flat fare of $70 plus tolls and tip from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, so there are no meter surprises regardless of traffic — unlike LaGuardia and Newark, which are metered.
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