How to Get from JFK Airport to Times Square and Manhattan (2024)

Having traveled between JFK Airport and Manhattan dozens of times over the years, I've tried all the modes of transport between the two.

In this post, I share information about each to help you decide which is the best for you, including subway, bus, train, shuttle, private cars, taxis, and rideshares.

When writing this post, I looked at comments from members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group. I share some of their suggestions at the bottom of this post.

John F. Kennedy Airport, located in the borough of Queens, is about 15 miles (23 km) from Manhattan.

It's the largest and busiest of the three major NYC airports and handles most international flights into the area.

If you are traveling from overseas, you will likely be landing here.

In this video, Katie, one of our local tour guides here at Tours By Foot New York, explains the choices briefly.

Here are some quick answers regarding costs.

How much it costs to get from JFK to Manhattan (or anywhere in NYC) depends on the mode of transportation.

Both public transportation options involve the JFK AirTrain light rail which brings you from the airport to the connecting subway or train station.

A subway ride including using AirTrain costs $11.40. A faster commuter train using the AirTrain costs between $13.25 to $15.25.

A shared shuttle van cost between JFK and Grand Central is $20 per person, while a shared shuttle from JFK to your door starts at $40 per person and up.

Taxis cost $70 flat (up to four people per taxi) plus surcharges, tolls, and tips.

An Uber or Lyft rideshare will cost between $45-$150 depending on traffic and surge demand.

Now, on to the full post.

• Subway
• Long Island Railroad
• Shared Vans and Shuttles
• Taxi + Private Car Service
• Uber and Lyft
• Where to Stay in NYC
• Things to Do in NYC

Cheapest Way to Get From JFK to Manhattan

The cheapest way to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan and other parts of NYC is to take the AirTrain and Subway combination.

You'll pay just $11.15 one-way! Not only is it cheap, it's simple as we explain in the next section.

Plus, other than taking a taxi/Uber, it's the only option available around the clock.

As someone who lives on a budget, this is my preferred means of getting to and from JFK.

Sometimes I opt for one of the other modes of transport depending on my circ*mstances.

Here are all the options, listed from least to most expensive. We explain each in detail below.

WAYS TO GET FROM JFK TO TIMES SQUARE AND COSTS

While saving money by taking the least expensive option is good, sometimes it makes sense to consider alternatives to the AirTrain + Subway combo.

If you want to save time and have a slightly more pleasant trip while keeping costs down, the AirTrain + Long Island Rail Road or express bus are good options, especially if you are staying in Midtown East.

Sometimes a taxi/Uber is worth the cost. If you have lots of luggage or mobility issues, a taxi or rideshare might be more comfortable.

The same holds true if you arrive late at night.

I always take a taxi or Uber when I arrive at JFK past 10 pm or before 7 am.

It's not that I am concerned about safety at those hours as the subway from JFK is always filled with other travelers.

But I am just too tired and ready to get home!

Read on for detailed explanations of each of the ways to travel between JFK and Manhattan and other parts of the city.

AirTrain + Subwayfrom JFK to Manhattan

This is the cheapest option to get from JFK to your accommodations.

Using a combination of the light rail AirTrain and subway system is an easy way to reach Manhattan and other parts of the city.

You can use this link to Google Maps and enter your destination address to get exact directions from JFK Airport.

The AirTrain circles the airport every day of the year, 24 hours a day. It stops at every terminal in the airport and takes you to the subway stations where you can hop on a subway.

After you arrive, follow the signs to the AirTrain. There are two AirTrain lines - be sure to get on the correct one that will take you to the stop you need.

• Jamaica Station line: This line will take you to Jamaica Station where you can connect to the E, J, and Z subway lines and also the LIRR (Long Island Railroad).
• Howard Beach line: This takes you to the Howard Beach subway station where you can take the A subway line.

Jamaica Station

If you are heading to Midtown, you want to go to the Jamaica Station stop on the AirTrain.

At Jamaica Station, you will transfer from the AirTrain to the E Train of the NYC subway system.

This option heads through the borough of Queens before reaching Midtown Manhattan.

The E train goes directly into Port Authority Bus Terminal and a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal.

The E train option takes about 70-80 minutes to reach your destination from the airport terminals.

An even faster option is to take the Long Island Railroad instead of the NYC subway (45 minutes to Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal) - more on that in the next section.

Howard Beach Station

If you are headed to somewhere in Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, the East Village, Lower East Side, or Greenwich Village, then Howard Beach Station is likely your best option.

This option is slower to Midtown, but depending on where you are going in Midtown (for example, the Port Authority Bus Terminal), this could be your best option.

Again, it's best to put your final destination into Google Maps or one of several good subway apps and let it determine the best route.

Costs

Travel between airport terminals is free but you must pay to take the AirTrain out of the airport to connect with the subway.

You will also need to pay for your subway ride.

• Total Cost: $11.40 -- $8.50 for the AirTrain (children under 5 ride free) and $2.90 for a single subway ride.
• Travel Time: Varies depending on your destination. But plan on 60-90 minutes to get to Midtown Manhattan.
• Pros: The cheapest option by quite a bit! Also, during rush hour traveling by subway can be faster than being on the roads in a taxi.
• Cons: If you have a lot of luggage, be prepared to carry it up and down stairs because not all subway stations have escalators or elevators.

You can pay by one of two options: with a MetroCard or the tap-to-pay system, OMNY.

If you choose to pay with a MetroCard, you can purchase one from vending machines just before you leave the AirTrain at Jamaica Station andHoward Beach.

Note: If you are buying a new MetroCard, there is a $1 fee for the card. Hold onto it. It is refillable and you don't want to pay $1 again.

Also, if you have purchased an unlimited MetroCard, this will not work on the AirTrain.

As for the OMNY Tap-To-Pay system, I understand that not everyone has a credit or debit card, but for those who do, I highly recommend paying this way.

I love it since I can use my smartphone or credit/debit card to pay and I don't get charged that pesky $1 for a card!

Read our posts on how to buy a MetroCard or use OMNY and how to master the NYC subway system.

TIP: Traveling with several people? You can buy a MetroCard with 10 AirTrain rides for just $26.50 (expires 30 days after first use).

Let’s say you are traveling in a group of four. You will normally pay $17 each for a round-trip AirTrain ride.

If you buy the 10-ride card, you will use 8 of those rides going to and from JFK.

Your cost will be just $6.25 per person! Traveling with five people? Even better!

AirTrain + Long Island Rail Roadfrom JFK to Manhattan

If speed is your priority then you can take the JFK AirTrain and connect with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), though it will cost you about twice as much as using the subway.

Again, at the airport follow the signs to the AirTrain and take it to Jamaica Station.

There you can get on an LIRR train and go to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.

Or, you could take the LIRR to Grand Central Station.

Both options shouldn't take you more than 45 minutes to reach either station from the airport terminals.

Keep in mind when calculating the total cost, that you will likely have to pay more for a subway, bus, or taxi to where you are staying.

• Total Cost: $15.25 during peak hours and $13.25 off-peak (the price includes the AirTrain cost of $8.50 and the flat rate City Ticket ($7 during peak hours and $5 off-peak). You can buy your LIRR ticket at vending machines at the train station or using the MTA TrainTime app.
• Peak hours are 6 am-10 am and 4 pm-8 pm.
• Travel Time: approximately 35 minutes
• Pros:Quicker than the subway and still significantly cheaper than a taxi.
• Cons: Same issues with large amounts of luggage as with the subway. Does not run 24 hours a day.

SHARED VANS AND AIRPORT SHUTTLES

Two companies, GoAirLinkandSuperShuttle, are ride-sharing services that have the door-to-door benefits of a taxi but are significantly cheaper.

You can request GoAirLinkandSuperShuttle from the ground transportation desk in the baggage claim area.

You will be assigned to a van with other passengers (unless you are lucky) heading to the same general area as you.

You can also book online in advance.

• Cost: It dependson your destination from the airport. As a point of reference, the cost from JFK to Grand Central Station Terminal in Midtown Manhattan will cost you approximately $45 during peak hours per person.
• Travel Time: Can vary. If you are sharing a full van (11 passengers), you might be the first dropped off or you could be the last.
• Pros: It has the convenience of a taxi and is much cheaper.
• Cons: It can take a very long time. Passengers often have to wait at the airport until there are enough people for a mostly full van, so plan to sit and wait for a bit. You are limited to one piece of luggage per person.

NOTE: GoAirLink airport transfers to your hotel are included at no additional cost with the New York Turbo Pass.

If you're planning to see and do a lot of things in NYC, this could be a great way to save money on both your airport transportation and the cost of multiple activities and attractions.

GoAirlink Express Shuttle to Grand Central Terminal

Rather than take a shared shuttle from JFK to your door, you can save money by taking this shared ride directly to Grand Central Terminal.

This is only slightly more expensive than the other options above. For those who prefer to travel by car, this is a great price.

• One-way ride: $20
• Hours of Operation: Every hour on the hour between the hours of 6 am and 11 pm daily.
• Total Travel Time: Depending on the time of day, and traffic conditions, approximately.
• Pros: Quicker than the subway and cheaper than a taxi, Uber, or Lyft. More comfortable than public transportation.
• Cons: Limit of one piece of luggage per person. If your flight arrives outside of the operating hours, you won't be able to take it.

For those occasions when I am heading into Midtown East, this is my choice of how to get there.

Direct Bus from JFK to Manhattan

NYC Express Bus shuttle service is the official bus operator for the NYC Department of Transportation.

*Not Currently Available

At JFK, you can find the bus at Terminals 1, 4, and 8. Look for the red signs.

Travelers arriving at other terminals can take the AirTrain to Terminal 1, 4, or Terminal 8 to take the Express Bus.

The bus goes into Manhattan and drops passengers at TWO locations:

• Grand Central Terminal (corner of 41st Street & Lexington Ave) and
• Times Square / Bryant Park(42ndStreet between 5th and 6th Avenue)

To both destinations from JFK:

Cost: $19.00 per person (Children 5 and under are free)

• The price covers two suitcases and one carry-on bag.
• More than that and you must pay an additional fee.

Travel Time: Approximately 90 minutes - 2 hours

Hours of Operation: 7 days a week, 11 am - 7 pm, every 30 minutes

Pros:

• Reasonable price for a comfortable ride. Children under 5 are free!
• You can book online which saves you time instead of purchasing your ticket at the airport when you arrive.
• With online reservations, you can take any bus on the day of travel and the reservation is good for 90 days from the date of purchase.
• Both stops are in Midtown Manhattan and near many subways and lots of taxis that you can use to get to your hotel.

Cons:

• Traffic is unpredictable. Your trip could be as short as 60 minutes, but if the traffic is very bad, you may be on the bus for up to 2 hours.
• Not located at all terminals. But you can easily take the AirTrain to the terminals where bus stops are located.

TAXI FROM JFK AIRPORT TO MANHATTAN

Taxing a yellow taxi (also called "cabs") is the most hassle-free option but also the most expensive of the public transport services.

JFK to/from Manhattan by Yellow Cabs

• Total Cost: A flat rate of $70 JFK to any destination in Manhattan, plus any bridge or tunnel tolls
• Plus State and City surcharges between $4-$5.
• Plus a surcharge of $5 during peak hours 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays.
• Also, you should tip your driver 15% of the fare- about $8.Taxis will take cash or credit cards.
• Travel Time:Expect a minimum of 45 minutes, but it could take twice that long depending on traffic conditions.

Note:City regulations restrict the number of passengers in yellow taxis to 4 (or 5 in a minivan), so if you have a larger party you may need to split up into different cabs or opt for a shuttle.

You should only use official yellow taxis and not accept rides from solicitors in the terminal. Many of them are operating illegally.

Taking a taxi has several pros and cons:

Pros:Super easy door-to-door transport. This is an easier option for travelers with a lot of luggage. You don't have to think too much!

If you are tired after your flight, you can take a taxi, sit back and let the taxi driver do all the thinking.

If you are traveling in a group of four people, this isn't a whole lot more than some of the other methods in this post. Note that standard-size yellow taxis cannot take more than 4 passengers.

Cons:More expensive than the other public transport options listed. After tip and bridge tolls you will pay over $70 + tip to get to Manhattan.

Read our post on using taxis in NYC.

UBER OR LYFT FROM JFK AIRPORT TO MANHATTAN

You can take either Uber or Lyft from JFK to Manhattan, but unlike yellow taxis, there is no Uber or Lyft flat rate to JFK.

As explained above, taxis cost $70.

Add on city and state surcharges of between $4-$5 and a surcharge of $5 during rush hour from 4 p.m. to 8 pm on weekdays. So at most, you’ll pay $80 (not including a tip or any tunnel tolls).

On the other hand, the cost of taking an Uber or Lyft from JFK to Manhattan can vary dramatically depending on the time of day/night, which makes it hard to give an average price.

An Uber/Lyft may cost as little as $50-60 or as high as $150.

Given the wild fluctuation in prices, it may or may not be cheaper to take an Uber or Lyft from JFK to Manhattan.

Before hopping in a cab, check the Uber/Lyft rate. If it is less than $80 it’s better to take an Uber/Lyft to Manhattan.

Uber pick-up locations:

For Terminals 1-4 and 7-8, head outside from arrivals or baggage claim.

For Terminal 5, head outside on the arrivals or departures level. Look for rideshare pick-upsigns.

Lyft pick-up locations:

Terminals 1,2,4,5, 7,8 arrival level. Once you arrive and use the app to request a Lyft, you will find out the pick-up zone.

For those times when I do want to treat myself to an easy ride home, I take an Uber or Lyft rather than a yellow taxi. This is because I live in Brooklyn and I don't get the benefit of the flat rate offered between JFK and Manhattan.

FREE NEW YORK WALKING TOURS

Once you have arrived, and have made your way from the airport to your accommodations, take a look at ourfree walking and food tours.

We offer over30 different NYCtours.

Check out ourfull tour calendarbelow for exact walking tour offerings and dates.

Which tour(s) might be right for you?

• If you are interested in the history of Manhattan or sights like Wall Street and the World Trade Center, consider taking ourLower Manhattan Tour.
• Our most popular tour is ourSoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Tour as it covers three neighborhoods in a manageable amount of time.
• We also offer guided tours ofHarlemandBrooklyn.
• In town for a day trip or a short weekend? Look at ourfree self-guided tours.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

We hope that the above information will help you choose the mode of transportation from JFK to Manhattan that is the best for you.

Here are suggestions, opinions, and tips about the options from members of our popular New York Travel Tips Facebook group.

Many people like to know how they can pay for each of the public transportation options. As NYC incorporates more technology into its payment systems, it’s good to keep up to date.

Here Stefanie reminds us that both the AirTrain and the subway can be paid using the OMNY Tap-to-Pay system. MetroCards are still accepted, though that will be phased out over the next few years.

If you are connecting with the Long Island Rail Road, you will need to buy a ticket from the vending machine or you can use the app,

Here, Jennifer shares her opinion that taking public transportation is very easy. It is indeed fairly straightforward but it requires you to plan ahead.

You must know which subway line gets you closest to your hotel, which may include transferring lines or walking a bit.

Still, it is not complicated to figure out, especially if you use Google Maps to see the route.

If you decide to go with public transportation (the cheapest way to travel), you need to choose between the AirTrain/subway combo or the AirTrain/railroad combo.

Which you choose to go with depends on where you are staying. Here Alexander recommends taking the AirTrain/subway when going to Lower Manhattan/Financial District.

But going into Midtown Manhattan, the AirTrain/railroad makes more sense.

When either combo will do, here are a few reasons to spend a few extra dollars to take the railroad over the subway.

Chae did both combos and why she recommends taking the railroad rather than the subway.

Fast. Clean. Fewer people and better seats. And restrooms!

Below, Danielle offered some awesome money-saving advice for those taking the AirTrain.

Here is how her suggestion works:

You can buy a MetroCard with 10 AirTrain rides for just $26.50 (expires 30 days after first use). This means each AirTrain ride is only $2.65 instead of $8.50.

Let’s say you are a group of four. You will each pay $17 for a round-trip AirTrain ride.

If you buy a 10-ride card, you will use 8 of those 10 rides going to and from JFK. Your cost will be just $6.25 per person, rather than $17

Traveling with five people? Even better!

In the following comment, Mandy was kind enough to reply to someone’s question about taking a yellow taxi versus an Uber or Lyft.

She found it cost her about the same to go from JFK to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan and vice versa.

But keep in mind that with Lyft or Uber, it could be lower or a lot higher depending on the time of day and traffic surge charges.

Because yellow taxis charge a flat rate into Manhattan, you can calculate your approximate fare in advance. Read the taxi section above for costs.

Speaking of taxis, a group member asked which is the best mode of transportation for her daughter who was traveling alone for the first time and arriving at JFK at around 11 pm.

DrTracy’s answer is by taxi, in this circ*mstance, even though it costs a lot more than public transportation.

But in other circ*mstances -- like a different time of day, a seasoned traveler -- AirTrain/subway combo is the way to go.

Finally, remember to treat yourself to a taxi when the circ*mstances make it the more comfortable choice.

Take it from Gemma, who opted for a taxi because she had flown 30 hours!

If that doesn't warrant a taxi ride, I don't know what does!

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