New York Transportation

Getting to New York City

Once you’re on the ground at one of the three major airports servicing New York City, you have a number of transportation options for arriving at your downtown destination. A myriad of car rental and airport shuttle options are available at all three airports, but public transportation varies depending on whether you fly into JFK, Laguardia, or Newark.

From JFK

John F. Kennedy Airport, referred to by New Yorkers as JFK, is an international airport located in South Queens. The quickest and most convenient form of transportation from the airport into the city is via taxi. Follow signs in the airport to the taxi desk, where travelers stand in line and take taxis as they arrive. As with all things in New York City, you pay for the convenience, and a taxi trip from JFK to Manhattan usually costs a flat rate of $45, not including tolls.

One convenient part about flying into JFK is that unlike the other two airports, JFK is serviced by the New York City Subway. Pick up a free New York City Subway map as you follow the signs to the AirTrain, a five minute airport train ride which then drops you at the subway station were multiple connections can be made. Subway far is around $2.50 but subject to slight fluctuation.

From Laguardia

Laguardia airport is an international airport located in North Queens. Of the three airports that service New York City, Laguardia is the closest to Manhattan. Taxis are available outside at the taxi desk, where you’ll have to wait in a line of travelers before scoring one. Fare is metered, and usually comes in at around $25 to $30, depending on where in Manhattan.

Laguardia unfortunately is not serviced by the New York City Subway. However, if you’re hoping to save some money and have extra time on your hands, the bus is also a popular option. The M60 runs from 4:50 am to 1:00 am to 125^th Street in Manhattan. Grab a public transportation map on the bus to see where you can make transfers to other buses or the subway. Fare is around $2.50 with free transfer to another form of transportation.

From Newark

Located in Newark, New Jersey, Newark International Airport is another very common airport used by fliers to New York City. Taxis are located at the taxi desk outside. Metered fare usually rounds out at between $50 to $75, depending on your destination in Manhattan or the surrounding boroughs.

Newark also has an AirTrain system, though it doesn’t connect to the New York City Subway. Instead, travelers on the AirTrain can make connections to the New Jersey Transit and Amtrak lines, both of which can take you to Penn Station for around $12.

Getting Around New York City

Once in the city, there is no end to the transportation possibilities.

For the quickest possible jumps from point to point around the city, the New York City subway is the obvious choice. It’s the cheapest, most convenient, and least prone to New York city traffic jams. Load up a metro card at the beginning of the trip to make swiping in an out of stations quick and to avoid buying tickets each time you need a train. Detailed subway maps are available at the airport information desk and in most cases, at your hotel as well.

Taxis are also a popular option, though more expensive. But in a pinch, they’re the best option if you aren’t in a position to wait for the next train.

Walking and biking are also quite popular in New York City, and there a number of resources that will help you navigate the city on foot or on bike.

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