Getting from JFK, LaGuardia or Newark into Manhattan
All three airports have a public-transport route into Manhattan for a fraction of a taxi fare. Which is best depends on the airport, your luggage and the time — and on a bad traffic day the train wins outright.
JFK — AirTrain, then the subway or the LIRR
AirTrain JFK runs between all terminals and two connection points. It has its own fare, separate from the subway, paid on exit.
- Howard Beach → the A train into Manhattan. Cheapest, slowest.
- Jamaica → the E train, or the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station.
The LIRR costs more but is by far the fastest public option — around 20 minutes to Penn Station against an hour or so on the subway. With luggage and a schedule, it's usually worth it.
LaGuardia — the free Q70 shuttle
LaGuardia has no direct subway, which surprises people.
The Q70 SBS LaGuardia Link is a free shuttle bus connecting the terminals to:
- Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Av — E, F, M, R and 7 trains
- Woodside–61 St — the 7 train and the LIRR
Because the shuttle costs nothing, the whole trip into Manhattan is one subway fare. It's the best-value airport transfer in the city and the least well known.
Newark — AirTrain and NJ Transit, not the subway
Newark is in New Jersey, so the subway and OMNY do not reach it.
Take AirTrain Newark from your terminal to Newark Liberty International Airport station, then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station. Buy a single combined ticket that covers both legs — from the machines or the NJ Transit app.
Roughly 30 minutes to Penn Station. Do not tap OMNY here; it isn't that system.
When to just take a taxi or rideshare
Public transport isn't always right.
Take a car if you have heavy or multiple bags, are travelling very late at night, are in a group of three or more where the cost splits well, or your hotel is a long walk from a station.
Use the official taxi rank or a rideshare app. Never accept a ride from someone approaching you inside the terminal — that's the one genuine scam to watch for at all three airports.
Traffic is the deciding factor
A taxi from JFK can take 45 minutes or well over 90, and you cannot tell which in advance. The train takes the same time whatever the road is doing.
If you have a flight to catch or a booking to make, the train is the predictable option even when a car looks faster on the map.
Sort your phone out before you leave the terminal
Airport Wi-Fi is free at all three. Before you head for the train:
- Activate your eSIM or check your roaming is working.
- Screenshot your route. Signal in tunnels is patchy and a screenshot needs none.
- Check your contactless card is in your pocket, not the bottom of a suitcase — you'll want it at the turnstile.