JFK, LGA, or EWR why it matters which one you choose
Flying can be stressful, New York City can be stressful so when the two mix?
Yikes.
Here are my tips and tricks for each airport as an NYC local who often finds themself at the airport every month.
Whether this is your first time visiting NYC or maybe last time you didn’t have the best airport commuting experience, by the end of this you will feel like a walking Google Maps (or City Mapper if you read my other article; How to Survive Your First Trip to NYC) and will have the knowledge for a seamless travel experience.
In NYC, we have three major airports that combined have well over 1,000 flights funneling in and out every day. So which option is best for you?
1. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
JFK seems to be the most popular answer when I ask around and for good reason. It’s probably the most accessible 24/7, with the least complicated commute into the heart of Manhattan.
- First, the classic yellow cab. This will leave you in Midtown in roughly an hour depending on traffic. Sitting at a flat fare of $70 before tip and a possible $5 surcharge when traveling between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays. Leaving your fare around $90 after tip.
- This is still cheaper than an Uber/Lyft that could easily run you upwards of $150 after tip (sometimes even before tip) and a great option for those who may be prioritizing ease and comfortability over a tighter budget and will be staying in Midtown Manhattan.
- The good ol’ subway. Welcome to NYC, now run because you want to catch that train ASAP. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic (unless you’re arriving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. then I mean it, let’s see those track star skills cause if you miss this one it could be 30 minutes or an hour and a half until the next one).
- Follow the signs to the AirTrain (running every 2–3 minutes during peak hours and 4–10 minutes off-peak hours) and take it to the Howard Beach Station there you will pay the fare for both the AirTrain that you just rode ($8.50) and the subway ($2.90) and look at that, you’re already over the hump. The A train can be your best friend especially if staying on the west side of the Island but especially when traveling to and from JFK. The A train will arrive at the Howard beach-JFK station every twenty minutes between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Make sure you are on the correct platform to board the Brooklyn and Manhattan-bound train to Inwood-207, it will take you to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan in roughly 50 minutes for the low, low price of $11.40. While this is my favorite method it can become a little cumbersome when traveling with a lot of luggage so keep that in mind.
- Last, but certainly not least, rideshare apps such as Lyft/Uber. I have already mentioned this will often be the priciest method of travel to Midtown Manhattan but may become worth it for a couple of reasons.
- First, are you even going to Midtown? Why pay a flat fare cab if you’re only going to Brooklyn or lower Manhattan? What if you’re going beyond Midtown (above 50th St.)? Or the East side and don’t want to deal with transfers on the subway? Then a rideshare service may be the way to go. Yes, rideshare vs. cab to Midtown — the cab will more often than not be the cheaper choice but the second you go beyond Midtown start considering rideshare again. You will no longer be in flat fare territory and Uber may become cheaper. There is also the option for a larger car if traveling with more people or pets because fun fact, not all taxis will greet your furry friend with open arms.
2. NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — EWR
Newark airport is located in New Jersey but is still surprisingly easy to get to and from when staying in Manhattan and can sometimes even be faster than LGA and JFK despite being in a different state. Once again leaving travelers with three top options however not all being an option 24/7 like JFK.
- Once again you have the option for taxis and rideshare apps. Unlike JFK the two are pretty similar in pricing and convenience given neither has a flat fare rate to Manhattan and both can range between roughly $70 and $150.
- NJ Transit. New Jersey Transit is a good and quite affordable option. The fare is $16.80/one way or $33.60/round trip for an adult, $12.20/one way or $24.40/round trip for a senior (62 years and above), or $3.70/one way or $7.40/round trip for kids (5–11) although 2 kids can ride free when with a ticketed passenger on weekends and holidays. I recommend buying tickets online through the NJ Transit app in case you are running tight on time when stepping off the AirTrain.
- The app can get confusing but don’t worry I’ve got you covered.
- Begin by downloading the NJ Transit app from the app store or use the links below and make an account
~ NJ TRANSIT Mobile App ~
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.njtransit.njtapp&hl=en_US
- From the home page select “Buy Tickets”
- On the following page select “Rail”
- Set “Origin” as NEWARK AIRPORT
- Set “Destination” as NEW YORK PENN (make sure you select New York, not Newark Penn. They are not the same.)
- Select whichever fare you need and proceed to checkout
- Pay with PayPal, Credit Card, or Apple Pay. You can also split pay if that option works best for you.
- Finally, activate your ticket from the “My Tickets” page no sooner than two hours before boarding the train as they are only valid for two hours. there will be a countdown on the page as soon as it is activated.
- When taking NJ transit from EWR to Manhattan, follow the signs in the airport to the AirTrain (departing every 3–5 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) get off at the Newark Liberty International Airport Station. Follow the signs to the train and when you reach the turnstile place your phone below the scanner QR code/screen up and it will scan your ticket and open.
- If you did not buy the tickets ahead of time there will be kiosks where you can purchase tickets and transit workers are there to help. They help travelers like you every day so don’t be scared to ask, it beats accidentally going in the wrong direction, or buying the wrong nonrefundable ticket. Follow the signs to the correct platform. New York Penn Station will be the end of the line so you don’t have to worry about missing your stop.
- From Penn Station, you can either exit the station if you are staying nearby or would like to take a Cab/Uber to your final destination or transfer to the 1,2,3 or A, C, or E trains to finish off your journey.
- Newark Shuttle bus is an amazing option. Run by Coach USA the Newark Shuttle bus will pick you up outside your terminal and take you to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. It is an easy trip with very few steps.
- Once again, you can buy your ticket online or through the app I have the app links and website listed below.
~ Coach USA ~
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orbit_user_app&pcampaignid=web_share
- Open the website or download the app (linked above)
- Set “Origin” as “Newark Liberty Airport”
- Set “Destination” as “Port Authority Bus Terminal — New York, NY”
- Choose a departure time. Unlike NJ Transit you must choose a specific time however, it is valid for any scheduled shuttle time so if you miss the one you planned on don’t worry, you can catch the next one. The bus’s first departure is around 5:30 a.m. and the final departure every day is typically around 10:45 p.m.
- Select which ticket is right for you
- Enter the email where you would like the digital ticket will be sent. Make sure you will have access to this email when you are getting on the bus.
- Checkout — once again you can split the cost or checkout regularly by either adding in your credit card and billing info or creating an account.
- Finally, check your email for the ticket.
- When at the airport there will be signs to lead you out to ground transportation (usually beginning around the baggage claim area) and once outside of the terminal you will once again follow the signs to lead you to the Coach Bus/Newark Express Shuttle service pickup. They will scan the ticket as you get on the bus and then sit back put some headphones in and enjoy the views of NYC as you cross over from Jersey because as we all know, the main thing Jersey is good for is the views of NYC…
- An additional option is taking the AirTrain to Newark Liberty International Airport Station. From there you take the NJ Transit train to Newark Penn then transfer to the PATH and take that across to Manhattan. However, I think this is the most over-complicated and pointless route and unless you have been to NYC plenty of times and know all the different trains and connections well, it is a recipe for disaster and I do not feel it would be beneficial to go into it any further in this post.
3. LAGUARDIA AIRPORT — LGA
LaGuardia Airport located in Queens New York has many different options but similar to JFK, your best bet will often be public transportation however every option has its benefits. So what are they?
- Uber/Cab/Lyft etc. Once again you will not find a flat fare for a cab or a rideshare service and they may run very similar pricing to each other however, Cabs do average a bit lower ($40–60) compared to rideshare services ($73). The nice thing that sets LaGuardia apart from the other two? It’s about a twenty-minute commute by car to east Midtown. This is the fastest commute even if you cross to the West side making it a great option for those who want to be in their hotel or exploring the city ASAP.
- There are multiple public transit options but we will start with the LaGuardia Link Q70 (running 24/7). A great option for those looking for a more affordable trip. The Q70 is a free service that will take you from LaGuardia Airport to the E, F, M, R, or 7 trains boarding in Jackson Heights, Queens. Since this is a free bus service you will not be required to pay to board the bus during the first leg of the trip but when transferring to the subway a MetroCard or OMNY payment ($2.90) will be necessary. (OMNY can be used by tapping any contactless payment such as a credit or debit card, smartwatch, smartphone, etc.)
- Additionally the Q70 can also take passengers one stop further to Woodside where you can board the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) tickets can range from $5 for a CityTicket Off-Peak to $9.25 Peak (hours) ticket. It will be a quick 11-minute commute whether you are looking to go to Grand Central station-East Midtown or Penn Station — West Side Midtown. You can purchase your ticket at a ticket booth or on the MTA TrainTime App by following these steps;
~ MTA TrainTime ~
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mta.mobileapp&hl=en_US&pli=1
2. From the “Trips” page set your “From” as “Woodside”
3. Set your “To” as either “Penn Station” or “Grand Central” depending on what fits your travel schedule best
4. Select the ticket with the time that works best for you
5. Select the Ticket with the fare that aligns with your needs
6. If you have not already created an account do so now by selecting “Login to Continue” and create an account
7. Once your account has been created you can pay with Card or Apple Pay. Additionally, you have the option to split the payment if needed.
- Finally, you can take the M60-SBS Bus and transfer to either another bus or Subway — catch the M60 outside Terminals A, B, or C and take it to one of the many stops conveniently located near multiple subway lines such as the A, C, B, D, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Between the stations listed above, you will have easy access to both the West and the East side. Do keep in mind you will be transferring in Upper Manhattan around 106th and 125th and this is not quite as traveler/tourist friendly as the other stations you may transfer in when taking another option as it is not a tourist hub and is primarily people living and working in NYC who won’t be as eager to slow down and help you find where you are going.
So there it is your complete, in-depth guide to NYC airports.
Now which one is right for you? That truly does depend on what your budget is and where you plan to stay however for ease of commute JFK is great when you want a flat-fare Cab. EWR is ideal when you want to catch a bus outside your terminal and enjoy the views before getting dropped off in the heart of Manhattan and LGA is perfect when a fast commute is your top priority.
Until next time ❤
~ A.
