New York City Airports: Getting from JFK, LGA and EWR

Here we'll answer the questions that always come up when you're planning a trip to New York: which of the New York airports should you fly into, JFK, LaGuardia or Newark? And which airport is closest to your hotel?

Being the huge metropolis it is, there are 3 air terminals serving New York: JFK Airport and LaGuardia in Queens, plus Newark Liberty International Airport in neighboring New Jersey.

In this practical guide you'll find information on each airport so you can make the best decision before booking your ticket.

I'll also walk you through the different transfer options from the New York airports, from cheap public transit and shared vans to private transfers with Spanish-speaking drivers.

Quick guide to the New York City airports

For detailed information on each airport, check out the following links:

• JFK Airport
• LaGuardia Airport
• Newark Airport

Which New York airport should you fly into?

My advice: compare flight prices to each airport, then add what the transfer into the city will cost you and factor in travel times, which matters a lot if you need to connect to another airport to continue your trip.

For example, Newark Airport in New Jersey is farther away and getting to Manhattan costs more, but there are often great deals on flights landing here, so it can work out in your favor.

On the other hand, LaGuardia Airport is the closest, and since you've probably already cleared customs at your first port of entry into the United States, everything moves faster (LaGuardia is the domestic flights airport, with a few exceptions). There are no subway stations near LaGuardia, but connecting buses will drop you at the subway quickly, and private transfers from LaGuardia are considerably cheaper.

At JFK, the biggest airport in the United States, immigration is faster these days thanks to automation (there are kiosks where you scan your own passport and fingerprints), but it can also be painfully slow if you land at the same time as a bunch of other flights. Getting through JFK can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours. The good news is there are plenty of transport options, including the AirTrain + subway for just $10.75 😲.

What's the best way to get from the airports into the city?

It depends on how many of you are traveling and on your budget:

More than two people traveling to New York

If you're traveling with others, it's worth booking a private transfer that takes you straight to your destination in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens.

In the Civitatis transfer search tool you'll find different vehicle types depending on the number of travelers, with options for 3 to 14 passengers. When you check the prices, you'll see they're a great deal for groups of 3 or more.

I recommend this search tool for two reasons: 1) the service has plenty of positive reviews from travelers, and 2) the drivers speak Spanish.

Prices depend on your destination address and the number of passengers (the cheapest options start around $90). Booking your private transfer online locks in the price and saves you from any surprises with taxis.

Traveling to New York solo

If you're traveling alone, shared vans (shuttles) are a cheaper option than private transfers. Expect to pay around $30 per passenger depending on the airport. They're minibuses that hold up to 10 people.

If there are 2 or more of you, I'd seriously look at a private transfer, because the shuttle will only save you a few dollars and takes much longer, since it drops passengers at different addresses and you never know whether you'll be first or last.

If you book the shared van from your hotel to the airport, schedule it well in advance so traffic doesn't ruin your day, especially at rush hour.

The cheapest transfer from the New York airports

If saving money is your top priority and you don't mind hauling luggage on public transit (totally doable in New York), you can get from all 3 NYC airports to your destination by public transportation.

Which transport you use depends on which terminal you land at. For example, JFK and Newark both have AirTrain service (an electric train connecting the airport terminals with the subway).

The AirTrain + subway trip from JFK will only run you $10.75 per person! (plus $1 if you need to buy a new MetroCard, a dollar you can skip by using the new OMNY payment system).

The AirTrain from Newark to Penn Station costs $12.50. After that, add the subway or bus fare depending on where you're headed.

From LaGuardia Airport in Flushing you can catch a bus to the subway for just $2.75, and there's even a free bus to some central spots in Queens!

It's not the fastest or the most comfortable way to go, but as you can see, the prices are hard to beat.

I land in New York in the middle of the night

New York has changed a lot. The gothic city of the eighties is now a pretty safe place. So don't hesitate to take the subway if you arrive between 6 am and 10 pm.

Outside those hours, go with a shuttle or a private transfer, not so much because of the characters you'll run into on the trains and platforms (without them it wouldn't be New York), but because public transit frequency drops off after midnight, and after a long flight, extra waiting is a nightmare 😡.

How long does it take to get to the airport?

Never forget: traffic in this city is brutal, so give yourself plenty of time heading to the airport. A good way to be sure is to plan your travel time on Google Maps.

On the pages for each of the New York airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark) you'll find estimated travel times.

Getting between New York's airports

If your trip continues from a different airport terminal, there are transfer services between New York's airports (check the link for the details).

If you want to use a layover to see some of New York, here's my rundown of the best places to store your luggage.

Have a great trip!