LaGuardia to the Suburbs
via Metro-North Trains
Getting from LGA to Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess County, or Connecticut — your options, ranked by price and effort.
Heading to LGA from the suburbs? See Suburbs to LaGuardia →
Without a car, the best way to get from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to New York’s Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties, or southwestern Connecticut, is to take a Metro-North train. This post focuses on using the efficient and dependable Metro-North train system to get from NYC to the suburbs.
The catch? LaGuardia is in Queens and Metro-North trains leave from Manhattan. But…don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Metro-North is a network of commuter trains that serve New York City’s northern suburbs. It has three main lines: the Hudson Line, the Harlem Line, and the New Haven Line. This train system is completely separate and unrelated to the NYC subway system.
Please note: The prices shown below do not include your Metro-North fare. Prices shown are the cost of transport from LaGuardia to Manhattan.
Summary of transport options from LaGuardia Airport to Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North fares are not included — they vary by destination. Verify current fares before you travel.
| Method | Cost | Travel Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| M60 BusDirect to Harlem–125th St Metro-North station · no subway | $3 | 25–30 min to Harlem–125th St (light/moderate traffic) | Fastest transit · avoids subway entirely |
| Bus + SubwayQ70 or Q33 → 74th St Hub → 7 local → Grand Central | $3 | ~15 min bus + ~25 min subway = 40–60 min total | Budget travelers comfortable with subway transfers |
| Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)Q70 (free) → Woodside LIRR → Grand Central Madison | $5.25–$7.25CityTicket off-peak / peak | ~15 min Q70 + ~11 min LIRR = 30–40 min total | Luggage-friendly · no subway · Terminal B or C |
| Shared ShuttleGo Airlink Grand Central Express · Uber Shuttle | from $15Go Airlink · Uber Shuttle varies | 45–75 min depending on traffic | No subway · fixed pricing · schedule-based |
| Yellow TaxiMetered + $5 LGA surcharge + NY State congestion surcharge + tip | $55–$80+all-in with surcharges & tip | 25–55 min depending on traffic | No booking required · always available |
| Uber / LyftHigher congestion fees than taxis · surge pricing applies | $40–$75+check app before confirming | 25–55 min depending on traffic | App convenience · check price before confirming |
| Car Service / LimoTerminal pickup → suburban destination · door-to-door | $160–$200+No Metro-North needed | Varies widely by destination | Maximum convenience · no transfers · luggage |
To pay for any MTA bus or subway fare, tap your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone (Apple Pay / Google Pay), or smartwatch directly on the orange OMNY reader when you board. The fare is $3.00. No separate card or ticket needed in advance — just tap and go. If you prefer a dedicated card, physical OMNY cards are available at subway station vending machines.
Free transfers: Use the same card or device to pay within 2 hours of your first tap and the transfer is free. Pay for the M60 and then tap the same card at the subway turnstile — no extra charge for that second leg.
M60 boarding note: The M60 is Select Bus Service (SBS) — a type of MTA bus service with faster boarding, fewer stops, and off-board payment. On the M60, you may board through any door; simply tap the OMNY reader as you step on. There is no curbside machine to use before boarding.
After departing Grand Central Terminal (GCT), trains on Metro-North’s three lines stop at the Harlem–125th Street station before heading north. For the full system map, see the Maps & Resources section below.
Use the search box to find your line instantly, or browse the station lists below.
Bold stations = major stops served by most trains. Unbolded stations may be skipped by express trains.
- Grand Central Terminal
- Harlem–125th Street
- Yankees–E. 153rd St
- Morris Heights
- University Heights
- Marble Hill
- Spuyten Duyvil
- Riverdale
- Ludlow
- Yonkers
- Glenwood
- Greystone
- Hastings-on-Hudson
- Dobbs Ferry
- Ardsley-on-Hudson
- Irvington
- Tarrytown
- Philipse Manor
- Scarborough
- Ossining
- Croton-Harmon
- Cortlandt
- Peekskill
- Garrison
- Cold Spring
- Breakneck Ridge ⚑
- Beacon
- New Hamburg
- Poughkeepsie
- Grand Central Terminal
- Harlem–125th Street
- Melrose
- Tremont
- Fordham
- Botanical Garden
- Williams Bridge
- Woodlawn
- Wakefield
- Mt. Vernon West
- Fleetwood
- Bronxville
- Tuckahoe
- Crestwood
- Scarsdale
- Hartsdale
- White Plains
- North White Plains
- Valhalla
- Mt. Pleasant ⚑
- Hawthorne
- Pleasantville
- Chappaqua
- Mount Kisco
- Bedford Hills
- Katonah
- Golden’s Bridge
- Purdy’s
- Croton Falls
- Brewster
- Southeast
- Patterson
- Pawling
- Appalachian Trail ⚑
- Harlem Valley–Wingdale
- Dover Plains
- Tenmile River
- Wassaic
- Grand Central Terminal
- Harlem–125th Street
- Fordham
- Mt. Vernon East
- Pelham
- New Rochelle
- Larchmont
- Mamaroneck
- Harrison
- Rye
- Port Chester
- Greenwich, CT
- Cos Cob
- Riverside
- Old Greenwich
- Stamford
- ↳ New Canaan Branch
- Glenbrook
- Springdale
- Talmadge Hill
- New Canaan
- Noroton Heights
- Darien
- Rowayton
- South Norwalk
- ↳ Danbury Branch
- Wilton
- Cannondale
- Redding
- Bethel
- Danbury
- East Norwalk
- Westport
- Green’s Farms
- Southport
- Fairfield
- Fairfield Metro
- Bridgeport
- ↳ Waterbury Branch
- Derby/Shelton
- Ansonia
- Seymour
- Naugatuck
- Waterbury
- Stratford
- Milford
- New Haven Union Station
⚑ = seasonal / limited service stop — check schedules · Not all trains stop at all stations
The M60 bus is an underrated and often overlooked option for travelers heading from LaGuardia to the suburbs. It runs from all three LGA terminals to the Harlem–125th Street Metro-North station in upper Manhattan.
Choose the M60 bus option if you want to:
- Skip the subway altogether
- Avoid the huge & often crowded 74th Street subway hub
- Avoid navigating Grand Central from top to bottom
- Deal with less stairs, escalators, and elevators
When traffic is light to moderate, the M60 takes about 25–30 minutes to travel from LaGuardia to the Harlem–125th Street Metro-North station. Simply hop on the M60 at any of LaGuardia’s three terminals and get off at the 125th St./Park Avenue stop. This stop is right next to the train station.
Harlem–125th St. is the first stop Metro-North trains make after leaving Grand Central. You’re essentially taking a shortcut to the same Metro-North train you’d take from Grand Central.
Which terminals does the M60 serve?
The M60 serves all three LaGuardia terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal C. Unlike the Q70 bus (which only serves Terminals B and C) or the Q33 (serving only Terminal A), the M60 is available to every LGA passenger regardless of terminal.
Where does the M60 drop you?
For Metro-North, you get off the M60 at the Park Ave. / 125th St. stop. The M60 also stops at various points along 125th St., allowing access to the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, B, C, and D subway lines. It also stops in front of Columbia University near the end of its route.
All three Metro-North lines — Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven — stop at Harlem–125th Street after leaving Grand Central Terminal. For the official Metro-North map and schedules, see the resources section below.
The M60’s route from LaGuardia to the Harlem–125th St. Metro-North station
↓
The bus-to-subway route is the classic path from LaGuardia to Grand Central.
It looks like this:
- Take a bus from LaGuardia to the 74th Street Hub in Queens
- From the 74th St. Hub, take the 7 train to Grand Central Terminal
- At Grand Central, follow signs to Metro-North trains
- Buy Metro-North ticket and board train to suburbs
The term “74th St. Hub” refers to a large, multi-story subway complex in Queens. This complex houses two different subway stations:
- The 74th St–Broadway station, and
- The Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave station
Both stations are in the same complex, but have different names. For simplicity, we call it the “74th St. Hub.”
Which bus should you take?
| Terminal | Your Bus | Payment | Take Bus To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal AMarine Air Terminal | Q33 | OMNY — tap on board · $3.00Free subway transfer within 2 hrs on same card | 74th Street Hub~15 min |
| Terminal BMain terminal | Q70Board any door | Bus is freeSubway: $3.00 via OMNY at turnstile | 74th Street Hub~15 min direct |
| Terminal CDelta & partners | Q70Board any door | Bus is freeSubway: $3.00 via OMNY at turnstile | 74th Street HubSame route & frequency as Terminal B |
At the 74th St. Hub — board the local 7
At the 74th St. Hub, follow signs to the 7 train toward Manhattan. You must take the 7 local because the 7 express does not stop at this hub when going toward Manhattan. Make sure you take the 7 train — this is the only train at the 74th St Hub that goes to Grand Central–42nd St. At Grand Central Terminal, proceed to the upper levels.
Buy your ticket via the MTA’s TrainTime app, at a ticket machine, or at a ticket window. Avoid buying your ticket aboard the train, as it will cost significantly more. For more info, see the Metro-North section in the resources section below.
Like Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is a commuter train network connecting the suburbs with Manhattan. The closest LIRR station to LaGuardia is called Woodside, which you can reach by bus directly from the airport.
From Woodside, you can ride the LIRR into Grand Central Madison, which is adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, where you would board your Metro-North train.
If you’re flying into Terminal B or Terminal C, the free Q70 bus will take you directly to the Woodside LIRR station.
If you’re arriving at Terminal A, there is an extra step involved. The Q33 bus, which serves Terminal A, does not go to Woodside.
To reach Woodside via bus, you would first need to take the free inter-terminal shuttle from Terminal A to either Terminal B or Terminal C, then board the free Q70 to Woodside.
To be frank, if you are arriving at Terminal A, this method is more cumbersome and you may be better served by one of the other options in this guide.
Take the LIRR to Grand Central Madison if you want to:
- Avoid the subway entirely
- Avoid crowding and busy platforms
- Skip turnstiles and multiple transfers
- Avoid the possibility of standing
- Enjoy more comfortable seating
- Use overhead luggage racks
Which bus to take — by terminal
| Terminal | Your Bus to Woodside | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal BMain terminal | Q70 | Free — no payment needed | Board any door · direct to Woodside~15–20 min |
| Terminal CDelta & partners | Q70 | Free — no payment needed | Board any door · direct to Woodside~15–20 min |
| Terminal AMarine Air Terminal | Free inter-terminal shuttle → Terminal B or C → Q70 | Airport shuttle is free · Q70 is free | Extra step — see note above about Terminal A |
From Woodside — step by step
The ride to Woodside takes about 15–20 minutes. Runs every 8–10 minutes at peak. No payment required — board any door. Note: the Q70 runs 24/7, but LIRR service does not — check current schedules before you travel.
Fare: $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak. Buy before boarding using the MTA’s TrainTime app or the Woodside station vending machine.
You can see Woodside station at the bottom-left of the bus route maps above.
⚠ $8 on-board surcharge applies if you buy on the train — buy before boarding.
Follow escalators and signs upward from GCM’s concourse to reach Grand Central Terminal. The connection takes 3–5 minutes. Metro-North departure boards are in the main concourse above.
The LIRR is a completely separate rail system from the NYC subway — you cannot use OMNY or a subway fare on the LIRR. Buy your ticket separately before boarding from a ticket agent at Woodside, from a ticket machine at Woodside, or with the TrainTime app.
For clarification regarding the difference between Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central Madison, see FAQ 2 below.
For travelers who want a direct, no-subway connection from LaGuardia to Grand Central, two shared shuttle options are available — both with fixed pricing and no surge.
A — Go Airlink NYC
Go Airlink NYC runs the Grand Central Express — a shared shuttle that picks you up curbside at your LGA terminal and drops you at East 41st Street and Park Avenue, one block from Grand Central Terminal. No subway, no transfers, no navigating multiple levels.
Service runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with departures every 30 minutes. The fare starts at $15 per person. Book in advance at GoAirlinkShuttle.com — this is a scheduled service, not on-demand.
B — Uber Shuttle
- Book at Uber Shuttle page or through the Uber app
- Select “Shuttle” from the home screen
- Book your trip from LGA to Grand Central — no surge pricing
- Departs every 15 minutes or so during peak hours
- Book up to 3 days in advance
- One piece of luggage plus one personal item included per seat
- Up to 5 seats can be reserved per booking
- Note: Uber Shuttle does not serve Terminal A — available from Terminals B and C only
LaGuardia taxis use the standard metered rate — unlike JFK, there is no flat fare to Manhattan. Surcharges stack on top of the meter. Tipping is customary and expected (15–20% recommended). Taxis are always available at the taxi stand outside each terminal, no booking required.
A typical LaGuardia to Grand Central taxi fare
- Metered fare: roughly $32–$45 depending on traffic and route
- LGA airport surcharge: +$5.00 (mandatory for all taxi pickups at LaGuardia)
- NY State Congestion Surcharge: +$2.50 (all trips through Manhattan below 96th St)
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll: +$0.75 (trips into Manhattan below 60th St — may apply depending on route)
- Improvement Surcharge: +$1.00
- MTA State Surcharge: +$0.50
- Rush hour surcharge: +$2.50 (weekdays, 4–8 PM)
- Overnight surcharge: +$1.00 (8 PM–6 AM)
- Tolls: variable — Queensboro Bridge is free; Queens-Midtown Tunnel adds ~$10
- Tip (20%): roughly $9–$12
- Typical all-in cost: $55–$80+
Rideshare to Grand Central is convenient but unpredictable on price. Surge pricing during peak travel times can push fares well above a metered taxi. Check the app before committing. In light traffic, rideshare often runs cheaper than a taxi; during rush hour, a taxi’s metered rate may be more predictable.
How Uber / Lyft surcharges differ from yellow taxis
- NY State Congestion Surcharge: $2.75 per trip for app-based FHVs — vs. $2.50 for yellow taxis (applies to all trips through Manhattan below 96th St)
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll: $1.50 per trip for app-based FHVs — vs. $0.75 for yellow taxis (applies to trips into Manhattan below 60th St)
- Port Authority airport access fee: $2.50 per pickup at LGA, JFK, and EWR — baked into the app fare, shown under “Tolls, Surcharges, and Fees” on your receipt. Does not go to the driver.
- Marketplace & Booking fees: Uber-specific variable platform fees covering operational and regulatory costs — shown on your receipt
- No fixed rush hour surcharge: instead of a flat $2.50 peak fee, rideshare uses surge pricing — less predictable, but sometimes lower in light traffic
Bottom line: Uber and Lyft carry higher government-mandated congestion fees than yellow taxis, plus their own platform fees. The app price you see before confirming includes all fees — always check it before booking, especially during peak hours.
Where to get picked up at LGA
- Terminal A: Cross the street from arrivals — follow signs to rideshare pickup
- Terminal B: Level 2 of the central parking garage — follow “Car Services” signs
- Terminal C: Ground level, outer arrivals lane — follow app pin to exact location
For a direct ride from LaGuardia’s terminal to your suburban destination — no Metro-North connection, no transfers, no stations — a licensed car service is the premium option. The driver meets you at arrivals and takes you all the way to your door.
Cost will vary widely depending on your destination. Confirm all-in pricing including tolls and gratuity directly with the car service before booking. Reputable licensed operators include King & Queen Limousine Service. Book in advance — especially for early morning flights or holiday travel.
Maps & Resources
Metro-North & LIRR
Metro-North & LIRR System Map Metro-North & LIRR Schedules & Fares TrainTime app (buy tickets)LGA Bus Routes
M60 — Schedule M60 — Route Map Q70 — Schedule Q70 — Route Map Q33 — Schedule Q33 — Route MapGo Airlink Shuttle
Grand Central Express — book onlineFrequently Asked Questions
LaGuardia Airport to Westchester, Connecticut & the Hudson Valley
The M60 bus — it runs from all three LGA terminals directly to the Harlem–125th Street Metro-North station, with no subway transfer required. This is faster than the Q70 → 74th Street Hub → 7 train → Grand Central route for most suburban destinations.
Grand Central Terminal (GCT), which opened in 1913, is the historic station at 42nd St and Park Ave where Metro-North trains depart.
Grand Central Madison (GCM), which opened in 2023, is directly below Grand Central Terminal and serves Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains. GCM is, in fact, completely underground. The “Madison” in its name comes from the fact that it is primarily under Madison Avenue.
No — the 7 Express does not stop at the 74th Street Hub in the Manhattan-bound direction. Board the local 7 instead. If an express train pulls in, it will pass through without stopping. The local 7 stops at Grand Central–42nd St.
From Terminal A, which bus you take depends on where you’re headed:
For the 74th St. subway hub: take the Q33 bus. Pay with OMNY (see the OMNY section above for how to tap and pay). Your transfer to the subway is free if you enter the subway within two hours of boarding the bus.
For the Harlem–125th St. Metro-North station: take the M60 bus to the Park Ave. / 125th St. stop.
Note: The Q47 bus no longer serves Terminal A.
It depends on which part of Westchester County you’re headed to.
Western Westchester is served by the Hudson Line, which travels along the Hudson River all the way up to Poughkeepsie, New York.
Central Westchester is served by the Harlem Line.
Eastern Westchester County is served by the New Haven Line.
On official Metro-North maps, these lines are color-coded: the Hudson Line is the green line, the Harlem Line is the blue line, and the New Haven Line is the red line.
Not sure which line to take? Use our “Help Me Find My Metro-North Line” search box above.
For Metro-North maps, fares, and schedules, see the Resources section below.
Yes. Take the New Haven Line (red line) from Grand Central Terminal. This line serves eastern Westchester County, New York before entering Connecticut.
Note: Various stops in Connecticut are served by branches of the New Haven Line. Consult Metro-North’s official schedules page for specifics.
See our Resources section below for links to official Metro-North sources.
Yes, but don’t. It costs a lot more than buying in advance. Use the MTA TrainTime app, a ticket machine in Grand Central, or a ticket window before boarding for the best price.
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is a commuter rail network which connects New York City to the Long Island suburbs. Like Metro-North, the LIRR is completely separate from the New York City subway system. Its trains are generally more comfortable, faster due to making fewer stops, and have a better on-time record compared to the subway.
For some, the added comfort, less crowding, and overhead luggage racks make it an attractive choice. The trip from Woodside to Grand Central Madison is only about 11 minutes.
When taking the LIRR, however, the one trade-off versus the subway to keep in mind is that it takes longer to reach the Woodside LIRR station than the 74th St. Hub. You can see the Woodside section at the bottom-left of the Q70 bus map above.
The trip from the LIRR’s Woodside station to Grand Central Madison qualifies for CityTicket rates: $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak. Always buy before boarding — an $8 on-board surcharge applies and cannot be waived.
CityTicket is a discounted LIRR fare for travel completed entirely within New York City limits. Because both Woodside and Grand Central Madison are within the five boroughs, this trip qualifies for CityTicket pricing.
Peak hours: weekdays, between 6–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m.
Off-peak hours: all other weekday times, weekends, and holidays
For more details on the LIRR connection, see question 8 above.
No, they’re completely separate rail systems with different tickets, platforms, and fares. You cannot use OMNY or a subway fare on the LIRR. Buy LIRR tickets separately. For more details on why you might choose the LIRR and how it compares to the subway, see question 8 above.
Via transit (M60 or Q70 + local 7 + Metro-North Harlem Line), plan about 90–120 minutes total from terminal to White Plains station. By car or rideshare directly, typically 40–70 minutes without heavy traffic.
The Q70, which serves Terminals B and C, is known as the LaGuardia Link. It is a free bus service which runs between LaGuardia Airport and the two nearby rail stations: the 74th Street subway hub and the Long Island Rail Road’s Woodside station.
The Q70 (a.k.a. the LaGuardia Link) is free. You can board using any door, and no payment is required. Once you reach the 74th St. Hub, however, you must pay for the subway.
The M60 and Q33 both require payment via OMNY: tap your contactless credit or debit card, phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay), or smartwatch on the orange OMNY reader when you board. The fare is $3.00. MetroCard sales ended December 31, 2025 — OMNY is now the standard payment system.
Reminder: When taking the Q33, you pay the bus fare but your transfer to the subway is free, as long as you enter the subway system within two hours after boarding the bus.
Often yes. Of the three major New York airports, LGA is the closest one to both Westchester and Connecticut.
JFK requires an AirTrain + subway leg adding 30–40 minutes before reaching Grand Central. Newark connects via Penn Station but adds travel through lower Manhattan.
For Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Connecticut travelers, LGA is generally the most convenient airport when flight options are comparable.
Yes — the free inter-terminal shuttle runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 8–15 minutes, serving Terminals A, B, and C. No payment required.