Suburbs to LaGuardia
via Metro-North Trains
Getting from Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess County, or Connecticut to LGA — every option, ranked by price and effort.
Just landed at LGA and heading to the suburbs? See LaGuardia to the Suburbs →
Don’t have a car but need to get to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) from Connecticut or New York’s Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties?
Great! In this post we’ll discuss how to combine Metro-North trains with other forms of transportation in order to reach LaGuardia. Metro-North is the commuter rail network which serves New York City’s northern suburbs. It runs on three lines: the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines.
Please note: the fares listed below do not include your Metro-North fare. They show what you can expect to pay from Manhattan to LaGuardia.
Summary of transport options from Grand Central Terminal to LaGuardia Airport. Metro-North fares are not included — they vary by origin and peak/off-peak. Verify all fares before you travel.
| Method | Cost | Travel Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| M60 Bus from Harlem–125th StTake Metro-North to Harlem–125th St., then M60 to LGA | $3bus fare only | 25–30 min M60 (light/moderate traffic) | Fastest transit · skips subway entirely |
| Subway + Bus7 train from Grand Central → 74th St Hub → Q70 or Q33 to LGA | $3subway + bus fare | ~25 min subway + ~15 min bus = 40–60 min total | Budget travelers comfortable with transfers |
| Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)Grand Central Madison → Woodside → Q70 (free) to LGA | $5.25–$7.25CityTicket off-peak / peak | ~11 min LIRR + ~15 min Q70 = 30–40 min total | Luggage-friendly · no subway · Terminals 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 / LimoSuburban pickup → LGA terminal · door-to-door | $160–$200+No Metro-North needed | Varies widely by origin | 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. Physical OMNY cards are available at subway station vending machines if you prefer a dedicated card.
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 subway and then tap the same card on the M60 bus — no extra charge for that second leg.
M60 boarding note: The M60 is Select Bus Service (SBS) — a faster, limited-stop bus. Unlike local buses, you do not need to pay at a curbside machine before boarding. Simply tap the OMNY reader as you step on. You may board through any door.
Enter any Metro-North station name to find which line serves it — Hudson, Harlem, or New Haven.
Bold stations = major stops served by most trains. Unbolded stations may be skipped by express trains.
- Poughkeepsie
- New Hamburg
- Beacon
- Breakneck Ridge ⚑
- Cold Spring
- Garrison
- Peekskill
- Cortlandt
- Croton-Harmon
- Ossining
- Scarborough
- Philipse Manor
- Tarrytown
- Irvington
- Ardsley-on-Hudson
- Dobbs Ferry
- Hastings-on-Hudson
- Greystone
- Glenwood
- Yonkers
- Ludlow
- Riverdale
- Spuyten Duyvil
- Marble Hill
- University Heights
- Morris Heights
- Yankees–E. 153rd St
- Harlem–125th Street
- Grand Central Terminal
- Wassaic
- Tenmile River
- Dover Plains
- Harlem Valley–Wingdale
- Appalachian Trail ⚑
- Pawling
- Patterson
- Southeast
- Brewster
- Croton Falls
- Purdy’s
- Golden’s Bridge
- Katonah
- Bedford Hills
- Mount Kisco
- Chappaqua
- Pleasantville
- Hawthorne
- Mt. Pleasant ⚑
- Valhalla
- North White Plains
- White Plains
- Hartsdale
- Scarsdale
- Crestwood
- Tuckahoe
- Bronxville
- Fleetwood
- Mt. Vernon West
- Wakefield
- Woodlawn
- Williams Bridge
- Botanical Garden
- Fordham
- Tremont
- Melrose
- Harlem–125th Street
- Grand Central Terminal
- New Haven Union Station
- Milford
- Stratford
- ↳ Waterbury Branch
- Waterbury
- Naugatuck
- Seymour
- Ansonia
- Derby/Shelton
- Bridgeport
- Fairfield Metro
- Fairfield
- Southport
- Green’s Farms
- Westport
- East Norwalk
- ↳ Danbury Branch
- Danbury
- Bethel
- Redding
- Cannondale
- Wilton
- South Norwalk
- Rowayton
- Darien
- Noroton Heights
- ↳ New Canaan Branch
- New Canaan
- Talmadge Hill
- Springdale
- Glenbrook
- Stamford
- Old Greenwich
- Riverside
- Cos Cob
- Greenwich, CT
- Port Chester
- Rye
- Harrison
- Mamaroneck
- Larchmont
- New Rochelle
- Pelham
- Mt. Vernon East
- Fordham
- Harlem–125th Street
- Grand Central Terminal
⚑ = seasonal / limited service stop — check schedules · Not all trains stop at all stations
Did you know you don’t have to take a Metro-North train all the way to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan to reach transportation that will take you to LaGuardia?
The last stop Metro-North trains make before Grand Central is called Harlem–125th St. From this station, you can take an M60 bus to any of LGA’s three terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, or Terminal C.
To use this method, you simply get off your train at Harlem–125th St., go downstairs to street level, and wait at the M60’s bus stop for the next LaGuardia-bound bus.
Buses going to LaGuardia travel east along 125th St. Be sure the bus stop you’re standing at is on the side with east-flowing traffic.
How will you know which side of the street has traffic flowing east? Easy!
Here’s what you’ll see at street level:
When facing east, you’ll see large metal towers belonging to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge close by.
When facing west, you’ll see very tall apartment buildings far away.
Stand on the side of the street where traffic is flowing toward those large metal towers. You can’t miss them — you’ll see them as soon as you get off the train.
This method is sort of an insider’s shortcut.
It’s best if you want to:
- Reach LGA without setting foot on the subway
- Save time by not going all the way to Midtown Manhattan
- Skip the busy 74th Street hub in Queens
- Avoid extra escalators, stairwells, and elevators
- Take the most direct transit path to the airport
When traffic is flowing smoothly, you can expect to reach LaGuardia in about 25–30 minutes.
Step by step
Any Hudson, Harlem, or New Haven Line train headed toward the city will work. All three stop at Harlem–125th Street before continuing to Grand Central. Be sure to buy your ticket before boarding. You can use the TrainTime app, a station vending machine, or a ticket window. Buying on the train carries a steep surcharge. See the resources section below for links.
This is the last stop before Grand Central. Step off here and head to street level at Park Avenue and 125th Street. This is where the M60 picks up.
The bus stop is steps from the Metro-North exit on 125th Street. Tap your contactless card or phone on the orange OMNY reader — any door. Fare: $3.00. The M60 runs to all three LGA terminals.
Reminder: Traffic flows both east and west along 125th St. The M60 bus stop you need is on the side of the street with east-flowing traffic.
You can easily determine which way is east by looking for the large metal structure in the near distance. That structure is part of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which the M60 will cross on its way to LaGuardia.
Which terminals does the M60 serve?
The M60 is the one bus that reaches all LaGuardia terminals.
This is the public transport route familiar to most people.
The steps for this method are:
- Ride Metro-North to Grand Central Terminal
- Take the 7 train from Grand Central toward Queens
- Get off at the 74th Street Hub in Queens
- Board a bus to your LGA terminal
Once you reach Grand Central, follow the signs to the 7 train, located on Grand Central’s lowest level. You’ll be headed to the 74th Street Hub in Queens. From Grand Central, you can take a 7 express instead of a 7 local. The 7 express option only applies when you are headed toward Queens — 7 trains traveling from Queens to Manhattan only operate as locals. The ride runs about 20–25 minutes.
The 74th Street Hub is a large multi-level transit complex in Queens connecting the 7, E, F, M, and R subway lines. Two subway stations share the same building: the 74th St–Broadway station and the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave station. To avoid confusion, we’ve simplified these station names to “74th Street Hub.”
From the 74th Street Hub, passengers going to Terminal A should take a Q33 bus.
Passengers going to Terminal B or Terminal C should take a Q70 bus.
Those boarding the Q33 will need to tap their OMNY payment method again when transferring to the bus. The transfer is free, but you are required to tap again.
Those taking the Q70 do not have to do anything when transferring. Simply board and continue to either Terminal B or Terminal C.
Remember: the Q33 only goes to Terminal A, the Q70 only goes to Terminals B and C.
Which bus from the 74th St. Hub to LGA?
| Your Terminal | Your Bus | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal BMain terminal | Q70Board any door | Free — no payment needed | Direct to Terminals B & C~15 min |
| Terminal CDelta & partners | Q70Board any door | Free — no payment needed | Direct to Terminals B & CSame route & frequency |
| Terminal AMarine Air Terminal | Q33 | OMNY — tap on board · $3.00Transfer from subway is free within 2 hrs | Direct to Terminal A~15 min |
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) runs between Grand Central Madison and the Woodside Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station in Queens. The Woodside station is a few miles from LaGuardia Airport, requiring a transfer to a Q70 bus (LaGuardia Link) in order to reach LaGuardia’s Terminal B and Terminal C.
What happens if you arrive at Woodside and you need to go to Terminal A? Just take the free Q70 bus (LaGuardia Link) to Terminal B. At Terminal B, transfer to the free inter-airport shuttle that loops between the three terminals.
This option works well if you want to:
- Skip the subway crowds entirely
- Stow luggage in overhead racks
- Avoid having to stand
- Sit on more comfortable seats
- Move through the system with less friction
When taking the LIRR from Grand Central Madison to Woodside station, be aware of two things:
- If you’re going to Terminal A, there’s an extra step involved.
From Woodside, you’ll first need to take the free Q70 (LaGuardia Link) to Terminal B, then transfer to the free inter-airport shuttle to reach Terminal A. - The LIRR’s Woodside station is a little farther from the airport than the 74th Street Subway Hub. Woodside is about half a mile farther (approximately 800 meters). You can view their relative distances in any of the maps on this page.
LIRR From Grand Central to LaGuardia — Step by Step
Plan on about 5 minutes to reach the LIRR platforms.
Fare: $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak. Use the TrainTime app or a station vending machine before you board — not on the train.
⚠ $8 on-board surcharge — always buy before boarding.
The Q70 (LaGuardia Link) stops right at Woodside station and runs to Terminals B and C. No fare required — board through any door. About 15–20 minutes to the airport.
Flying out of Terminal A? The Q70 doesn’t go there. Once at LGA, hop the free inter-terminal shuttle from Terminal B or C — it runs around the clock, every 8–15 minutes.
For more on the difference between Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central Madison, see FAQ 11 below.
Both options below run fixed-price, scheduled service from the Grand Central area to LaGuardia — no surge pricing, no subway, no guessing.
A — Go Airlink NYC
Go Airlink NYC runs the Grand Central Express, picking up at East 41st Street and Park Avenue — one block from Grand Central — and dropping passengers curbside at their LGA terminal. Book ahead at GoAirlinkShuttle.com. This is a scheduled departure, not on-demand. Service runs 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, every 30 minutes, from $15 per person.
B — Uber Shuttle
- Book through the Uber app or the Uber Shuttle page
- Select “Shuttle” from home screen and enter LaGuardia as destination
- No surge pricing — fare is fixed at booking
- Runs approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours
- Reserve up to 3 days in advance
- 1 bag + 1 personal item per seat; up to 5 seats per booking
- Terminal A not served — Uber Shuttle runs to Terminals B and C only
Heading to LGA by yellow cab from Midtown is simple — flag one on any major avenue and tell the driver your terminal. Unlike JFK, there’s no flat rate to LaGuardia. The meter runs, and surcharges stack on top. Tip is expected at 15–20%.
A typical Grand Central to LaGuardia taxi fare
- Metered fare: roughly $32–$45 depending on traffic and route
- LGA airport surcharge: +$5.00 (mandatory for all taxi drop-offs at LaGuardia)
- NY State Congestion Surcharge: +$2.50 (all trips through Manhattan below 96th St)
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll: +$0.75 (trips from 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+
Pro Tip — Where to Hail a Taxi Near Grand Central
If you want to take a taxi from Grand Central to LaGuardia, the best place to hail one is on Lexington Ave.
To do so, follow signs for Lexington Ave. exits. Once outside, you’ll be standing on Lexington Ave., between 43rd and 44th Streets. From there, your taxi can immediately turn left onto 42nd Street and head toward the airport.
If, for some reason, you exit onto 42nd Street instead of Lexington Ave., simply cross the street and hail a taxi. Crossing the street will ensure you’re headed in the right direction from the start, saving you time and money because the driver won’t have to loop around the block before heading east.
When traffic is bad, “looping around the block” in Midtown Manhattan can become a time and money-wasting ordeal.
Reminder: Taxis to LaGuardia are metered; there is no flat rate. Any time/distance you can save will lower your cost.
Rideshare is convenient but the price swings — surge during peak travel hours can make it pricier than a yellow cab. Check the app and compare before you confirm. In light traffic it’s often cheaper; in rush hour, the metered taxi may be the more predictable call.
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
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll: $1.50 per trip for app-based FHVs — vs. $0.75 for yellow taxis
- Port Authority airport access fee: $2.50 per drop-off at LGA — baked into the app fare
- Marketplace & Booking fees: Uber-specific variable platform fees shown on your receipt
- No fixed rush hour surcharge: surge pricing replaces a flat peak fee — 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 charges. Whatever price the app shows before you confirm already includes all of it — check it carefully at peak times.
If you’d rather skip the train entirely, a licensed car service picks you up at your door in Westchester — or wherever you’re starting — and drives you straight to your terminal. No platforms, no transfers, no timetables.
Pricing varies by origin and distance. Get an all-in quote before booking — tolls and gratuity should be confirmed upfront. We recommend King & Queen Limousine Service as a licensed, reputable option. Book ahead, particularly for early morning departures or holiday weekends.
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
Westchester, Connecticut & the Hudson Valley to LaGuardia Airport
The fastest public transit route from NYC’s northern suburbs to LaGuardia is taking a Metro-North train to the Harlem–125th Street station, then transferring to an M60 bus which stops at all three of LGA’s terminals.
Budget about 25–30 minutes for the bus leg in normal traffic.
If you’re not comfortable with unfamiliar routes, you shouldn’t. But if you’re up for it and want to save some time and money (potentially), it’s worth at least considering.
The bus stop is close to the station’s doors and, if you look at a map, you’ll notice LaGuardia is almost due east from the Harlem–125th St. station.
In contrast, if you go to Grand Central, you have to travel farther south before heading northeast to the airport. That extra distance costs time. It’s a trade-off only you can decide.
Does every single Metro-North train stop at Harlem–125th St.? No.
During morning and evening rush hours, a handful of what we call “Super Expresses” do not. With that said, other than that handful of “Super Expresses” during rush hours, we estimate 98% of Metro-North trains do stop at Harlem–125th St.
Always check with official Metro-North sources whether the train you plan to take will stop there. As an extra precaution, ask a conductor at the station before boarding as well.
All three: Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal C. The Q70 is free but only reaches Terminals B and C. The Q33 covers Terminal A only. The M60 is the only public transit bus that stops at all terminals.
Tap any contactless credit or debit card, your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay), or a smartwatch on the orange OMNY reader as you board. Any door works. The fare is $3.00. MetroCard sales ended December 31, 2025 — OMNY is the only way to pay now.
Coming straight from the subway? If you tap the same card within 2 hours of entering the subway, the M60 ride is free.
It’s hard to say because travel times vary so widely depending on your suburban starting point. Train schedules will often tell you how many minutes a particular trip will take.
You could use this formula as a starting point:
Example
Starting point: Croton, New York (Westchester County)
Destination: LaGuardia Airport, Terminal B
Flight time: 12 noon
Method: Metro-North + subway + bus
Your time budget might look like this:
- 2 hours (recommended time to complete domestic flight processing)
- + 1 hour on the train
- + 1 hour for subway/bus journey
- + 45-minute cushion
Total: approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes
For my flight at 12 noon, I would need to be on a train at about 7 a.m.
The cushion can be any amount you choose. It simply budgets more time for delays like traffic or a train having mechanical difficulties.
Your line depends on where in Westchester you’re starting from.
Western Westchester — Hudson Line (green), running along the river from Poughkeepsie south into Manhattan.
Central Westchester — Harlem Line (blue).
Eastern Westchester — New Haven Line (red).
Not sure? Use the “Help Me Find My Metro-North Line” search box above.
Absolutely. Just board the New Haven Line at your Connecticut station and ride toward the city.
Then choose the method which best suits you for travel between Manhattan and LaGuardia.
Technically yes, but the on-board surcharge is steep. Buy through the TrainTime app, a ticket machine at your station, or a ticket window before you board. It takes less than a minute and saves real money.
For most Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Connecticut travelers, yes. LGA is the closest of the three major New York airports to the northern suburbs. JFK adds an AirTrain leg, and Newark means traveling through lower Manhattan to Penn Station. When flights are comparable, LGA usually wins on convenience.
Grand Central Terminal (GCT) is the landmark 1913 building at 42nd St and Park Ave from which Metro-North trains arrive and depart. It’s the station most people picture when they say “Grand Central.”
Grand Central Madison (GCM) opened in 2023 and is completely underground beneath GCT, primarily under Madison Avenue. It handles Long Island Rail Road trains only. Escalators connect the two stations. It’ll take you about 5 minutes to travel between them.
The main reasons some people prefer the LIRR over the subway are comfort and speed. For just a little more money than the subway, LIRR trains provide padded seats, overhead luggage racks, less crowded stations and platforms, and fast, on-time service.
You’ll reach Woodside station in Queens in about 11 minutes. It’s also very rare for an LIRR train to be standing room only, so you can be confident you’ll have a seat.
At Woodside, transfer to the free Q70 bus (LaGuardia Link) which goes to Terminals B and C.
Two things to keep in mind with the LIRR option:
- If you’re going to Terminal A, you have to take an extra step. You would have to take the free Q70 bus (LaGuardia Link) to Terminal B. At Terminal B, you’d switch to the free inter-airport shuttle which would take you to Terminal A.
- The Woodside LIRR station is slightly farther from the airport than the 74th Street Hub — approximately half a mile farther (about 800 meters).
Not at all. The LIRR and the NYC subway are entirely separate systems — different trains, different platforms, different tickets. OMNY doesn’t work on the LIRR. Pick up your ticket through the TrainTime app or a station machine before you board.
Yes — around the clock, every 8–15 minutes, connecting all three terminals at no charge. Handy if your bus drops you at one terminal and your airline is at another.
Terminal assignments can vary and do change — always verify on your airline’s website or your boarding pass before you travel. If you end up at the wrong terminal, the free inter-terminal shuttle sorts it out in minutes.