JFK Airport frequently asked questions
New York City Transportation Fees
| Method | Cost | Additional fees? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYC subway/bus fare | 2.75 | None | ||
| JFK Airport AirTrain Fare | $8.00 | None | ||
| Taxi: JFK Airport-Manhattan | $70 flat rate + fees | Various + tip | ||
| Taxi: LaGuardia Airport-Manhattan | Metered fare | Tolls & tip | ||
| Taxi: Newark Airport-Manhattan | Metered fare + $17.50 | Tolls (both ways) + tip | ||
| State Island Ferry | Free | None |
JFK Transportation Questions
Best way to get from JFK to Manhattan?
Hard to say. One person’s “best” is another person’s worst, and vice versa. Review your options and decide for yourself.
Cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan?
The subway is the cheapest transportation option between JFK and Manhattan.
You may, however, wish to consider the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) instead. It costs slightly more, but has its benefits.
See why we prefer the Long Island Railroad when:
How much is a taxi from JFK to Manhattan?
The table at the top of this page shows the “flat rate” charged by taxis when traveling between JFK and Manhattan.
Be aware, however, this “flat rate” does not include various other fees/taxes. A better name for this “flat rate” might be “base rate.”
Cost of taxi = flat rate + additional fees + tip
Additional fees include:
- New York State Congestion Surcharge
- Rush hour surcharge (4 p.m.-8 p.m., weekdays, excluding holidays)
- Improvement Surcharge
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Surcharge
- Airport Access Fee
- Overnight Surcharge
- A 15%-20% tip is customary and recommended.
Tables showing total estimated costs available at:
- Estimates include all fees except the tip.
- Cost of one toll included (there should not be more than one toll).
How Can I Get From JFK to Manhattan?
Helicopter, limo, Uber/Lyft, NYC taxi, shared van, Long Island Railroad, subway.
To learn more about these options, choose either:
Can I Take the Subway From JFK to Manhattan?
Yes, but…to be more precise, you can take the subway from near JFK, but not directly from JFK. To get to the subway, you’ll take the JFK AirTrain shuttle to one of two subway stations near JFK.
- Here’s how to take the subway from Manhattan to JFK.
- Here’s how to take the subway from JFK to Manhattan.
How long does it take to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
- Sunny day, light traffic, gentle breeze, birds chirping? About 45 minutes.
- Average? 1 hour
- Nightmare scenario? 2-3 hours
What’s a nightmare scenario?
Think: rush hour + rain/snow + road construction + accident + emergency vehicles + impatient drivers—all at once.
How far is New York’s JFK Airport from Manhattan?
The following are estimates; distances vary by route.
As the crow flies:
- JFK to Manhattan’s southern tip: 15 miles
- JFK to Times Square (in Midtown): 16 miles
- JFK to George Washington Bridge (northern Manhattan): 23 miles
Where is JFK Airport?
JFK Airport is in the borough of Queens in New York City. The airport is in the city’s southeast corner.
The borough of Queens, and thus JFK Airport, are on a large island called Long Island, which is part of New York State.
To most New Yorkers, “Long Island” refers to Nassau and Suffolk Counties, two counties east of New York City. These counties occupy the majority of Long Island and are not part of NYC.
The western end of Long Island, however, is occupied by two New York City boroughs: Queens and Brooklyn. So, yes, when you land at JFK or walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn you are technically on Long Island.
With that said, however, although Queens and Brooklyn are both physically on Long Island, they are not of Long Island. In other words, they are considered separate and distinct from the rest of “The Island” by both New York City residents (“New Yorkers”) and Long Island residents (“Islanders”).
JFK-Other Airport Info
See JFK Airport’s homepage for information on:
- Tracking JFK flights
- Current parking availability at JFK
- Pre-booking parking at JFK (to save money)
- Security and customs wait times
- How long it will take to walk to may gate in my terminal
- Estimated wait time for taxis
- Flight connections
LIRR & NYC subway infographics
You may download and share these flow charts.
Notes for mobile device users:
- You will not see chart previews on mobile devices
- Press buttons to see/download charts
- Your phone requires a PDF reader to download these images
1. Long Island Railroad: JFK Airport to Manhattan
This route is discussed in greater detail in our How to get from JFK to Manhattan post.
2. Long Island Railroad: Manhattan to JFK Airport
This route is covered in greater detail in our How to get from Manhattan to JFK post.
3. NYC Subway: JFK Airport to Manhattan
Detailed information about this route is available in our How to get from JFK to Manhattan post.
4. NYC Subway: Manhattan to JFK Airport
Review more details about this route by visiting our How to get from Manhattan to JFK post.