Last Updated on November 24, 2022 by underanewsun
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Want your trip to begin smoothly? Knowing precisely how you’ll get from Manhattan to JFK airport will help.
You’ll have enough to worry about, won’t you? Packing, organizing travel documents, confirming reservations, buying last-minute gifts. It’s a lot.
We’ll cover the top seven transportation options between Manhattan and JFK, listed in descending price order.
Need to go the other way? We also have a post on how to get from JFK to Manhattan.
Manhattan to JFK-Estimated costs and time
| Method | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter | From $195 | +/- 5 minutes |
| Limo | +/- $200 +tip | +/- 1 hour |
| Uber/Lyft | $70-$175 | +/- 1 hour |
| JFK Taxi Flat Rate | $70 (see Section 4) | |
| Total Taxi Cost (estimate) | $80-$85* + tip | +/- 1 hour |
| Shared Van | From $45 | +/- 1 hour |
| Long Island Railroad | $15.75-$18.75** | 35-45 minutes*** |
| Subway | $10.75** | +/- 70 minutes*** |
| *Includes toll | **Includes AirTrain fare | ***Includes time on AirTrain |
1. Helicopter From Manhattan to JFK
Some New York experiences should never be missed. Others, like crawling through traffic from Manhattan to JFK, will make you wish time machines existed.
Enter Blade, a private aviation company whose helicopters come really close to being time machines. The average helicopter flight from Manhattan to JFK lasts about five minutes.
Whether you’re a busy executive or just want to leave NYC in style, Blade’s helicopter service is the most fun you’ll ever have on a trip to the airport.
Blade’s Manhattan to JFK helicopter service
- Reserve either individual seats or charter your own helicopter
- Manhattan to JFK travel time = +/- 5 minutes
- Fly frequently? Save 50% with the annual Blade Airport Pass+
- Manhattan heliport locations: West 30th St. & East 34th St. (both in Midtown)
- Save by booking online with Blade’s app
- Become familiar with Blade’s luggage policies
- Use Blade’s ToteTaxi service for extra luggage
- Lots of luggage? Why not ship your bags ahead of time?
2. Limo from Manhattan to JFK
The door-to-airport terminal service these companies provide are invaluable when you want to reduce the stress of travel.
But with so many options private vehicle companies in New York, how do you choose?
We narrowed the field by identifying companies that have:
- At least a 4.8 (out of 5) star rating on Google Reviews
- A minimum of 100 Google reviews
The companies meeting these requirements are:
Executive Ground Transportation
King And Queen Limousine Service
M & V Limousines
Final cost depends on destination, vehicle type, number of passengers and your tip.
3. Uber/Lyft from Manhattan to JFK
Factors affecting Uber/Lyft prices:
- Tolls
- Trip distance/duration
- Time of day
- Delays (traffic, weather, etc.)
- Current demand for service
- Type of ride/vehicle requested
- Number of passengers
- Tip not included in price estimate (15%-20% is recommended)
4. Taxi from Manhattan to JFK
Cost of taxi = flat rate + extra fees. Price estimate in table above includes all costs except the tip.
- 15%-20% tip is customary/recommended
- Trips starting above 96th St. are subject to additional costs
Fees/taxes added to the flat rate include:
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Surcharge
- Improvement Surcharge
- Rush hour Surcharge (4 p.m. – 8 p.m., weekdays, excluding holidays)
- New York State Congestion Surcharge
- Airport Access Fee
Official New York City taxis are either yellow or green. Never accept taxi service from a non-official taxi. It’s dangerous.
Non-official taxis are often uninsured and may quote you one price at the airport and change the price later.
5. Shared van from Manhattan to JFK
Price shown in table above is based on service from Times Square to JFK. Your cost will depend on your starting point, number of passengers and vehicle type.
Go Airlink NYC is one of the best known companies in this sector. They balance price, comfort and convenience. In addition to shared shuttle vans, they offer private cars and SUVs.
We recommend having some schedule flexibility when choosing this option. NYC’s traffic and weather sometimes can cause delays.
Go Airlink NYC’s services include:
- 24-hour service
- Choice of vehicles when booking
- Shared shuttles departing just one block from Grand Central Terminal
- Private vehicle service takes you door-to-door
- You save money by booking online.
6. LIRR from Manhattan to JFK
6A. What is the Long Island Railroad?
You can take two types of trains from Manhattan to JFK:
- A commuter train
- The subway
In this section, we’ll review how to take a commuter train from Manhattan to JFK. Subways are discussed in Section 7.
Commuter trains conncect New York City and its suburbs. Subways, on the other hand, only operate within NYC.
The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is the commuter train network closest to JFK.
Taking an LIRR train from Manhattan to JFK is a two-step process:
- Step 1: Take LIRR train from Manhattan to Queens.*
- Step 2: Transfer to the JFK AirTrain shuttle
*Note: JFK Airport is in Queens.
Before reviewing these two steps, however, we’d like to share why we recommend taking the LIRR rather than the subway.
You can also skip to Step 1.
6B. The LIRR & subway compared
Reasons to take the LIRR over the subway
Reasons we recommend the LIRR over the subway:
Safety
In general, NYC crime has spiked upward. Subways, in particular, are one of the areas most affected by this trend.
Comfort
- Subway = hard plastic seats + no luggage racks
- LIRR = padded seats + overhead luggage racks
- Subway = high chance of standing for part of the trip
- LIRR = very low chance of standing
Speed
- LIRR = +/- 20 minutes to station near JFK
- Subway = +/- 50 minutes, but often longer
Reliability
- LIRR’s on time rate: 96.3% (official 2021 figure)
- Subway’s on time rate: +/- 80-90%
- Average for some subway lines is much lower
Factors causing subway delays:
- Service changes due to day or time of day
- Flooding
- Mechanical issues
- Medical emergencies
- Crime scenes
- Track fires
Cost
The subway is cheaper, but also slower, less safe, less comfortable and less reliable.
Step 1
6C. Step 1: How to take the LIRR from Manhattan to Queens
Step 1: Take LIRR from Manhattan to Queens
Your first step is to take an LIRR train from Manhattan to Queens
West Side vs. East Side
From 1910-2022, all LIRR passengers arriving in Manhattan had to use Penn Station (on the West Side). In late 2022, Grand Central Madison opened on the East Side, giving LIRR riders a new option.
NOTICE: Grand Central Madison is not open to the public yet. This notice will be removed when it opens. Penn Station is the only option right now.
LIRR Trains depart from two Manhattan stations:
Grand Central Madison (NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC YET)
- Located on Manhattan’s East Side
- Built beneath Grand Central Terminal
- Madison Ave., between 43rd St. & 48th St. (underground)
- Arrive via: 4, 5, 6, 7, S subway lines*
- Arrive via: Metro-North commuter trains*
- Metro-North = Hudson, Harlem & New Haven Lines
- Metro-North schedules/fares
- NYC subway maps
*These trains arrive at Grand Central Terminal (the older station).
Penn Station
- On Manhattan’s West Side
- Location: 34th St., between 7th & 8th Avenues
- Arrive via: Amtrak trains
- Arrive via: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 subway lines
- Arrive via: Pascack Valley Line
- Arrive via: Port Jervis Line
- Pascack Valley & Port Jervis Line info
- NYC subway map
Buying your LIRR ticket
Off-peak trains are less expensive than peak-hour trains.
- Peak: 6 a.m.-10 a.m., Monday-Friday (excluding holidays)
- Peak: 6 a.m.-10 a.m., Monday-Friday (excluding holidays)
- Off-peak: All other times
You can pay your LIRR in two ways:
- Use the MTA Train Time app (App Store/Google Play)
- Buy ticket from a machine or a ticket agent
For both payment options
- Starting point = Either Penn Station or Grand Central*
- Destination: Jamaica (station is in Queens)
- *Ticket machines/app list Grand Central Madison as “Grand Central”
- Never buy ticket aboard train: costs nearly double
Using MTA Train Time app
- Purchase ticket on mobile device
- Activate ticket when boarding
- NOTE: JFK AirTrain fare cannot be purchased through the MTA Train Time app. Use ticket machine at Jamaica Station in Queens to pay your AirTrain fare.
Step 2: Take JFK AirTrain
After paying your AirTrain fare at Jamaica Station in Queens, simply board the AirTrain shuttle to JFK Airport.
JFK AirTrain
- Operates 24/7/365
- Goes to all JFK Airport terminals
- Arrives every few minutes
- AirTrain map
7. Subway from Manhattan to JFK
7. The subway: a two-step process
The subway is the cheapest transportation option between Manhattan and JFK Airport.
In Section 6B, we reviewed why we recommend the Long Island Railroad over the subway.
Like the LIRR, taking the subway from Manhattan to JFK is a two-step process:
- Step 1: Take subway from Manhattan to a subway station in Queens
- Step 2: Take AirTrain shuttle from Queens subway station to JFK
Step 1: Take subway from Manhattan to Queens
Your first step is to determine which subway line suits you best.
See subway maps.
There are two subway stations near JFK Airport:
- A. Howard Beach/JFK Airport station
- B. Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave/JFK Airport station
Howard Beach/JFK Airport
The “A Train” serves this subway station in Queens.
Take the A Line if you’re near:
- The Financial District
- City Hall
- Chinatown
- SoHo
- The West Village
- Penn Station
- Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Times Square
- Columbus Circle
- Upper West Side
- West Harlem
- Washington Heights
- Inwood
Important note regarding the A Line
The A Line has two branches.
1 branch goes toward Far Rockaway (this is the one you want).
1 branch goes toward Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd. (do not take this one).
Be sure your A Train is going toward Far Rockaway.
You should see “Far Rockaway” on the front and/or sides of your train.
B. Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave./JFK Airport
This Queens subway station is served by the E, J and Z subway lines.
Take the E Line if near:
- Grand Central Terminal (take 6 Train to 51 St./transfer to E)
- 5th Ave.
- Midtown
- Upper East Side (take 6 train to 51 St./transfer to E)
- LaGuardia Airport (take Q70 bus to Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Ave. station)
- Points in Queens
Take the J or Z Line if starting from:
- Lower East Side
- Financial District
- Points in Brooklyn
Step 2: Take AirTrain from subway station to JFK Airport
You made it to your subway station in Queens, congratulations!
All you have to do now is transfer to the AirTrain.
See AirTrain map in Section 8 below.
Transfer to JFK AirTrain
After arriving at either the Howard Beach/JFK Airport or Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave/JFK Airport subway station, proceed to the AirTrain area and pay your AirTrain fare at one of the ticket machines.
NOTE: At the Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave/JFK Airport subway station, you’ll need to walk about half a block to access the AirTrain station, then ascend one level.
8. Resources: AirTrain, LIRR, Subway, Metro-North
Helpful Resources
JFK AirTrain
Long Island Railroad (LIRR)
- LIRR map (JFK at bottom-left)
- LIRR schedules
- You can also use the MTA Train Time app
Metro-North
- Metro-North map
- Metro-North schedules
- You can also use the MTA Train Time app
Pascack Valley Line & Port Jervis Line
- Both lines owned by Metro-North Railroad, but…
- Both operated by New Jersey (NJ) Transit
- Must transfer at Secaucus Junction station
- See NJ Transit’s site for schedules/fares
Subway maps
- Find JFK at far-right, toward bottom.
- LaGuardia Airport is toward top-center.
- Subway map: Regular edition
- Subway map: Large print edition
- Subway map: Wheelchair-accessible stations*
- Subway map: Late-Night Service edition
*Note: Wheelchair-accessible stations are highlighted in white.