For transportation to Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or Long Island City, you can always use the subway lines, which you must take an automated train from the airport AirTrain.
| Line | Transfer from AirTrain |
Price | Travel time (Manhattan) |
Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIRR Train | Jamaica | 16,50 usd - 19,50 usd (off-peak/peak) |
40 minutes | Grand Central, Penn Station |
| Metro A | Howard Beach | 11,15 usd | 65 minutes | Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, WTC |
| Metro E | Jamaica -> Sutphin Blvd./Archer Av. | 11,15 usd | 55 minutes | Midtown Manhattan, Queens, Port Authority, Broadway |
| Subway J, Z | Jamaica -> Sutphin Blvd./Archer Av. | 11,15 usd | 70 minutes | Lower Manhattan, Southern Queens, Northern Brooklyn |
| Taxi | - | 75 usd up to 80 usd | 60-85 minutes | Manhattan |
| Helicopter | - | 195 usd up to 300 usd | 15-20 minutes | Manhattan |
Detailed information about each mode of transportation is detailed below.
AirTrain
Most travellers take the subway or train to New York. To get to a subway or train station, you must always use the automated AirTrain from the terminals.
Official information can be found at: jfkairport.com/air-train.
The two lines circle all terminals and then split and continue in a different direction:
- Green line - It goes to the Howard Beach subway station, where it connects with the Blue Line A subway line to Brooklyn and Manhattan.
- Red line - goes to the Jamaica train station, where it connects to the LIRR towards downtown Manhattan, as well as to the Blue Line E subway and the Brown Line J and Z, which depart from Sutphin Blvd./Archer Av.
Tickets
A single ride from all terminals to Jamaica or Howard Beach (or vice versa) station costs 8,25 usd. Multi-day passes are not valid on AirTrain for travel within New York City.
You can pay contactlessly with your own card/mobile/watch or buy a traditional paper ticket from a machine.
If you are only transferring between terminals, the fare is free.
Times
AirTrain operates 24/7 on both lines. Frequency between connections is 10-12 minutes during the day and 15-20 minutes at night.
From the terminals to both Jamaica and Howard Beach stations, the ride is approximately 20 minutes.
New York City Subway
The subway takes you to all of New York City with at most one transfer. The subway is the cheapest and busiest way to get to JFK Airport.
For detailed information on getting around the city, see our guide to the New York City Subway.
The subway doesn't go all the way to the terminals, so you'll have to take the aforementioned AirTrain automated train to the nearest stations.
Official information can be found on the MTA website.
- Subway maps: new.mta.info/maps
- Find connections: new.mta.info/schedules
- Fare information: new.mta.info/fares
Tickets
Fares are the same for all subway lines throughout the city, no matter how long you take the subway. The same prices apply to MTA buses.
The easiest and cheapest way to pay is with your own contactless card, mobile phone or watch. Attach your card to the reader at the turnstile when you enter the station. The card is no longer attached when exiting.
The same prices apply when using a paper MetroCard, which can be purchased from a machine in all metro stations.
- 2,90 usd - 1 journey (you can change between metro lines)
- 34 usd - 7 days (unlimited travel)
In practice, contactless payment works by first swiping the card to the reader to start a 7-day period during which the fare cap of just $34 works. No more money is withdrawn within the 7 days.
The MetroCard is more expensive by the 1 usd fee to issue it. If you're only planning one trip around New York City (for example, when transferring between airports), the MetroCard is not worth it because you can only purchase a card with 2 rides loaded for a total of 6,80 usd (2 rides + card issuance fee).
Route options
There are 3 subway options for getting to/from JFK Airport.
Line E
The Blue Line E runs from Sutphin Blvd / Archer Av, which is connected to the Jamaica station, where the AirTrain runs from the airport.
When traveling from downtown, do not go all the way to the Jamaica Center terminus, which is 1 km away from the AirTrain.
This connection is convenient for travel to the Queens and Midtown Manhattan areas (Rockefeller Center, Broadway, Times Square, Port Authority Bus Terminal). Trains continue south into lower Manhattan, but are faster to get to via the A line from Howard Beach Station.
- Frequency - 4 to 5 minutes (20 minutes at night)
- Hours ofoperation - 24 hours
J, Z lines
The brown J and Z routes run from Sutphin Blvd / Archcer Av, which is connected to Jamaica Station, where the AirTrain runs from the airport.
When traveling from downtown, don't go all the way to the Jamaica Center terminus, which is 1 mile from the AirTrain.
During midday, some services terminate as early as Broadway Junction.
This connection is convenient for trips to areas in northern Brooklyn, southern Queens and lower Manhattan (Canal Street, Wall Street, Chinatown).
- Frequency - 6 to 10 minutes (20 minutes at night)
- Hours ofoperation - 24 hours
The J and Z lines follow the same route. Z trains are express and pass through some stations. However, the difference in total journey time is only about 10 minutes.
Line A
Blue Line A runs from Howard Beach station.
From downtown, use only trains with a destination of "Far Rockaway"; no other trains run to Howard Beach station.
This connection is convenient for travel to the Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan areas (Ground Zero, WTC, Wall Street). Trains continue north past Central Park.
- Frequency - 14 to 20 minutes
- Hours ofoperation - 24 hours
LIRR trains
The fastest way to get to Midtown Manhattan and to long-distance trains at Grand Central or Penn Station is via LIRR trains from Jamaica Station.
For detailed information, schedules and connection searches, visit: new.mta.info/long-island-rail-road
Ticket prices are different from the subway. You can pay with a contactless card at the turnstile or with a traditional paper ticket purchased from a machine at the train stations.
Prices vary according to the time of day.
- Peak (6:00-10:00 in the direction of the centre; 16:00-20:00 in the direction of the centre) - 11,25 usd
- Off-Peak (rest of the period, weekends all day) - 8,25 usd
There is no all-week $34 fare or MetroCard on LIRR routes.
LIRR trains run to Jamaica Station from 3 different directions:
- Grand Central - frequency 15-30 minutes
- Penn Station - frequency 10-20 minutes
- Atlantic Terminal (Brooklyn) - frequency 15-20 minutes
JFK Public Transportation Map
View a map of all subway, bus and train lines serving New York JFK Airport.
Taxi
Taxi rides to downtown can be longer than taking the subway due to traffic congestion. The advantage, of course, is that you can travel anywhere without changing trains, especially if you have large luggage.
Fares to or from JFK to Manhattan are flat. Other boroughs are metered.
The Manhattan-wide fare is set at 70 usd. On weekdays between 4:00pm and 8:00pm, the fare is 75 usd.
These amounts do not include tolls and gratuities, so the total usually comes out to about 85 usd.
Taxis can be paid for with cash and credit cards and taxi stands are located outside all terminals.
Uber or Bolt services can also be used, but the prices are usually the same or even higher than the classic yellow cabs.
BLADE helicopters
Get from JFK Airport to Manhattan in style, comfort and without traffic jams with BLADE helicopters.
Book your trip at least 30 minutes in advance on the official website: blade.com/manhattan/airport=JFK. The price is dynamic depending on availability and number of passengers and ranges between 195 usd and 295 usd.
Helicopters make the trip every 15 to 20 minutes and the flight itself takes about 5 to 7 minutes. To this time you need to add a car ride from the terminal to the heliport, which takes about 10 minutes.
In Manhattan, helicopters take off from a helipad on the banks of the Hudson River near Penn Station (view on Google.com/maps).
Local buses
There is also a stop for regular public transportation buses near Terminal 8. However, these usually only serve airport employees, as the buses only serve the surrounding neighborhoods and are not practical for travel to downtown.
Currently, only the Q3 line to nearby Queens runs to the airport every 15 minutes. The fare costs 2,90 usd and is paid by attaching a contactless card to the reader at the driver's seat, if you attach a MetroCard.
Timetables can be found at: new.mta.info/schedules/bus/queens
To La Guardia Airport
If you need to transfer between JFK and La Guardia, expect a minimum 75-minute drive for the following route.
- JFK - Jamaica (AirTrain) - 20 minutes and 8,25 usd
- Sutphin Blvd / Archer Av - Jackson Hts / Roosvelt Av (Metro E) - 25 minutes and 2,90 usd
- Roosvelt Av - La Guardia Airport (Bus Q47 or Q70) - 40 minutes and 2,90 usd
- A total of just under 2 hours and 14,05 usd
Taxi between the airports will take about an hour and cost around 45 usd.
To Newark Airport
The transfer from JFK Airport to Newark Airport in New Jersey will take approximately 2 hours.
Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station where either the E subway or LIRR trains will take you to Penn Station.
From Pennsylvania Station, NJ Transit trains run to Newark Airport, where you'll transfer to the AirTrain again.
- JFK - Jamaica (AirTrain) - 20 minutes and 8,25 usd
- Sutphin Blvd / Archer Av - Penn Station (Metro E) - 40 minutes and 2,90 usd
- Penn Station - Newark Airport Railroad (NJ Transit Train) - 25 minutes and 7,50 usd
- Newark Airport Railroad - Newark Airport (AirTrain) - 10 minutes and 8,25 usd
- Total approx. 2 hours and 26,90 usd
Taxi between airports will take about an hour and a half and cost around 125 usd.
