JFK airport to Manhattan: AirTrain, subway, taxi

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) lies in the south-east of Queens, about 30 km by road from Midtown Manhattan. There is no direct train into the city: every public route starts with the AirTrain JFK, which takes you to the subway and commuter rail at Jamaica or Howard Beach. The short answer: take the AirTrain and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) for Midtown, the AirTrain and the subway if you want to save money or are heading downtown, and a yellow cab if you arrive late, tired or as a group.

JFK to Manhattan: the options

Here are pure driving times by taxi from JFK, without traffic, based on OpenStreetMap routing. In New York traffic, especially on weekday afternoons, plan considerably more.

The AirTrain: the first step for every train

The AirTrain JFK links all terminals with each other, with the car parks and with two stations on the city's rail network. Within the airport it is free; trains run every 5 to 15 minutes, and the airport says the ride between terminals takes under ten minutes. You only pay when you leave the AirTrain at Jamaica or Howard Beach – by tapping a contactless bank card, phone, smartwatch or an OMNY card at the gate. Children under five ride free, according to the MTA.

• Jamaica: the main hub. Here you change to the LIRR or to the subway at Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport.
• Howard Beach: connection to the A train, which runs through Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan. Useful if you are staying downtown or in Brooklyn.

AirTrain and LIRR: the fastest way to Midtown

At Jamaica, follow the signs to the Long Island Rail Road and take a westbound train. According to the MTA, they run to Penn Station (Midtown West) and Grand Central (Midtown East); some go to Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn instead, so check the departure board. The MTA recommends this route for Midtown and Downtown Brooklyn, or whenever time matters more than cost. You need an LIRR ticket on top of the AirTrain fare; buy it at the machines at Jamaica or in the MTA's app.

AirTrain and subway: the cheapest way

The subway takes longer but costs less. At Jamaica, follow the signs to the subway and the street, walk to the Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport station, tap your card and take the Manhattan-bound E train. Useful stops, according to the MTA: 42 St–Port Authority (Times Square), 34 St–Penn Station (Midtown) and World Trade Center (Downtown). The subway runs around the clock, but trains are slower at night. With big suitcases, rush-hour trains can be very full.

Yellow cab: flat fare to Manhattan

Yellow cabs wait at the official taxi stands outside each terminal. Between JFK and Manhattan, according to the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, a flat fare applies (the meter should show "Rate #2 – JFK Airport"). Added to it are several surcharges – among them a rush-hour surcharge on weekdays from 4 to 8 pm, the congestion surcharge for trips south of 96th Street and the congestion pricing toll south of 60th Street – plus tolls and tip. Trips to other parts of the city, such as Brooklyn, run on the meter.

The airport warns about people in the arrivals hall who are not in an official uniform and offer you a ride: they may be unlicensed or uninsured. Use the taxi stand, an app ride from the marked pick-up area, or a car you have booked. A pre-booked transfer from JFK^* (Kiwitaxi) with a fixed price is worth it for families and groups. Our article on when an airport transfer pays off compares the options.

Which option suits whom?

• Hotel in Midtown (Times Square, Herald Square, Grand Central): AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station or Grand Central.
• Hotel in Lower Manhattan: AirTrain to Howard Beach and the A train, or AirTrain to Jamaica and the E train to World Trade Center.
• Hotel in Brooklyn: AirTrain and LIRR to Atlantic Terminal, or the A train from Howard Beach.
• Tight budget: AirTrain and subway.
• Late at night, with children or as a group: yellow cab at the flat fare, or a pre-booked transfer.

Before you fly, check your entry papers: travellers from Visa Waiver countries need an approved ESTA. For mobile data from the moment you land, a travel eSIM for the USA^* (Airalo) is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

On the day you leave

From Midtown, the LIRR from Penn Station or Grand Central to Jamaica and the AirTrain to your terminal is the most predictable option, because it avoids the expressways. Allow for the change at Jamaica, and remember to have your card ready for the AirTrain gate. A taxi can be quicker late in the evening, but in the afternoon rush the drive can take far longer than the half hour shown above.

How long to stay and what to see is in our article how many days in New York, and the weather by month in the best time to visit New York.

New York trip planDay by day, with map and tips

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