How to get to and from New York JFK airport (JFK): bus, train, taxi and transfers

Ground transportation options

Public transportation, licensed taxis and ride-hailing apps, private transfers and car rental at New York JFK airport (JFK), 26 km from New York. See also the airport guide for general information.

Most ground transportation options at the airport operate via the AirTrain system.

Riding between terminals and to Federal Circle station is completely free of charge 24/7. However, an entrance/exit fare of USD 8.75 per person applies when connecting at the transit hubs of Jamaica or Howard Beach (children under 5 ride free). From these stations, passengers can directly access MTA subway lines, regional commuter rail, and city buses serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

In addition, official taxis, rideshare apps, inter-airport express shuttles, and door-to-door services are readily available.

AirTrain JFK and New York City Subway (MTA)

The subway network operates 24/7 from the AirTrain connection stations for a flat MTA fare of USD 2.90:

Howard Beach Station: Direct connection to the A train, traveling through Far Rockaway, southern Queens, Brooklyn, and Lower/Midtown Manhattan.
Jamaica Station: Connection to the E train serving western Queens, Midtown Manhattan, and the World Trade Center, as well as J/Z trains serving central Queens and northern Brooklyn.

Travel time to Midtown Manhattan is approximately 50 to 75 minutes. SEE MORE

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Commuter Trains

From Jamaica Station, travelers can board high-frequency Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuter trains directly to Grand Central Madison, Penn Station (Manhattan), or Atlantic Terminal (Brooklyn). Travel time to Midtown Manhattan is just 20 to 25 minutes. In addition to the LIRR fare (from USD 11.25 depending on peak hours), the USD 8.75 AirTrain connection fare applies. SEE MORE

Official NYC Taxis (Yellow Cabs)

Available 24 hours a day at official taxi stands staffed by dispatchers outside each terminal's arrivals hall. Trips to any destination in Manhattan have a regulated flat fare of USD 70.00 (plus tolls, standard tips, and a USD 5.00 peak-hour surcharge from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on weekdays). Travel time is 40 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Transfers to LaGuardia Airport cost approximately USD 60.00 (30–60 min), and to Newark Liberty Airport around USD 160.00 (60–100 min, plus state-line surcharges). SEE MORE

Rideshare Apps (Uber and Lyft)

App-based transportation services pick up passengers at designated Ride App Pick-Up zones outside arrivals. Due to redevelopment construction, passenger pickup for Terminals 5 and 7 is temporarily relocated to the Howard Beach AirTrain Station, accessible via free AirTrain. Uber Shuttle also operates scheduled bookable routes connecting JFK directly with Manhattan (42nd Street and Greenwich Village).

Private and Door-to-Door Transfers

Civitatis is one of the private door-to-door transportation options and is suitable for groups, families, or couples.

The best option is to book online in advance for your transfer to or from JFK Airport. This way, a driver will be waiting for you, and you won’t have to negotiate prices with taxis or transfer companies.

You can book a private vehicle for 3 people for *USD 97.00 (total price per vehicle) to Manhattan or Brooklyn. There are also vehicles for 4 (*USD 127.00), 6 (*USD 136.00), or 7 people (*USD 163.00), and vans for 11 (*USD 247.00) and 14 passengers (*USD 300.00). Limousines for up to 7 passengers are available for *USD 296.00, and electric vehicles for 2 people for *USD 139.00.

If you need to go from JFK to Newark Airport, fares start at *USD 163.00 (up to 3 people), and to LaGuardia Airport from *USD 103.00.

*Fares are expressed in U.S. dollars and are estimates, but they may change at any time. To know the exact price, please check the booking form.

Public Buses and Inter-Airport Shuttles

Several MTA public bus routes serve areas adjacent to the terminals for an MTA fare of USD 2.90:

B15: East New York - Brownsville - Ocean Hill - Bedford-Stuyvesant (85 min).
Q3: Springfield Gardens - St Albans - Hollis - Jamaica (50 min).
Q6: Springfield Gardens - Jamaica.
Q7: South Jamaica - Ozone Park - East New York.
Q10: Ozone Park - Kew Gardens (40-45 min).

For direct inter-airport connections between JFK, LGA, and Newark, specialized carriers such as ETS Air Shuttle, All County Express, and NYC Airporter provide scheduled van services. SEE MORE

Book ahead

Private transfer from JFK Rent a car at JFK

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Tips for getting to and from JFK

Going to the airport

Leave earlier than you think you need to: New York JFK airport is 26 km from New York. Allow for rush-hour traffic, strikes or events, and check the local news before you go.
On public transportation, check the schedule (weekends and holidays usually have fewer services), whether you need to change lines and how to pay: transit card, contactless or cash.
If you booked a shared shuttle, keep the company's phone number at hand in case the pickup is late.
Returning a rental car? Follow the signs to the rental car return area. If you drive your own car, check parking at JFK.

Leaving the airport

After baggage claim and customs, follow the ground transportation signs. The arrivals page has a step-by-step guide.
Arriving late at night? Not every bus or train runs 24 hours: check the last departure in advance. Ride-hailing apps usually pick up at a designated zone, not at the curb.
With a private transfer, the driver usually waits in the arrivals hall with a sign with your name.
Looking for the taxi rank, the train station or the rental desks, or meeting someone? See the JFK airport map and share a meeting point.
Renting a car? Booking ahead gives you better rates; see car rental at JFK.
Staying near the airport? See hotels and overnight stay or hotels near JFK.

Content written by German Giudici

Creator of the Aeropuertos del Mundo website network since 2007.

Getting to and from New York JFK airport