Getting to NYC
Plan your trip to New York City by airplane, train, bus or car.
By Plane
Below, you’ll find a list of nearby airports, along with the best ways to get from those airports to Manhattan. There are more than 70 air carriers traveling to the New York City area from all over the country and the world.
Air travelers to New York City may arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or LaGuardia Airport (LGA), both in Queens, or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in neighboring New Jersey. LaGuardia primarily serves domestic destinations, and also offers flights to select Canadian destinations. Kennedy and Newark both serve domestic and international destinations. Visitors can reach Manhattan from all three airports by using taxis, buses and subways and/or commuter trains. Other metropolitan-area airports include Stewart International Airport (SWF), Westchester County Airport (HPN) and MacArthur Airport (ISP) on Long Island. For those interested, there are a number of hotels conveniently located near the City’s airports.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Jamaica, Queens, NY 11430
718-244-4444, https://www.jfkairport.com
New York’s largest airport serves more than 70 airlines, most of which are international. It is approximately 15 miles from Midtown Manhattan. Here’s how to get to Midtown Manhattan from JFK:
• Taxi: Taxi: $70 flat fare (nonmetered, includes a 50-cent NY State tax surcharge and a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50), a $5 rush-hour surcharge (4pm to 8pm weekdays except legal holidays), a $1.75 Airport Access Fee (for pick-ups only), bridge and tunnel tolls if any, and gratuity. It’s 30 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan, depending on traffic and road conditions; destinations other than Manhattan are metered. For more information, dial 311 in NYC or visit the Taxi & Limousine Commission website.
• AirTran JFK: $8.25 (children under five are free); AirTrain links the airport to the subway and Long Island Rail Road. AirTrain also offers free service between points in the airport.
• Subway: One ride is $2.90 (in addition to AirTrain fare) from the A subway stop at the Howard Beach/JFK station or the E, J or Z subway stop at the Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave./JFK station; 40 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan.
• Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): $8.25–$11.25; $5.50 for seniors and disabled passengers (children under five are free; family fare is $1 apiece for up to four children ages 5–11 per adult for off-peak and pm peak trains; child fare is 50 percent off full fare for am peak trains). In addition to AirTrain fare, for the trip between LIRR’s Jamaica Station and Penn Station on Saturday and Sunday (and all off-peak hours), the CityTicket fare is $5; it’s $7 during peak hours. The trip is 20 minutes to Midtown Manhattan (not including the AirTrain ride). The TrainTime app is the most convenient way to plan trips and purchase tickets.
• City bus: For details, visit mta.info.
• Shuttle bus: ETS Airport Shuttle and Go Airlink NYC.
• Private car service: Carmel is one of many in the City.
• Car rental: Companies at JFK include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Sixt.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
East Elmhurst, Queens, NY 11371
718-533-3400, https://www.laguardiaairport.com/
This is New York’s second-largest airport, with eight airlines serving mostly domestic destinations, as well as Canada, Aruba, Bermuda and the Bahamas from three passenger terminals. LaGuardia is on the northern shore of Queens, across the East River (about eight miles from Midtown Manhattan). Here’s how to get to Midtown Manhattan from LaGuardia:
• Taxi: Approximately $30–$38 metered fare, plus a $1 peak-time fee (4pm to 8pm weekdays except legal holidays) or a daily 50-cent surcharge (8pm to 6am), plus 50-cent NY State tax, $1.75 Airport Access Fee (for pick-ups only), plus Queens Midtown Tunnel toll (if taken; most bridges across the East River are free) and gratuity; 20 to 40 minutes to Midtown Manhattan. For more information, dial 311 in NYC or visit the Taxi & Limousine Commission website.
• City bus: Two express buses serve LaGuardia: the M60 and Q70 (which is free). The Q70 goes nonstop to Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights and 74th St./Broadway, a major subway hub in Queens with five lines. The M60 runs to Harlem and connects to all the major subway lines in Manhattan. For details, visit mta.info.
• Shuttle bus: ETS Airport Shuttle and Go Airlink NYC.
• Private car service: Find a handful on this list of providers.
• Car rental: Companies at LGA include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Sixt.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
3 Brewster Rd.
Newark, NJ 07114
973-961-6000, https://www.newarkairport.com
Newark Airport, with more than 30 airlines (many of which are international), is across the Hudson River (and then some) from New York City—about 16 miles from Midtown Manhattan. Here’s how to get to Midtown Manhattan from Newark Liberty:
• Taxi: Approximately $60 to $80 metered fare, plus $1.75 Airport Access Fee (pick-ups only), round-trip bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity (group ride rates, depending on number of passengers and drop-off location in Manhattan, are approximately $18–$31 per person); 45 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan. During weekday rush hours (6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm) and on weekends (Saturday–Sunday, noon to 9pm), there is a $10 surcharge for travel to anywhere in New York State. There’s a $1 charge for each piece of luggage that’s more than 24 inches, a $5 charge for any drop-offs on the East side of Manhattan from Battery Park to 145th St. and a 10 percent senior citizen discount (for those 62 and older). When traveling to the airport from Midtown Manhattan, service is via New York City’s regulated yellow taxis. Approximately $69 to $75 metered fare, plus a $20 Newark surcharge, plus round-trip bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity.
• AirTrain Newark: AirTrain links to the airport via NJ Transit and Amtrak’s Newark Liberty International Airport train station; about 45 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan, requiring a transfer from the AirTrain line to the NJ Transit line (be sure to keep your ticket after using it to exit the AirTrain station, as it is also used for the NJ Transit fare) or Amtrak. AirTrain also offers free service between points within the airport complex, including transfers to other airline terminals and locations for hotel shuttles, car rental and parking. Costs vary by destination, but it’s $15.75 for NJ Transit trains to or from Penn Station in Manhattan (this includes $8.25 for the AirTrain); the fare for military, senior citizens, disabled passengers and children ages five to 11 is $11.75 (all other travel via NJ Transit is otherwise half off the regular fare); up to three children age four and younger ride NJ Transit for free with a fare-paying passenger. On weekends (beginning at 7pm on Friday and ending at 6am on Monday) and holidays (typically beginning at 7pm the day before a holiday and ending at 6am the day after), up to two children ages five to 11 ride NJ Transit for free with a fare-paying passenger.
• Shuttle bus: Go Airlink NYC and Newark Airport Express.
• Private car and limousine service: Find a handful on this list of providers.
• Car rental: Companies at Newark include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Sixt.
Stewart International Airport (SWF)
1180 1st St.
New Windsor, NY 12553
845-838-8200
Stewart International Airport is about 60 miles north of New York City. Here’s how to get to Midtown Manhattan from Stewart:
• Bus: $25 on the Megabus Stewart Airport Express; approximately 90 minutes to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan (note: there are no discounts for kids’ fares).
• Bus/train: Leprechaun Lines runs a shuttle bus on its Newburgh-Beacon-Stewart commuter line on weekdays (except holidays) that stops at the Beacon train station. There, use Metro-North Railroad for direct service to Grand Central Terminal ($24 for peak, $17.75 for off-peak); the fare for senior citizens and disabled passengers is $12; except on morning peak trains to Grand Central, the fare for up to four children ages five to 11 is $1 each with a fare-paying adult, otherwise the fare for children ages five to 11 is $12 peak and $9 off-peak; children age four and younger ride Metro-North for free); approximately 120 minutes to Midtown Manhattan.
By Train
New York City has two main rail stations in Midtown Manhattan: Grand Central Terminal (on the east side) and Penn Station (on the west side). There is access to numerous subway and bus lines from each station. Grand Central is home to Metro-North Railroad, which goes to NYC suburbs in upstate New York and Connecticut. Penn Station is home to the following: Long Island Rail Road, a commuter railroad serving Long Island and parts of Queens and Brooklyn; Amtrak, the US national passenger railroad, serving many points throughout the United States and Canada; and NJ Transit, a commuter railroad serving New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.
Rail Terminals
Grand Central Terminal
89 E. 42nd St. (between Vanderbilt and Park Aves.)
212-340-2583
89 E. 42nd St. (between Vanderbilt and Park Aves.) 212-340-2583, https://grandcentralterminal.com/ Grand Central is the main terminal for Metro-North Railroad service. In early 2023, the Long Island Rail Road began service to and from Grand Central Madison, a new section on the west side of the terminal. Subway lines at the terminal include the 4, 5, 6, 7 and S (shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square). For MTA bus details, visit mta.info.Aside from being a transit hub, Grand Central is also a landmark and an attraction unto itself. The Main Concourse boasts an immense 88,000 square feet of space, and on sunny days is bathed in light from its giant arching windows. Grand Central’s 12-story-high ceiling is painted with stars and gilded zodiac constellations. Not only might Grand Central be the globe’s most beautiful train station, the 49-acre terminal is also one of the world’s largest. There are numerous shops of all varieties here, including an Apple Store, Banana Republic and TUMI. Vanderbilt Hall contains a branch of City Winery; the lower level has the Oyster Bar restaurant plus a dining concourse that features a wide selection of eateries; and in Grand Central Market, fresh and prepared foods—including meats, cheese, baked goods and gourmet teas—are available.
Penn Station
Seventh to Eighth Avenues (bet. W. 31st and W. 33rd Sts.) Penn Station is the main terminal for Long Island Rail Road, and a terminal for Amtrak and NJ Transit. Subway lines here include the 1, 2, 3, A, C and E. For MTA bus details, visit mta.info.
Penn Station features information booths, restaurants, waiting rooms and public restrooms to accommodate the more than 600,000 passengers who pass through the terminal each day. In 2021, the Moynihan Train Hall opened opposite the existing Penn Station complex; it provides additional access to the underground platforms from Eighth Avenue. Car rental offices and departure/arrival points for bus companies are nearby. The Moynihan Food Hall can be found in the new train hall, while sports and music venue Madison Square Garden is located above the main Penn Station complex.
Rail Services
Amtrak
800-872-7245
Amtrak is the national passenger railroad of the United States. New York City’s Penn Station is its busiest station in the nation. The company offers numerous packages and deals, including sightseeing opportunities for both US residents and international visitors to make multiple stops throughout the country.
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
718-217-5477, 511
This commuter railroad, the busiest in the United States, operates out of Penn Station and serves 126 stations on 11 branches over nearly 700 miles of track in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, transporting more than 50 million passengers a year. Destinations include Citi Field (via the Mets–Willets Point station), Belmont Park racetrack and popular Long Island destinations like the Hamptons and Montauk.
Metro-North Railroad
212-532-4900, 877-690-5114, 511
Metro-North operates out of Grand Central Terminal. Part of its roots date back to 1832, with a horsecar line in Lower Manhattan that operated under the name New York and Harlem Railroad. Today, with 787 miles of track, Metro-North goes to 124 stations in seven New York State counties—Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Bronx and New York (Manhattan)—and Connecticut’s New Haven and Fairfield counties and serves more than 40 million customers annually.
NJ Transit
973-275-5555, TTY 800-772-2287 This commuter railroad features 12 lines with service throughout much of New Jersey (Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore are popular destinations) and even in New York (Rockland and Orange counties) in partnership with Metro-North Railroad—and, of course, into and out of New York City via Penn Station and serves more than 100 million customers each year.
PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson)
800-234-7284
PATH provides rapid transit between several stops in New York City, along with locations in Newark, Harrison, Jersey City and Hoboken in New Jersey. Air travelers from Newark Liberty International Airport can connect to the PATH via AirTrain Newark to Newark Liberty International Airport Station and by taking an NJ Transit or Amtrak train from there to Newark Penn Station (not the same as Manhattan’s Penn Station). At Newark Penn Station, they can catch a PATH train that goes directly to Lower Manhattan. For service to Midtown Manhattan, they must transfer to the 33rd St service at Journal Square. The PATH’s 33rd Street station (on Sixth Avenue, in Herald Square) in Manhattan is one avenue from Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit trains at Penn Station.
By Bus
There are a number of affordable, convenient bus lines that travel to New York City from around the United States and parts of Canada. These include FlixBus, Megabus and Greyhound.
By Car
Use Google Maps or Waze for driving directions to New York City. Plans for congestion pricing for entering Manhattan below 60 th Street, meant to start in June 2024, have been been put on indefinite pause. Wherever you go in the City by car, make sure you know where to park: take a look at apps like ParkWhiz or SpotHero to find and compare parking spots and locations and make reservations.