The Best (and Cheapest) Ways to Get to Manhattan from JFK Airport
JFK Airport is not directly connected to the NYC Subway. We can’t go back in time and tell politicians from generations ago to do better, so for now, we have to work with what we’ve got.
Every way to get to or from JFK by transit requires at least one transfer.
In this article, I’ll break them all down, which I’ve all taken myself.
Two things before I get through all the options: First, thanks for taking transit. It’s better for our city. Every car to the airport is one more vehicle on the Van Wyck, creating traffic and polluting the air.
Second, pack light if you can. It’ll make all the options easier.
All right, let’s get into the options.
TL;DR – Best Ways to Get Between JFK and Manhattan (Or Other Boroughs)
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway + AirTrain | $11.50. $3 + $8.50. | ~60–75 min | Most travelers, reliable, 24/7 |
| LIRR + AirTrain | $13.50-$18.50. $5 (off-peak) or $7 (peak) + $8.50 + $3 if you take the subway after | ~45–55 min | Faster, more comfortable, easier with luggage |
| Subway + Bus (No AirTrain) | $3.00 | ~80–95 min | Budget travelers, light packers |
Option 1: Subway + AirTrain ($11.50)
This is the most common way New Yorkers get to and from JFK.
It’s what most people default to. It’s what I default to.
Step 1: Take the Subway to Howard Beach or Jamaica Station
There are two AirTrain entry points that connect to the subway:
- Howard Beach is served by the A train. This makes sense if you’re coming from Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan. If you’re coming from the city, make sure you get on one that’s going to Howard Beach, not Lefferts Blvd.
- Jamaica Station is served by the E, J, and Z trains. This one is better for most parts of the city. The E train is just a faster ride through Queens than the A train, which meanders through Brooklyn.
Step 2: Take the AirTrain to Your Terminal ($8.50)
Once you’re at Howard Beach or Jamaica, follow the signs for the AirTrain. If you’re at Jamaica, yes, you’ll be on the street for a minute underneath Jamaica Station. Just follow the signs to the AirTrain.
The AirTrain goes to all terminals in a loop and runs 24/7. It takes about 10–15 minutes from either station to most terminals.
If you’re heading to the airport, you pay $8.50 when you enter the AirTrain. If you’re heading to Manhattan, you pay when you exit the AirTrain.
That fee is not optional on this route.
Total cost: $3.00 (subway) + $8.50 (AirTrain) = $11.50
Total time: 60–75 minutes from Midtown, depending on where you start and how the subway cooperates.
(Unrelated, but another money-saving move is to stop and get a bodega sandwich outside Jamaica Station to avoid paying for overpriced and mediocre airport food.)
You Get Free Subway and Bus Transfers
That $11.50 gets you all the way to your final destination, no matter where you’re going in the city. The $3 subway fare covers any transfers to other subway lines or local buses within the same trip.
So even though the Port Authority is ripping us off with the AirTrain, it’s still a decent deal.
Luggage on The Subway is Fine, but Not Ideal
If you’re traveling light, ignore this.
But if you’re hauling a big suitcase or two, just know what you’re signing up for.
Most subway stations don’t have elevators, and the ones that do are slow. You’ll wonder if the stairs would have been faster. It probably would have been.
The subway cars themselves are fine for luggage, especially if it’s not rush hour. There’s no overhead rack or dedicated space, but people do it every day.
If you’re checking a 50-pound bag and a carry-on, that’s when the LIRR starts to look more attractive.
Option 2: LIRR + AirTrain ($13.50-$18.50)
There are three advantages to this over the subway. First, if you have luggage. Second, if you want to save a few minutes. Third, you just want a more comfortable ride.
The LIRR is short for the “Long Island Railroad.” It’s a commuter service that runs between the city and Long Island. Every single LIRR train, with the exception of one branch, stops at Jamaica Station, which is where the AirTrain runs to.
Step 1: Get to a LIRR Stop (Penn Station, Grand Central, or Atlantic Terminal)
LIRR trains run from Jamaica to three places. (Well, if you’re in Brooklyn or Queens you have more options, but if you’re not a local, you’ll likely end up at Penn or Grand Central.)
Unless you’re staying within walking distance of these, you’ll spend an extra $3 taking the subway or a local bus to these stations.
The endpoints of these trains are:
- Penn Station (34th St, West Side). The main hub. Trains to Jamaica are frequent. Easy transfer from the A, C, E, 1, 2, or 3 train.
- Grand Central Madison (42nd St, East Side). The newer LIRR terminal under Grand Central. Convenient if you’re on the East Side. You can transfer easily between a 4, 5, or 6 train.
- Atlantic Terminal (Brooklyn). Underrated if you’re in Brooklyn. This train stops at Nostrand Ave and East New York before continuing to Jamaica.
There are other stops in Queens too. Some trains from Grand Central and Penn Station will stop at Woodside, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens before Jamaica. Some also go to Long Island City, but that’s only during peak hours, so it’s not a reliable airport connection.
If this is confusing, here’s the MTA’s official commuter rail map.
Not every LIRR train will stop at all of these. So if you’re using an intermediate stop, use the TrainTime app.
How to Know When the LIRR is Coming
I’ll give credit to the MTA for their TrainTime app. It’s easy to put in your origin and destination, and it’ll tell you when all the next trains are coming.
You can also buy your ticket on right on that app with a virtual wallet payment (like Apple Pay, if you have an iPhone).
Breaking Down the Cost of LIRR Trains
All LIRR trains to and from Jamaica and qualify for the “City Ticket” purchase option. These cost $5 at off-peak times and $7 at peak times.
Peak fares apply to weekday trains going to NYC terminals between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. or departing NYC between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Annoying, I know. I personally think City Ticket should be $5 always with free transfer to the Subway or an MTA bus, but I’m not in charge.
If it’s off-peak and you happen to be within walking distance of the LIRR, you’ve only spent $5.
If it’s off-peak and you transfer to/from the subway, you’ve spent $8.
Peak plus a transfer, you’re already at $10 before the AirTrain.
The Frequency of the LIRR Trains
You’d think that since it’s a commuter service, you’d have to worry about frequency. It’s not as frequent as the E train from Jamaica Center at peak, but because nearly every LIRR train stop at Jamaica, you’ll have trains less than every ten minutes during reasonable hours (not the middle of the night).
As a random example, as I write this article, six trains are coming from Jamaica to Penn in the next 40 minutes.
With that said, if you’re going to the airport, I’d still check TrainTime beforehand. If you’re coming from the airport, just go to Jamaica Station and take the first one.
Step 2: Take the AirTrain
We already talked about this, so there’s nothing else to say. $8.50. 24/7. Frequency is good at peak times (although less good at non-peak times).
Downside of the LIRR: Less Frequency at Early Morning Hours, Costs Extra, Maybe an Extra Transfer
The MTA advertises the LIRR as 24/7, but while technically true, there are often gaps where you’d have to wait a while at off hours. At the worst points, like weekend early mornings, you’ll have a 50-minute gap between trains. It can still work for your flight, but check it on TrainTime if you have an early morning departure. In those cases, the Subway might just make more sense.
Second is the cost. A peak ticket plus a transfer to the subway gets up to $18.50, which is still a lot cheaper than a cab, but not cheap either.
Third, depending on your final destination, you’ll have to transfer to the subway. This can be slightly annoying and also may wipe away some of the time savings and convenience compared to just taking the subway to begin with.
Still, there’s no doubt it’s a more comfortable option.
Total cost: $13.50-$18.50.
Total time: ~45-55 minutes from Midtown
Option 3: The Cheapest (and Most Adventurous) Way — Subway + Bus ($3.00)
Yes, you can avoid the AirTrain. I’ve done it. It’s slower. It’s an extra transfer. It’s a local bus. But you can do it.
You only pay the $8.50 AirTrain fee when you enter or exit at Howard Beach or Jamaica.
Those are the subway-connected stations. But the Lefferts Boulevard, the long-term parking stop, has no turnstile and no charge.
From Manhattan:
- Take the E or F train to Kew Gardens–Union Tpke
- Walk one block and catch the Q80 or Q10 bus. Both go to Lefferts Blvd, take whichever comes first
- Ride to the Lefferts Blvd AirTrain station
- Board the AirTrain, free, to your terminal
The subway and bus share the same fare, so the whole trip costs $3.00.
There are real trade-offs to this. I wrote a whole article that covers every detail you want to do know, so check out how to get to JFK without the AirTrain.
Total cost: $3.00
Total time: ~80–95 minutes from Midtown
We’re Mostly Stuck With the AirTrain
Whether you take the subway or opt for more comfortable but more expensive LIRR, you’ve gotta deal with the AirTrain unless you want to take the “scenic route” of a typical NYC local bus.
It’s not ideal. If you’re wondering if Newark would be better. The answer is no, but I’ve broken down how to get between Newark Airport and Manhattan in this article, including a $4.85 that Google Maps won’t show you.
LaGuardia, however, is better, as I share in my article on how to get between LaGuardia and Manhattan on transit.
Finally, since you’re traveling to New York, here are my tips on how to enjoy NYC without going broke, featuring my best budget travel tips for the city. Enjoy the city! The transfer is better once you’re out of the airport ecosystem.
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