JFK vs LaGuardia vs Newark: which airport and how to reach Manhattan

For a trip to New York City, the best airport is usually the one with the better flight at the better price, because all three airports reach Manhattan in a reasonable time. Where they differ is the ground leg: JFK and Newark have train connections, while LaGuardia does not, and the costs vary more than the distance suggests. The USA guide covers entry and money basics.

The simplest rule is to match the airport to where you are staying. Midtown and anywhere near Penn Station suits Newark, because NJ Transit runs a direct train to New York Penn Station. Brooklyn and Queens suit JFK, because the AirTrain links to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road. The Upper East Side, Long Island City and Astoria suit LaGuardia, because a taxi or rideshare is short, even though there is no train. If you have not chosen a hotel yet, the where to stay in New York City guide compares the five main bases.

One caveat applies to every figure on this page: fares and surcharges change, and traffic changes the road options by the hour. Use the official airport and MTA pages before you travel, and treat taxi numbers as estimates.

The table shows the costs the airports themselves publish. They do not include tips, tolls or the congestion toll where it applies, and they do not cover rideshare, which uses variable pricing. If you travel with several people, a taxi or rideshare can cost less per person than three train tickets, while a solo traveler with a light bag almost always saves by rail.

JFK is the largest of the three and the one with the most international flights. Getting into the city by train is a two-step process. First, the AirTrain takes you from your terminal to Jamaica or Howard Beach, and the single-ride fare is $8.75, with children under five free. Second, you pick up the subway or the Long Island Rail Road at one of those stations. The subway costs $3, and the airport says you pay when you enter the subway, so use a contactless card, phone or OMNY card.

The airport recommends the subway or the Long Island Rail Road as the best way in, and lists about 20 minutes between Penn Station or Grand Central Madison and the AirTrain connection. For rides within the city, the LIRR sells a CityTicket at $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 at peak, according to the airport. The subway is cheaper but slower, and it can be crowded with luggage during rush hour. If you stay in Brooklyn, the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal is worth a look.

Groups can use the AirTrain's group fare: the first rider pays $8.75 and each additional rider pays $4.50, for up to five riders and a maximum of $26.75, provided everyone taps within five minutes using the same payment method. Frequent riders are capped at $43.50 within a rolling 30 days. For a family of four, the group fare keeps the AirTrain at a reasonable cost, though you still pay subway fares afterward.

Taxis leaving JFK use a flat rate for trips to Manhattan. The airport lists $70, plus tolls, tip and additional fees of $2.75 to $8.50 that vary by time of day and destination. That makes a taxi the simplest option for groups, heavy luggage and late arrivals, and it is more predictable than a meter in traffic. Use only the official pick-up areas for yellow cabs and ride apps, since the airport warns about fraudulent drivers.

LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan by road, but it has no train or subway station on site. The airport's own transport page lists taxis, rideshare, rental cars and authorized shuttles, plus general resources for the MTA subway and the Long Island Rail Road. If you want public transit, you take an MTA bus from the terminals to a subway or rail station in Queens and transfer. Check the MTA trip planner for the current route, because bus routes and schedules change.

For most visitors, a taxi or rideshare is the practical choice. The airport publishes fare estimates for taxis to common Manhattan destinations: about $30 to $52 to Times Square and the Theater District, $34 to $57 to Tribeca and the Civic Center, and $24 to $45 to Morningside Heights. Those estimates do not include tips, tolls or the Manhattan congestion pricing.

Congestion pricing also touches taxi and ride trips into the zone south of 60th Street. The MTA lists a per-trip charge of $0.75 for taxis, green cabs and black cars, and $1.50 for high-volume for-hire vehicles such as app-based rides, paid by the passenger. Cars with E-ZPass pay $9 at peak to enter the zone, which is why you should skip a rental car for Manhattan stays.

LaGuardia works best for travelers staying on the Upper East Side, in Long Island City or Astoria, for visitors with children who want a short transfer, and for short trips with light bags. It is a poor fit for budget travelers who do not want to pay for a car, since rail is not an option.

Newark Liberty is in New Jersey, but it can be the easiest airport for Midtown. The AirTrain links the terminals with the Newark Airport station, and NJ Transit and Amtrak trains run from there. Terminal A is not directly connected by the AirTrain, so the airport lists a walk of about 15 minutes or a shuttle of about 5 minutes. From the station, the airport lists the trip to Midtown Manhattan at about 30 minutes and $17.25 by NJ Transit.

If your hotel is near the Financial District or the World Trade Center, the airport lists a route using NJ Transit and PATH, or NJ Transit and the subway, at about 45 minutes and $11.75. For the 33rd Street PATH station, it lists about 40 minutes and $11.75. Prices apply to the listed routes, so check the NJ Transit and PATH sites for your exact trip. The AirTrain's $8.75 charge applies when you do not already hold an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket.

Coach USA runs an express bus from every terminal to Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, with a travel time of about 50 minutes. The airport lists the fare as $23.50 one way or $39.50 round trip, with discounts for seniors and travelers with accessibility needs.

Taxis from Newark to Manhattan are charged by zone. The airport lists estimates of $60 to $80 depending on the zone, before tips, tolls and additional fees of $6.75 to $15.75. A $2.00 airport access fee applies, a $1 charge per bag applies, and a $10 rush-hour surcharge applies to trips into New York State during listed hours. Taxis suit groups and late arrivals, while the train suits solo travelers and anyone going to Penn Station.

If you are staying in Midtown or heading to a Penn Station train, favor Newark when the fares are close, because the train is direct and the cost is predictable. If you are staying in Brooklyn or Queens, favor JFK, and decide between the subway and the LIRR based on your hotel. If you are staying on the Upper East Side or in Long Island City, favor LaGuardia and plan a taxi or rideshare budget.

If flights are cheaper into one airport, run the numbers. A small fare difference can vanish against a taxi at the other end, while a train ride into Midtown adds little. For international arrivals, JFK has the most flights, and for domestic routes, LaGuardia has many short-haul connections. None of this should override the best flight, because the ground leg is the smaller part of the cost for most trips.

Do not choose an airport only by the map. Newark is geographically in another state, but its train gets to Penn Station quickly. LaGuardia is physically close, but it has no train. JFK is farthest by road, but its AirTrain bypasses highway traffic. The total door-to-door experience matters more than the straight-line distance.

The first mistake is getting into an unmarked car offered inside the terminal. Both JFK and LaGuardia warn about fraudulent drivers and tell visitors to use the official pick-up areas for yellow cabs and ride apps. The second is tapping different cards or phones at the AirTrain gate and the subway, which misses group fares and fare caps.

The third is forgetting that Terminal A at Newark does not connect directly to the AirTrain. Allow the extra walk or shuttle time. The fourth is booking a night arrival without checking the last train, since a missed connection can turn a $17.25 train ride into a taxi at $60 to $80. The fifth is forgetting entry paperwork: if you travel on a visa waiver, get your ESTA sorted before you book.

Set up your phone before you land, because train apps, ticket codes and ride apps all need data. An eSIM for the USA can be activated before you board, and travel insurance with medical cover is worth comparing for a US trip, where treatment costs are high.

Once you are in the city, the New York City in 3 days plan shows how to use the subway for the rest of your trip, and the Long Island guide covers day trips by train. For routes beyond the city, getting around the USA compares trains, buses and rental cars.