From JFK, LaGuardia and Newark to Manhattan

Three airports, three routes

Manhattan sits between three airports, and each one sends you into the borough by a different set of routes. JFK and Newark Liberty both have rail links toward Midtown, while LaGuardia is closest by road and connects to the subway by a free shuttle bus. The right choice depends on your terminal, your luggage and the hour you land. Read the route for your own airport before you book a hotel in Midtown East or anywhere else.

All three airports feed the same central stations: Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, Penn Station between Seventh and Eighth Avenues at 34th Street, and Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. From any of those, a short walk, a subway ride or a taxi completes the trip. Fares, timetables and service patterns change, so check the current fare and the day's service before you set out, and allow slack on your first evening in the city.

JFK by AirTrain and subway

JFK sits in Queens, and the AirTrain connects the terminals with two transfer points. At Jamaica you can pick up the Long Island Rail Road toward Penn Station, or the E, J or Z subway lines. At Howard Beach the A train runs toward Lower Manhattan and on into Midtown. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstiles; the MetroCard is being phased out. Check current service before you travel, because weekend engineering work is common.

The AirTrain and subway combination stays clear of road traffic, but it involves stairs and several changes of level with luggage. Allow time for the AirTrain ride, the platform transfer and the subway trip itself. JFK to Midtown is typically 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic and connections. Late at night, when trains run less often, a taxi or ride app can be the calmer choice, and the subway runs around the clock if you would rather wait.

• AirTrain to Jamaica, then the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station.
• AirTrain to Jamaica, then the E, J or Z subway toward Midtown.
• AirTrain to Howard Beach, then the A train toward Lower Manhattan.
• Allow extra time on weekends, when planned engineering work can alter train service.

LaGuardia: bus and road

LaGuardia sits in Queens, across the East River, and it is the airport closest to Manhattan by road. It has no rail link of its own. The free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus connects the terminals with the subway in Queens, and from there you continue into Midtown or further downtown. The bus runs often, but it fills with luggage at peak hours. Check current service before you rely on it, and allow time for the change.

By road, LaGuardia is the shortest hop of the three. The route crosses the East River on one of several bridges, and which one you use depends on the traffic and the time of day. Drivers usually know the alternatives, so ask which crossing they expect to take. Congestion pricing applies to vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, in force since January 2025, and that charge is part of the journey. Check the current fare before you set off.

Newark: AirTrain and rail

Newark Liberty sits in New Jersey, west of the Hudson. Its AirTrain runs from the terminals to the Newark Liberty International Airport station, where NJ Transit trains and intercity rail continue to Penn Station in Manhattan. From Penn Station you can walk, take the subway or hail a taxi to a Midtown East hotel. The chain involves a change of train with luggage in hand, so keep a card or ticket accessible and follow the signs.

Rail earns its keep when the roads are jammed, since the train stays clear of tunnel traffic for most of the run. Newark to Midtown is typically 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic and connections. Allow time for the AirTrain ride and the platform change at the station. Check current service before you travel, because planned work and timetable changes can affect evening and weekend trains, and late arrivals may find fewer options.

• AirTrain from the terminal to the Newark Liberty International Airport station.
• NJ Transit or intercity rail from that station to Penn Station in Manhattan.
• From Penn Station, the subway, a taxi or a walk to Midtown East.
• Check service levels before a late arrival, when trains run less often.

Taxis, ride apps and cars

Taxis wait at marked ranks outside every terminal, and ride apps collect from signed zones; follow the signs rather than accepting an offer from someone standing inside the building. Fares vary by airport, route and time of day, and a surcharge may apply, so check the current fare with the driver or in the app before you set off. Have the hotel address ready, including the cross street, since Midtown blocks are short and the grid confuses drivers.

A car is the easiest option with heavy luggage, small children or a late arrival, when trains run less often and you would rather not change platforms with bags. Vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay a congestion toll, in force since January 2025, and that cost belongs in the plan. Tunnels and bridges into the city can be slow at almost any hour. Check the current fare and the toll before you set off.

Timing, luggage and first night

Build the arrival around the clock, not just the map. Road traffic into Manhattan is heaviest at rush hour, and Friday evenings often run late. If you land after midnight, plan a car or taxi rather than a long chain of trains, or plan to wait at the airport until service picks up. However you travel, allow more time than the map suggests for the first trip with luggage in an unfamiliar city.

Where you stay shapes the last leg. A Midtown East hotel near Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station keeps the final walk short and puts you close to the subway lines that serve the airports. Hotel bills add state and city taxes and a per-night occupancy charge to the room rate, and some properties add a facility fee, so check the total price with taxes and fees before you book, then work back from that to your route.