The best ways to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan

You’ve just landed in New York City bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for a long weekend trip. But first, you need to navigate your way from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Manhattan. There are plenty of options for getting from JFK to your hotel, but which is the fastest?

The good news is you have options. The option you choose might depend on whether cost is a factor, the part of the city you’re headed to or how much luggage you have. Your journey could be as straightforward as hopping in a cab, or it might involve a rail or subway transfer or two. Either way, getting to your destination doesn’t have to be headache-inducing as long as you do a little planning ahead.

Here are the fastest ways to get from JFK to Manhattan and other boroughs.

Subway

First, let's talk about New York's subway. Unfortunately, none of New York’s subway lines will get you directly from JFK to Manhattan, but with the help of the AirTrain, you can get into the city relatively inexpensively.

Depart from: Take the AirTrain from JFK Terminal 1, 4, 5, 7 or 8 to reach the Jamaica or Howard Beach subway station.

Possible destinations: From JFK, you can take the E train to midtown Manhattan or the A or J and Z trains to Brooklyn or lower Manhattan.

Hours of operation: Both the AirTrain and subway run 24 hours a day.

Transit time: On the AirTrain, it'll take about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your terminal and final stop, to reach one of the two subway stations at JFK. If you’re heading to Times Square, jump on the E line from Jamaica Station; the ride will take a little more than an hour. All together, you’re looking at an 80- to 90-minute trip.

Estimated cost: You'll need to pay for an AirTrain ticket from the airport to reach the subway station, which is $8.50 one-way (but note that you can ride the AirTrain just around the airport for free). A subway ride is a flat fee of $2.90, and you can use ApplePay directly at the turnstile. (You can also purchase a Metropolitan Transportation Authority card loaded with credit; the card incurs a cost of $1, so remember to hang on to it for the duration of your trip.)

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Long Island Rail Road

In addition to taking the subway from the AirTrain, you also have the option of catching the Long Island Rail Road, which is one of the city’s commuter rails. This train is a step up from the MTA and incurs a higher cost. However, it runs more efficiently, has more available seating and is an all-around more comfortable ride than the subway.

Depart from: Take the AirTrain to Jamaica station, then transfer to the LIRR.

Possible destinations: From Jamaica station, you can take the LIRR to Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, including Penn Station.

Hours of operation: It runs 24 hours a day.

Transit time: It’s a direct shot from JFK into the city, taking only 35 minutes once you’re on the LIRR to get to Penn Station. Including the 15-minute ride on the AirTrain, it takes about 50 minutes total from point A to point B. Depending on your final destination, you can jump on the subway at Penn Station to go the rest of the way for $2.90. Or, you can grab a cab or walk if your accommodation is nearby.

Estimated cost: As with the subway, you'll first need to shell out $8.50 for the AirTrain. An LIRR ticket to Penn Station (the closest stop to Times Square) from JFK costs $5 at off-peak times or $7 at peak times (between 6 and 10 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m.).

Taxi

Taxis are a classic New York City transportation staple.

Depart from: Taxi stands are waiting outside baggage claim at each terminal at JFK.

Possible destinations: You can use a cab to go wherever you'd like.

Hours of operation: Cabs are available 24 hours a day.

Transit time: Each ride will vary depending on traffic, destination and other factors. It is 18 miles from JFK to Times Square, and that ride typically takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Estimated cost: There is a flat fee of $70 for all taxi rides that originate at JFK, with an additional $5 added on weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m. In addition to this, there is a $1.75 airport pickup fee and a 50-cent New York State tax. There's also a New York State congestion surcharge of $2.50 (yellow taxi), $2.75 (green taxi and for-hire-vehicles) or 75 cents (any shared ride) for all trips that begin, end or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street. That comes to a total of $80 for the most expensive ride before tolls and tip. JFK has a helpful chart to see exactly what it will cost you for other boroughs, too.

Uber or Lyft

A ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft will likely cost more than $80 (plus tip) depending on surge pricing, according to Uber's website. (You can drive that price down by opting for a shared vehicle, but expect it to add significant time to your trip. Not enough people use the pool option yet to make it efficient.)

Depart from: The app will tell you where to go once you've requested a ride and your driver is confirmed. Typically, pickup spots will be as follows:

• For Terminal 1, 4, or 8, head outside after baggage claim and follow signs for “Ride App Pick Up."
• For Terminal 5, head to the AirTrain via the Skywalk on Level 4. Take the AirTrain to Terminal 7, then follow the signs for ride app pick up to the Orange Lot.

Possible destinations: You'll enjoy direct service to wherever you like, which can be a benefit if you're traveling with luggage and tired kids.

Hours of operation: You can get a ride at any time of day or night.

Transit time: The travel time will vary depending on traffic, destination and other factors. (Pay attention to rush hour and commuting times.) As a rough guide, it typically takes around 45 minutes to one hour to travel the 18 miles from the airport to Times Square by car, but if you arrive in the morning hours during the week when commuter traffic is at its worst, you could be looking at a ride between one and two hours long. That said, if you have the time and the money, jumping in a car is one of the easier options if you have large luggage and are tired after a long trip — especially if you have a travel companion(s) to split the bill with.

Estimated cost: The cost of an Uber depends on traffic and congestion pricing. According to Uber, you can expect a car from the airport to Penn Station to cost around $75 before tip.

Blade

If money is no object, Blade is one of the quickest ways to get from JFK to Manhattan. It also doubles as a free sightseeing activity.

Depart from: Get picked up by a Blade vehicle curbside at JFK's Arrivals Terminal to reach the helicopter departure point.

Possible destinations: The two options include West 30th Street on the Hudson River in Midtown West and East 34th Street on the East River in Midtown East.

Hours of operation: Service to West 30th Street is available Monday to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. Service to East 34th Street and JFK is available on weekdays from 2:45 to 6 p.m.

Transit time: Wave to everyone stuck on the subway or in traffic below as you fly from the airport to the city in five minutes.

Estimated cost: The price of a Blade ride doesn't fluctuate, unlike the price for a taxi or car trip via ride-hailing services. It will cost you $195 per person one-way (a price that's remained the same for several years).