United States

How to get from JFK airport to downtown New York: best options

Shared shuttle in New York
Shared shuttle in New York
Alternatives for transfer from New York JFK Kennedy Airport to Manhattan: Air Train, subway, taxi, Shuttle shared minibus, private transfers

In your trip to New York, when you arrive at kennedy airport You have several alternatives to go to the city center on the island of Manhattan, an area located about 25 kilometers away.

Depending on the number of people you are traveling, the level of comfort you are looking for and, of course, your budget, you can choose one or another alternative.

I detail below how to get from JFK Kennedy airport to New York, with the main characteristics of each alternative.

Transfers between JFK and New York

Air Train – Metro

When flying to JFK airport you should know that at the same airport you have the service called Air Train, a monorail train that connects all terminals for free.

You must use this train if you have hired a rental car to be able to get to the central building. car rental to pick it up.

But this train also connects with the New York subway. having to take one line or another depending on the area of ​​Manhattan where you want to travel.

Thus, to reach the middle zone (Midtown) or to the upper area (Upper) from Manhattan you must take the E subway line at the Jamaica.

And to get to the lower area (L) from Manhattan you must use the branch Howard Beach of the Air Train, which will connect you with the Metro line A, specifically, with the station Howard Beach.

TOURS and EXCURSIONS in NEW YORK
- Complete tour of New York
- Contrasts of New York
- Excursion to Washington DC
- Niagara Falls Tour by Plane
- Excursion to Boston
- Helicopter ride over New York
- New York Explorer Pass Card
- Empire State skip the line
- Transfers in New York

The price you must pay for get to Manhattan using the Air Train It is $7,75 ($5 for the train ticket and $2,75 for the subway ticket)

Now, it can be quite uncomfortable, and depending on where you have the hotel, it could even take up to two hours.

See map of the New York Subway

Yellow taxi

The typical New York yellow taxis They are an alternative that offers us more comfort since the hotel will not always be reserved near a metro station, and the taxi will leave you with your suitcases at the hotel door.

Taxis in New York
Taxis in New York

Butwhat does a taxi cost from JFK airport to Manhattan?

La yellow taxi fare is from 52 dollars, with a surcharge of $4,50 during peak hours between 4 and 8 p.m.

To this rate you must add the possible payment of tolls as well as the tip, and depending on the traffic and the place where you have the hotel, it will take between 45 minutes and an hour.

Shuttle Minibus

At the airport there is a minibus service, Called Shuttle, which allows up to eight passengers to be grouped so that the driver distributes them to his different hotels in Manhattan.

This type of service is also common in Europe, and even in the airports of Madrid and Barcelona.

When you arrive at the airport, you can go directly to look for one of these services Shuttle, although you may have to wait up to 20 minutes for the vehicle to fill, so it is advisable to do the online reservation of the service Shuttle.

Private limousine transfers in New York
Private limousine transfers in New York

El Shuttle price It varies quite a bit, ranging from $15 to $25 per person.

Private transfer

The most comfortable option, without a doubt, will be the private transfer, since it is an exclusive service for you, door to door, and with a good level of comfort.

Here you have information about transfers between JFK airport and New York.

About the Author

José Luis Sarralde

Journalist and traveler throughout his life, José Luis Sarralde is the founder of Guías Viajar, where since 2008 he has been capturing his travel experiences around the world, specializing in cultural and scenic destinations in Spain and Europe.

Comments

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  • The tipping thing in taxis is amazing. I understand tipping in the hospitality industry but I have a hard time understanding it in taxis. I got into a fight with the taxi driver who took us to Manhattan because I gave him about 3 dollars as a tip, which are the dollars I had around the house… I'm not going to give him a $20 bill, which is the least I had in exchanged cash. in the airport! Hey, I just arrived in the country, I don't have any money!! 😀
    If you want to avoid the bad news, when you change euros to dollars, ask for $20 in dollar bills... because between the tip to the taxi driver, plus the tip to the hotel bellman, but I don't know what, dollars fly in New York 😉

  • Hello, I am traveling in January and I need to hire a transfer from JFK airport to the hotel in Manhattan.
    We are 2 adults and two children, but with 4 suitcases.

    Would the taxi be a minivan SUV?
    How do I hire it?
    Thank you very much

  • To go from JFK to Jamaica Station I took the metro rail, how do I know which one to take and not get to Howard Beach.

    Thank you

  • Please tell me if I can take a bus from jf kennedy airport to union city, new yersey. Other possibility is from that airport to newwork airport new york.

    Thank you

    Sol María Bernal

  • I arrive at JFK airport and I have to wait 12 hours for the next flight. I would like to take a tour on a tourist bus through Manhattan. How do I get to a bus station? thank you

  • We will never take the super shuttle again in our lives. We pay for the tourist's hazing.
    We order it at the official Welcome center at JFK airport. after waiting half an hour. the driver appears. On the way to the van he asks everyone if they want to go to Manhattan. Once in the van he goes from terminal to terminal picking up people. The lady who comes in after us, she had it reserved and paid for, and she has been waiting at the airport for 1 hour 15 minutes.
    They go around until they fill the van to capacity. To the point of returning to the same point where we took it half an hour later…

    Furthermore, the bus does not go by zones but begins to go around all over Manhattan, leaving the passengers behind. When a couple leaves the driver curses them saying “bitch” (whore) apparently they had not left enough tip (a minimum 18% is required) which they do not mention when booking, but the car is full of signs announcing it. In the end the joke with the tip cost us $49 (for 2 people) when a taxi costs around $60 and two and a half hours of time, with normal traffic, I don't even want to imagine what it will be like with a caravan.

    I recommend everyone to take the subway or taxi to go from the airport to Manhattan.

  • I'm going to New York in October, we are 4 people. How much does the taxi cost and how many people does it take in total?
    I want to know to see if it is better for me to take a taxi or shuttle. Thank you

    • As of September 1, it costs 52 euros plus possible tolls. I don't know for sure, but I suppose that with suitcases no more than 3 people will be allowed.

  • I want to go from JFK airport to Tarry town or Nyack in the cheapest transportation and with the two baggage. We are two adults

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