JFK, Newark (EWR), and LaGuardia (LGA) — the three major airports serving New York. Here's how they compare on distance, terminals, and how to get there.
NYC's primary international gateway. Located in southeastern Queens. AirTrain connects all terminals to the LIRR (Jamaica) and subway (Howard Beach/A train). Major construction underway through 2030 — new T6 opening June 2026, T1 demolished and replaced by NTO.
Newark, NJ. United Airlines' major hub and a significant international gateway. Direct NJ Transit / Amtrak rail link from Penn Station via the AirTrain Newark monorail. Often cheaper flights than JFK on the same routes. Convenient for travelers staying in or coming from New Jersey.
Northern Queens, closest to Manhattan. Recently rebuilt — modern Terminal B (2022) and Terminal C (2022) replaced the old facilities. Primarily domestic flights plus short-haul international (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean). No direct rail link — Q70 SBS bus from subway is the cheapest transit option.
| JFK | EWR | LGA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance to Midtown | 17 mi | 16 mi | 8 mi |
| Drive time (off-peak) | 45 min | 45 min | 30 min |
| Drive time (rush) | 90 min | 90 min | 60 min |
| Direct rail link | Yes (AirTrain + LIRR/subway) | Yes (AirTrain + NJT/Amtrak) | No (bus to subway) |
| Cheapest transit fare | $14.00 | $15.25 | $2.90 |
| Taxi flat fare from Manhattan | $70 + tolls/tips | Metered | Metered |
| International flights | Yes — major hub | Yes — major hub | Limited (CA/MX/Caribbean) |
| Major airlines | JetBlue, Delta, AA, BA, Lufthansa | United (hub) | Delta, AA, JetBlue, SW |
| Borough/State | Queens, NY | Newark, NJ | Queens, NY |
For international travel: JFK is the dominant choice with the most carriers and destinations. EWR is a strong second, especially for United / Star Alliance flights. LGA handles only short-haul international (CA, MX, Caribbean).
If you're staying in Midtown East / Upper East Side: LGA is closest and easiest by taxi/rideshare. EWR can be a long traffic-dependent slog for east-side hotels.
If you're staying in Midtown West / Hudson Yards / Penn Station area: EWR has the best rail option — direct NJ Transit from Penn Station, ~35 min total. JFK is also reasonable via LIRR. LGA requires taxi/rideshare or a multi-hop bus+subway combo.
If you're staying in Brooklyn: JFK is closest. LGA is a long ride. EWR requires crossing all of Manhattan and the Holland Tunnel — usually the slowest.
If you're coming from New Jersey: EWR is the obvious choice — direct rail and no Hudson River crossings.
If you want the cheapest flight: Compare all three. Newark often has lower fares to European destinations (United hub). LGA tends to be priciest for domestic. JFK has the most carrier diversity, which can mean better deals on certain routes.
Avoid LGA at peak rush hour. The Grand Central Parkway and BQE both back up severely during 7–9am and 4–7pm. A "30-minute" LGA trip can balloon to 75+ minutes. Build in a 2-hour buffer if traveling during rush.
JFK — $14.00 from Penn Station. LIRR CityTicket from Penn to Jamaica ($5.25 off-peak) + AirTrain to your terminal ($8.75) = $14.00 off-peak. Total time: ~30–40 min. Subway alternative: A train to Howard Beach + AirTrain = $11.65, ~75–90 min.
EWR — $15.25 from Penn Station. NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line train from Penn Station to Newark Airport Station, includes AirTrain transfer. ~25 min train + 8 min AirTrain. Faster and same price as PATH+train+AirTrain combos.
LGA — $2.90 from Manhattan. Take the E, F, M, R, or 7 subway to 74th Street-Broadway / Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. Transfer (free) to the Q70 SBS bus to LGA. ~45–60 min total. Or take the 7 to Woodside-61st St for the same Q70 bus.
Skip the AirTrain JFK from Penn Station mistake. Don't take the E train all the way to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave to catch the AirTrain — it's slower than LIRR for the same fare gateway. LIRR from Penn → Jamaica → AirTrain is the fastest combination by far.
Build in extra time. NYC traffic is unpredictable. Add at least 30 minutes of buffer to whatever your map app says. Bridge and tunnel closures, accidents, and protests can stretch a 45-minute trip into 2 hours.
NYC congestion pricing. Driving into Manhattan south of 60th Street incurs a $9 daytime toll (peak weekday hours). Factored into taxi/rideshare receipts as a separate line item. AirTrain and trains are unaffected.
Don't trust last-minute "deals" on transit. Stick to AirTrain + train and Q70 + subway. Solo limo offers and "$30 to JFK" pitches at Penn Station are usually scams or unlicensed black cars.
JFK has a flat taxi fare. JFK to Manhattan in a yellow taxi is a flat $70 + tolls + tips + congestion fee. Manhattan to JFK is metered — usually similar but can be higher with traffic. EWR and LGA are always metered both directions.
Rideshare pickup zones. All three airports require Uber/Lyft pickups at designated zones, often a short walk from the terminal. Follow signs for "App-based rideshare" or "TNC pickup."
Long-term parking exists but isn't cheap. All three airports have on-site garages and economy lots. Off-site lots (e.g., near JFK on Rockaway Blvd) can be 30–50% cheaper with shuttles to terminals. See parking guide for off-site comparisons.
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