How To Get From JFK Airport To Manhattan

Last Updated on 27th October 2025

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Are you travelling to New York but you’re not sure how to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport? This huge guide includes details of how to get from JFK to Manhattan by car, subway, train, bus, taxi and more!

One of the most frequently asked questions I get New York Facebook Group is “how to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan?“, so I thought it was about time that I put together this comprehensive guide on all the best ways to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport!

Getting from JFK Airport to Manhattan is something that many people worry about when travelling to New York City, especially for the first time, but my ultimate guide below includes everything you need to know about travelling via subway, train, Uber, taxi, airport shuttle, limousine, and helicopter from JFK to Manhattan!

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Looking for more New York airport guides? Check out my Newark Airport guide and my guide on how to get from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan!

JFK Airport to Manhattan step-by-step video

Prefer to follow a visual step-by-step guide on how to get from JFK to Manhattan? Check out my video below!

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Best way to transfer from JFK to Manhattan

John F. Kennedy International Airport is the largest and most popular airport in New York City and it’s also the 6th-busiest airport in the United States. Along with Newark Airport and LaGuardia Airport, JFK is one of the city’s major transport hubs, serving almost 60 million passengers every single year!

How far is JFK Airport from Manhattan?

The airport is located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, New York City and is approximately 15 miles (24km) from the centre of Midtown Manhattan.

Whether you’re looking to travel from the airport to Grand Central Terminal, One World Trade Center or Times Square or you just need advice navigating the JFK AirTrain, this huge guide about the best transportation from JFK to Manhattan covers everything you need to know!

How to get from JFK Airport to Times Square overview

The information below is based on the cost and times from JFK Airport to Times Square (apart from the helicopter transfer which doesn’t travel directly to Times Square). Note that costs and times will vary depending on where exactly in Manhattan you’re travelling to.

	Cost	Time	Ideal for
AirTrain & Subway	From $11.40	50-60 minutes	Budget
Taxi	From $70	45-75 minutes	Ease
AirTrain & Train (LIRR)	From $13.50	45-60 minutes	Speed/budget
Airport Shuttle	From $35	45-90 minutes	Ease
Uber	From $60	45-75 minutes	Ease
Limo	From $300	45-75 minutes	Luxury
Helicopter	From $195	5 minutes	Experience

JFK Airport is incredibly well-connected with Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and beyond. For the purpose of this JFK Airport To Manhattan guide, I have included instructions specifically for getting from JFK to Times Square, as this guide is intended for first-time visitors to New York City, and the majority of tourists will be staying in/near Times Square/Midtown Manhattan.

1. AirTrain & Subway – cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan

The AirTrain and subway is the cheapest way to travel from JFK Airport to Manhattan.

Riding the subway in New York City can be a very overwhelming experience, especially for first-time visitors to the city, but you can use my complete New York subway guide to help you out (it’s super easy, I promise!).

JFK AirTrain

The JFK AirTrain is the best way to move around the different terminals at the airport and it also transfers you to New York’s public transportation network at both Jamaica Station and Howard Beach Station so that you can transfer to the subway line to travel into Manhattan (or elsewhere in New York City).

If you’re using the AirTrain to travel from the airport to Jamaica or Howard Beach Stations, you will pay a single ride fare of $8.50. You can pay this fare via contactless debit or credit card, via your smartphone or with a physical OMNY card (you cannot use a MetroCard to pay for the AirTrain) when you exit the AirTrain at Jamaica Station (assuming you’re travelling to Manhattan).

The AirTrain runs 365 days a year, 24 hours a day and is free to use between terminals in the airport (you just pay when you leave Jamaica or Howard Beach Station).

From Jamaica Station, there are three subway lines that connect you to Manhattan; E, J, and Z. You can see a detailed map of the MTA New York City Subway lines here which can help you plan your journey if you’re getting the subway from JFK to Manhattan. Alternatively, you can use Google Maps to put your exact hotel in which can then plot the best route for you.

The E Train services Midtown Manhattan (Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Port Authority, Penn Station), as well as Greenwich/West Village and the World Trade Center in Downtown Manhattan.

The J and Z Trains service the Lower East Side (Delancey Street, Bowery, Little Italy, Chinatown), as well as Chambers Street and Broad Street all the way at the bottom of Manhattan.

I’ve included some of the most popular stops on each subway line that travel between Jamaica Station and Manhattan below.

E Train – from Jamaica Station to Manhattan

Lexington Av/53 St
5 Av/53 St
7 Av
50 St
42 St – Port Authority Bus Terminal
34 St – Penn Station
23 St
14 St/8 Ave
West 4 St/Washington Square
Spring St
Canal St
World Trade Center

J or Z Train – from Jamaica Station to Manhattan

Delancey St/Essex St
Bowery
Canal St
Chambers St
Fulton St
Broad St

If you’re staying elsewhere in Manhattan, you can change to a different subway line or take a taxi (or walk!) to your hotel/final destination.

2. New York Taxi/Yellow Cab

If you’re looking for the best ways to get from JFK to Manhattan by car, then you might want to consider taking a classic New York cab/taxi.

A taxi is the best way to get from JFK to Manhattan with luggage as you don’t have to worry about carrying your suitcase or backpack on the subway or train and a taxi will take you directly from the airport to your hotel door.

How much is a taxi from JFK to Manhattan?

A taxi from JFK Airport to Times Square (Midtown Manhattan) starts at a fixed rate of $70. However, with tips and toll charges, you might pay up to $90-$100, depending on the time of day that you arrive at the airport, the route that your driver takes (there are tolls to be paid as you drive from Queens to Manhattan) and how much you tip the driver (a tip of around 10% to 15% is usually expected for taxi drivers in New York).

A taxi is the easiest way to get from JFK to Manhattan for first-time visitors to the city if you’re not comfortable using the subway or train just yet and if you don’t mind paying more for the privilege of getting from JFK to Manhattan.

3. AirTrain & Long Island Railroad (train)

If you’re looking for the quickest way to get to Manhattan from JFK, you can opt for the AirTrain and the Long Island Railroad.

The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) provides the commuter train service between Jamaica Station in Queens and Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, as well as many stations in Long Island.

While it operates in a similar way to the NYC subway system, the Long Island Railroad commuter train is better for using during rush hour in New York as it’s much quicker and easier to get to and from JFK Airport.

The cost of using the AirTrain and LIRR varies depending on whether you’re travelling in off-peak or peak travel times. The JFK AirTrain exit fare costs $8.50 which you will pay when you exit the AirTrain at Jamaica Station and then you will pay an additional fare to ride the LIRR. The cost of Long Island Railroad tickets vary from $5 to $11.25.

You can get tickets for the train on the TrainTime app, at the ticket office inside the station, onboard the train (although you will pay a surcharge of $5.75 to $6.50 more than the regular ticket price if you buy tickets on the train), and at a ticket machine.

You can find more information about the Long Island Railroad on the MTA website.

The journey from JFK Airport via Jamaica Station (using the AirTrain) to Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan usually takes between 40 and 60 minutes. You can then transfer to the subway, grab a cab or walk to get to your hotel.

4. Airport Shuttle with GO Airlink

Instead of getting a taxi or Uber, you can opt for the GO Airlink airport shuttle from JFK to Manhattan.

Prices usually start at $35 per person for shared rides to Manhattan and you can pre-book your transportation in advance so that it will be waiting for you when you land at JFK.

If you opt for the shared transfer, you should bear in mind that you will be picking passengers up from different terminals inside the airport and then dropping people off all over Manhattan. If you’re the first person/people to be dropped off at your Manhattan hotel, you could be at your hotel in around 45 minutes from leaving JFK Airport, but if you’re one of the last passengers to be dropped off, it’s likely to take around 90 minutes.

GO Airlink also offer private transfers which will get you to your Manhattan hotel much quicker, but they are more expensive (usually starting at $75 per person) than the shared airport shuttle rides.

5. Uber/Lyft from JFK Airport to Manhattan

You can also take an Uber or Lyft from JFK to Manhattan, but there is no fixed rate for this journey, unlike a taxi or airport shuttle.

An Uber from JFK Airport to Manhattan can cost as little as $50, but it can also cost as much as $150, depending on the time and day that you arrive. According to the Uber website, the average price for the journey between JFK and Times Square is $80, which is roughly the same price as a New York taxi, once you’ve taken tolls and tips into account.

Uber pick-up locations at John F. Kennedy International Airport

When getting an Uber from the airport, you will be given instructions about your exact pick-up location depending on which terminal you arrive at. Below, you can find general directions and instructions as provided by Uber for requesting a ride from the airport to Manhattan.

Terminals 1-4 and 7-8: Depart the arrivals/baggage claim areas and head for the “Ride App Pick Up” or “Passenger Pick Up” signs.
Terminal 5: Take the AirTrain via the Skywalk on Level 4 and depart at Terminal 7, then follow signs for the Ride App Pick Up and request an Uber from there.

(Terminal 6 is currently undergoing construction until 2026, which is why there is no pick-up information for this terminal!).

If you arrive at the airport during off-peak hours, then an Uber might be the best way from JFK to Manhattan, as you can get a ride for less than a New York taxi, but if you arrive at peak rush hour or on a day where there’s an event in the city, you’ll likely pay much more.

The next two options are not exactly affordable modes of transport for getting to Manhattan from JFK, but if you want to travel in style during your trip to New York, I’ve included some of the most luxurious ways to get from the airport to the city below!

6. Limousine from JFK to Manhattan

If you want to arrive in New York City in style, you can opt for a limousine transfer! Prices for a limo transfer from JFK to Manhattan usually start at around $300 for 6 people, which is actually pretty reasonable if you’re travelling in a group of 6 as it works out at just $50 per person!

Of course, if you’re travelling to New York as a couple, then using a limo service isn’t really the cheapest option, but it is worth doing if you want to experience travelling in NYC in style.

A limo service transfer usually takes between 45 and 75 minutes to get into Manhattan from the airport, depending on the traffic.

Book a luxury limo from JFK Airport to Manhattan here

7. Helicopter ride from JFK Airport to Manhattan

A helicopter ride is another luxurious way to travel from the airport to Manhattan. This journey starts at around $195 per person and can take as little as 5 minutes to fly from JFK Airport to NYC!

Blade is the best helicopter transfer service between the airport and Manhattan. Once you arrive at JFK, you will be greeted by a Blade car (and its driver!) at the arrivals terminal which will then transfer you to the helicopter terminal for your flight to Manhattan.

The Blade helicopters land at the Blade Lounge on West 30th Street, the Blade Lounge on East 34th Street or the Blade Lounge Wall Street at 6 East River Greenway. Check the Blade website for more information and to book a helicopter transfer!

Use code “ChloeD314” and receive $50 off your first flight with Blade!

There also used to be an express bus service that ran between the airport and Grand Central Terminal/Times Square and Bryant Park , but that service is no longer running as of 2022.

FAQs

Below, you can find some of the most frequently asked questions about travelling from JFK Airport to New York City.

Top tip: the JFK Airport website has a super handy tool that lets you plan your exact route between the airport and your destination (presumably your hotel). Once you put the address into the tool on the website, it opens up a new tab with a Google Maps link for exact directions to/from the airport and Manhattan!

What is the most cost effective way to get from JFK to Manhattan?

The cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan is to take the JFK AirTrain and Subway. This journey takes anywhere between 60-90 minutes, so it’s not the quickest way of travelling from JFK Airport to Manhattan, but it is the most affordable if you’re visiting New York on a budget.

Is it cheaper to take a cab or Uber from JFK to Manhattan?

The cost of a New York taxi and an Uber from JFK to Manhattan are usually pretty similar, starting at around $70. An NY cab starts at $70, but you can often pay as much as $90-$100 when you include the cost of tolls and tips into the final fare.

An Uber from JFK to New York can cost as little as little as $50, but in peak times, it can often cost as much as $150, so it’s a little more unreliable to predict the cost of an Uber as opposed to a New York taxi.

How long does it take to get from JFK to Manhattan?

If you’re driving from JFK to Manhattan (let’s say Times Square in Midtown), the journey should, in theory, take as little as 35 minutes. With traffic, however, this journey can often be over an hour!

If you’re travelling via subway or train, this journey should also take around an hour.

If you want to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport as quickly as possible, then you can take a helicopter which will get you there in 5-10 minutes! However, this is a very expensive way of travelling from the airport into Manhattan.

Best ways to get from JFK to Manhattan – conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport. If you want to visit New York on a budget, I’d recommend opting for the AirTrain and subway or LIRR, but if you want to get into the city as quickly as possible without the fuss of navigating the subway system, then a taxi or Uber (depending on the time of day) is the best option!