Learn how to Select Between JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark

John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport

NYC’s predominant airport, John F. Kennedy Worldwide, is in Queens. It’s the biggest and busiest of the three main airports serving the town, with greater than 62 million passengers passing by way of every year. JFK and LGA are each in Queens however not very shut to one another; by cab, with no visitors, the journey between the 2 can take 20-35 minutes. Public transportation takes over an hour and sometimes requires a switch or two.

If you happen to’re staying in most of Brooklyn, Queens, or on the east aspect of Manhattan, JFK will likely be your closest main worldwide airport. New York’s most well-known gateway can be a most well-liked selection for a lot of vacationers because you’ll have loads of choices in relation to flights, lounges, retailers, and eating choices.

Airways and Locations

Greater than 70 airways fly out and in of JFK, and most of them are worldwide—you’ll discover Singapore Airways, Korean Air, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Air France, Finnair, and EgyptAir, simply to call a number of. You’ll be able to catch a direct flight from JFK to many cities world wide, from Buenos Aires to Reykjavik. U.S.-based carriers American Airways, Delta Air Traces, and JetBlue all use JFK as a hub, and actually, the vast majority of Terminal 5 is operated by JetBlue.

Airport Facilities

JFK is within the midst of a $19-billion renovation, which is anticipated to be accomplished in 2030 and can add two new terminals. The challenge additionally contains modernizing present terminals, which could have an effect on hours and operations at eating places and retailers all through. High locations to eat embrace Jikji Cafe in Terminal 1 for fast Asian-inspired bites (earlier than safety), and an outpost of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza in Terminal 5.

JFK has a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and lounges for Aer Lingus, Air France, Air India, Alaska Airways, American Airways, JetBlue, Delta Air Traces, Emirates, Korean Air, Turkish Airways, and Lufthansa. You’ll additionally discover lounges by Capital One, Chase Sapphire, and Centurion (by American Specific), every geared towards their respective credit score cardholders.

Attending to and From JFK

JFK is comparatively straightforward to entry by public transportation. The quickest technique to get there may be by taking the Lengthy Island Rail Highway (LIRR) to Jamaica from New York Moynihan Prepare Corridor at Penn Station or Grand Central Station in Manhattan, or Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. A one-way journey prices $5.25 off-peak and $7.25 throughout peak hours. From Jamaica, take the AirTrain to your terminal. This airport shuttle prepare prices $8.75 between the airport and Jamaica or Howard Seaside stations, however is free to make use of between terminals.

Although not as quick, taking the subway is cheaper. Pay $3 to experience the E, J, or Z prepare to Jamaica, then switch to the AirTrain to get to your terminal. Alternatively, take the A prepare to Howard Seaside and catch the AirTrain from there. Touring from Manhattan to the airport by subway sometimes takes an hour or extra, relying on the place you begin.

Taking a taxi between JFK and wherever in Manhattan, in both course, prices a flat fee of $70 plus taxes, tolls, and tip. There’s a $5 surcharge throughout peak hours. If you happen to choose to take an Uber or a Lyft into the town as an alternative, you possibly can meet your driver in heaps positioned away from the terminal by following experience share indicators. Driving time between JFK and Manhattan sometimes takes 45 to 90 minutes, relying on visitors circumstances.

LaGuardia Airport

LaGuardia is the smallest of the NYC space’s three airports. It additionally was once disorganized, dated, and customarily disliked, however following an $8 billion transformation, it’s now thought-about among the finest airports within the U.S. LGA is positioned in Queens, about 10 miles north of JFK, and is well accessible from different components of Queens, Manhattan’s Higher East Facet, the Bronx, and northern Brooklyn.

Airways and Locations

LaGuardia is a well-liked possibility for home vacationers. A complete of eight carriers—United Airways, American Airways, Delta Air Traces, Air Canada, Frontier Airways, Southwest Airways, JetBlue, and Porter Airways—fly nonstop to cities throughout the U.S., plus internationally to Canada and Bermuda. LGA is the one NYC-area cease for the Delta Shuttle, which runs to Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The airport served 32.8 million passengers in 2025.

Airport Facilities

LaGuardia used to catch quite a lot of flak for its subpar amenities, however now the airport positively glows. After it reopened in 2020, Terminal B was even named the perfect new airport on this planet at UNESCO’s Prix Versailles awards (so was Moynihan Prepare Corridor at Penn Station). You’ll discover the perfect eats in these terminals, together with meals from Shake Shack, Bubby’s, Dos Toros Taqueria, noodle bar Talde, and different New York favorites.

Terminal A is an outlier, widespread as a chunk of artwork and historical past fairly than for its facilities. Also referred to as the Marine Air Terminal, this funky Artwork Deco constructing was as soon as used for seaplanes and comprises a spectacular WPA mural in its rotunda.

Air Canada, American Airways, Delta Air Traces, and United Airways all have lounges at LGA. You’ll additionally discover lounges for Centurion (by American Specific), Capital One, and Chase Sapphire prospects to get pleasure from.

Attending to and From LGA

There’s no subway or prepare cease at LaGuardia Airport, so getting there on public transit features a leg of bus journey. First, take the E, F, M, or R subway prepare to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue—or the 7 prepare to 74th St-Broadway—then hop on the free Q70-SBS LaGuardia Hyperlink, which stops at terminals B and C. From there, you possibly can take a complimentary shuttle that can get you to Terminal A if wanted. If you happen to’re touring to or from uptown Manhattan, take the M60-SBS bus, which stops on the a hundred and twenty fifth Road 4, 5, 6 subway station. A one-way journey by any subway and bus combo prices $3.

Taking a taxi to Manhattan from the airport (or vice versa) prices about $30 to $52 to Occasions Sq., plus tolls and tip. If you happen to’re touring at rush hour, the meter will in all probability soar nicely above that value bracket. Equally, Uber and Lyft pricing will enhance throughout peak occasions. LaGuardia has designated pickup areas for rideshare companies at every terminal.

In October 2024, Uber launched an LGA shuttle service for simply $18. The shared van matches 14 passengers and runs each half-hour from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. to a number of stops in Manhattan.

Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport

Newark Liberty Worldwide served 47 million passengers in 2025. If you happen to’re staying in New Jersey or on the west aspect of Manhattan, EWR is straightforward to entry. If you happen to’re coming from Brooklyn and Queens, it may be a protracted trek, and expensive in the event you’re touring by cab.

Airways and Locations

Greater than 30 airways fly out and in of EWR, together with greater than a dozen worldwide carriers. The airport is one among United’s main hubs. Different airways embrace American Airways, Air Canada, Alaska Airways, Delta Air Traces, JetBlue, British Airways, Emirates, Spirit, and TAP Air Portugal. You’ll be able to fly nonstop to San Juan, London, Tokyo, Dubai, and Berlin, amongst different cities.

Airport Facilities

Every terminal has a meals court docket, and Terminal C’s is arguably the perfect. Order an Italian deli sandwich from Casciano’s, gyoza from Wabi Sabi, or ramen from Kaedama whilst you wait in your flight. In Terminal A, you will get a traditional NYC bagel from Ess-A-Bagel or a chocolate chip cookie from Jersey favourite Bang Cookies.

United Airways, American Airways, British Airways, Delta Air Traces, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and SAS all have lounges at EWR.

Attending to and From EWR

NJ Transit‘s Northeast Hall and North Jersey Coast prepare traces present transportation between New York Moynihan Prepare Corridor at Penn Station in midtown Manhattan and Newark Airport Station, which connects to EWR by way of the AirTrain. The entire journey takes roughly 50 minutes and prices about $17 for a visit in both course. The Coach USA Newark Airport Specific bus service additionally runs between midtown Manhattan and all EWR terminals. It prices $39.50 for a round-trip fare or $23.50 for a one-way ticket. With minimal visitors, the journey takes about an hour.

Taxi rides between EWR and NYC can take wherever between 30 and 90 minutes, relying on visitors. A taxi to Manhattan begins from round $60, and prices extra in the event you’re going to a farther-away borough. Attending to EWR from Manhattan by taxi sometimes prices not less than $70.

Watch out for surge pricing in the event you go for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, though exterior of rush hour, these fares may be cheaper than a daily taxi. Whereas cabs line up on the taxi stand, rideshare drivers will scoop you up from the passenger pickup space.