How to Get from JFK to Manhattan

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK) is the most important and well-known airport in New York City. It is located in the borough of Jamaica, in Queens, about 20 miles from Manhattan.

It usually takes about an hour to get there unless it is rush hour and traffic prevents it. I will explain in detail the different possibilities, taking into account the duration, comfort and, of course, the price.

If you are looking for comfort at a reasonable price, the most practical is to hire a transfer between New York and the airport, either exclusively or with other travelers. You will travel comfortably in a modern and fully equipped minivan.

This type of minivan can accommodate approximately 11 passengers. It will pick you up right when you land at the airport and take you to the door of your hotel.

Regarding luggage, each passenger can take one suitcase and one handbag. In case you bring more luggage you will have to pay an additional supplement.

How this service works

To hire this shared transport service, you only have to make a reservation online. To do this, you will be asked for detailed information about your flight (company, flight number, schedule), so that the company can monitor it and have more details about any delays.

In addition, you will have to tell them the address of the hotel so that the driver knows where to go.

Once the reservation is made, you will receive a confirmation email. And... you're all set! When you get off the plane, all you have to do is go to the Ground Transportation Desk, located in the terminal where you land, and present your printed ticket. There you will be given all the information about where you will have to go to catch the minivan.

Schedules

The shared shuttle has an uninterrupted schedule. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So no matter what time you arrive, you will have a driver waiting for you - peace of mind!

How long does it take to get to the hotel?

Between 60 and 90 minutes. But New York is a city that during rush hour can have a lot of traffic and bottlenecks, so this trip can take up to 90 minutes during rush hour.

Fares

The shared transport is a service that has good value for money. It starts at 89€. However, if you carry more luggage than recommended (a suitcase plus a handbag), you will have to pay an additional supplement. In addition, tips are not included in this service.

Going by subway from JKF airport to Manhattan is undoubtedly the most economical option. Strictly speaking, the New York subway does not reach JFK airport, but a monorail system known as AirTrain connects the different passenger terminals with the New York subway.

How this service works

The two nearby subway stations are Jamaica and Howard Beach.

The Jamaica subway station is served by the E, J and Z subway lines and the Howard Beach station is served by the A line. All of them go to Manhattan, so you just have to see which line will take you closer to your accommodation.

Check the New York subway map, so you won't have any doubt about which subway line is the most convenient to take and know which stop is the closest to your accommodation:

Timetables

The A and E lines offer 24 hour service so you will not have any inconvenience no matter what time you arrive.

Fares

The AirTrain service is free to move from terminal to terminal at the airport, but not to go to the nearest metro stations. In this case, it will cost from:

• 6€ (7,75$) per person, plus approximately 0,80€ (1$) for the physical card.
• Surcharge of the card from 2,5€ (3$) to get to your accommodation.
• The total price is about 9€.

How long does it take to get there

AirTrain will connect you to the Jamaica and Howard Beach subway stations in about 10 minutes. Regarding the travel time from Jamaica and Howard Beach to Manhattan, it will take approximately 30-40 minutes.

The train is another option to get from JFK to Manhattan. It is similar to the subway, although you will get to your destination faster.

How this service works

To go by train from JFK to Manhattan you have to take the monorail system known as AirTrain that connects the different passenger terminals with two nearby subway stations, Jamaica and Howard Beach. From one of these stations you will take the train to Manhattan.

How long does it take to get there?

AirTrain will connect you to the Jamaica and Howard Beach subway stations in about 10 minutes. From there, it will take you only 20 minutes to get from Jamaica to Penn Station in Manhattan.

Price

Although users compare it to the subway, the price is considerably higher:

• The AirTrain fare is 6€ ($7.75).
• Plus the price of the train can reach up to 12€ depending on the time of day.

To get to Manhattan, JFK Airport also offers a shared minibus service.

Price

The ticket for this minibus is priced from 17€, about 20$ approximately. This price may vary depending on the destination.

Schedule

The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you choose this option you will have to go to the Ground Transportation Desk and present your reservation.

• You will arrive within.... 60-90 minutes.
• It will cost... from 17€.

Another option to get from JFK airport to Manhattan is to take a cab or Uber. I do not recommend it, as they are the most expensive of all the options mentioned above and there are more comfortable means of transportation.

Duration

The duration of the trip will be the same in Uber than in cab, between 60-90 minutes depending on the time and traffic.

Price

Although it may be the most expensive means of transport to move to Manhattan from JFK, in principle you should not have surprises in the price, since the cab ride, as in other Spanish and European cities, has a fixed price from 50 €. To this rate must be added the toll, which has a cost from 3.5 € ($ 4.5) in the central hours of the day and an additional fee of approximately 1 € for the journey to New York.

For its part, the price of Uber is approximately €60.