In this section
- John F. Kennedy International AirportNew York's main international gateway, fifteen miles out in south-east Queens, with an AirTrain that connects to two very different ways into the city.
- LaGuardia AirportThe closest airport to Manhattan, rebuilt from scratch between 2016 and 2022, with the fastest and cheapest public transport connection of the three.
- Newark Liberty International AirportIn New Jersey, sixteen miles from Manhattan, often the cheapest place to fly into, with a straightforward train connection to Penn Station.
New York is served by three major airports and a handful of smaller ones. None of the three has a rail line that runs directly into Manhattan without a change, which is a permanent minor scandal and something to plan around rather than be surprised by.
Each has its own page below. The short comparison:
| Distance | Fastest public route | Typical time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK | 15 miles, Queens | AirTrain + LIRR to Penn Station | 50–65 min |
| LaGuardia | 8 miles, Queens | Free Q70 bus + subway | 40–50 min |
| Newark | 16 miles, New Jersey | AirTrain + NJ Transit to Penn Station | ~45 min |
Which to fly into
For Midtown and the east side, LaGuardia is easiest by some margin — it is the closest, and the free Q70 bus connection is the quickest airport run in the city. It handles mostly domestic flights.
For long-haul international, JFK is the main gateway and has the widest choice of carriers.
For price, Newark is frequently cheapest on the airfare and the transfer is straightforward, though it crosses a state line, which adds tolls and surcharges to any road journey.
Things that apply to all three
Immigration on international arrival is the wild card. Budget up to two hours from wheels down to being on a train, and more at JFK in the evening when several long-haul flights land together. Do not book anything for the first three hours after a scheduled arrival.
Rush hour applies. A road journey from any of the three at five on a weekday afternoon can take twice as long as the same trip at eleven in the morning.
Do not accept a ride from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. Licensed taxis queue outside at a marked rank with a dispatcher. This is the oldest airport scam in New York.
All three AirTrains and the subway run 24 hours. NJ Transit and the LIRR thin out considerably after midnight.
Departing, allow more time than you think for security at JFK Terminal 4 and at Newark Terminal C, both of which back up badly at peak.
There is a fuller comparison in the airport transfer guide.