If you want to travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Manhattan or vice versa, you have many options! Whether you prefer fast transfers or cheap transfers, you'll find it here! Below, I've listed all the transportation options between JFK Airport and Manhattan, including shuttles, subways, taxis, and even helicopters.
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How to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan
JFK Airport is located in the following boroughs Queens and is Major airports serving New Yorkmeaning most people flying to New York land here. The airport is approx. 15 miles from Manhattan It is therefore the second closest airport to the city, behind LaGuardia Airport (8 miles) and Newark Airport (17 miles).
Landing at JFK Airport will bring you There are several transportation options from the airport to Manhattan. However, having so many options can also be overwhelming, which is why I created an overview of all the options, followed by a detailed description.
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*The sixth option to fly from JFK to Manhattan is by helicopter!
1. Book a private airport transfer
Starting at $30 per person, you can also book a private JFK Airport transfer to Manhattan. These private transfers are available 24/7, making them Very convenient choice. Upon arrival at JFK Airport, please call the number provided on your booking confirmation and Your car will arrive promptly. This is The best and fastest transfer service for families From JFK Airport to Manhattan.
JFK to Manhattan Manhattan to JFK Airport
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2. Use public transportation

If you're looking for the cheapest transfer from JFK Airport to Manhattan, public transportation is the way to go! You can choose to take the subway or the New York Airport bus.
subway
To get to the subway, you first need to take the AirTrain. Airport trains charge on the way out of the station, meaning all you have to do is board the train. When you transfer to a subway, you will automatically be charged an AirTrain fee of up to $8.50. A ride on the subway costs $2.90 with a pay-per-ride MetroCard. When traveling on JFK, you have two options:
JFK Airport Express red: Take the red AirTrain to “Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer” and transfer to the subway line Second . If your destination is Midtown or Uptown Manhattan, this is the route for you! As an alternative to the subway, you can also take the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) from Jamaica to New York's Penn Station. It's faster, but also more expensive.
JFK Airport Express green: Take the green AirTrain to “Howard Beach JFK Airport” and transfer to the subway line one and C. This is from JFK International Airport lower manhattan.
If you're not sure which route is best for you, check out the MTA subway map.
- The total cost of this transfer is $11.40 per person (AirTrain $8.50 + Metro $2.90)
New York Airport Bus
Your second option is the New York City Airport Shuttle. it Departures every half hour between 11am and 7pm. With competitive prices per person, taking a shuttle is a great way to save money and is an easy and uncomplicated way to organize a New York airport transfer. This transfer is especially useful if you want to go from JFK to Times Square, from JFK to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, or from JFK to Grand Central Station.
You can book your tickets in advance, so there's no need to look for a NYC Airporter sales agent or a counter at JFK Airport. Once you have your mobile ticket ready, you can go directly to the bus, Departing from Terminals 1, 4 and 8.
You can get off at the following bus stops:
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- central station
- Port Authority Bus Terminal
- times square
- The total cost of this transfer is USD 19 per person
3. Take a taxi

Taxi between JFK Airport and Manhattan Offering a flat rate of $52 per ride. New York State tax is 50 cents, and if you take a taxi during rush hour, you may be charged an additional $4.50. Unfortunately, you also need to pay tolls and tips.
When taking a taxi from JFK Airport to Manhattan, the screen should read “Rate #2- JFK Airport.”
- The total cost of this transfer is $52.50 (+ tolls, tips and surcharges, if applicable)
4. Call an Uber or Lyft
Booking or hailing a taxi to JFK is easy, but it can be expensive. one Slightly cheaper alternative Transportation from JFK Airport to Manhattan is Uber. We recommend checking the estimated fare for your trip before ordering an Uber, as fares can fluctuate depending on the time of day. If you've used Uber before, you know how easy it is to order a ride. All you have to do is enter your information into the app and you can be sure that your Uber ride to Manhattan will only take you a few minutes.
5. Take a helicopter ride
The real luxury is a combination of airport transfers and scenic flights – there are several providers that can take you by helicopter to Manhattan from airports around New York City. There’s no better way to start your New York vacation!
Here you can find the best New York helicopter airport transfers:
JFK to Manhattan
my personal choice
I really like public transportation and always use the subway or bus system. However, if this is your first time in New York or you are carrying a lot of luggage, I would not recommend taking the subway as you will need to change trains several times. This can be scary and exhausting.
My suggestion:
Traveling alone or as a couple? ➡️Private transfer
Traveling with 3-5 people? ➡️Private transfer
Group trip > 5 people? ➡️Multiple private transfers or shuttles
Traveling with kids? ➡️Private transfer
From Manhattan to JFK Airport
To transfer from Manhattan to JFK Airport, you can choose one of the options listed above and then reverse it! This means you can transfer from Manhattan to JFK Airport via:
- taxi Go directly to the airport
- private transfer Go directly to the airport
- Shuttle Buses Go directly to the airport
- subwayfollowed by AirTrain
- bus from grand central stationPort Authority or Times Square, then AirTrain
- Carpool (e.g. Uber or Lyft) go directly to the airport
- Take a helicopter ride By Uber Helicopters
When traveling from Manhattan to JFK Airport, be sure to allow extra time as traffic conditions can be unpredictable. It is recommended to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure for domestic travel, and at least three hours before departure for international flights.
