If you’re looking to save some money on your next trip to New York City, taking the JFK Airport bus may be a good option for you. There are several buses that run from the JFK airport terminals to different parts of NYC boroughs such as Manhattan and Grand Central Station and New Jersey, so finding one that fits your needs shouldn’t be too difficult.
In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the different JFK Airport bus options available, as well as their pros and cons, to help you make the best decision for your next trip.

Can you take a bus from JFK Airport instead of taxi?
Yes, there are several bus companies that offer service from JFK Airport to Manhattan and other NYC boroughs. Bus service is typically cheaper than taking a taxi or ride-sharing service, but it may take longer to get to your destination depending on traffic conditions.
I once found myself on a bus for about 40 minutes longer than it would have taken me using an uber from JFK Terminal 5. If you’re in a rush, taking a bus may not be the best option.
A typical JFK Airport bus will take you from the airport to Grand Central Station, Port Authority, or another major transit hub in Manhattan. From there, you can either take public transportation or a taxi/ride-sharing service to your final destination.
The biggest benefit to taking a bus is that you reduce your own carbon footprint -if that’s of interest to you or conscious about the environment- by not taking a car or taxi.
Which bus goes from JFK to Manhattan?
There are several buses that go from JFK Airport to Manhattan, including the following:
-Express Bus
-AirTrain JFK
-JFK Airport Shuttle Bus
-NYC Airporter
-goairlinkshuttle
JFK Express Bus
The Express Bus is the fastest option, but it’s also the most expensive. If you’re looking to get to Manhattan as quickly as possible, this is the bus for you. The Express Bus takes about 45 minutes to get from JFK to Grand Central Station, and it runs every 20-30 minutes.
Express Bus is the official shuttle bus for all New York airports that including LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark, although Newark is technically in New Jersey. The shuttle bus links John F. Kennedy Airport with Manhattan, La Guardia Airport, and Newark Airport. They operate every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A one-way ticket from JFK to Manhattan costs around $35 USD.
JFK AirTrain
The AirTrain JFK is a good option if you’re looking for a cheaper ride. This is a train service that runs from JFK Airport to Jamaica Station, where you can transfer to the NYC subway system. The AirTrain is faster than a bus, but it costs $7.75 per ride (plus any subway fare), so it may not be the best option if you’re looking to save money.
The AirTrain JFK is a people mover and airport rail link that connects John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City with Forest Hills, Queens. The driverless system comprises of three lines and ten stations in Queens’ New York City borough. It connects to the NYC Express bus service, which runs between the airport and various locations in Manhattan. Below is an image of the Airtrain JFK from Wikipedia.
JFK Airport Shuttle Bus
ogo Charters offers an airport shuttle bus service that goes from JFK to Manhattan for a flat rate of $37 per person. The shuttle bus makes several stops in Manhattan, so you can get off at the closest stop to your final destination. The Shuttle Bus takes about 60 minutes to get from JFK to Manhattan, depending on traffic conditions.
JFK to LaGuardia Bus
Service | Contact | Travel Time |
---|---|---|
ETS Air Shuttle | (718) 221-5341 | 45-60 minutes |
All County Express | (800) 914-4223 | 45-60 minutes |
NYC Airporter | (718) 777-5111 | 45-60 minutes |
Taxi (metered) | Go to Uniformed Taxi Dispatcher | 30 minutes |
Private Limousine/Van Service | Go to Welcome Center in Airport Baggage Claim Area | 30 minutes |

My name is Alex Mutuma and I founded this blog, Airport LLC as a way to document and engage with clients in my travel consulting business. Airportllc.com is the only source of over 2,000 fun things flyers could do during layovers.
Over the past 7 years, I have designed and planned tour packages for hundreds of clients and have recently focussed on the mission of changing boring layovers to excellent mini-vacations by giving you the best suggestions on must-do activities when flying over different airports.
Next time you or your friend are looking for suggestions on what to do in some airport, remember Airport LLC or Airportllc.com. On this site, you’ll get the best suggestions available on the internet regarding hand-picked activities that will fulfill your airport experience.
I currently reside in New York City and have obtained a license to provide professional tour guidance at Airports in the US and across the world. Why should you listen to my suggestions? I have flown through more than 100 airports in the world and fortunately, I have pictures, stories, and tips to share with you regarding all the fun stuff you can do as you wait for your next flight.
Aside from gaining thousands of flying miles, I am also a travel consultant assisting clients with bookings and specifically advance tour bookings of things to do at airports when the layover is longer than 5 hours.
To make a 15-minute free things-to-do consultation with Alex, use my email, alex@airportllc.com.
This is only recommended for flyers with long layovers of over 5 hours. If your layover is 3+ hours, you can still reach out but we cannot guarantee the ideal package that will change your layovers to mini-vacations. I only support clients flying through US airports and a select number of cities across the world.
———–
Name: Alex Mutuma
Profession: A professional travel consultant with a focus on airport activities to do during layovers
Email: Alex@airportllc.com
Phone: +1 945 348 889
Website: airportllc.com
Location: 322 Main Packway Street, Boston, US
———–