If you have a 4 to 6-hour layover at JFK airport, you can choose to take a subway from JFK Airport using the subway which is one of the cheapest available ground transportation options.
Where is JFK Airport?
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JFK airport is located in southern Queens, New York. It is about 15 miles from Manhattan. Its history dates back to 1948 when the New York City Planning Commission selected the site of Idlewild Airport as a possible location for a new airport.
JFK Airport is not privately owned and is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which leased the land from the City of New York. It is owned by the City of New York.
Can I leave JFK during my layover?
Yes, you can leave JFK during your layover. There are no restrictions on leaving the airport during your layover. However, keep in mind that if your layover is less than 4 hours, it may not be worth it to leave the airport since it takes about an hour to get into Manhattan and an hour to get back to the airport.
How to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
There are several ways to get from JFK airport to Manhattan:
– Taxi: A taxi from JFK airport to Manhattan will cost you about $60-$70 and will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.
– AirTrain + Subway: The AirTrain is a train that runs from JFK airport to the subway. The AirTrain costs $5 and takes about 10 minutes. From there, you can take the subway into Manhattan which will cost you $2.75. The subway ride into Manhattan will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on which subway line you take and where in Manhattan you are going.
JFK airport to manhattan subway
You can use a single $2.75 ticket from JFK Airport to different locations in Manhattan.
JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan Using Subway:
Take the Jamaica Train within the airports and when you get off Jamaica train, get Subway E which runs from Queens to Midtown Manhattan.
JFK Airport to Lower Manhattan Using Subway A
If you want to go to Lower Manhattan to iconic centers such as Ellis Island, Liberty Island or the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, you can take the A Train from Howard Beach station at JFK. The A train will make stops at Inwood-207th Street, Harlem-148th Street and then head downtown to Chambers Street.
JFK Airport to Lower Manhattan Using Subway J and Z:
Subway J goes from Jamaica station to Lower Manhattan. However, it only runs during weekday rush hours. Z train is available at all times and goes from Jamaica Center to Broadway Junction in Brooklyn. You can take the Z train and get off at Chambers Street station which is located in Lower Manhattan.
JFK Airport to Brooklyn Using Subway:
If you want to go to Brooklyn, you can take the A train from Howard Beach station at JFK. The A train will make stops at Inwood-207th Street, Harlem-148th Street and then head downtown to Chambers Street. From Chambers Street, you can transfer to the 2 or 3 train which will take you to Brooklyn.
Cost of riding subway from JFK to Manhattan
The cost of the subway from JFK Airport to Manhattan is $2.75. If you are using single-ride tickets that are not refillable, it will cost you $3. JFK is one of New York’s MTA and you will find subway ticket machines at the airport.
See all the info on fees including student and senior discounts here.
JFK airport to times square:
You can take the subway from JFK Airport to Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. To get to Times Square, you will need to take the Airtrain to Jamaica station and then transfer to the E train heading towards World Trade Center. Get off at 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal station and you will be in Times Square. The whole trip will take about 1 hour and will cost you $2.75.
JFK airport to Grand Central Station:
To get to Grand Central station, you will need to take the Airtrain to Jamaica station and then transfer to the E train heading towards World Trade Center. Get off at 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal station and walk to Grand Central Station which is located nearby. The whole trip will take about 1 hour and will cost you $2.75.
Schedule:
The schedule of the subway from JFK Airport to Manhattan is available here.
How to get the ticket:
You can purchase a Metrocard from any subway station in New York City. The Metrocard can be used on the subway, bus, and some trains.
MetroCards can be used with PANYNJ regional transit partners which include PATH, AirTrain JFK, NICE Bus (Nassau Inter-County Express), Westchester Bee-Line Buses, and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Time it takes:
The subway from JFK Airport to Manhattan takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on which subway line you take and where in Manhattan you are going.
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.
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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
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