There are 3 major airports in the New York City area. They are LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark International (EWR). Below are the easiest ways to get to Manhattan via public transportation. You can also obviously take a taxi which from LGA will run about $30, from JFK/EWR about $55-60.

LaGuardia (LGA)

Traveling from LaGuardia airport into Manhattan via public transportation is fairly easy. There are 2 basic options — both cost $2.25.

• Take the Q33 bus right outside your arrival terminal to the last stop (Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights subway station). From there you can board several subway lines (E,F express or R, V local). I suggest taking either the E or F as they will cut the trip by about 10 minutes. I prefer this option to the one below.
• Take the M60 bus right outside your arrival terminal to the Astoria Blvd. stop. You will see the elevated trains at this stop. Board a Manhattan bound N or W train and you will be in midtown in about 15 minutes. There are a lot of steps at this station and from what I can tell, there are no elevators.

John F. Kennedy (JFK)

Thanks to the new AirTrain, it is easier than ever to travel to/from JFK using public transportation. From JFK, take the AirTrain which is outside each terminal (you may have to cross the street) to either:

• Station D – Jamaica Station — from here you can take the E train (8th avenue) or the J/Z (lower manhattan)
• Station A - Howard Beach Station – from here you can take the A train (8th avenue)

I suggest that if you are going anywhere in midtown or the World Trade Center area that you take the E train option (station D). The E is the best option in about 90% of the time as it is the fastest, safest, easiest of the options. If you are going to the Wall Street Area, take the J/Z option. Lastly for upper manhattan, take the A train option. 

Another option is to take the AirTrain and then take the LIRR to Penn Station. If you destination is near Penn Station, this is the preferred option as it’s easier and there is more room for baggage. The trip will cost $10.75 but it’s worth the extra $3.

Newark International (EWR)

From EWR, you will want to take the AirTrain Newark, it is easy and inexpensive. The AirTrain takes you to the EWR Train station. From there you can take the New Jersey Transit train to New York Penn station. The fare is about $13/person. Penn Station hooks you into bus, subway, taxi and walking to almost anywhere in NYC.

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