Your guide to New York City-area airport transfers

There are three major airports in the New York City area: John F. Kennedy International Airport (airport code: JFK), LaGuardia Airport (airport code: LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (airport code: EWR). But they’re not very close to each other.  Ask someone from my family, who lives in north New Jersey, to take a flight from LaGuardia, instead of Newark, and there will be a lot of complaining. And it’s no wonder; not only are the airports not particularly close; travel between them isn’t particularly efficient. This means that your best bet is to try to avoid having to make a transfer from one of these airports to another.

If that’s not a possibility, here’s what you need to know:  

Before you scroll down….

No matter what transport option you choose, there’s one essential thing to remember: Give yourself a lot of time! 

You may see a car service or bus ride estimated at 50 – or even 30 -- minutes, but remember that’s not counting traffic or other incidents.  And remember also that you have to go through customs (if you arrive from overseas) and baggage claim when you arrive at the first airport, and then through check-in and security at the second airport. Basically, transferring between NYC-area airports is not something you can do in an hour or so.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s how to transfer between…

…JFK and LaGuardia

Option 1: Shuttle service.  There are three officially approved shuttle services that run between these airports.  You can find them listed on this extremely helpful page from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  Options and prices vary greatly. For example, for the regularly scheduled NYC Airporter shuttle, you could pay as little as $14 per person (free for kids under 3).  If you want a private, scheduled shuttle, you could pay around $75.

Option 2: A taxi.  You can take a taxi from the easy-to-locate taxi stand (just follow the signs) at either airport.  Taxi fare will probably cost around $50 or more.

Option 3: Private car service (or Uber or Lyft).  There aren’t any Port Authority-approved private car services, although there is a car service desk where you can hire one directly at either airport. This site offers some very helpful advice on choosing a reliable private car service. Getting quotes in advance and checking out online travel forum reviews are also good ideas. 

…JFK and Newark

Option 1: AirTrain and Public transit. 

Both Newark and JFK airports have an AirTrain – a train that travels through the different airport terminals, and connects with public transit.  Unfortunately, the two AirTrains aren’t directly linked.  Here’s how to use them:

From Newark:

1. Take AirTrain Newark to the New Jersey Transit Newark Liberty International station.

2. From there, find a New Jersey Transit train that’s going to New York Penn Station (and take it, of course).

3. From Penn Station, take the “E" Subway line to Jamaica Station, where you can connect to AirTrain JFK and ride to your terminal at JFK Airport.

To Newark:

1. Take AirTrain JFK to the Jamaica Station Subway stop. 

2. From there, take the “E” Subway line to New York Penn Station. 

3. At Penn Station, find a New Jersey Transit train that stops at the Newark Liberty International Airport station (and take it, of course).

4. At Newark Liberty International Airport station, connect to AirTrain Newark and ride directly to your airport terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Option 2: Shuttle service. .  There are two officially approved shuttle services that run between these airports.  You can find them listed on this extremely helpful page from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  Options and prices vary greatly.  For example, you could pay around $30 per person for a shared ride, or $135 for a private/group shuttle.

Option 3: A taxi.  You can take a taxi from the easy-to-locate taxi stand (just follow the signs) at either airport.  Taxi fare will probably cost around $115 or more.

Option 4: Private car service (or Uber or Lyft). There aren’t any Port Authority-approved private car services, although there is a car service desk where you can hire one directly at either airport. This site offers some very helpful advice on choosing a reliable private car service. Getting quotes in advance and checking out online travel forum reviews are also good ideas. 

…La  Guardia and Newark

Option 1: Public Transit or a shuttle and AirTrain Newark

AirTrain is a train that connects the different terminals at Newark Liberty Airport. It also stops at a public transit line, allowing you to connect to a regular New Jersey Transit train that will take you to New York Penn Station.  If you’re going the opposite way, when you arrive at New York Penn Station, find a New Jersey Transit train that stops at Newark Liberty Airport.  From there, you’ll connect to the AirTrain and go directly to your terminal.

Newark to LaGuardia:

1. Take AirTrain Newark to the New Jersey Transit stop.

2. From there, find a New Jersey Transit train that’s going to New York Penn Station (and take it, of course).

3. From Penn Station, take either the M60 Bus or the NYC Airporter shuttle to LaGuardia Airport.

LaGuardia to Newark:

1. From LaGuardia Airport, take the M60 Bus or NYC Airporter shuttle to New York Penn Station.

2. From Penn Station, find a New Jersey Transit train that stops at the Newark Liberty International Airport station (and take it, of course).

3. From there, take AirTrain Newark to your airport terminal.

Option 2: Shuttle service.  There are two officially approved shuttle services that run between these airports.  You can find them listed on this extremely helpful page from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  Options and prices vary greatly.  For example, you could pay around $135 for a private/group shuttle, or around $30 per person for a shared shuttle.

Option 3: A taxi.  You can take a taxi from the easy-to-locate taxi stand (just follow the signs) at either airport.  Taxi fare will probably cost around $86 or more.

Option 4: Private car service (or Uber or Lyft).  There aren’t any Port Authority-approved private car services, although there is a car services desk where you can hire one directly at either airport. This site offers some very helpful advice on choosing a reliable private car service. Getting quotes in advance and checking out online travel forum reviews is also a good idea. 

Transferring between New York City-area airports may not be the easiest thing, but if you have to, you can do it!  Take time to plan the transfer beforehand, whether it’s looking up car service estimates, or studying public transit maps to help you navigate that option.  And make sure there’s a big margin of time between your two flights.

Happy and safe travels!

Alysa Salzberg is a writer and trip planner.  She lives in Paris with an eccentric Frenchman, a baguette-stealing baby, and a dog-like cat. Besides them, she loves travel, books, and cookies. You can read about her adventures here, or feel free to stop by and check out her website.