Subways and subways in the USA: personal experience. How to get from JFK Airport in New York to Manhattan Distance from Kennedy Airport to Manhattan

Typically, most international flights arrive at JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport).

Despite the congestion and scale of JFK Airport, it is quite easy to navigate there.

Since most tourists arriving in New York stop in Manhattan, and most of the attractions are also there, consider how to get from JFK airport to Manhattan.

Well, as for a helicopter, if you really want it, you need it very quickly and we don’t count the funds. Then yes - they will deliver you to Manhattan beautifully and without traffic jams. Pleasure, of course, does not come cheap. According to information on the New York Helicopter website, a one-way transfer will cost $1,750.

And now regarding car rental. In New York it makes sense to take car rental, only if you plan to travel outside the city or will be moving around a lot where the public transport network is poorly developed. Then it's justified.

If you want to see the city, its attractions and the main place of stay will be Manhattan, it is much more convenient to use the subway or taxi. Traffic jams are not uncommon in New York, the traffic is quite intense (especially in the center), it is difficult to find parking, and even if you do find it, it is not cheap. In general, it is better not to create unnecessary problems for yourself.

One of the most convenient options for getting from Kennedy Airport to Manhattan (or any other point in the city) is Taxi.

Taxi fares in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens are metered. But for travel from JFK airport to any point in Manhattan - a flat fee of $52 + toll road/tunnels (about $8) + tip 15-20%.

Interestingly, the fixed amount is valid only until the first stop in Manhattan. Next, the counter is turned on. That is, if, for example, a group of friends lives in different parts of the city, then the final transfer amount will be higher.

If there are no traffic jams, you can drive from New York airport to the center of Manhattan (for example, Times Square) in 35-40 minutes.

There is another transfer option from New York airport to Manhattan - a bus, or it is also called shuttle-bus.

It is much cheaper than a taxi, but there are more stops, which means it takes longer.

A shuttle bus ride from the airport to Manhattan will cost $20

Well, the cheapest option to get to Manhattan from New York airport is. The advantages are, as already mentioned, its cost, as well as the guarantee that you won’t get stuck in a traffic jam (this is especially true in the case of “from Manhattan to the airport,” when, as a rule, everyone is in a hurry). The downside is that it can take a long time to get there; if you have a lot of luggage, sometimes it is inconvenient to make transfers; If the hotel is not near the metro, you still need to get to it.

You also need to get to the metro from the airport by Airtrain. But despite the above features, getting by subway from JFK airport is not that difficult.

As mentioned, first you need to take the Airtrain to the metro station. To do this, after passing through passport control at the airport, we head to the airport exit with our luggage. And we are looking for Airtrain signs.

Traffic pattern Air Train at the New York airport.

Please note that there are two routes this express train takes. Yellow line (clockwise) - train between terminals. Red and green lines (counterclockwise) - the train goes through all terminals to metro stations.

At first they have one route. And after the Federal Circle station (there are shuttle buses to nearby hotels and parking), the red line leads to the Jamaica Station subway station, and the green line leads to the Howard Beach subway station. From both stations you can get to Manhattan. Jamaica Station provides convenient access to Queens, the Bronx, Upper Manhattan and Midtown. And from the Howard Beach station it is more convenient to travel to Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan and also Midtown.

We read, we think, we choose.

And have a nice holiday!

So we landed at Kennedy Airport! But they have not yet set foot on American soil or breathed American air. Because they went out to the terminal building for sausage. The customs officer with a very serious look asked why we came here and for how many days and put a stamp. This completed the customs clearance. And with great trepidation we walked into the baggage claim area. There were already bags from our flight rolling around there. Before this, we had read horror stories about how luggage on transit flights easily flies to other countries, and therefore the wait was especially exciting for us. But still he came!!! And we were faced with a new task - to get to Manhattan by subway.
Back in Yekaterinburg, we drew up a route on how we would get there, you can see it. You can also compile it using the Google service. There is only one feature - be sure to indicate the time at which you will go. Because different lines work at different times.

As for us, we needed to find the Airtrain exit to Jamaica station, then take the subway to line E, and at 7 av transfer to line B to 96th street.

We found the exit to the Airtrain following the signs; it was on the third floor. To our surprise, none of the escalators were working and carrying all our bags was a bit of a hassle. Based on preliminary information, we knew that there were 3 different routes: the ring route (between terminals), to Jamaica station and to Howard Beach, but we didn’t know how to distinguish them.

airtrain line diagram

According to the airtrain line diagram, for some reason we thought that we needed to get to the 8th terminal and then transfer to Jamaica station, but, as the African-American employee explained to us, the trains run in turns - ring, jamaika station, Howard beach. As a result, we boarded the train we needed and arrived safely at Jamaica station. All the way we were tormented by the question - how to pay for the fare? And now the hour of reckoning has come - you can pay for travel only at vending machines. And thank God that I found small bills in Yekaterinburg!!! You can pay for travel either in cash or by card. Zhenya tried to pay with the card, but the machine stubbornly refused to accept it! And if you pay in cash, the machine can dispense a maximum of $8.

We took cards with payment for Airtrain + Metro for $7.5 and after the turnstiles we went to the elevator, where we went down to the lowest floor to the express line E. Then everything was logical and understandable. And we only breathed in the air of New York when we got out of the subway at the 96 street station, next to the apartment in which Laura and Bones sheltered us. Hello New York!!!

You can get from the airport in New York to the area of ​​the city where you are staying by taxi, subway and bus (shuttle bus).

International flights arrive at JFK (John F. Kennedy Airport) or Newark Liberty International Airport.

If you arrived at JFK airport

Taxi from JFK. Travel from JFK airport to any point in Manhattan - fixed price of $52 + tolls (toll road, about $10) + tips (~15-20%). The official taxis of New York are Yellow cabs. Not all taxi drivers speak good English, so to avoid misunderstandings, have a printed copy of the hotel address ready and give it to the driver. Even if he said that he knows which hotel you are going to (there may be several hotels with the same name in the city, if it is a chain hotel like Hilton). The journey will take about 40 minutes (if there are no traffic jams). Taxis to Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are metered. It's cheaper to Brooklyn and Queens. Use it only official yellow taxis of New York.

Subway from JFK Airport. You can take the AirTrain to the New York subway, to Jamaica Station. AirTrain from JFK Airport costs $5. And on the subway you will need to pay another $2.75 for a one-way fare. You can find the branch you need by using the MTA website. Plan on at least 1.5 hours for this trip.

Shuttle bus from JFK airport. JFK has several bus services that will take you to Manhattan for $20-30 (sometimes cheaper). Check out Go Airlink NYC.

If you arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport

Taxi from Newark Airport. Payment will be by meter, and getting to Manhattan will cost about $70-$80 (plus tips and tolls, plan for a total of about $100-$120). Without traffic jams, you can reach Manhattan in an hour. In Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, a taxi will cost significantly more.

Shuttle bus from Newark Airport. Newark has several shuttle services that will take you to Manhattan for $35-45 (or less). Some bus services are Go Airlink NYC, SuperShuttle.

Transport between New York airports

If you need to get from JFK to Newark Airport, or to La Guardia Airport, or some other combination of transfers between airports, the most effective solution is also the Go Airlink NYC bus service - select "one way" there, then "from airport ", then you will need to add information about your flight and so on, and the system will offer a price for the transfer.

Where is it cheaper to live in New York? How to get from Kennedy Airport to the city and downtown Manhattan? New York transport: subway, bus and taxi maps, water transport, fares, car and bicycle rental.

New York City consists of 5 administrative districts (boroughs). When people talk about New York City and imagine skyscrapers, this is a separate area of ​​the city - Manhattan. Other large areas of the city: Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island.

You arrive at Kennedy Airport in south Queens. And in the Brooklyn area there is the famous “Russian Odessa” - the Brighton Beach area. The Bronx is the city's only mainland borough. And the remote residential area of ​​Staten Island is of no interest to tourists; it is built up with multi-story buildings.

All these 5 areas form greater New York + the territory west of the Hudson River (New Jersey).

Manhattan and New Jersey are connected by 2 bridges and a tunnel. View of Manhattan.

It is interesting to trace the etymology of the word Downtown(Downtown). In almost all American cities, the word Downtown means the administrative center of the city.

The name comes from New York topography. At one time the city was called New Amsterdam (when the Dutch ruled here), then the British came and renamed the city. The very first development took place in the southernmost part (lower part - down) of Manhattan Island, then the city began to deteriorate further.

In other American cities, Downtown can be located in the south, in the north, or in the city center. But still, the word “Downtown” traditionally refers to the administrative center.

There is almost no housing stock in Downtown New York. All skyscrapers (see photo above) are office space; There are several hotels and condominiums for people who are somehow connected with the financial sector and work nearby. Ordinary Americans do not live or appear in this area - this is the domain of tourists and financiers.

Naturally, the cheapest housing in Uptown is behind the central park. To the north is an area populated predominantly by African Americans.

Fifth Avenue, running from north to south, divides the city into two equal parts: to the left is the Westside (western side), to the right is the Eastside (eastern part).

Let's try to figure out how the streets are numbered, which go from west to east, crossing 5th Avenue. There can be two houses with the same number on the same street. For example, on the west side there will be a house with the address 300 W. 42 street, on the east side there will be a house with the address 300 E. 42 street. The higher the house number, the further it is from Fifth Avenue, and the cheaper it is to live in. Those. building 2 W. 42 street will be in the very center on Fifth Avenue.

For us, as tourists, it will be interesting to know the division of the city into ethnic neighborhoods.

The largest concentration of tourists is observed in the Theater District. Here is Times Square, 42nd Street. If you love greenery, head to Central Park. There are many museums nearby, very beautiful streets that are pleasant to walk along.

To the south and below midtown are trendy, developing areas. There are no skyscrapers here, there are many shops, art galleries, and interesting restaurants. Youth area Greenwich village.

Where to live in New York without spending a lot of money? It’s still not possible to live here on a budget. In Manhattan, a night in a hotel costs from $200. Therefore, most tourists settle in Queens or Brooklyn, it is much cheaper here, but it takes a long time to get to Manhattan (1-1.5 hours by subway).

Cheap housing can be found west of Manhattan - in New Jersey. These are the small provincial towns of Weehawken, Union City, Hoboken, Secaucus. From here you can easily access Highway 495 and, driving under the Hudson River through an underground tunnel, you will find yourself directly in the center of Manhattan. By car the journey will take 12-18 minutes without traffic jams, with traffic jams about 35 minutes. Or take a bus to the bus station.

The Port Authority Bus Station is located on the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Manhattan.

From here to all Broadway theaters and attractions is a 5-minute walk. And in the evening, after a walk around Manhattan, you calmly take the bus and go to New Jersey. Buses run 24 hours a day and there are no traffic jams in the evening.

Another option for getting to Manhattan is to take the New Jersey Subway (Path train).

The subway line connects midtown (world trade center) with Hoboken and Journal city in New Jersey. This is what the trains of this metro look like, they run every few minutes.

How to get there from Kennedy Airport?

The majority of tourists arriving in the United States from Russia arrive in Kennedy airport(JFK). New York has another international airport in New Jersey - Newark (EWR).

So, you arrive at Kennedy Airport at 1 terminal, there are 8 in total.

The airport is very large, and Aeroexpress runs between the terminals. He has 2 movement patterns:

1. Along the inner ring: it goes around all terminals clockwise (travel is free) - convenient for those who need to transfer from flight to flight.
2. Along the outer ring to get to the city. On the map it is a red and green train. The Green Line connects you with the subway line to travel south to Brooklyn. Take the red line to get to midtown or go further to New Jersey (change at Jamaika Station to the metro line). At Jamaika you can also transfer to the LIRR train to Long Island.

Metro

Usually you arrive at terminal 1 (Aeroflot flight from Moscow), go through passport control and go to claim your luggage. Please note that there is a charge for the luggage cart ($5-6, card accepted).

Lifehack. You can walk out of the airport and wait for someone to come out and empty the cart. Quickly take the cart with you before airport workers put it in its place.

When exiting, follow the AirTrain signs and be careful on the platform because there are 2 main branches. On one part of the platform, trains stop that run only around the ring (around the airport, through all terminals), and on the other side, trains to the city stop. Trains pass through one and stop on the same side of the platform.

Entrance to the station is free, you pay at the exit. You can pay using a MetroCard (you buy it right there on the Airtrain platform). Valid for all types of transport.

You can buy a one-time card for $5 at this terminal to get out of the metro. Or you put some money on trips around the city (the card itself costs $1).

The full metro map can be downloaded by clicking on the image.

By taxi

There are taxis from JFK to Manhattan, and there is a fat fare system of $52 + toll roads and bridges. The total comes out to about $65-$75.

The driver is not required to accept banknotes with a denomination of more than $20; change hundred-dollar bills in advance or pay for the taxi with a credit card.

Uber taxi is very popular in New York. A trip to the city center will cost about $60.

By shuttle

As an alternative to taxis, use shuttles (ground transportation). There are green counters at the airport where you can reserve a seat on a bus to Manhattan. The cheapest is $19 to Manhattan (to Grand Central train station). And from there small buses pick you up and transport you around midtown Manhattan for free.

There are other Shuttle companies. Prices from $22 and up.

Laguardia airport

If you are flying from some American city to New York, or vice versa, from New York you are going to fly to domestic destinations, use Laguardia Airport.

It serves domestic flights only. The airport has 3 terminals.

The airport's three terminals are well connected to public transport. The M60 bus route takes you to Manhattan.

Newark Airport (EWR)

Located in New Jersey near Manhattan. The airport is connected by highways to New York. And sometimes it’s faster to get to the center of New York from here than from the airport. Kennedy.

The Aeroexpress also runs here. It also goes in two ways: inside the terminals and into the city. Airtrain is free inside the airport. If you want to go outside, it's $5.50. You are a short distance from the main railway station of the city of Newark - Penn Station - from where the local Path train subway runs to Manhattan.

Alternatively, you can take a shuttle directly from the airport and travel into Manhattan to Grand Central Station.

New York City Transportation

The MTA New York city transport portal contains the most complete information on transport in the city: maps, diagrams, prices for all types of transport. You can view any changes in traffic movement online.

Metro (subway)

At one time, when the metro was just developing, these were several private companies that did not overlap with each other. Those. they received concessions from the city and launched each of their construction projects. Basically, the lines were on overpasses, above ground, then in Manhattan they were brought underground, and in many areas of Queens and Brooklyn, trains still run on overpasses above ground.

To use the metro, like other city transport, you will need a MetroCard, which can be purchased at the ticket office or from a machine at any station. Traveling with the card gives you a free transfer from bus to metro and vice versa, and from city buses to each other for a certain time (up to 1.5 hours)

Not long ago, MetroCard began to be issued in the form of an unlimited travel card for 7 or 30 days, which is very convenient for tourists.

• Single travel by metro or bus - $2.75
• A 7-day pass costs $32, a month pass costs $121.
• Express buses that connect Manhattan with the suburbs and residential areas - $6.50.

You can buy a MetroCard or top it up at two types of machines that accept credit cards and cash. This machine only accepts cards, there is a Russian language.

So, if you take the subway from Kennedy Airport upon arrival in the USA, you need to pay for the trip already at the exit of the subway. When you approach the machine, you will see the following menu:

You are asked to either pay a single fare for $5 or buy a MetroCard. Next, the machine will offer to buy a new one or put money on an existing card. We choose a new one, and $1 is added to the fare (the cost of the plastic card itself).

What type of card do you want to buy? Regular MetroCard - money is debited for each trip; Unlimited Ride - 7 or 30 day pass.

Choose a regular card. We will be offered different replenishment amounts. The machine does not accept bills larger than $20 or $50 (depending on the amount of change). Change is given in coins and only in limited quantities.

If you buy a travel pass (Unlimited Ride), the machine will ask you to select the type.

Lifehack. If you do not have the required amount of cash to pay for the MetroCard and decide to pay with a card, when the machine asks you to enter your Zip-code (postal code), enter 99999.

You can check how much money is left on your MetroCard by running it through a special machine (MetroCard Reader) at any metro station. The display will show the balance.

When passing through the turnstile in the metro, you swipe the card away from you, with the beveled corner closer to you. After that, the phrase “GO” will light up on the turnstile and the balance will be displayed.

Most metro stations have 2 platforms where trains arrive in one direction. The central platform is Express (faster trains and skip some stations), the second is Local. They are quite clearly marked.

City buses

Buses operate in each of the five boroughs of New York. The first letter in the route means in which area this route is “registered”.

• M - Manhattan,
• Q - Queens,
• B - Brooklyn,
• Bx - Bronx.

Buses stop in almost every block, i.e. there are many stops. Passengers enter through the front door and pay their fare in front of the driver. At the entrance there are automatic cash desks where you need to insert your MetroCard.

This is what a New York bus stop looks like. The flight number on a purple background and the letters “Ltd” means the bus skips some stops. On a blue background - the bus makes all its stops.

Recently, the city began to implement a new system SBS accelerated buses, which travel on their own dedicated lines, and which can be entered either through the front or through the middle door (in regular buses, the middle door does not open from the outside).

You buy your bus ticket right there in the blue machine using your MetroCard or cash. With a ticket, get on the bus; the driver doesn’t check tickets, but inspectors may come in.

Intercity buses

Departs from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (at the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue). This is a very convenient transportation solution for those planning to stay in New Jersey, across the Hudson River. Many routes operate 24 hours a day. Tickets can be purchased from the cashier or at a special place. terminals in zones 1, 2, 3, 4 (nearby towns from New York are zone 2 or 3. Before boarding from the bus station, you need to have a ticket in hand. And vice versa, when you go to New York, the driver accepts cash.

Path rail system metro

This is a subway system from New Jersey to New York.

The subway connects Newark Airport with downtown Manhattan.

Taxi

Taxis in New York come in two colors: yellow and light green. Yellow are taxis that are allowed to pick up taxis in Manhattan, light green are taxis registered in other areas of New York that are not allowed to pick up taxis on the streets of Manhattan.

Taking a taxi is not a cheap pleasure. Here are the taxi fares according to the taximeter:

• Boarding the car is $2.5.
• 50 cents for every 1/5 mile (320 meters) or 50 cents for every minute.
• Additional payment of 50 cents for some areas of the city.
• Additional payment of 50 cents for a taxi from 20.00 to 06.00.
• Additional payment of $1 for a taxi from 16.00 to 20.00.
• Passengers pay for all travel on toll bridges and tunnels.

The driver is not required to accept bills over $20, but accepts cards. The driver expects you to tip. Baggage is carried free of charge. It is customary for passengers to sit in the rear seat behind bulletproof glass.

An alternative to taxis is Uber cars. Every year there are more and more of them in New York and they already constitute real competition for yellow taxis.

Taxi Lyft- pink taxi cars. Positioned as a more family-friendly taxi.

Water transport

New York Water Taxi offers an all-day unlimited pass for $35 ($21 for children).

NYC Ferry as an alternative to water taxis.

You can pay with a MetroCard; travel costs the same as on the metro and bus - $2.75. Transfers from one boat to another are possible. Below is a detailed map of ferry traffic.
Company " NYWaterWay“—has been around for quite some time. Mainly connects Manhattan with New Jersey. On their official website you can see in detail which points of Manhattan you can get to by sailing across the Hudson.

The Staten Island Ferry connects the southernmost tip of Manhattan with the residential area. The crossing is FREE! The ship sails past the Statue of Liberty - have time to enjoy the wonderful views.

Bicycles for rent

Especially for those who like to ride around the city and burn calories, New York has a huge number of bicycles for rent. The most widespread bicycle sharing network is CityBike, sponsored by City Bank.

To use the great one, create an account on the official website. website or in the terminal parking lot. There are simply a huge number of rental points throughout the city and even in the neighboring state of New Jersey.

For tourists: you can rent a bike for 1 day for $12 and for 3 days for $24. A 1-day rental includes unlimited use of bicycles for a maximum of 30 minutes! If it is longer (overTime), a significant amount of fines accumulates.

Therefore, the secret to using bike rental on a budget: take a bike at one parking lot, ride for up to 30 minutes, and return it to another. Then take another bike, and everything repeats.

Bus Hop on - hop off

Quite an exotic type of transport, popular among tourists. I recommend taking a ride around Manhattan on this hop on - hop of bus.

You buy a ticket and can use these buses an unlimited number of times during the day. Several excursion routes around the city center have been developed.

Car rental

If you decide to rent a car, keep in mind that prices at the airport and in Manhattan are very high. It will be half the price to rent a car on the New Jersey side.

To get from Manhattan to the airport (JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, or Newark Airport), take a taxi, bus, subway, or train. If you need to travel from New Jersey, Brooklyn or Queens,

Taxi from Manhattan to JFK Airport

You can easily take a yellow taxi from Manhattan to JFK Airport. It will cost approximately $55-$60 plus tax and $7-$10 tip. Keep in mind that getting a taxi is not always easy during rush hour. In New York you can't call a taxi; you have to hail one on the street. If you need to take a taxi between 7:30-9:30 or 16:00-19:00, I would recommend that you use one of the other options below.

Big Buses

From Manhattan you can get to any airport by bus. There is a special shuttle bus service that will take you from Manhattan to JFK or La Guardia. Buses leave every hour between 11:00 – 19:00. In Manhattan, buses depart from Grand Central and Port Authority. Children under 5 years old travel free of charge. Many buses have internet, so you'll have plenty to do. Buses can be crowded, so allow extra time.

Small Buses

This transfer will pick you up at the specified address. It costs about $20 to travel to JFK and Newark Airport. You will get there comfortably on these buses.

Limousine

If you want to pamper yourself, arrange a limousine ride to the airport. The limousine seats 8 people.

Metro

Take the A or E subway. Subway fares cost $2.75 (plus $1 for a new MetroCard) AND an additional $5 for AirTrian. This option will take a lot of time (about an hour and a half), especially for those who have a lot of bags. Total fare is $7.75.

By train

The train connects all major stations to JFK and Newark airports. Fares cost about $8 to JFK and $12.50 to Newark. The trip will take you 20 - 30 minutes, but to get to the airport you will need to take a taxi or ride the metro.

Additional information: Always leave for the airport several hours in advance, especially during rush hour. Time it takes you to get to the airport:

By taxi to JFK or Newark airport: 1 – 1.5 hours
By small bus: 1 – 1.5 hours
By big bus: 1.5 – 2 hours
By metro: 1.5 – 2 hours
By train: 45 minutes to an hour (from the time you board)
Business class limousine/car: from 45 minutes to an hour

Eric's advice: Personally, I usually use a shuttle or limousine service. The transfer costs $18 - $20, and the bus will pick you up directly at your address. For a more relaxing trip, book a limousine. It is often very difficult to get a taxi, especially between 15:00 - 18:00. Book your limousine in advance through