Which is the best airport to fly into in NYC?
When it comes to New York airports, you’ve got options. Whether you’re taking a domestic flight arriving at Newark, or coming in from overseas to JFK, this guide will give you the 101 on the three major airports of NYC, and how to navigate getting to and from them on your next vacation.
With New York City being the most populated city in America at just shy of 8.5 million residents, it’s no surprise that there are multiple choices of airports. Each option has its own pros and cons, and we’ll dig in to those below. By breaking down the pros and cons of each, you can figure out where the best airport to fly into New York is!
1. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash
Address: Jamaica, Queens, New York (See Google Maps)
The most famous of New York’s airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - originally known as Idlewild - was named after the eponymous president following his assassination in 1960. As its official title suggests, JFK is the primary international airport, serving as a major transport hub connecting millions of overseas visitors to NYC and America every year. With the scope of its operations, it is widely regarded as the best airport to fly into in New York.
Serving almost 100 airlines, JFK has six terminals, arranged in an ‘O’ shape and connected by the AirTrain system. Interestingly, the terminals are actually numbered 1–8, but Terminals 3 and 6 were demolished in 2011 and 2013.
Klook Tip: Find out more information about JFK including flight departure and arrival times at the JFK official website.
Getting to the city: JFK is located about 16 miles (26km) southeast of Manhattan, making it one of the best airports to fly into in New York. The cost of airport transfers with a taxi or Uber to or from the City will be anywhere between US$ 55-80 depending on your flight time and traffic conditions at the time.
There are several options to shuttle to or from the airport by public transportation, which all take between 1 to 1.5 hours from Manhattan. A city navigation app such as Google Maps or Citymapper will show you the fastest route, depending on your time of travel.
Note, unlike London Heathrow or other international airports, there isn’t a direct train to JFK from Manhattan or Brooklyn. You will need to take a train or subway to Jamaica, then purchase a ticket for the AirTrain from there.
For peace of mind, you can book a private transfer from JFK in advance and get to your accommodation fuss-free!
2. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Newark airport is a hub for United Airlines, who even operate a speakeasy restaurant in one of the terminals. Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash
Address: 3 Brewster Rd, Newark, NJ 07114 (See Google Maps)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is the second largest and is the best airport to fly into in New York for domestic and business travelers.
Getting there: Getting to the city from Newark (or vice versa) can be a breeze - taking as little as 25 minutes door-to-door by car if you’re arriving or departing on an early flight. However, it’s a big ‘if.’ You should expect most journeys with New York traffic to take around 50 minutes to an hour.
Just take note that when you’re traveling to/from New York Newark Airport to the city by car, you’re crossing a stateline. Because of this, you may need to pay extra tolls or surcharges.
Like JFK, there is no direct train to Newark from New York. However, New Jersey Transit connects travelers from midtown Manhattan and Newark Airport in a few steps. From Penn Station, jump on either the Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast lines. The train journey itself will take around 30 minutes and costs US$13 per person, as of writing.
Alternatively, the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) service connects Manhattan to New Jersey. Take the PATH train to Journal Square station, where you can pick up the Newark Airport Airtrain directly.
Fun fact: United Airlines operates all flights out of Newark’s Terminal C, and even runs a secret, invitation-only restaurant called ‘CLASSIFIED’ for its premier loyalty status customers.
Which is the closest airport to Manhattan?
3. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash
Address: Queens, NY 11371 (See Google Maps)
To cap off our list of best airports to fly into in New York is LaGuardia Airport! Though lesser known to out-of-town tourists, it is actually the closest airport to Manhattan. — just 8 miles away from Midtown and popular attractions like the Yankees Stadium and Times Square.
New York’s third-busiest airport, LaGuardia is a popular option for domestic travelers and went through a major redevelopment of its facilities in 2021.
Getting there: Among the three best airports to fly into in New York, LaGuardia is certainly the closest option if you’re staying in uptown or midtown Manhattan, or Northern Brooklyn (Williamsburg or Greenpoint).
By taxi or Uber, the metered fare averages US$ 25, plus tolls and tips cab and you should be able to get to the airport in less than 30 minutes, depending on traffic and your location.
Like JFK and Newark, LaGuardia can be tricky to get to by public transportation. In fact, there aren’t any trains, direct or non-direct to this airport and you’ll need to take a bus.
Again, we recommend consulting Citimapper or Google Maps to recommend the correct route for you, depending on where you are traveling to or from.
Now that we’ve sorted out the differences between the three, it’s time to pack your bags! No matter which New York airport you fly into, you’ll definitely have a grand time in the city that never sleeps.
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