Airports near Times Square New York · transfer guide · fares verified October 2026
Key Takeaways
- Closest airport, no train: LaGuardia (LGA) is about 6 miles from Times Square — the nearest of the three — but it has no rail link at all. The free Q70 bus plus a $3 subway ride gets you to Times Square for roughly $3 in 45–60 minutes.
- Cheapest JFK play: the subway ($3) plus AirTrain JFK ($8.75) totals $11.75 to reach Times Square — the lowest fixed price from any airport in this guide.
- Fastest rail option: LIRR from Jamaica ($5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak) plus AirTrain lands you at Penn Station — a 10-minute walk from Times Square — in about 35–45 minutes for roughly $14–$16.
- Taxi truth: JFK–Manhattan yellow cabs run a $70 flat fare ($76.75 with mandatory surcharges, before tolls and tip). Newark has no flat rate — a metered EWR taxi realistically lands between $95 and $130 all-in.
- Competitor reality check: Uber and Lyft can undercut a private sedan off-peak, then surge past $150 in bad weather. Fixed quotes win on the days you’d most want a car.
- Regulatory floor: every legitimate NYC black car carries at least $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage under TLC rules — verify any operator at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/ before you ride.
Written by David Williams · Content Writer, JetBlack Transportation — covering NYC airport transfers and ground transportation. Fact-checked by Alex Freeman, Editor-in-Chief. Editorial team · Last verified: October 3, 2026.
Airports Near Times Square New York: 7 Honest Facts for 2026
Your flight is down, your phone is at 12 percent, and your hotel is somewhere off 42nd Street. Three airports near Times Square New York all claim to be the convenient one — but “convenient” depends on what you value: shortest distance, lowest fare, or fewest transfers with a suitcase.
Most visitors default to whatever their airline chose. But the transfer you pick at the curb can be the difference between a $3 subway ride and a $130 taxi meter. This guide compares all three airports near Times Square New York the way a local would: real distances, real 2026 fares, and the trade-offs no brochure mentions.
Fact 1: What “Near Times Square” Actually Means in Miles
Times Square sits at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan — 42nd Street, to be exact. Measured from there, the three commercial airports near Times Square New York stack up like this:
| Airport | Approx. Distance to Times Square | Drive Time (Light Traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| LaGuardia (LGA) | ~6 miles | 20–30 min |
| Newark Liberty (EWR) | ~11 miles | 30–45 min |
| JFK International | ~13 miles | 30–45 min |
Distances are approximate driving distances (third-party routing estimates) — and here’s the counterintuitive part: the closest airport to Times Square, LaGuardia, has no rail connection at all, while JFK, twice as far, offers two rail routes into Manhattan. Distance and convenience aren’t the same thing in New York.
So is EWR or JFK closer to Times Square? Line up the airports near Times Square New York side by side and Newark edges it by a couple of miles on paper — but EWR sits across the Hudson in New Jersey, which means tunnels, Port Authority tolls, and a taxi meter with no flat-rate ceiling. Keep that in mind before you book the “closer” of the airports near Times Square New York.
Fact 2: Airports Near Times Square New York — What Each Transfer Really Costs
Every realistic way from the three airports near Times Square New York to a Times Square hotel, cheapest first by what you’ll actually pay. “Realistic range” includes the extras operators leave out of the headline number.
| Option | Base Rate | What’s Included | Surge Risk | Fixed Quote? | TLC Licensed? | Realistic Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGA: free Q70 bus + subway | $3.00 | Bus free; one subway fare | None | Yes (public fare) | N/A (public) | ~$3 |
| JFK: subway + AirTrain | $11.75 | Subway $3 + AirTrain $8.75 | None | Yes (public fare) | N/A (public) | ~$11.75 |
| JFK: LIRR + AirTrain | ~$14–$16 | LIRR $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak + AirTrain $8.75 | None | Yes (public fare) | N/A (public) | ~$14–$16 |
| EWR: NJ Transit + AirTrain | ~$15.75 | Rail fare includes AirTrain fee | None | Yes (public fare) | N/A (public) | ~$16–$19 |
| EWR: Newark Airport Express bus | ~$25 | Direct bus to Port Authority (Times Square) | None | Yes | Port Authority authorized | ~$25 (verify current fare) |
| LGA: yellow cab (metered) | Metered | Ride only; tolls + tip extra | Low | No | Yes | ~$30–$55 + tip |
| JFK: yellow cab flat fare | $70.00 | Ride; $6.75 mandatory surcharges extra | None | Yes | Yes | $76.75–$81.75 + tolls + tip |
| JetBlack economy sedan (JFK–Manhattan) | From $65 | Private ride; tolls + 20% tip extra | None | Yes | Yes (black car) | ~$65–$95 all-in, economy |
| EWR: yellow cab (metered) | Metered | Ride only; tolls + surcharge + tip extra | Low | No | Yes | ~$95–$130 all-in |
| Uber / Lyft | Variable | Ride; tolls + fees extra | High | No | FHV licensed | ~$50–$190+ by airport & surge |
The table’s quiet scandal — the sharpest lesson among the airports near Times Square New York — is the EWR taxi row. JFK to Times Square by yellow cab: a predictable $76.75 before tolls and tip. From Newark: no flat fare, the meter runs, surcharge and tunnel tolls stack, and a normal day lands $95–$130. Same 42nd Street, wildly different math — one airport is in New York, the other in New Jersey. (More on metered fares in our Newark airport taxi cost guide.)
When a private car is worth it: late-night arrivals, three or four travelers splitting one fare, heavy luggage, or a hotel far from the nearest station. When it’s not: solo, light bags, daytime, hotel near Penn Station or Port Authority — the trains win on price and speed.
Fact 3: JFK to Times Square — Three Ways, Three Personalities
JFK is the farthest of the airports near Times Square but offers the most choices. The cheapest way from JFK to Times Square: A train to Howard Beach, then AirTrain JFK ($8.75, paid at the exit). Total: $11.75. Allow 60–75 minutes — the A runs local through Brooklyn, and that’s the trade.
The faster rail play is the LIRR: ride to Jamaica station, then AirTrain to your terminal. Off-peak the LIRR leg is $5.25 ($7.25 peak), so the total is roughly $14–$16, and you’re at Penn Station — a 10-minute walk or one subway stop from Times Square — in about 35–45 minutes. For the price of a coffee over the subway option, you buy back half an hour. Most seasoned travelers consider this the best value among the airports near Times Square New York. (Connecting between airports? See the cheapest LaGuardia to JFK options.)
Then the yellow cab: a flat $70 to anywhere in Manhattan — $76.75 after mandatory surcharges ($0.50 MTA, $1 improvement, $2 JFK access, $2.50 state congestion, $0.75 congestion toll), or $81.75 weekday afternoons 4–8 PM with the $5 rush surcharge. Tolls and tip on top. The Times Square to JFK taxi fare is identical in reverse. No surprises, no surge — why the flat fare anchors every honest comparison of the airports near Times Square New York.
Fact 4: LaGuardia to Times Square — the $3 Secret Hiding in Plain Sight
Here’s what makes LaGuardia strange among the airports near Times Square New York: it’s the closest, and it’s the only one where the best budget option starts with a free bus. The Q70 LaGuardia Link runs nonstop between Terminals B/C and Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue every 8–10 minutes — permanently fare-free per the MTA, so you board without paying.
At Jackson Heights, tap the subway ($3) and take the 7, E, F, M, or R toward Manhattan — Times Square–42nd St is a straight shot on several. Total: about $3, in 45–60 minutes. Learning how to get from LaGuardia to Times Square this way is the highest-value transit knowledge a first-timer can pick up. (For the full shared-shuttle breakdown, see our LaGuardia shuttle bus comparison.)
Want it faster? At Woodside (one Q70 stop), transfer to the LIRR instead: $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 peak to Penn Station or Grand Central, per current MTA CityTicket pricing. A yellow cab from LGA to Times Square is metered — no flat fare — and typically runs $30–$55 plus tolls and tip depending on traffic. Among the airports near Times Square New York, LaGuardia’s metered cab is the one most likely to beat the train on convenience for groups of two or more.
Fact 5: Newark Airport to Times Square — the Train That Beats the Meter
Newark is the odd one out among airports near Times Square New York — literally in another state, which changes the pricing entirely. The move most visitors miss: AirTrain Newark to the rail station (fee included in the rail ticket), then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station — about $15–$19 total, roughly 26 minutes, surfacing at 34th Street, eight blocks south of Times Square.
One warning that saves people weekly: NJ Transit doesn’t run about 2–5 AM, and two stations share confusingly similar names — Newark Penn Station (New Jersey) and New York Penn Station (your stop). Stay seated until you hear “New York.”
Prefer no transfers? Of all the airports near Times Square New York, Newark has the simplest one-seat bus: the Newark Airport Express (Coach USA) runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal — literally at Times Square — about every 30 minutes for roughly $25 one-way (confirm the current fare at newarkairportexpress.com). Tempted by a taxi? Remember Fact 2: no flat rate, metered the whole way, $95–$130 realistic all-in. The train beats the tunnel at rush hour anyway. (Our Newark airport shuttle guide covers the shared-van options in detail.)
Fact 6: Real Passengers, Real Trips — What the Reviews Say
Star ratings tell you the average; the written reviews tell you what actually happens at the curb. JetBlack currently holds 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot across 47 reviews (verified October 3, 2026) — here are three recent ones, paraphrased, that map directly onto the choice between the airports near Times Square New York.
Case Study 1 — The EWR-to-Times-Square Ride That Worked
The situation: a traveler booked Newark Airport to Times Square and named the driver in the review (October 2024, Trustpilot). What happened: smooth, pleasant trip; praised the driver’s conversation and local recommendations; noted a veteran discount. Why it matters: the EWR run is where a fixed quote matters most — the taxi meter is uncapped there, so a pre-agreed fare removes the biggest variable among the airports near Times Square New York.
Case Study 2 — The 7-Hour Delay Test
The situation: a flight delay of seven hours pushed an arrival into the early morning (May 2026, Trustpilot). What happened: the reviewer praised the company’s online communication throughout the delay and reported the driver was waiting to greet them on arrival, calling the price very competitive. Why it matters: delays are when the price gap between “booked car” and “curb hail” collapses — at 3 AM with dead trains, the pre-booked ride isn’t a luxury, it’s the only plan.
Case Study 3 — The Honest Balancing Note (Wait-Time Billing)
The situation: a reviewer (April 2025, Trustpilot) disputed waiting fees — the stated 90-minute grace was measured from actual landing, not scheduled arrival — and concluded Uber was cheaper from JFK. Why it matters: the most common billing dispute in private transfers, and the lesson fits every operator: confirm in writing when the wait clock starts — wheels-down, scheduled arrival, or first driver text. Get it in the confirmation email, not the phone call.
Fact 7: The Landing-to-Times-Square Checklist
Save this for the plane. It works from any of the three airports near Times Square New York:
- ☐ Before you land: decide your priority — cheapest (subway/bus), fastest rail (LIRR/NJ Transit), or door-to-door (taxi/private car). Check MTA or NJ Transit service alerts for weekend track work.
- ☐ At JFK: follow signs for AirTrain, then choose your connection — subway at Howard Beach or Jamaica ($11.75 total), LIRR at Jamaica (~$14–$16 total), or the taxi line for the $70 flat fare.
- ☐ At LaGuardia: follow signs for public transit to the free Q70 bus; ride to Jackson Heights, then the subway ($3 total) straight to Times Square–42nd St.
- ☐ At Newark: take AirTrain to the rail station, then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station (~$15–$19); from Penn Station it’s a 10-minute walk or one subway stop to Times Square. After 2 AM, pre-book — the trains stop running.
- ☐ At the curb: use official taxi stands and marked ground-transportation areas only. The Port Authority actively enforces against unlicensed solicitors at all three airports — never follow anyone offering rides inside the terminal.
- ☐ In the car: for yellow cabs, confirm the meter is running (JFK flat should read Rate #2); for private cars, confirm your name and the quoted total before loading bags — and confirm when any wait-time clock starts.
The Industry, in Honest Terms
The market serving the airports near Times Square New York is three businesses in one trench coat. Public transit (MTA, NJ Transit, AirTrain) is absurdly cheap on fixed fares — weak on luggage, stairs, and the 2–5 AM gap. Yellow cabs are the regulated middle: the JFK flat fare is one of the best consumer protections in US ground transport, while the metered EWR run is where visitors get surprised. Then the app layer — Uber and Lyft — whose genuine positive is a car in six minutes at midnight. The honest downside: the price you see is a weather report, not a quote.
Traditional car services like Carmel and Dial 7 are the fourth corner: pre-booked, human dispatchers, often the cheapest private quotes in the city. Their weakness, visible across review platforms, is reliability variance — the low quote only counts if the car shows up. One regulatory fact worth memorizing: the TLC requires standard black car operators to carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage. Any operator worth your money has a TLC license number you can verify at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/. If they won’t give you the number, you have your answer.
Where does JetBlack fit among the airports near Times Square New York options? Its published JFK–Manhattan economy sedan fare starts at $65 — under the cab’s $76.75 all-in flat on paper — with larger and luxury vehicles higher ($90–$150 LGA, $75–$150 EWR). Per standing policy, those flats exclude tolls, the 20% recommended gratuity, and governmental fees, calculated before final confirmation — the opposite of the industry trick this guide warns about: the quote that looks complete until it isn’t.
Closing: Pick the Airport, Then Pick Your Trade
The brochures skip the big picture: among the airports near Times Square New York, there is no single “best” — only a best for your situation. LaGuardia with a carry-on and an afternoon arrival? The $3 Q70-and-subway combo is almost unfair value. JFK at rush hour with two kids? The LIRR+AirTrain thread through Jamaica. Newark after midnight? Book the car before you board — the trains are asleep and the meter is awake.
And one neutral tip that works everywhere in this guide: screenshot the fare — the MTA page, the NJ Transit ticket, the TLC rate card, the email confirmation — before you travel. The system serving the airports near Times Square New York is honest if you know the numbers, and the numbers are all public. The only travelers who overpay are the ones who decide at the curb.
Infographic: Airports Near Times Square New York — 2026 comparison (JFK vs LGA vs EWR). Data brief: three-column comparison — distance to Times Square, cheapest public option, fastest rail option, taxi realistic range, plus TLC insurance floor and review scores.
Which airport near Times Square New York is the closest?
LaGuardia (LGA) is the closest airport near Times Square New York, at roughly 6 miles away — about half the distance of JFK (13 miles) and Newark (11 miles). The catch is that LaGuardia has no rail link, so the shortest distance doesn’t automatically mean the shortest trip. The free Q70 bus plus a $3 subway ride covers those 6 miles in about 45 to 60 minutes, which is competitive with any option from the farther airports.
Is LaGuardia closer than JFK among the airports near Times Square New York?
Yes — LaGuardia is roughly 6 miles from Times Square while JFK is roughly 13 miles, so LGA wins on distance by a wide margin. But JFK fights back with infrastructure: it has the AirTrain plus two rail connections into Manhattan, while LaGuardia’s only public option starts with a bus. In practice, a JFK arrival on the LIRR can reach Midtown in 35 to 45 minutes, which is often faster than the crosstown bus-and-subway journey from closer LaGuardia during rush hour.
What is the cheapest way to get from JFK to Times Square?
The cheapest way to get from JFK to Times Square is the subway plus AirTrain for $11.75 total — a $3 subway fare to Howard Beach or Jamaica, then the $8.75 AirTrain to your terminal. The whole trip takes about 60 to 75 minutes depending on connections. No private option comes close on price: the yellow-cab flat fare alone is $70 before surcharges, and rideshares surge well past that in bad weather.
How much is a taxi from JFK to Times Square?
A yellow taxi from JFK to Times Square costs a flat $70 fare, which becomes $76.75 after the mandatory surcharges ($0.50 MTA, $1 improvement, $2 JFK access, $2.50 state congestion, $0.75 congestion-pricing toll) — before tunnel tolls and tip. On weekdays between 4 and 8 PM a $5 rush surcharge pushes the base to $81.75. Times Square sits below 96th Street in Manhattan, so the flat fare always applies; confirm the meter reads Rate #2 before you pull away.
Is the Q70 bus from LaGuardia to Times Square really free?
Yes — the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is permanently fare-free for all riders, per the MTA, running every 8 to 10 minutes between LaGuardia’s terminals and the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue subway station. You only pay when you enter the subway ($3 fare), making the full journey from LaGuardia to Times Square about $3. The buses have luggage racks and you can board through any door, which makes it genuinely practical with a suitcase, not just a budget stunt.
How do I get from Newark Airport to Times Square?
The best-value route from Newark Airport to Times Square is AirTrain Newark to the rail station, then NJ Transit to New York Penn Station for about $15 to $19 total, with the train taking roughly 26 minutes. From Penn Station it’s a 10-minute walk or one subway stop to Times Square. Just remember two things: NJ Transit doesn’t run between about 2 AM and 5 AM, and you want New York Penn Station — not Newark Penn Station, the similarly-named New Jersey stop one station earlier.
Why is there no flat-rate taxi fare from Newark to Manhattan?
There is no flat-rate taxi fare from Newark to Manhattan because EWR is in New Jersey, outside the TLC’s flat-fare zone that covers JFK–Manhattan trips. Newark rides run on the meter for the entire trip, plus a Newark surcharge, tunnel tolls in both directions, and tip — which is why a realistic all-in total lands between $95 and $130. This is the single biggest pricing surprise for first-time visitors, who reasonably assume all three airports work like JFK.
Is Uber or a yellow taxi cheaper from JFK to Times Square?
Off-peak, Uber or Lyft can undercut the yellow taxi’s $76.75 all-in flat fare — but only off-peak. The taxi’s price is printed on the TLC rate card and never surges, while rideshare pricing floats with demand and routinely passes $100 to $150 during rain, rush hour, or flight banks. If your flight lands on a Friday evening in a downpour, the taxi line is both cheaper and faster than watching the surge multiplier climb on your phone.
Do private car services charge waiting time if my flight is delayed?
Most private car services include a grace period for airport pickups — commonly 30 to 60 minutes for domestic arrivals and up to 60 for international — then charge per minute after it expires, often around $1 per minute. The dispute that generates the most one-star reviews is when that clock starts: some operators start it at wheels-down rather than at your scheduled arrival time. Always get the grace period and the start trigger in writing in your confirmation email before you book, with any operator.
What is the best airport near Times Square New York for a late-night arrival?
For arrivals after midnight, JFK is the most forgiving of the airports near Times Square New York because the subway runs 24 hours and yellow cabs queue around the clock. NJ Transit stops running between about 2 AM and 5 AM, which strands the Newark train option, and LaGuardia’s Q70 bus thins out overnight. If you land anywhere between 1 and 5 AM, pre-book a car or budget for a taxi — the $3 public-transit plays mostly go to sleep even though the city doesn’t.
Are the airport trains to Times Square wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility varies by route: the AirTrain systems at JFK and Newark are fully accessible, and Jamaica and Howard Beach stations have elevators, but not every subway station on the connecting routes does — check the MTA’s accessible-stations list before relying on elevators at Jackson Heights. NJ Transit’s airport rail station is accessible. If elevators are a concern, a yellow taxi or pre-booked accessible car service removes the guesswork; when booking a private car, request an accessible vehicle explicitly rather than assuming one will be assigned.
How can I verify an airport car service is TLC-licensed?
You can verify any NYC car service’s TLC license at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/ by searching the company or driver name — legitimate operators publish their TLC license number and won’t hesitate to give it to you. TLC rules also require standard black car operators to carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage. If a curbside solicitor inside the terminal can’t produce a license number, walk away: the Port Authority actively enforces against unlicensed ride solicitation at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
Sources
- MTA — Getting to Manhattan from LaGuardia Airport (Q70 fare-free; subway $3; LIRR Woodside $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak; accessed 2026-10-03)
- Office of the Governor of New York — Q70 fare-free announcement
- NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission — tlc.nyc.gov (JFK $70 flat fare structure; black car insurance minimums $100,000/$300,000; license verification at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/; fare facts verified 2026-10-02)
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey — panynj.gov (airport ground-transportation information; for-hire pickup/drop-off fee)
- NJ Transit — njtransit.com (Newark Airport rail station to New York Penn Station fares and schedules)
- Trustpilot — JetBlack Transportation reviews (4.2/5.0 across 47 reviews; accessed 2026-10-03; case studies paraphrased, never verbatim)
- Rome2Rio — airports near Times Square (approximate driving distances: LGA ~6 mi, EWR ~11 mi, JFK ~13 mi; third-party estimates, flagged as approximate)
- JetBlack Transportation owner price list (2026-10-03) — hourly rates by vehicle class; flat rates exclude tolls, 20% recommended gratuity, governmental fees and on-trip amenities
Methodology: fares and regulations verified against official sources (MTA, NJ Transit, TLC, Port Authority) on October 3, 2026. Distances are approximate driving distances from third-party routing. Review scores verified live on the review platforms on the date noted. JetBlack’s own rates per the owner’s October 3, 2026 price list. Prices and schedules change — verify before you travel. Corrections: JetBlack, 34 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, +1-646-214-4828.
Disclaimer: all fares, fees, and schedules were verified as of October 2026 and are subject to change by the operating agencies. This guide compares options independently; it is not affiliated with the MTA, NJ Transit, the Port Authority, or the TLC.
