A taxi from Newark Airport, known as EWR, to LaGuardia Airport, known as LGA, takes 60 to 90 minutes and costs about $110 before tolls and surcharges, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The drive itself can be as quick as about 38 minutes with no traffic (40 to 55 minutes in light traffic), but on a normal day you should plan on the full hour to an hour and a half, and in heavy traffic it can pass two hours.
The two airports look close on a map — only about 22 to 23 miles of road apart — but the taxi has to cross New Jersey, a Hudson River tunnel or the George Washington Bridge, and the whole width of Manhattan and Queens to reach LaGuardia. That is why the clock matters more than the mileage here, and why a tight connection is the one trip you should never cut fine.
Written by David Williams · Fact-checked by Alex Freeman, Editor-in-Chief · Last verified November 2026
How long the taxi takes at each time of day
The Port Authority figure of 60 to 90 minutes is the planning number, and the other guides checked for this page line up with it. Route data puts the off-peak drive at about 38 minutes for the 22.5-mile road distance, and the average rideshare trip runs about 61 minutes over about 28 miles, which tells you the typical day is already well past the off-peak number. A transfer operator’s day-by-day breakdown is more precise: 40 to 55 minutes in light traffic, 45 to 70 minutes in normal traffic, and 70 to 110 minutes in peak traffic, with heavy traffic adding another 20 to 45 minutes on top.
- Light traffic, usually late at night — 40 to 55 minutes
- Normal daytime traffic — 45 to 70 minutes
- Peak traffic, weekday mornings and evenings — 70 to 110 minutes
- Heavy traffic, incidents or bad weather — 75 to 120 minutes, plus 20 to 45 minutes of added delay
The route is the New Jersey Turnpike out of EWR, then the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge into New York, then the Grand Central Parkway to LaGuardia. The driver picks the crossing on the day, because the fastest one changes with the hour and with incidents, and no single crossing is always quickest. Taxis are available outside every EWR terminal, with a dispatcher at the stand to help you get a cab. If you are comparing the other direction, see how long it takes to transfer from LaGuardia to JFK Airport for the other airport-to-airport move, and how to get from Newark Airport to the city if Manhattan is your destination instead.
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What the taxi costs, and why there is no flat fare
There is no flat fare for this trip, which surprises travelers who know the $70 flat fare from JFK to Manhattan. A taxi from EWR runs on the meter, so the fare grows with the traffic, and the Port Authority estimates about $110 before tolls and surcharges. One route guide lists the taxi at $130 to $170, so treat $110 as the Port Authority metered estimate before tolls and surcharges and $130 to $170 as a separate guide’s higher estimate. Tolls sit on top of the meter, and the meter keeps running in slow traffic, so a jam costs you twice: once in time and once in fare. That is the honest case for a fixed quote. JetBlack agrees the price in writing before the car moves, so a jam on the turnpike does not change your number, and cancellation is free before your booking is confirmed. A child seat costs about $35 per seat, confirmed at booking, and it is never free, so mention it when you book. Before you ride, check what to look for when choosing a car service for your trip and the different types of vehicles available for NYC cab services, and if you are traveling with a group, see how to arrange a group car service for a special event.
The public transport alternative, and planning a connection
Public transport between the airports exists, but it involves several changes of vehicle and it is slower than the taxi. The Port Authority guide gives two routes: take the Newark Airport Express Bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, then the subway to Jackson Heights and the free Q70 bus to LGA; or take the AirTrain at EWR to the Newark Airport train station, NJ Transit to Penn Station, the Long Island Rail Road one stop to Woodside, and the free Q70 bus to LGA. Either way you are changing vehicles at least twice with luggage, so it suits a traveler with time to spare and a light bag, not a tight connection. If you are catching a flight out of LGA, work backwards from check-in and use 90 minutes for the taxi as your planning number, not the 38-minute off-peak drive. The same rule holds on the reverse trip — see the LGA Airport to EWR Airport transfer facts — and if your journey starts further out, the transportation options for traveling from Philadelphia to New York and how long it takes to travel from LaGuardia to Philadelphia cover the longer legs. A Newark transfer booked in advance, with the driver waiting at arrivals, is the one option that removes both the taxi queue and the meter from the equation.
Questions travelers ask
How long does it take to travel from EWR to LGA by taxi?
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimates 60 to 90 minutes by taxi between EWR and LGA, at about $110 before tolls and surcharges. In light traffic the drive can take 40 to 55 minutes, in normal traffic 45 to 70 minutes, and in peak traffic 70 to 110 minutes or more.
How far is EWR from LGA?
The road distance between Newark Airport and LaGuardia Airport is about 22 to 23 miles, and the drive takes about 38 minutes with no traffic. The average rideshare trip runs about 61 minutes over about 28 miles, because the usual route is longer than the shortest road distance.
What is the fastest route from EWR to LGA?
Take the New Jersey Turnpike out of EWR, then the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge into New York, then the Grand Central Parkway to LaGuardia. The driver picks the crossing on the day, because the fastest one changes with the hour and with traffic incidents.
How much does a taxi from EWR to LGA cost?
There is no flat fare: the taxi runs on the meter, and the Port Authority estimates about $110 before tolls and surcharges. One route guide lists the taxi at $130 to $170, and slow traffic raises the meter, so a fixed quote agreed in writing before travel protects you from a jam raising the fare.
Sources
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — Transferring Between Airports Guide, EWR: taxis between EWR and LGA, estimated travel time 60 to 90 minutes, estimated fare $110, trips subject to additional tolls and surcharges, shuttle 45 to 90 minutes, public transport routes via Newark Airport Express Bus and AirTrain plus NJ Transit, accessed 2026-11-10
- Rome2Rio — Newark Airport (EWR) to New York La Guardia Airport (LGA): drive 22.5 miles, 38 minutes, taxi 38 minutes at $130 to $170, road distance 22.6 miles, accessed 2026-11-10
- Uber — Newark Airport (EWR) to LaGuardia Airport District: average travel time 1.0 hours, average route distance 28 miles, average duration 61 minutes, accessed 2026-11-10
- RideSoHo — Newark Airport to LaGuardia Airport, updated 2026-11-04: 40 to 55 minutes light traffic, 45 to 70 minutes normal traffic, 70 to 110 minutes peak traffic, 75 to 120 minutes heavy traffic, driver picks tunnel or bridge on the day, accessed 2026-11-10
- NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission — Taxi Fare: $70 JFK to Manhattan flat fare, metered fare rules, accessed 2026-11-10
- JetBlack Transportation — owner-confirmed service facts (fixed quote agreed in writing before travel, free cancellation before confirmation, child seats about $35 per seat for a fee, 24/7 dispatch at +1-646-214-4828), confirmed 2026-10-26, accessed 2026-11-10
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