PWM to NYC: 5 Best, Honest Ways to Get from Portland to New York in 2027

Fly nonstop. The most convenient way to get from Portland, Maine (PWM) to New York City is a nonstop flight from Portland International Jetport to LaGuardia or JFK — about 1 hour 20 minutes gate to gate, roughly an hour in the air, on American or Delta. Driving the 315 miles down I-95 takes 5.5 to 6 hours, the train takes 7 to 8 hours with a transfer in Boston, and the bus takes 6 hours at best and usually longer — so flying wins on time by hours, and JetBlack meets you at LaGuardia, JFK, or Newark for the final ride into Manhattan.

Imagine stepping off a morning flight from Portland at LaGuardia, bags in hand, with a meeting in Midtown at noon. The flight was the easy part — the part that decides whether the day works is the hour after landing: which airport you chose, how you get into Manhattan, and whether the car was booked before you left Maine. This page ranks the five real ways to make the trip, with the times and fares checked this week, so you can pick the one that fits your day instead of discovering the trade-offs at the curb.

Written by David Williams · Fact-checked by Alex Freeman, Editor-in-Chief · Last verified November 2026

Fly nonstop: the fastest way by hours

American and Delta fly nonstop between Portland International Jetport and New York, landing at LaGuardia and JFK. The flight is about 1 hour 20 minutes gate to gate, with roughly an hour in the air, across about 270 miles. LaGuardia is the closest landing to Manhattan; JFK carries the deeper schedule. Book the earliest nonstop you can, and book airport transportation from New York LaGuardia before you leave Maine — a connecting flight through another hub turns the fastest option into the slowest, and the nonstop is the whole point of flying this route. If you land at Newark instead, book transportation from Newark Airport to Manhattan the same way, in advance, rather than sorting it out at the curb.

• Nonstop flights on American and Delta to LaGuardia and JFK
• About 1 hour 20 minutes gate to gate, roughly an hour in the air
• LaGuardia is the closest landing to Manhattan
• About 270 miles by air between Portland and New York

Drive: 315 miles down I-95

The drive from Portland to New York City runs about 315 miles down I-95, through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and takes 5.5 to 6 hours with clear roads. Plan on 6 to 7 hours once you count the Connecticut stretch, fuel, and a stop — the I-95 corridor through Connecticut is the part that most often adds an hour. Driving wins when two or more people travel together with luggage: the cost stays flat while a second plane ticket doubles it, and the car is yours at the far end. Budget for tolls along the Maine Turnpike and the New York crossings, and check the traffic before the Connecticut line rather than after it.

Train: the comfortable way, with a transfer in Boston

There is no direct train from Portland to New York. The route is the Amtrak Downeaster from Portland to Boston North Station — about two and a half hours — then a transfer across Boston to South Station, about a mile on foot or by subway or taxi, for a Northeast Regional or Acela train to New York Penn Station, about three and a half to four hours more. The fastest booked itineraries run about 6 hours; most run 7 to 8 hours door to door once the transfer is counted. It is the most comfortable way to make the trip — no driving, no tunnel traffic, room to work — but it is a full day, and a tight connection in Boston can strand you for hours, so leave a generous gap between the two trains. Once you reach Penn Station, the travel time by limo from the airports shows how JetBlack prices the same kind of timed, door-to-door leg when you need a car waiting on arrival.

Bus: the cheapest seat, the longest day

Concord Coach Lines runs the fastest buses between Portland and New York, about 6 hours, with two departures a day; Greyhound runs more departures, most of them slower, and the average bus on the route takes about 8 hours and 45 minutes. Fares are the lowest of the four options, typically $31 to $131 depending on how far ahead you book. The bus makes sense when the budget matters more than the clock, or when you would rather sleep than drive — it drops you in Midtown, at Port Authority or East 42nd Street, with the subway at your feet. Traveling as a group changes the math again: a customized private charter itinerary can beat a row of bus tickets when the whole party needs to arrive together.

The New York end: JetBlack from the airport

JetBlack does not operate in Maine — the Portland end of the trip is the flight, the train, or the bus. Where JetBlack fits is the New York end: a private, chauffeur-driven car waiting at LaGuardia, JFK, or Newark when you land, booked in advance for a specific time and date, with the price agreed in writing before the car moves. An economy sedan from JFK to Manhattan is a $65 flat fare, and hourly service in an Economy Sedan is $45 an hour with a 3-hour minimum. Tell the dispatcher what you are bringing — handling luggage and any special requests is part of the booking, so the vehicle fits your party and your bags. Child seats are about $35 per seat, confirmed at booking, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles are provided on request. There is a minimum rental period for limo services, and you cannot hire a limo for an hour without a driver — every JetBlack booking is chauffeur-driven. Dispatch runs 24/7 at +1-646-214-4828, cancellation is free before your booking is confirmed, and after confirmation it costs $31 in total: $25 plus $5 in fees plus a $1 technology fee. A 20% tip is suggested and not included, and tolls and governmental fees sit outside the quoted fare. JetBlack runs the same kind of long airport-to-town service all over the region — car service from JFK to Binghamton, a stretch limo from JFK to Troy, and car service from JFK to Woodstock — so a Portland arrival landing at a New York airport is a routine booking, not a special case.

Questions travelers ask

Sources

• FlightSphere — Flight time from Portland, ME to New York, from US Department of Transportation data: 1 hour 22 minutes, 58 minutes in the air, 269 miles; Delta and American fly direct, accessed 2026-11-10
• Opodo — Cheap flights from Portland to New York City: American Airlines and JetBlue Airways operate direct flights, accessed 2026-11-10
• Trippy — How far is New York City from Portland, Maine: 316 miles, 5 hours 6 minutes nonstop driving, accessed 2026-11-10
• 1map — New York to Portland route comparison: 312 miles, 5 hours 36 minutes driving, accessed 2026-11-10
• Omio — Portland, ME to New York, NY trains: fastest 6 hours 4 minutes, average 6 hours 40 minutes, no direct service, accessed 2026-11-10
• Amtrak Booking Deals — Amtrak New York City to Maine train 2026: no direct train, Downeaster to Boston North Station then Northeast Regional or Acela from South Station, Boston to Portland about two and a half hours, accessed 2026-11-10
• Wanderu — Portland, ME to New York, NY bus: fastest Concord Coach Lines bus 6 hours, average about 8 hours 45 minutes, accessed 2026-11-10
• JetBlack Transportation — owner-confirmed service facts (24/7 dispatch, written per-trip quotes, cancellation $31 breakdown, 20% suggested tip, Economy Sedan $45/hr with 3-hour minimum, JFK–Manhattan economy $65 flat, child seats ~$35/seat for a fee, wheelchair-accessible vehicles provided), confirmed 2026-10-26, accessed 2026-11-10

JetBlack Transportation · 34 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001 · +1-646-214-4828 · Prices verified November 2026 and subject to change — confirm your fixed quote in writing before you travel