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This post is about how to travel from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan and back, including by subway, bus, train, shared shuttle and taxi. If you arrive before your check-in, then learn about where to store your luggage.
LaGuardia Airport, located in the borough of Queens, is the closest airport to Midtown Manhattan (about 8 miles or 13 km away). It is a small airport but some international flights do arrive here.
This is the cheapest option. It is only $2.75! You can get to and from LaGuardia from any location in New York City entirely via public transportation, but you will most likely have to transfer between a bus and subway, depending on your destination.
Regardless of how you get here, we recommend using this link to Google Maps and enter your destination address to get exact directions.
There are 2 ways to go by public transport: take the Q70 to the subway or the M60 to the subway.
Q70 LTD bus to the subway
Rolled out in 2016, the Q70 has dramatically reduced travel time to Manhattan. For tourists staying in Manhattan, this is likely the route that you will take.
A step by step tutorial.
The Q70 provides direct service 24 hours a day from the airport to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave subway station in Queens. There you can transfer for free to the E, M, F, R and 7 subway lines which go into Manhattan.
M60 bus to 125th Street
The M60 bus travels from the airport into Harlem in Upper Manhattan. Once In Manhattan, the bus travels along 125th Street. This option is likely the best for people staying in Harlem and other northern reaches of Manhattan.
You can exit the bus at three stops and take the subway:
You will need to purchase a MetroCard at the airport from the vending machines located throughout the terminals. Read our posts on how to buy a MetroCard and tips on mastering the NYC subway system.
For more information on bus/subway transportation service from LaGuardia click here.
Two companies, GoAirLink and SuperShuttle, are ride-sharing services that have the door-to-door benefits of a taxi but could be significantly cheaper, depending on the number in your group.
You will be assigned to a van with other passengers heading to the same general area as you. You can request GoAirLink and SuperShuttle from the ground transportation desk in the baggage claim area. You can also book online in advance.
Tip: If you are considering purchasing a tourist attraction pass, City Sightseeing has a pass that comes with a bonus free shuttle ride from your Manhattan hotel to JFK, LaGuardia or Newark Airport using GoAirLink.
It’s called the FreeStyle Pass Pick 7 and includes 3 days of hop-on-hop-off bus services, your choice of free entry to top attractions, a night tour a free ferry ride and much more.
NYC Express Bus is the official bus operator for the NYC Department of Transportation.
At LaGuardia, you can find the bus at Terminals B, C, and D. Look for the red signs. The bus goes into Manhattan and drops passengers at THREE locations:
To all destinations from LaGuardia:
Cost: $16.00 per person (Children 5 and under are free)
Each ticket includes two suitcases and one carry-on bag. More than that and you must pay an additional fee.
Travel Time: Approximately 60 minutes – 2 hours.
Hours of Operation: 7 days a week, 11 am – 7 pm, every hour on the hour.
Pros:
Cons:
Taxis from LaGuardia are metered rather than flat rate, as with JFK. Because it is geographically closer, trips from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan will be quite a bit cheaper than trips from JFK.
You can get a taxi at the Taxi Stand outside of Baggage Claim. The same cautions apply when it comes to accepting rides from solicitors in the airport.
Hoping to avoid the hassle of taking public transportation? Consider using a private car service. GroundLink is a black car service that specializes in airport transfer. They’ll take you to the airport from anywhere in the city.
Guests are also able to see the cost of the service before requesting it, so there are no surprises when the bill rolls around. They’re also incredibly dedicated to timeliness.
If a driver is more than 5 minutes late in picking you up from your destination, then a $75 credit is added to your account.
You can take Uber, Lyft and other ride-share apps to and from LaGuardia Airport. Drivers may pick you up outside of the baggage claim from each terminal.
Read our post on using Uber cars in NYC.
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