Airport Transportation
If you think a cab isn't a great option for your family, there are plenty of alternatives. For information about ground transportation from any of New York's three major airports, call the Port Authority Ground Transportation Hotline at 1-800-247-7433.
Bus or ShuttleNew York Airport Service buses go directly to Manhattan's major destinations. Fare from JFK is $15 per person, and a roundtrip ticket costs $27. The fare from LaGuardia is $12 per person, and a roundtrip ticket costs $21. One child under twelve is free for every full-fare adult. Senior and student discounts are available at the Grand Central office. Call 718-875-8200 or find information online at
Airlink is another van shuttle service that offers door-to-door service. The fare is $17 from JFK and $15 from LaGuardia or Newark. Find more information at 1-800-490-3229 or
Super Shuttle provides a blue van on twenty-four-hour call to all destinations in Manhattan. Charges are based on zip code and range from $13 to $22, with discounts for additional family members. For more information, call 212-964-6233 or visit
If you rent a car, you can get to Manhattan from JFK by taking the Van Wyck Expressway to the Long Island Expressway. Head west to the Midtown Tunnel, which will deposit you in the east thirties in Manhattan. You can also take the Grand Central Expressway and proceed over the Triborough Bridge — but watch the signs because the bridge also goes to the Bronx — and follow the signs for Manhattan/FDR Drive. You can also take the Belt Parkway around Brooklyn to the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway and go over the Brooklyn Bridge to Lower Manhattan. Alternately, follow signs to the Gowanus Expressway and take the Battery Tunnel into Lower Manhattan, but be ready to pay a toll.
Driving from LaGuardiaIf you rent a car, you can get to Manhattan from LaGuardia by going west on Grand Central Parkway, which will take you to the Triborough Bridge — but watch the signs, because the bridge also goes to the Bronx! Look for the sign for Manhattan/FDR Drive. If you're going to lower Manhattan, you can also get the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway from Grand Central Parkway and head to the Williamsburg or Brooklyn Bridge.
Driving from NewarkIf you rent a car, you can get to Manhattan from Newark by following the airport exit signs to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) north. Take the turnpike, following signs for the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge. The Holland Tunnel goes into lower Manhattan, the Lincoln Tunnel goes into midtown Manhattan, just south of Forty-second Street, and the George Washington Bridge enters the city near the upper tip of Manhattan, around 178th Street.
AirTrain JFKAirTrain JFK is a cheap, relatively efficient way to get around the airport and into midtown via the New York subways and buses or the Long Island Rail Road. It is free to use within the airport to connect between terminals. When you leave the airport, a $5 fee can be taken off New York's subway MetroCard. Children under five are free. During rush hours, it is definitely the way to go. It runs twenty-four hours, seven days a week, and is heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. For more information, call 1-877-535-2478 or visit
A few tips for driving in New York: Unless a sign specifies otherwise (a rarity), you cannot make right turns on a red light in New York City. People frequently cross against the light in Manhattan, so watch out for pedestrians. Do not leave your car unattended unless it is parked and locked with valuables out of sight. Remember to retract your radio antenna.
If you prefer public transportation, take AirTrain Newark, an ele-vated train that loops around the airport and connects with Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. This will get you quickly into midtown or the Northeast Corridor. Use is free within the airport to connect between terminals, hotel shuttles, and rental cars. When you buy a ticket for Amtrak or Jersey Transit, the fare is included. It runs twenty-four hours, seven days a week, and is heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. For more information, call 1-888-397-4636 or visit
Olympia Trails Newark Liberty Airport Express buses leave for the Port Authority, Bryant Park, and Grand Central every fifteen to thirty minutes from 4
