LaGuardia is the closest of New York's airports to Midtown and to most of our hotels, but it has no train. The two real choices are a metered yellow cab, typically 19–33 minutes to our hotels, or the free Q70 bus to the subway. Below is each way in, where it leaves from at LaGuardia, and the way we would reach each of our ten hotels.
The short answer
With bags, take a yellow cab from the rank outside arrivals: it is metered, and the airport estimates $30–52 to Times Square before tips, tolls and congestion charges; our hotels are typically 19–33 minutes away. With light bags, ride the free Q70 LaGuardia Link to Jackson Heights in 8–13 minutes and take the subway into Manhattan for $3. There is no flat fare from LaGuardia.
From the dispatcher's rank: kerbside on Level 2 outside Terminal B arrivals, Level 1 at Terminal C. Our usual way from LaGuardia: short, door to door, and with no train to compare it with.
From the MTA stops on Level 1 at Terminal B and outside Terminal C arrivals, every 6–10 minutes by day and every 20 minutes overnight. At Jackson Heights, change to the E, F, M, R or 7. The cheap way for light travellers.
The quickest public route into Midtown when the trains line up. Not every LIRR train stops at Woodside, so check the board.
Stops at Terminals B and C and runs along 125th Street, with stops at Lexington Avenue, Malcolm X Boulevard, St Nicholas Avenue and 116th Street-Columbia University. Handy for the Upper West Side and Harlem, not for our hotels.
The driver meets you on Level 2 of the Terminal B garage or in the inner arrivals lane at Terminal C. Worth it for late or delayed flights, families who need child seats, and a fixed price in heavy traffic.
Midtown
About 22 minutes to Central Park South: the meter is short, and the cab stops at the door.
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is about 25 minutes by cab, far quicker than the bus and two subway lines.
About 26 minutes on the meter; with no train from LaGuardia, the taxi wins with any luggage.
Financial District
Our furthest hotel from LaGuardia, still only about 33 minutes; the airport's estimate to Tribeca and the Civic Center, nearby, is $34–57.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
About 25 minutes to the Brooklyn waterfront; the airport estimates $28–50 to Downtown Brooklyn.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Our closest hotel to LaGuardia, about 19 minutes by cab, with no change of train to worry about.
Lower East Side
About 26 minutes to the Lower East Side door; by bus and subway it takes two changes.
Chelsea
About 28 minutes by cab to West 23rd Street, the simple choice with bags.
JFK Airport, Queens
About 29 minutes in light traffic across Queens to JFK Terminal 5 for a connection or an early flight; the airport estimates about $60 by taxi to JFK.
Lower East Side
About 25 minutes on the meter to the Bowery, far quicker than the bus and subway.
Yellow cabs from LaGuardia run on the standard meter, which must read $3.00 at the start. The Taxi and Limousine Commission adds a $5 LaGuardia surcharge and the Port Authority a $2 access fee on pick-ups, and trips into Manhattan below 96th Street add the congestion surcharge. The airport's own estimates, before tips, tolls and congestion pricing: $30–52 to Times Square and the Theater District, $34–57 to Tribeca, $24–45 to Morningside Heights and $28–50 to Downtown Brooklyn. One fare covers everyone going to the same place; cabs take four, minivans five.
Yes, and it is quick: 8–13 minutes to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue, where five subway lines meet, and 12–17 minutes to Woodside for the LIRR. It serves Terminals B and C and runs through the night. Tap the same contactless card or phone on the subway and the transfer is free within 2 hours. With a large case each, the stairs and changes make the taxi the better buy for two or more.
The taxi ranks at both terminals serve late flights. The Q70 keeps running overnight every 20 minutes, so the bus and subway still work for light travellers. A pre-booked driver tracks your flight and waits if it lands late.
A yellow cab from Manhattan runs on the meter; our hotels are typically 19–33 minutes away. By public transport, take the subway to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue or the LIRR to Woodside and the free Q70 to Terminals B or C. Departures drop off at the kerb outside each terminal; at Terminal B, American offers kerbside bag check for $4 a bag on top of the usual fees, and Southwest and Delta (at Terminal C) for no extra charge.
Questions people ask
With bags, a yellow cab: the airport estimates $30–52 to Times Square before tips, tolls and congestion charges. With light bags, the free Q70 bus to Jackson Heights and the subway, $3.
No. The free Q70 bus links both terminals to the subway at Jackson Heights and the LIRR at Woodside.
No. Unlike JFK, LaGuardia taxis run on the meter, with a $5 LaGuardia surcharge and $2 airport access fee.
Typically 22–26 minutes to The Plaza, The Carlyle and The Fifth Avenue Hotel, and 19–33 minutes to all our Manhattan and Brooklyn hotels.
The airport estimates about $60, taking 30–60 minutes.
Image credits: Tdorante10 (CC BY-SA 4.0)