How far is JFK from Times Square? About 16 to 17 miles (26 to 27 km) by road. That sounds like a short hop until New York traffic enters the picture. The same trip can take around 35 minutes on an empty early-morning highway and well over an hour at rush hour, while the subway route usually lands somewhere between 50 and 75 minutes.
This guide gives you the distance, realistic times for different hours of the day, and a plain comparison of every way to make the trip, so you can choose what fits your luggage, budget and arrival time.
Distance From JFK Airport to Times Square in Miles and Kilometers
JFK sits in southeastern Queens on the edge of Jamaica Bay. Times Square is in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, around Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Driving between the two is about 16 to 17 miles, or roughly 26 to 27 kilometers, depending on your terminal and the exact street you're heading for.
You'll see other figures online, anywhere from 15 to 18 miles, and none of them is really wrong. A straight line on a map is shorter than any road route. A hotel on West 47th Street is a few blocks farther than one on 42nd. Even the terminal matters, because JFK is huge and each terminal has its own access road.
The distance from JFK to Times Square, NY, also isn't the number that decides your evening. For comparison, LaGuardia is only about 8 miles from Times Square, while Newark is roughly as far out as JFK. What separates these airports in practice is how long the ride takes, which is why time is a better planning tool than mileage.
How Long the Trip Really Takes
Treat any single travel time with suspicion. Most drivers leave the airport by the Van Wyck Expressway, join the Long Island Expressway and enter Manhattan through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Every one of those pieces can back up.
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Early morning or late at night: around 30 to 45 minutes by car when roads are clear.
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Midday and weekends: commonly 45 to 60 minutes.
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Weekday evenings, roughly 4 to 8 p.m.: 75 minutes or more is normal, and a bad day can stretch toward two hours.
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Heavy rain, snow or a crash near the tunnel: all estimates go out the window. Even a light snowfall can turn a 50-minute ride into a very long one.
Public transit is less sensitive to road traffic, but it has its own variables: waiting for the AirTrain, changing at Jamaica station, and weekend track work that can reroute trains.
None of these figures include the time it takes to leave the airport. Immigration, baggage claim and the walk to a pickup point can add 30 minutes or much more on an international arrival, so landing at 6 p.m. doesn't mean you'll be at your hotel by 7. If you want fewer moving parts once you've landed, arranging a JFK airport transfer in advance means your ride is settled before the plane touches down.
Ways to Get From JFK to Times Square
There's no direct train from the airport to Times Square, so every route involves either a connection or a car.
AirTrain and Subway
This is the cheapest option. The AirTrain links the terminals with two rail connections: Jamaica station (E, J and Z subway lines plus the Long Island Rail Road) and Howard Beach (A line). Riding the AirTrain inside the airport is free, but you pay when you enter or leave the system at Jamaica or Howard Beach.
As of 2026, the AirTrain fare is about $8.75 and a subway ride is $3.00, which puts the total near $11.75. Fares change, so confirm them with the MTA before you travel. You pay by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstile, because the old MetroCard has been phased out.
From Jamaica, take the E train to 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal, then walk a few minutes east to reach Times Square. Count on 50 to 75 minutes in total. Both the AirTrain and the subway run around the clock, which helps if your flight lands late.
The trade-off is luggage. Jamaica station is large, with stairs and level changes, and the E train can be crowded on weekday evenings. With one carry-on, it works well. With two big suitcases and a stroller, it can be a slog.
AirTrain and the Long Island Rail Road
Faster but pricier. Ride the AirTrain to Jamaica, then take a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station, a trip of roughly 20 minutes. Door to door, expect about 35 to 50 minutes. With the AirTrain fare included, the total comes to roughly $14 off-peak or $16 at peak times, and you buy the LIRR ticket from a machine or in the MTA TrainTime app.
Penn Station is not quite Times Square. From there, one stop uptown on the 1, 2 or 3 subway reaches Times Square–42nd Street, or you can walk up Seventh Avenue in roughly ten minutes. It's a good compromise for travelers who want speed without paying taxi money.
Yellow Taxi
Licensed yellow cabs charge a flat $70 fare from JFK to any address in Manhattan, Times Square included. That figure is not the final bill. Tolls, surcharges (including a weekday peak-hour surcharge in the late afternoon and evening, plus charges tied to Manhattan's congestion zone) and a tip usually bring the total to somewhere around $85 to $115.
The upside is simplicity. Taxi stands are outside every terminal, the price doesn't climb when traffic does, and a standard cab seats up to four. Use the official taxi line only, and politely ignore anyone inside the terminal offering a ride.
Uber, Lyft and Other Rideshares
Fares float with demand. In quiet hours a rideshare can come in below the taxi flat rate, while surge pricing during peak times or bad weather can push it well above. Pickup points differ by terminal, so follow the app's instructions rather than waiting at the arrivals curb. The ride itself takes about as long as a taxi.
Private Car Transfer
With a pre-booked car, the driver, vehicle size and pickup arrangement are agreed before you leave home. That matters for families, groups with a lot of luggage, and anyone landing late at night or after a long flight. You also skip the taxi line and the app guesswork. If Times Square is where you're staying, the JFK to Times Square guide goes into pickup and drop-off specifics.
We had two huge suitcases and a toddler, so changing trains at Jamaica was never going to happen. Having a driver waiting made the whole evening easier.
What to Expect When You Reach Times Square
Times Square itself is mostly pedestrian. Parts of Broadway are closed to cars, which means a vehicle can't deliver you to the middle of the crowd. Your driver will stop at the nearest legal spot, usually on a cross street or one of the avenues, and you may have a short walk, often with luggage, through crowds.
Give the exact name of your hotel, not just "Times Square," because the district stretches over many blocks. Entrances to some hotels sit on side streets, and a precise address saves a lap around the neighborhood. If you arrive early, check whether the hotel can hold your bags, since standard check-in usually opens in the afternoon.
Timing matters here too. If you arrive during the evening, allow enough time for the journey, hotel check-in and any walking required to reach your accommodation. During busy periods, streets near Times Square may close to vehicles and drop-off points may move farther away, so confirm the latest access arrangements with your hotel before travelling. If you arrive during one of those periods, ask your hotel in advance where cars can stop and how to reach the entrance on foot. A quick text or call to the front desk from the car can also save you from wandering the crowded blocks with a suitcase looking for the right door. Most hotels will gladly tell you which side street is easiest for arrivals.
Staying outside Times Square? The JFK to Manhattan guide explains how drop-off locations and transport options vary by destination.
FAQs
How far is JFK airport to Times Square?
Roughly 16 to 17 miles (26 to 27 km) by road. Exact mileage varies a little with your terminal and the street where you finish.
How long does it take to get from JFK to Times Square?
By car, anywhere from about 30 minutes in light traffic to well over an hour at rush hour. By AirTrain and subway, plan on 50 to 75 minutes. By AirTrain and the Long Island Rail Road, about 35 to 50 minutes plus the walk or subway ride from Penn Station.
Is there a direct train from JFK to Times Square?
No. You always connect, either from the AirTrain to the subway at Jamaica or Howard Beach, or from the AirTrain to the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica.
How far from Times Square to JFK Airport?
The distance is the same, about 16 to 17 miles. Going back, build in a generous buffer, because traffic toward the airport can be just as unpredictable as traffic away from it.
Is it cheaper to take the subway or a taxi?
The subway combination costs around $11.75 per person as of 2026. A taxi has a $70 flat fare before tolls, surcharges and tip, so it's the more expensive choice for one traveler. For a group of three or four sharing a cab, the gap narrows considerably.
Which airport is closest to Times Square?
LaGuardia, at roughly 8 miles. JFK and Newark are both around twice that distance.
What time of day is best for the ride from JFK?
Mid-morning, early afternoon and late evening are usually smoother than the weekday window between about 4 and 8 p.m. You can't always choose your flight time, but you can choose a transport option that's less exposed to traffic if you land at a bad hour.
Choosing the Right Route From JFK
The short answer to how far JFK is from Times Square is 16 to 17 miles, but the useful answer is about an hour, give or take. The subway is the budget pick, the Long Island Rail Road is the quick public option, and a taxi or private car is the easiest with luggage or a group.
Match the route to your situation: the time you land, how much you're carrying, and who is traveling with you. If you'd rather have your ride sorted before the flight, you can compare options and book a private airport transfer through Transpovia, then spend the trip looking out the window instead of at the map.
