Getting from LGA to JFK looks simple on a map. Both airports are in Queens, roughly 10 to 13 miles apart, and a car can cover that distance in half an hour when the roads are clear. The catch is that no train runs between them, and the highways connecting them are some of the most congested in the city. The same trip can take 35 minutes or two hours and cost anywhere from about $12 to well over $100, depending on how you make it.
This guide covers every realistic way to go from LaGuardia to JFK, and back again: what each option involves, what it costs roughly, and which one fits your luggage, budget and connection time.
How far is LaGuardia from JFK?
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are both in the borough of Queens. By road they are about 10 to 13 miles apart (roughly 16 to 21 km), depending on the route and where you start. Most drives use the Grand Central Parkway and connecting highways, which is exactly where traffic piles up at rush hour, on Friday afternoons and after any accident.
There is no direct subway, train or free shuttle between the two airports. People sometimes assume the AirTrain solves this, but the AirTrain only connects JFK's terminals with the subway and the Long Island Rail Road. LaGuardia has no rail link at all.
That leaves five realistic choices for transportation from LGA to JFK: a taxi, a rideshare, a shared shuttle or bus, public transit, or a pre-booked private car.
LGA to JFK transfer options at a glance
|
Option |
Typical time |
Rough cost |
Best for |
|
Public transit (Q70 bus, subway, AirTrain) |
60 to 90+ minutes |
About $12 per person |
Light luggage, long layovers |
|
Shared shuttle |
45 to 90 minutes |
About $15 to $45 per person |
Solo travelers with time to spare |
|
Yellow taxi |
30 to 60 minutes |
Metered; often $40 to $80 before tip |
Groups, heavy bags, no booking |
|
Uber or Lyft |
30 to 60 minutes |
Varies with demand; commonly $35 to $75 |
Flexible timing, app users |
|
Private transfer |
30 to 60 minutes |
Quoted per vehicle; usually the highest |
Tight connections, families |
Times assume a normal day without major delays. Prices are rough planning ranges based on recently published rates, and they shift with demand, surcharges and tipping, so confirm the final amount before you commit.
Which option wins comes down to three questions: how long do you have, how much luggage are you carrying, and would you rather spend time or money? If your connection is tight, removing guesswork matters more than saving $30. Pre-booking a JFK airport transfer with a confirmed pickup point is the version of this trip with the fewest unknowns.
Taking a taxi from LaGuardia to JFK
Yellow cabs wait outside every LaGuardia terminal, and an official dispatcher normally manages the line. Unlike the Manhattan to JFK ride, which has a posted flat fare, there is no flat rate between LGA and JFK. The meter decides, so the final price moves with traffic and time of day.
The meter also picks up extras. City taxi rules add a surcharge for trips to and from LaGuardia, plus rush-hour and night charges when they apply, and the customary tip is 15 to 20 percent. Most direct routes between the two airports stay inside Queens, so bridge and tunnel tolls are generally not part of the bill.
Taxis work well for groups of three or four splitting one fare, for travelers with several bags, and for anyone who lands without a booking. They work less well when time is critical. You can't reserve a particular driver, cabs don't track your flight, and a slow stretch of highway can turn a $50 ride into an $80 one. Use only the official taxi stand and politely ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride.
Uber and Lyft between the airports
Rideshare shows you a price estimate before you commit and lets you watch the car approach, which is why many travelers prefer it for this route. Both airports have designated app pickup zones, usually signposted from baggage claim, and they are not always at the curb you walked out to. JFK is in the middle of a large redevelopment, so terminal layouts and pickup points can change; check the app's instructions before you start walking.
Fares are dynamic. A quiet mid-morning ride can price below a cab, while a rainy Friday evening can price well above one. If the estimate spikes, compare it against the length of the taxi line before you accept. And avoid leaning on rideshare for a connection with no slack: surge pricing and driver wait times are the two things you can't control from the arrivals hall.
Shared shuttles and buses
Shared vans operated by companies such as ETS Airport Shuttle and GO Airlink NYC run between LGA and JFK, generally priced in the range of $15 to $45 per person depending on the operator, time of day and how far ahead you book. You ride with other passengers, so the trip may include several stops, and the real travel time is closer to 45 to 90 minutes than the 30 a direct drive suggests.
A few bookable bus services also link the airports, usually on a fixed daytime timetable. One listing, for example, shows hourly departures that stop in the early evening. If you plan to use one, confirm the last departure and where to board before you count on it.
Shuttles suit solo travelers with plenty of time and a flexible schedule. They are a poor match for a tight international connection. Whichever you pick, book ahead, check the pickup location at the terminal, and ask what happens if your flight is late.
Public transit: Q70 bus, subway and AirTrain
Public transit is the cheapest way to go from LaGuardia to JFK, at roughly $12 in total, and it is the only option with a fixed price that doesn't care about traffic on the highway. It does, however, involve three separate legs and a lot of walking.
Step by step from LGA to JFK
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Take the Q70-SBS "LaGuardia Link" bus. It leaves from the airport and runs to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue. Boarding at the airport is free.
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Switch to the subway. At Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, take the E train and get off at Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport. The fare is about $3, paid with a contactless card or phone through OMNY.
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Ride the AirTrain. Follow the signs to the AirTrain JFK platform at Jamaica Station and pay the AirTrain fare, currently about $8.75, at the station gates. The ride to your terminal takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
Allow 60 to 90 minutes, and more if you wait for connections. This route suits early-morning trips, light luggage and long layovers. It is a poor choice with large suitcases, small children, mobility needs, or fewer than three hours to spare. The subway has stairs and gaps in elevator access, and the whole route assumes you can carry your own bags.
When a private transfer is worth the price
A pre-booked private car or van is usually the most expensive choice and the most predictable. A driver is assigned in advance, the vehicle is matched to your group, and the price is agreed before you ride. Always check what the quote includes: waiting time after landing, taxes and fees, gratuity, child seats and how flight delays are handled.
"We had four hours between landing at JFK and our flight out of LaGuardia, with two kids and three bags. Having a car booked ahead meant nobody stood in a taxi line wondering if we'd make it."
A private ride earns its cost in particular situations: a tight connection, a family with children and bags, a late-night or early-morning arrival when shuttles run less often, or a business trip where you need a clear receipt. For a solo traveler with one bag and four free hours, it is probably overkill.
Long layover? Consider seeing the city first
If you land at LaGuardia with six hours or more before your flight leaves JFK, you don't have to sit in a terminal. LaGuardia is one of the closest major airports to Midtown Manhattan, and our guide to Laguardia to Manhattan trips explains the main routes and what each costs.
From Manhattan, getting to JFK is straightforward. Taxis have a posted flat fare between most of Manhattan and JFK (at the time of writing $70 under city rules, before tolls, surcharges and tip), and the subway and AirTrain or the Long Island Rail Road also work.
This only makes sense if your bags are with you and not checked through to your final destination. Keep a generous buffer: be back on the road to JFK at least three hours before departure, longer for international flights.
If you'd rather stay near the airport, the practical question is how to use the hours. Check before leaving the terminal whether your bags are checked through to your final destination; if they are, you generally can't retrieve them in between. Keep your passport, boarding pass and any entry documents on you. Set an alarm for when you need to head back, not for when the flight leaves, and agree the pickup point with your driver or in the app before you wander off. A long gap is easiest to manage when the ride back is already settled.
JFK to LaGuardia: doing the trip in reverse
Everything above works in the other direction too, with a few differences if you're working out how to get from JFK to LGA.
The transit version becomes AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, the E train to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, and then the Q70-SBS to LaGuardia. Taxis and rideshare drivers take the same highways on the same meter or app price. Shared shuttles collect from JFK's terminals, and JFK's size is the main hazard: confirm which terminal your airline uses and where your ride meets you before you leave the arrivals hall.
Once you're at JFK, remember that the AirTrain also runs between the airport's terminals at no charge, which helps if your ride is waiting at a different terminal from the one you arrived at. You pay only when you enter or exit at Jamaica or Howard Beach. If your airline's terminal isn't where the driver is parked, use that free airport loop instead of dragging bags across traffic lanes.
If you want to skip the pickup-zone hunt entirely, arranging a LaGuardia airport transfer ahead of time means the ride is confirmed before you land. That is especially useful when you're leaving a long-haul flight at JFK and the last thing you want to do is solve logistics with a phone at 5 percent.
How much time to allow between flights
Airline minimum connection times are designed for connections within one airport. When you change airports, you are on your own, particularly if the two flights are on separate tickets. If an airline sold you both flights on a single itinerary, ask whether it arranges the ground transfer and what happens if you miss the second flight.
As a cautious planning rule rather than an official figure:
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International arrival at JFK, domestic departure from LaGuardia: leave at least five hours between landing and departure. You'll clear immigration, collect and recheck bags, travel across Queens and go through security again.
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Domestic to domestic: leave at least three to four hours, since traffic is the main variable.
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Departing JFK on an international flight: plan to be at JFK two to three hours before departure, which means leaving LaGuardia earlier than you think.
Early-morning and late-night transfers
Schedules matter more than they seem when you land very early or very late. Shared vans and buses run on limited windows, and some stop departing in the early evening. The AirTrain and subway run almost around the clock, but waits stretch overnight, so check current schedules before you rely on them. Taxis, rideshare and pre-booked cars are the most dependable when the rest of the system thins out. If your arrival falls in that window, booking ahead saves you from hunting for options after a long flight.
Practical tips for a smoother transfer
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Confirm both terminals first. JFK's terminals are changing, so check your airline's current terminal before you choose a route.
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Avoid peak traffic if you can. Weekday late afternoons and Friday evenings are the slowest windows on the roads between the airports.
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Watch the weather. Heavy rain or snow slows the highways and makes the transit route harder with luggage.
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Pay by phone or contactless card. OMNY works with both; keep a backup card in case one fails.
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Check hours for early or late arrivals. Shared shuttles and buses run on limited schedules; taxis, rideshare and pre-booked cars are more reliable overnight.
-
Save your booking details. A screenshot of the confirmation and the driver's contact can save you time at a busy pickup point.
FAQs
How long does it take to get from LGA to JFK?
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes by car on a normal day and 60 to 90 minutes or more by public transit. Rush hour and bad weather can add significantly to either.
How far is LaGuardia from JFK?
About 10 to 13 miles (16 to 21 km) by road, depending on the route. Both airports are in Queens.
What is the cheapest way to get from LaGuardia to JFK?
Public transit: the free Q70-SBS bus to Jackson Heights, the subway to Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport, and the AirTrain to your terminal. The total is roughly $12 per person, but it takes the longest.
Is there a direct train or shuttle between LGA and JFK?
There's no train. A few shared shuttle and bus services run between the airports, but schedules and hours vary, so confirm departure times before relying on one.
Is there a flat taxi fare between LaGuardia and JFK?
No. The flat fare applies to trips between Manhattan and JFK. A taxi between the two airports runs on the meter, with applicable surcharges and a tip on top.
What is the best way to get from JFK to LaGuardia on a tight connection?
A taxi, rideshare or pre-booked private car is the fastest and simplest. If the connection is tight, a pre-booked ride removes the uncertainty of finding a pickup point.
Can I take the subway from LGA to JFK with luggage?
You can, but it is difficult with large bags. The route involves a bus, a subway ride and the AirTrain, with stairs and long walks between them.
How early should I leave for my flight at JFK?
For an international flight, aim to arrive at JFK two to three hours before departure, and add transfer time from LaGuardia on top of that.
Choosing the right way between LaGuardia and JFK
There is no perfect answer to getting from LaGuardia to JFK, only the right trade-off for your day. The bus-subway-AirTrain chain saves money when you have time and light bags. A taxi or rideshare is the easy default for most travelers. A pre-booked private car is the option to choose when the connection is tight, the group is large, or you simply want the ride sorted before you land.
If you'd rather settle it ahead of time, Transpovia lets you book a private airport transfer between New York's airports in advance, so the only decision left when you land is which terminal door to walk through.
