What is the cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan?

Question

What is the cheapest way to get from JFK to Manhattan?

Answer 1

Well, you could walk for free, but it would take rather a long time.

The cheapest reasonable way is to take the JFK Airtrain to Jamaica, then the E train subway into Manhattan. The Airtrain costs $5, the subway costs $2. You pay for both with a Metrocard which you can buy from a machine where you get off the Airtrain at Jamaica. Buy a $10 Metrocard and get a $2 bonus, with $5 that's left after your trip good toward future bus and subway trips.

Answer 2

My friend, that depends on what part of Manhattan you're going. The quickest and cheapest way will be taking the JFK Airtrain and the subway. The fare is $7 for a one way trip ($5 on the Airtrain, $2 on the subway).

Another great option will be taking the Long Island Railroad from Jamaica Station to Penn Station. A one way off peak ticket will cost $5.25. Once at Penn Station, you have the option to taking the subway, taxi or bus to your final destination.

If you know the address of the hotel were you're staying, I will be glad to help you with travel directions from JFK. Just drop me a line by clicking on the avatar and the e-mail icon.

Good luck and happy travels

Native New Yorker

Answer 3

Take the JFK train rail to the Long Island railroad Jamaica train station. From there take the LIRR to Penn Station in Manhattan at 32th Street and Seventh Avenue. Total it's about $14.

Answer 4

That depends on where in Manhattan are you going.

By Aitrain+Subway:

Option 1: Via Howard Beach

Step 1: Get off at Howard Beach Airtrain Howard Beach, and buy subway+bus Metrocard for $7. Use turnstile heading into subway waiting area (A).

Step 2: Take Manhattan-bound (A) and it stop in Manhattan from Broadway-Nassau, Chamber, Canal, express along 8th Av route to 168th St, then local to 207th St terminus.

Option 2: Via Jamaica

Take Jamaica Train and get off at Jamaica. Same reason as Howard Beach station, but you need to have $5 to exit system and $2 for entry downstair for E, J and Z train at Sutphin Blvd.

Step 2:

If you're going to Lower Manhattan, J/Z provide service from Essex St to Broad St. Weekends, only to Chambers St.

If you're going along 53rd St or 8th Av line, take Manhattan-bound (E) via 53rd St tunnel from Lex Av to 7th Av, then along 8th Av local line to World Trade center.

B15 connect to 3, L; Q3 connect to F train, and Q10 connect to E and F train.

Answer 5

While I agree the the subway is the cheapest, there are some items in the previous answer that need correcting:

1)  If you have luggage take the AirTrain to the Howard Beach station rather than to Jamaica.  The Howard Beach AirTrain to subway connection is luggage friendly where as the Sutphin Blvd/Jamiaca terminal is not.  At Howard Beach take the "A" train subway to Manhattan.   The Broadway-Nassau, Chambers St and Canal St stations are in lower Manhattan.  The 8th Avenue stations on14th St, 34th St-Penn Station and 42nd St  are in mid-Manhattan.  The 59th St-Columbus Circle station is considered the divider between mid-town and uptown Manhattan

The Howard Beach AirTrain station is above the subway station.  The Jamaica AirTrain station is about 1 block away from the subway and and getting to the subway is rather cumbersome with luggage.

2)  The AirTrain fee is $5.00  The subway fare is $2.00.  When you get to the AirTrain station in Howard Beach, purchase a $7 MetroCard at the vending machines and use the turnstiles marked "to subway $7.00".

If you do decide to go to Jamaica you should still buy the $7.00 card but the AirTrain turnstiles will only deduct $5 leaving the $2.00 for the subway (which is about 1 block away).

Edit:  one more comment.  A $10 MetroCard will not get a 20% bonus.  The MTA changed that earlier this year.  The bonus is now 15%  bringing the total value to $11.50.