Getting from LaGuardia to Manhattan can feel overwhelming when you’re not familiar with the New York area. You arrive in the northern part of Queens with the Manhattan skyline shimmering in the distance like a desert oasis.
And, all you want is just quick and simple info to help get from LGA to Manhattan so you can start your NYC trip off right!
This detailed guide (written by a local) will help you decide the best way to get from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan with all the step-by-step information you need to make a successful New York airport transfer.
How to Get from LaGuardia to Manhattan
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the closest airport to Manhattan. Distance-wise, it’s about 8 miles from LaGuardia Airport to Times Square. Even better, LaGuardia’s $8 billion transformation is complete which makes the entire experience of flying into and out of LaGuardia much more of a pleasure than it had been.
With the construction finished, transportation from LaGuardia to Manhattan has also become manageable again.
The table below shows the quick glance information for each option to help you get from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan. Then, for all of the specific details about how to transfer from LaGuardia to NYC, find everything you need to know in the matching section below.
| Transfers from LaGuardia to Manhattan | Quick Glance Information |
|---|---|
| Taxi | The cab cost from LaGuardia to Manhattan is between $30-$50 not including tolls, tips, or surcharges. The fare is calculated by the meter so the more traffic there is the higher the cost will be. |
| Car Service | A car service from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan would likely be between $45 and $85 depending on the car size you need. The price you book is fixed as opposed to metered like in a taxi. |
| Ride Share | An Uber from LaGuardia to Manhattan would start at about $60, not including tolls or tip. Prices can fluctuate dramatically depending on traffic and demand. |
| Shared Shuttle | With Go Airlink NYC, you can book a shuttle from LaGuardia to Manhattan for about $40 including tolls and surcharges, but excluding tip. |
| Bus to Subway/LIRR Train | For as little as $2.90, use the M60 or Q70 buses to connect with the NYC subway. Or connect to the LIRR trains for streamlined service into Penn Station or Grand Central for between $5-$7. |
| Express Bus | No longer running |
Take a Taxi from LGA to NYC
Metered taxi service is available at all LaGuardia Airport terminal buildings. A licensed NYC yellow taxi from LaGuardia to Manhattan has no flat fee like there is from JFK Airport to Manhattan because LaGuardia is geographically closer to Manhattan.
Since the ride is on the meter, costs will depend on where you need to go in Manhattan, the amount of traffic you experience, and the amount of time spent in the taxi.
A taxi from LaGuardia to Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Harlem, or Morningside Heights neighborhoods (all uptown areas) will be less expensive than if you need to go to Midtown Manhattan or further downtown into Greenwich Village and Lower Manhattan.
Generally, a taxi from LGA to Manhattan can cost you between $30-$50, not including tolls, tip, and any applicable surcharges. But, keep in mind that an LGA to Manhattan taxi fare can be significantly more during rush hour. At the right time, though, your ride could take as little as 20-30 minutes depending on where your NYC hotel is.
Be wary of anyone offering you a ride for a cheaper price. It’s always safer to use the official NYC yellow taxi queue to get a cab and avoid being overcharged or scammed.
Arrange a Car Service from LaGuardia to Midtown
Similarly, prearranged car services like those offered by Carmel Limo offer transportation from LGA to Manhattan.
Depending on the type of vehicle you book and the time of day, costs can range from $45.00 to $85.00 (tolls and tip not included). The higher end of that price would apply to groups of 5 or 6 people needing a bigger vehicle.
Again, traffic in and around NYC is always a factor to be considered when you’re deciding how to transfer from the airport. In the case of getting from LaGuardia to NYC, car services do take away the stress of watching a metered cab tick up and up in price as you sit in seemingly neverending traffic.
You also save yourself the hassle of having to wait in a potentially long line for an available taxi because your driver will track your flight and be in the pick-up area waiting for you when you’re ready.
If you arrive in Terminal A, your driver will be outside baggage claim on the arrivals level.
If you arrive at Terminal B, your driver will wait for you on the 2nd level of the Terminal B parking garage. Follow the “Car Services” signs to reach the pick-up area.
For Terminal C arrivals, your pick-up point will be outside the arrivals area at ground level. Car services use the inner lanes. Use the “Car Services” signs to guide you to the area.
Uber from LaGuardia to Manhattan
Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft also offer service from LaGuardia to Manhattan. Rides generally start at about $60 and can go up from there depending on traffic and demand. This doesn’t include tolls or tip.
Drivers will use the same designated pick-up areas for each terminal as explained above in the car service section.
A few things to consider, if you arrive later at night, choose a yellow taxi over a rideshare. With lighter traffic, it’s likely your taxi with get to your hotel quickly and end up being cheaper than an Uber or Lyft.
If you arrive at peak times, not only could your rideshare be quite expensive, but you may also have to wait for an available car.
As with all the private transfer options from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan, you’ll get direct service to your hotel, without the need to carry your bags onto public transportation.
Getting from LaGuardia to Manhattan by Shuttle
Another option for getting from LGA to Manhattan is by shuttle or shared van transport. GO Airlink NYC is an official partner with the New York and New Jersey Port Authorities and is known as the most trusted New York airport shuttle among NYC hotels.
Their LGA to Manhattan shuttle allows you to share the cost of transportation with other travelers. But unlike a bus, this NYC airport shuttle provides door-to-door service. No need to connect to a subway or take a taxi once you’re in Manhattan to arrive at your hotel.
This type of shared shuttle from LaGuardia to Manhattan will cost about $40 including tolls and surcharges but excluding tip.
Shuttle transportation from LGA to NYC is available 24/7 and can be reserved ahead of time for a stress-free start to your New York City itinerary.
How to Take the Bus from LaGuardia to Manhattan
Unlike JFK and Newark Airport, LaGuardia is the only major NYC airport with no direct rail link. Likewise, the only direct bus service is if your final destination is in Queens.
Otherwise, you can take a bus to a subway or a train to transfer from Laguardia Airport to Manhattan. Nevertheless, public transportation is the cheapest way to get from LGA to NYC. In some instances, it might also be the fastest way, too!
There are 2 NYC MTA-operated public buses to help you connect with the NYC subway and Long Island Railroad (LIRR) trains that head into Manhattan.
All the information on both options is explained below.
Take the Subway from LGA to Manhattan via NYC MTA Bus
LaGuardia is served by the M60 and Q70 LaGuardia Link, both of which are Select Bus Service (SBS) lines.
The Q70 is a free bus link that connects you to the 7, E, F, M, and R subway lines from Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street. Or you can ride the bus to the next stop, Woodside-61st Street, for access to the LIRR trains to go to Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal.
The M60 runs through Astoria in Queens and into upper Manhattan, making numerous stops that allow riders to connect with the New York City subway.
The fare to ride the M60 and the New York City subway is $2.90. When you pay for a ride on the M60, your transfer to the subway is free as long as the transfer happens within 2 hours.
If you ride the Q70, the bus is free but you’ll pay $2.90 to enter the subway and ride to your stop.
You have 2 ways to pay to ride the M60 bus.
Use the contactless payment reader to tap your smartphone or a contactless credit card and pay for the ride. Then, use the same payment method to utilize your free transfer into the subway. All subway stations have contactless payment readers.
You can also pay for the M60 bus with a MetroCard or the exact amount in coins at kiosks outside just next to the bus stop. Once you pay at the kiosk, you’ll be given a ticket printout to show proof of payment on the bus if/when asked.
If you’re just arriving in New York City, you probably don’t have a MetroCard. However, not to worry!
Use the contactless payment instead if you can. (It’s easier!) Or MetroCards can be purchased at MetroCard vending machines located in the LaGuardia Airport terminals. Once you have a MetroCard, you can use it to pay for the bus fare before you board the bus. As mentioned above, keep the receipt from the kiosk as proof you paid the bus fare.
MetroCards can also be swiped at the subway turnstiles to pay for entry or register the free transfer. Keep in mind also, the MTA charges a $1 fee to purchase a MetroCard. If you buy one, keep it! You can refill it during your trip.
ProTip: If you’d like more basic subway and public transportation tips, you can check out this Planning a New York City Trip guide and these NYC Dos and Don’ts.
Using the M60 Bus to Go from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan
The M60 runs 24/7 from the LaGuardia Airport Terminals A, B, and C into Manhattan, finishing at Broadway and W. 106 Street in Manhattan. Along the way, there are several stops with NYC subway connections.
Depending on traffic and where you’re headed, the M60 + subway combo could take about 50-80 minutes.
My preference is always to get to a subway as quickly as possible because it beats being on the roads with the NYC traffic.
After leaving the airport on the M60, one of the first stops in Queens is Astoria Blvd.
Here you have a connection with the N and W subway lines. This is an elevated subway train track in Queens before it goes underground in Manhattan. If you’re headed to Midtown Manhattan, I recommend connecting to the subway here instead of staying on the M60.
Both the N and W trains make stops at places like 5th Avenue near Central Park, Times Square, and 34th Street/Herald Square, as well as have free connections to numerous other subway lines.
If you choose to stay on the M60 into Manhattan, the bus goes over the RFK Bridge and across 125th Street in Harlem. If you’re staying uptown in Harlem or on the Upper West Side or Upper East Side, the M60 bus and its subway connections will be the best option for your LaGuardia transfer.
Along its route on 125th Street, the M60 has subway connections along the way with the 4, 5, and 6 trains at Lexington Avenue which is the “green” line on the NYC subway map. Then, at Lenox Avenue, you can connect with the 2 and 3 trains shown in red on the map.
After that, you can ride until St. Nicholas Avenue to connect with the A, B, C, and D trains (blue and orange lines) before the bus finishes close to 106th Street and access to the 1 train.
Having access to all these subway lines allows you to get nearly anywhere you’d need to be in NYC.
Using the Q70 Bus to Go from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan
If your NYC hotel is in midtown, though, the quicker way to get from LaGuardia to Manhattan via the bus and subway or LIRR combo is by using the Q70 bus.
The Q70 runs 24/7 with service connecting LaGuardia Airport Terminals B and C to subway and Long Island Railroad stations in Jackson Heights and Woodside, Queens in about 10-15 minutes.
This route from LaGuardia was designed to be truly traveler-friendly with things like luggage racks (which the M60 does not have) and quick access to trains.
If you arrive at Terminal A, you’ll need to take the airport shuttle bus to Terminal B and then connect to the Q70 SBS. Otherwise, you can take the M60 and connect with the subway from there.
With the Q70, you can access the 7, E, F, M, and R trains from Roosevelt Avenue and 74th Street. The 7 train makes stops at Grand Central, Bryant Park, and Times Square. The R train also stops at Times Square, as well as locations in Manhattan’s midtown east neighborhood.
The F and M trains stop at places like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, while the E train stops at 42nd St. and 8th Avenue, near Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Also, if you’re staying at a hotel in Long Island City, Queens, the E and R trains will take you straight into that neighborhood and then on to Manhattan.
For hotels in other neighborhoods like Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village, or Chelsea, many of these trains continue further south than the Times Square and Midtown areas. It’s also possible to transfer for free at Times Square (and other stations) to another train line, if need be, that will get you to your hotel.
Alternatively, you could use the Q70 to connect with the LIRR at Woodside-61st Street. Long Island Railroad trains run from there into Penn Station and Grand Central. Check train schedules here.
The 7 subway line can just as easily get you to Grand Central so it may not be worth switching to the LIRR. However, specifically if your hotel is close to Penn Station, the LIRR trains can help you get to that area quicker and without needing to switch to another subway in about 45 minutes.
The LIRR costs a bit more, between $5-$7 on a city peak or off-peak ticket, depending on when you’d be riding. But, it’s a more streamlined route if you’re staying close to Penn Station and the W. 34th Street area near 7th and 8th Avenues.
If you’d like a visual to see these public transportation options, click here.
Private Company Express Bus from LGA to Manhattan
Unfortunately, express bus service from LaGuardia with direct service to Manhattan is no longer running.
For bus service from LaGuardia to Manhattan, please refer to the above sections.
Getting from Manhattan to LaGuardia
You can take all of the above transportation choices to get to LaGuardia Airport from Manhattan when your trip is done.
Car services and the Go Airlink Shuttle can be reserved ahead of time and will recommend the best pickup time given the time of day and possible traffic conditions.
If you’re hoping to take the bus to LaGuardia from Manhattan, take the 1 train to 116th Street and connect with the M60. Alternatively, you could also take the 2 or 3 trains to 125th Street to connect with the M60 bus to LGA.
You could also take the 7, E, F, M, and R trains from Midtown Manhattan to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. subway station at 74th Street. Then, connect with Q70-SBS to Laguardia Airport. Or if near Penn Station, take the LIRR to Woodside-61st Street to catch the Q70 LaGuardia Link.
If your New York City hotel is near Times Square or in Midtown, these subway-to-bus connections are the most straightforward.
As always, how to get to LaGuardia Airport depends on your budget, flight times, and travel style. But, if you’re taking a taxi to LaGuardia, be mindful of your timing and the traffic. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in traffic knowing you’ve missed your flight.
If you need to get to Laguardia during the morning or evening rush hours, use the subway to get as far as you can to bypass as much traffic as possible. Buses often have special lanes to speed up service, but they are also subject to traffic conditions in many areas.
So, what’s the best way to get from LGA to Manhattan?
Undoubtedly, the cheapest way to get from LaGuardia to Manhattan is by the M60 or Q70 buses connecting to the NYC subway. You just can’t beat a $2.90 New York airport transfer!
On the flip side, a taxi or car service will be the most expensive but also the most hassle-free LaGuardia transfer to Manhattan.
However, if you’d rather save yourself the hassle of public transportation and an expensive car ride, the Go Airlink Shuttle could be a great compromise.
So, how do you plan to get from LaGuardia to Manhattan?
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