JFK to Times Square is about 17 miles by road. The drive takes 30 to 50 minutes late at night and close to two hours on a weekday morning. The cheapest way is the AirTrain plus the subway.
Quick answer
How do you get from JFK to Times Square? Take the AirTrain and subway if you travel light and want the lowest price. Book a private car if you have bags, kids or a schedule to keep.
- AirTrain plus subway: $11.75 per person (less for groups), about 60 to 90 minutes.
- AirTrain plus LIRR: $14 off-peak or $16 at peak per person, about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Shared shuttle: from about $35 per person, or an Uber Shuttle seat priced in the app.
- Taxi: about $97 to $101 all in, or $103 to $107 on weekdays 4 to 8 p.m.
- Uber or Lyft: Uber lists an average of about $101 before tip, more at busy times.
- Private car service: one all-inclusive price with tolls and tip included. See your exact price when you book.
We’ve been driving New York travelers since 2010, and our office books rides out of JFK every day. This guide is for Broadway visitors, first-time travelers, business travelers and families with luggage.
Table of Contents
How Far Is JFK from Times Square?
The driving distance from JFK Airport to Times Square is about 16.5 miles by the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. The drive goes up the Van Wyck and the Long Island Expressway, then crosstown. If the tunnel backs up, drivers may use the Grand Central Parkway and RFK Bridge, about 21 miles.
Times Square sits in the middle of Midtown, so these times hold for most Midtown hotels too. Google Maps traffic forecasts for the drive, checked in late October 2026:
| When You Leave JFK | Typical Drive |
|---|---|
| Weekday, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. | 30 to 50 minutes |
| Weekday, 8:30 a.m. | 50 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Weekday, 5:30 p.m. | 45 to 80 minutes |
| Friday, 5 p.m. | 55 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Saturday, 2 p.m. | 40 to 70 minutes |
JFK to Times Square Options at a Glance
Train and shuttle prices are per person. Four adults on one card pay $34.25 for the AirTrain and subway ($22.25 on the AirTrain group fare plus four $3 subway rides), or from $140 on a $35 shared shuttle. A taxi, Uber or private car price covers everyone in the car.
Subway and Train from JFK to Times Square
There is no direct subway from JFK. Every train trip starts on the AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, and you pay $8.75 when you leave. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, your phone or an OMNY card at the gate. Traveling together? The AirTrain group fare charges $8.75 for the first rider and $4.50 for each extra rider, up to 5. Everyone taps the same card or phone within 5 minutes. For more on the terminals, see our guide to flying into JFK.
AirTrain and Subway: The Cheapest Way from JFK to Times Square
- Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station and pay the $8.75 fare at the exit.
- Go down to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport and take the Manhattan-bound E train for $3.
- Ride to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, one block west of Times Square. It connects underground to Times Sq-42 St.
The A train from Howard Beach goes to the same stop. Either way, it’s $11.75 and about 60 to 90 minutes.
The subway has stairs, turnstiles and no luggage racks. One carry-on is easy; two big suitcases are hard work. Too many bags? See your price for a private car.
AirTrain and LIRR: The Faster Train from JFK
At Jamaica, you can take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison instead. A CityTicket costs $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 at peak (weekday trains arriving 6 to 10 a.m.), so $14 or $16 with the AirTrain. Buy it in the TrainTime app or at the machines.
From Penn Station, walk about 10 minutes north or take the 1, 2 or 3 one stop. From Grand Central, take the 7 or the shuttle one stop. Plan on 45 to 60 minutes in total.
Shuttles from JFK to Times Square
A shared shuttle sells you a seat, so you ride with other travelers and wait while they get dropped off. There is no free shuttle from JFK to Times Square.
Uber Shuttle from JFK to Times Square
Book a seat in the Uber app, which shows the price, for a pickup at Terminal 4 or 5. It has its own pickup spot, separate from regular Uber rides: Pillar A1 at Terminal 4 arrivals and Pillar 0 at Terminal 5 arrivals. The Times Square stop is at 48th Street and 7th Avenue, next to the Hard Rock Hotel. Each rider gets one bag up to 45 pounds plus a personal item, and an extra bag needs an extra seat. You can book up to 5 seats, up to 3 days ahead, and every rider age 2 and up needs a seat. Uber doesn’t post hours or trip times, so check the schedule in the app.
GO Airlink Shared Ride
GO Airlink NYC lists shared rides to Manhattan hotels from about $35 per person, including taxes and airport fees. It recommends booking ahead but also sells same-day seats at JFK. When you land, it sends you a text, and you check in at the Information/Welcome Center on Level 1. The driver picks up riders at each terminal first, then drops them off from closest to farthest, so Times Square may not come first. GO Airlink puts the drive to Midtown at about 45 minutes, or 75 minutes or more in heavy traffic, and says shared rides take longer. You can cancel up to 4 hours before pickup. Check the current price before you fly.
A shuttle suits a solo traveler or a couple with one bag each and time to spare. With a group, a lot of bags or a dinner reservation, the per-seat prices and extra drop-offs add up. A private car takes only your group, straight to your hotel.
Taxi from JFK to Times Square: The Flat Fare
Yellow taxis charge a $70 flat fare between JFK and anywhere in Manhattan. Extras go on top:
- $2 airport pickup fee
- $0.50 MTA surcharge and $1 improvement surcharge
- $2.50 congestion surcharge (trips south of 96th Street)
- $0.75 congestion pricing toll (Times Square is inside the zone)
- $5 rush-hour surcharge, weekdays 4 to 8 p.m.
- $7.46 toll for the Queens-Midtown Tunnel or the RFK Bridge
- Tip
The fare and fees come to $76.75. The $7.46 toll brings it to $84.21. Add a 15 to 20 percent tip, and a taxi from JFK to Times Square comes to about $97 to $101. On weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m., the $5 surcharge brings it to about $103 to $107.
Follow the signs to the taxi stand, where an attendant sends you to the next cab. At Terminal 7, the stand is now on the first level of the parking garage. Never take a ride from someone who walks up to you inside the terminal.
Uber and Lyft from JFK to Times Square
Uber’s page for this trip puts the average from JFK to a Times Square hotel at about $101, 18 miles and about an hour. The price changes with demand and can be higher at busy times.
Uber says its upfront price already includes tolls, taxes, surcharges and fees. On a trip into Midtown, that covers New York’s $2.75 congestion surcharge and the $1.50 congestion pricing fee for app rides. A tip is not part of that price. You add one in the app after the ride, and a 15 to 20 percent tip puts the average trip at about $116 to $121. A taxi comes to about $97 to $101 with the tip, and the city sets its price, so it doesn’t rise when the airport is busy.
Pick the car size before you book. UberX and Uber Comfort seat 4, and Comfort has newer cars with more legroom. UberXL seats 6 and costs more. Uber’s luggage guide sends any group of 4, or 3 riders with 3 or more bags, to UberXL, UberXXL or Black SUV, and it says trunk space isn’t guaranteed. On Lyft, XL has room for 6 riders and their bags, and Extra Comfort is a newer, roomier car.
Uber and Lyft pickups are in front of most terminals. At Terminals 5 and 7, they have moved for now to the Howard Beach AirTrain station, a free AirTrain ride away. The app shows the current spot. Walk to the pickup area from baggage claim first, then request the car, since Uber can charge a wait time fee on top of the upfront price. Before you get in, check that the license plate matches the one in the app.
Private Car Service from JFK to Times Square
You book ahead and pay one all-inclusive price, so traffic and demand can’t change it. Tolls, the Manhattan congestion toll and the chauffeur’s tip are included. With our JFK car service, the price depends on the vehicle and pickup time. See your exact price when you book.
Every ride from JFK includes:
- Real-time flight tracking for early or late landings
- 60 minutes of complimentary wait time from when you actually land, on domestic and international flights alike
- Child seats and boosters are complimentary. Give us each child’s age and weight at booking and the seat is installed before the car reaches you.
- Wi-Fi and bottled water
Meet and greet is complimentary on most vehicles. The Business Class Sedan and Comfort Van carry a flat $39, except at Terminals 5 and 7. We quote meet and greet for the Business Sprinter Van by airport pickup terminal.
At Terminals 5 and 7, car pickups aren’t at the arrivals curb. Your chauffeur will reach out to you when you land and go over the pickup options.
You add a card when you book, and we charge it after the trip, so you never pay the chauffeur.
Our sedans seat up to 3 people with 2 bags. The Business Class SUV, the First Class SUV (a Cadillac Escalade ESV) and the Comfort Van seat up to 6. The Business Sprinter Van seats up to 14 with 15 bags. See our full fleet to pick the right size.
For a limousine, see our guide to limo service from JFK. For wheelchair accessible options or a corporate account, contact our office.
Getting to Times Square Hotels
Big hotels like the New York Marriott Marquis, on Broadway at 45th Street, and the Hard Rock Hotel, on West 48th Street, sit in the busiest blocks of Times Square.
Cars can’t stop on the Broadway plazas from 42nd to 47th Street, so any car, taxi or private, drops you at your hotel’s door on a side street or 7th Avenue. A car takes you and your bags to the door.
Broadway curtains go up at 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m., and the side streets from 44th to 47th Street fill with show traffic before then. Late landing and show tickets? Leave time to check in first.
After you check in, our NYC car service can take you around the city.
The Best Way from JFK to Times Square for Your Trip
- First-time visitor with one carry-on: the AirTrain and E train, cheap and simple.
- Business traveler: a private car. Take calls on the way, and traffic won’t change your price.
- Family with kids and luggage: a private car with free car seats and no stairs at Jamaica.
- Group of 5 or more: one SUV or Sprinter van keeps everyone and the bags together, with no second taxi.
- Late-night arrival: a private car or a taxi. Trains come less often at night.
Times Square to JFK: Going Back
Google Maps forecasts for the drive back, checked in late October 2026:
| When You Leave Times Square | Typical Drive |
|---|---|
| Weekday, 8 a.m. | 35 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes |
| Weekday, 4 p.m. | 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Weekday, 10 p.m. to midnight | 30 to 55 minutes |
| Saturday, noon | 35 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes |
At weekday rush hour, leave Times Square about 3 and a half hours before a domestic flight and about 4 and a half hours before an international one. At quieter times, you can leave a little later.
By train, take the E from 42 St-Port Authority to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, the stop before the end of the line. Or take an A train bound for Far Rockaway or Rockaway Park to Howard Beach. Then take the AirTrain. A taxi charges the same $70 flat fare plus extras, minus the $2 airport pickup fee, with the $5 rush-hour charge on weekdays 4 to 8 p.m. With a private car, your chauffeur picks you up at your hotel and waits up to 15 minutes at no charge. Our one-way rides work for the trip back too.
Flying into another airport? See our Newark Airport to Times Square guide and our LaGuardia to Times Square guide, or compare all three in our JFK vs LaGuardia vs Newark guide.
Fares, tolls and drive times were checked in October 2026 and can change. See your price for a current quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is JFK from Times Square?
About 17 miles by road. The usual route, through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, is about 16.5 miles.
How long does it take to get from JFK to Times Square?
By car, 30 to 50 minutes late at night and up to two hours at weekday rush hour. The AirTrain and subway take 60 to 90 minutes, and the AirTrain and LIRR 45 to 60.
How much does it cost to get from JFK to Times Square?
The cheapest way is the AirTrain and subway, at $11.75 per person, or $14 to $16 with the LIRR. A taxi comes to about $97 to $101 with toll and tip. Uber lists an average of about $101. With Gotham Ride you see your exact price when you book, with tolls and tip included.
What is the best way to get from JFK to Times Square?
It depends on your bags and budget. With light bags, the AirTrain and E train cost the least. With bags, kids or a schedule, a pre-booked private car takes you door to door. A taxi works if you didn’t book ahead.
How much is a taxi from JFK to Times Square?
The flat fare is $70. With fees, surcharges, the toll and a 15 to 20 percent tip, expect about $97 to $101, or $103 to $107 on weekdays 4 to 8 p.m.
How much is an Uber from JFK to Times Square?
Uber lists an average of about $101 to a Times Square hotel. That price includes tolls and most fees but not a tip, which you add in the app after the ride. Prices change with demand.
Is there a direct subway from JFK to Times Square?
No. Take the AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach first, then the E or A train to 42 St-Port Authority, one block from Times Square.
Is there a shuttle from JFK to Times Square?
Yes, shared ones, but none are free. The Uber Shuttle picks up at Terminals 4 and 5 and drops off at 48th Street and 7th Avenue, with seats sold in the Uber app. GO Airlink lists shared rides to Manhattan hotels from about $35 per person, with other stops on the way.
Is there a bus from JFK to Times Square?
No MTA bus goes between JFK and Manhattan. The MTA buses at JFK only serve Queens and Brooklyn. GO Airlink has a scheduled Grand Central Express shuttle to Grand Central Terminal, priced per seat. Grand Central is one subway stop from Times Square.
How do I get from Times Square to JFK?
Take the E train to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, an A train to Howard Beach or the LIRR to Jamaica, then the AirTrain. A taxi costs the $70 flat fare plus extras, and a private car picks you up at your hotel. At weekday rush hour, leave about 3 and a half hours before a domestic flight and about 4 and a half hours before an international one. At quieter times, you can leave a little later.
Does Gotham Ride offer pickups at JFK?
Yes. Every JFK pickup includes flight tracking, 60 minutes of complimentary wait time and one all-inclusive price. Our office takes calls and texts 24 hours a day at (212) 763-7722.
