GETTING TO NYC

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT (LGA)

East Elmhurst, Queens, NY 11371
718-533-3400

This is New York's second-largest airport, with nine airlines serving mostly domestic destinations, as well as Canada, from four passenger terminals. LaGuardia is on the northern shore of Queens, across the East River (about 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan). Here's how to get to Midtown Manhattan from LaGuardia:

• Taxi: Approximately $29-$37 metered fare, plus a 50-cent MTA state surcharge, plus a 30-cent improvement surcharge, plus a $1 surcharge (4 to 8pm weekdays except legal holidays) or a daily 50-cent surcharge (8pm to 6am), plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity; 20 to 40 minutes to Midtown Manhattan. For more information, dial 311 in NYC or visit the Taxi & Limousine Commission website.
• City bus: Two express buses serve LaGuardia: the M60 and Q70. The Q70 goes nonstop to Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights and 74th St./Broadway, a major subway hub in Queens with five lines. The M60 runs to Harlem and connects to all the major subway lines in Manhattan. For details, visit tripplanner.mta.info.
• Shuttle bus: NYC Airporter and Go Airlink NYC.
• Private car service: Find a handful on this list of providers
• Car rental: Companies at LGA include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (EWR)

Newark Airport, with more than 30 airlines (many of which are international), is across the Hudson River (and then some) from New York City—about 16 miles from Midtown Manhattan. Here's how to get to Midtown Manhattan from Newark Liberty:

• Taxi: Approximately $50 to $75 metered fare, plus round-trip bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity (group ride rates, depending on number of passengers and drop-off location in Manhattan, are approximately $18-$26 per person); 45 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan. During weekday rush hours (6-9am and 4-7pm) and on weekends (Saturday-Sunday, noon-8pm), there is a $5 surcharge for travel to anywhere in New York State except Staten Island. There's a $5.50 surcharge for all credit card transactions as well as a charge for each piece of luggage that's more than 24 inches, but there's a 10 percent senior citizen discount (for those 62 and older). When traveling to the airport from Midtown Manhattan, service is via New York City's regulated yellow taxis. Approximately $69 to $75 metered fare, plus a $17.50 Newark surcharge, plus a 30-cent improvement surcharge, plus round-trip bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity.
• AirTrain Newark: Costs vary by destination, but it's $5.50 for the AirTrain and $13 for NJ Transit fare to or from Penn Station in Manhattan; the fare for military, senior citizens, disabled passengers and children ages 5-11 is $9 (all other travel via NJ Transit is otherwise half off the regular fare); up to three children 4 and younger ride NJ Transit for free with a fare-paying passenger. On weekends (beginning at 7pm on Friday and ending at 6am on Monday) and holidays (typically beginning at 7pm the day before a holiday and ending at 6am the day after), up to two children ages 5-11 ride NJ Transit for free with a fare-paying passenger. AirTrain links to the airport via NJ Transit and Amtrak's Newark Liberty International Airport train station; about 45 to 60 minutes to Midtown Manhattan, requiring a transfer from the AirTrain line to the NJ Transit line (be sure to keep your ticket after using it to exit the AirTrain station, as it is also used for the NJ Transit fare) or Amtrak. AirTrain also offers free service between points within the airport complex, including transfers to other airline terminals and locations for hotel shuttles, car rental and parking.
• Shuttle bus: Go Airlink NYC and Newark Airport Express.
• Private car and limousine service: Find a handful on this list of providers.
• Car rental: Companies at LGA include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National.