New York City - Quickest way to JFK: what's your vote?

The last thing we need here is another "what's the quickest way" thread, but I figured my timing is cutting it close enough that I'd like to hear others' views:

Leaving Chelsea (23rd and 6th) at 3pm for a 5pm flight. (I'd prefer to leave 30 minutes earlier, but my schedule won't allow it.) I'm thinking that at that hour, I'm gonna be fine hopping in a taxi, and I'd expect to be at JFK by 4pm (23rd St. to 3rd Ave. to 36th St. to Midtown Tunnel to LIE to Van Wyck). Alternative is to walk or taxi to Penn Station and taking the LIRR/AirTrain, which I would expect wouldn't get me to JFK until 4:15 or 4:30.

Anyone disagree that taxi is the way to go?

I always lean towards LIRR because I know that it follows a set schedule that I can plan around, but if you check traffic before leaving Chelsea and the roads don't look too bad, the cab should be fine. Just don't forget what can happen on the Van Wyck if there's some serious traffic.

The last thing we need here is another "what's the quickest way" thread, but I figured my timing is cutting it close enough that I'd like to hear others' views:

Leaving Chelsea (23rd and 6th) at 3pm for a 5pm flight. (I'd prefer to leave 30 minutes earlier, but my schedule won't allow it.) I'm thinking that at that hour, I'm gonna be fine hopping in a taxi, and I'd expect to be at JFK by 4pm (23rd St. to 3rd Ave. to 36th St. to Midtown Tunnel to LIE to Van Wyck). Alternative is to walk or taxi to Penn Station and taking the LIRR/AirTrain, which I would expect wouldn't get me to JFK until 4:15 or 4:30.

Anyone disagree that taxi is the way to go?

With the major construction project on the VW, traffic can be messy. WCBS and WINS (all news stations), give traffic updates on the air and on their websites, so checking these before committing to the taxi all the way to JFK is a good idea. They have begun to install electronic signs on many of the highways feeding into the the VW, giving an estimate of the time it takes to get to JFK--if you have committed to a taxi, and the numbers show big delays, alternates (to the VW), which any good taxi driver should know:D. [One of these is Lefferts Blvd.]
The LIRR, Airtrain routing would be less effected by traffic delays than a taxi; in the time frame you would be traveling, the LIRR runs approx. every 6-10 minutes and takes an average of 20 minutes:

Depart Arrive Transfer Leaves Trip Duration
3:21 PM 3:42 PM 21 mins Off Peak
3:27 PM 3:45 PM 18 mins Off Peak
3:34 PM 3:53 PM 19 mins Off Peak
3:43 PM 4:06 PM 23 mins Off Peak
3:46 PM 4:09 PM 23 mins Off Peak
Is from the LIRR web page.

A car service that charges a flat fee seems to have more incentive to get you there as fast as possible rather than a taxi that charges for time while being stuck in traffic in addition to distance.

And what about the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway? How does that compare in traffic congestion and time?

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I think you're asking the wrong question. If you are leaving at 3:00, and don't need to arrive at JFK until 4:00, it doesn't matter which method might, if the stars align, be the quickest: what matters is what method has the highest probability of getting you to JFK by 4:00 PM.

When time is a factor, I prefer to cross the Hudson and East rivers by rail, especially during periods of potentially heavy vehicular traffic. So I would lean towards the LIRR/AirTrain combination if you think it can get you to JFK by 4:00 PM or the F train to Continental Avenue/Forest Hills, and a taxi from there. There's a taxi stand on Queens Boulevard at Continental (southwest corner, by the Vitamin Shoppe). Or you can arrange for a car service to pick you up there -- or at Union Turnpike/Kew Gardens station -- if you prefer. (There's no taxi stand at Kew Gardens, but there are always licensed livery cabs available there if you don't want to order a car in advance.)

The F train takes 30 minutes from 23rd and Sixth to Forest Hills; a taxi from Forest Hills to JFK should take 20-30 minutes, unless traffic on the Van Wyck is horrendous.

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A car service that charges a flat fee seems to have more incentive to get you there as fast as possible rather than a taxi that charges for time while being stuck in traffic in addition to distance.

And what about the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway? How does that compare in traffic congestion and time?

Taxis from Manhattan to JFK (and from JFK to Manhattan) must charge the flat rate set by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Thanks. I forgot about flat rate taxis.

I also checked the route via Belt Parkway and it's 32 miles compared to 18 the quickest way.

Google gives estimated time in current traffic conditions. If that is accurate enough, you could flip routes around if the normally fastest one is congested and maybe find another.

Google finds three ways by public transit that take one hour, and another one that takes one hour and twenty minutes.

Never consider belt pkwy or battery tunnel for any airport run if you can avoid it.

Did op mention day of the week?
Weekday take train (LIRR) If no heavy bags take walk to 7th av and take subway directly to penn station. Board first LIRR to Jamaica and arrive at airport within an hour. At 3pm you have a good chance of avoiding traffic but why risk it as train is guarantee arrival time and cheaper.
NYC has great non-auto transportation and suggest take advantage of it. E.g. On a Friday in August no one should recommend a car.

Weekend changes option a little due to reduced public trans schedule. On a weekend with good cab driver you should make it within an hour.

Here is my method to JFK (and LGA, minus the LIRR)

Daytime during the week always subway to Airtrain. I find the time I get off the E train and to the LIRR I save no time. Its a set schedule and never have to worry about traffic, accidents, construction.

All other times I HertzonDemand it. I have a garage a few blocks from me. No worrying about a car service to arrive on time or getting in a cab with a driver that has not bathed in awhile (made a few trips from/to JFK with my head nearly out the window because of the stench) or screaming in a cell phone. Just XM radio and the open road.

The last thing we need here is another "what's the quickest way" thread, but I figured my timing is cutting it close enough that I'd like to hear others' views:

Leaving Chelsea (23rd and 6th) at 3pm for a 5pm flight. (I'd prefer to leave 30 minutes earlier, but my schedule won't allow it.) I'm thinking that at that hour, I'm gonna be fine hopping in a taxi, and I'd expect to be at JFK by 4pm (23rd St. to 3rd Ave. to 36th St. to Midtown Tunnel to LIE to Van Wyck). Alternative is to walk or taxi to Penn Station and taking the LIRR/AirTrain, which I would expect wouldn't get me to JFK until 4:15 or 4:30.

Anyone disagree that taxi is the way to go?

If it's a Saturday and there are no street fairs in the city then you will be fine. Otherwise traffic on the Van Wyck is going to be determining factor. The only time the LIRR is quicker than the E is in the mornings coming in from JFK otherwise the E is just as quick on weekdays and weekends.

Thanks for the responses everyone. My decision may have been made for me by my experience this morning flying into JFK, where I found that the AirTrain was operating on a single track (as it was when I last used it last week), causing delays. I'll check the traffic reports before leaving, but I'm still leaning towards the taxi.


I always lean towards LIRR because I know that it follows a set schedule that I can plan around, but if you check traffic before leaving Chelsea and the roads don't look too bad, the cab should be fine. Just don't forget what can happen on the Van Wyck if there's some serious traffic.All things being equal, I always take the LIRR/AirTrain. The issue today is that it takes me 1:30 rather than the usual 1:00-1:15, I might be really screwed. I don't remember the last time a taxi took longer than 1:00, even with Van Wyck traffic. (That said, I know from experience that it certainly can take longer.)


A car service that charges a flat fee seems to have more incentive to get you there as fast as possible rather than a taxi that charges for time while being stuck in traffic in addition to distance.In 25 years of taking taxis and car services, I have found that taxi drivers drive faster and more aggressively (which is my preference, and which is why I usually opt for taxis over car services) the vast majority of the time. I attribute this to the fact that most car service drivers own their own cars -- most taxi drivers lease -- so if they get into an accident, they're totally screwed. But whatever the reason, I avoid car services when I'm in a hurry.


And what about the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway? How does that compare in traffic congestion and time?Makes zero sense from where I'm starting.


I think you're asking the wrong question. If you are leaving at 3:00, and don't need to arrive at JFK until 4:00, it doesn't matter which method might, if the stars align, be the quickest: what matters is what method has the highest probability of getting you to JFK by 4:00 PM. I think you've correctly restated the issue: I need certainty as much as speed. The problem is that I don't have a lot of time to spare. So what I think I'll do is take a taxi, and change course if I need to (e.g., having the taxi take me to 53rd and 3rd if there's trouble getting into the Midtown Tunnel, or detouring to Jamaica Station if we're sitting on the Van Wyck).


Did op mention day of the week?
Weekday take train (LIRR) If no heavy bags take walk to 7th av and take subway directly to penn station. Board first LIRR to Jamaica and arrive at airport within an hour.I'm doing this today. I find that the average trip from Penn Station to Terminal 8 takes 50 minutes. But you need to add the time it takes for me to get to Penn Station (5 minutes by taxi, 10-15 minutes walking or via subway), walking through Penn Station to the LIRR tracks, and walking from the AirTrain to the terminal. I also need to consider delays because the AirTrain is operating on a single track, plus the fact that I can't save time, as I normally do, by transferring to the All Terminals train at T1, so I don't have to stay on the AirTrain for its tour of JFK. (With the AirTrain operating on a single track, all of the trains are traveling counter-clockwise).


Here is my method to JFK (and LGA, minus the LIRR)

Daytime during the week always subway to Airtrain. I find the time I get off the E train and to the LIRR I save no time. Its a set schedule and never have to worry about traffic, accidents, construction.

All other times I HertzonDemand it. I have a garage a few blocks from me. No worrying about a car service to arrive on time or getting in a cab with a driver that has not bathed in awhile (made a few trips from/to JFK with my head nearly out the window because of the stench) or screaming in a cell phone. Just XM radio and the open road.Using Hertz makes no sense with my time crunch. The time it will take me to walk to Hertz on 23rd St., get the car, return the car to Hertz, and take the AirTrain from Federal Circle surely will cause me to miss my flight.

I did think about driving myself, but the time it will take to get my car and park in the T8 garage (as convenient as that is), will take up a lot of valuable time that a taxi will not require. (I also have not had a smelly taxi driver in ages. Your comments -- which you've made before -- smacks of xenophobia.)


If it's a Saturday and there are no street fairs in the city then you will be fine. Otherwise traffic on the Van Wyck is going to be determining factor. The only time the LIRR is quicker than the E is in the mornings coming in from JFK otherwise the E is just as quick on weekdays and weekends.Not sure I agree with you comment about the LIRR vs. the E train. From where I am, I think the LIRR always is faster.

BTW, I think street fairs should be outlawed.

I'll check the traffic reports before leaving, but I'm still leaning towards the taxi.


Based on current traffic report looks like smooth sailing from midtown to JFK if you left midtown ontime. V/W northbound is screwed but s/b is moving. Good flight.

I've never tried this, but if the Van Wyck is likely to be the problem, how about a taxi to the AirTrain/LIRR Jamaica station?

Based on current traffic report looks like smooth sailing from midtown to JFK if you left midtown ontime. V/W northbound is screwed but s/b is moving. Good flight.Had a great cab driver who drove reasonably fast and aggressively. Took the LIE to Woodhaven Blvd and made it in 45 minutes.

I've never tried this, but if the Van Wyck is likely to be the problem, how about a taxi to the AirTrain/LIRR Jamaica station?

Not worth the effort... The amount of time it takes to AirTrain/LIRR (+ wait for train) from say V/W & Hillside - you can take side streets/service road south and make it to the airport in approximately the same amount of time (if driver is skilled).
Better bet take Lefferts Blvd or streets parallel to it down to Conduit near LongTerm Parking and jump on JFK Expwy from there. A bunch of lights but average speed probably still faster vs. stop and go on V/W.

To OP - your driver took a very reliable alternate route as Woodhaven lights are mostly in pattern/sequence southbound during afternoon/evening rush hour.

To OP - your driver took a very reliable alternate route as Woodhaven lights are mostly in pattern/sequence southbound during afternoon/evening rush hour.It also takes you by London Lennie's, a terrific old school seafood restaurant in Rego Park. I wish I had had time to stop in for dinner!

I would definitely do LIRR + Airtrain. It's much less likely to have an unexpected delay such as traffic. Crossing all the way from the West Side to the East Side by itself could take a while.

I would definitely do LIRR + Airtrain. It's much less likely to have an unexpected delay such as traffic. Crossing all the way from the West Side to the East Side by itself could take a while.
You're a little late. My cab was in the Midtown Tunnel in 15 minutes, and I was at JFK in 45.

It also takes you by London Lennie's, a terrific old school seafood restaurant in Rego Park. I wish I had had time to stop in for dinner!

I know it well.. In HS a buddy use to wait tables there so occasionally get left overs if we hung out later in the evening. Woodhaven now has Trader's Joe, Home Depot and Panera so good to see the new shops but some of the old remains.

Had a great cab driver who drove reasonably fast and aggressively. Took the LIE to Woodhaven Blvd and made it in 45 minutes.

I'm late on this (obviously) but I would suggest Woodhaven Blvd. vs. the VW and that is what your driver did