New York City - long island - lga

I live in Australia and visiting family in L.I. I need to get to lga on a thurs. am to meet family.

Is going LIRR to Penn stn and getting the new york express bus the best option or is there another.

My understanding is no subway to lga and need either car (ie taxi), bus t/port.

I've tried to work out how best to do this via the net and would appreciate any assistance. I've gotten myself very confused.
cheers, trish

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7130e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

Where on Long Island? It makes a difference in terms of which branch of the LIRR you have access to. It's a little more convenient to get to LGA from the Port Washington branch than from the other branches.

Is your priority speed? Low cost? Convenience?

I know you trust us, but what advice has your family offered?

First question, where are you coming from on Long Island?


If I read correctly, sounds like you'll be using public transportation. Is that correct?
The Long Island railroad does stop at Jamaica. From there you can take the subway (E train to Jackson Hts/Roosevelt station, and switch to the Q33 bus to LGA), if you want to do this on the cheap. I'm not sure timewise if that's faster than going to Penn Station and then backtracking.


We need as much detail as possible to help you.

Looks like guv1976 and I joined the party at the same time. :D

i'll be catching the train at ronkonkoma and the plane i will be meeting is suppose to arrive aprox. midday with northwest @ lga. I know the lirr goes to penn stn. and there is express bus to lga.

i thought not a taxi from penn stn. as if traffic holdup, meter will be ticking, whereas, if take ny express bus from penn stn., flat rate & I've already paid.

my family use a car to get to lga but this family member is coming in on a workday so need for other transport. As I live in a city of aprox. 160,000 trying to make my way out to lga as simple as possible is my main priority.

thanks again, trish

If you're comfortable with this, then by all means go that way.

Next question... how do you plan on returning to Ron? ;)

Have you thought about renting a car on Long Island (I wanted to say The Island, but didn't want to cause any confusion). :D This may be the cheapest/fastest way.

By taking the train into Manhattan from Queens, you're going out of your way. The LIRR goes through Queens. So why leave it only to return to it?

Are you ok with taking the LIRR to Jamaica, changing to the E train to Roosevelt Ave/74th Station, and then either taking a bus or cab to LGA?

If you do not want to deal with subways or buses, you can take the LIRR to either Forest Hills or Woodside stations, and take a taxi (or livery cab, sometimes called a "black car") to LGA from either station. The taxi fare will be about $15.00, including tip, and should only take 10-15 minutes from either station. There is a taxi stand about one block north of the Forest Hills station, at Queens Boulevard and 71st Avenue. However, on a weekday morning, there is much more frequent LIRR service to Woodside than to Forest Hills.

Every time I've been to the Jamaica LIRR station I've seen livery cabs hanging out on Sutphin Blvd under the tracks looking for passengers.

My advice would be to take the LIRR to Jamaica and then get a livery cab to take you to LGA. When you exit the train, walk toward the back of the train and take the stairs down to the street. You should find a row of Town Cars lined up there. Make sure you ask the driver how much the ride is to LGA before you get in and make sure it has a "livery" or "tlc" license plate (so you know it's licensed to take passengers). My guess is that it'll be under $20 (it's only a 10-12 minute ride assuming no traffic).

This option will cost about the same and will save you a ton of time (at least 90 minutes, possibly more) vs. going to Penn Station and backtracking to LGA on the bus. Note that the "express" bus from Penn to LGA only runs a couple times an hour, and is scheduled for an hour and twenty minute ride (because it stops at Port Authority and Grand Central to pick up other pax along the way).

Edited to add: guv1976's advice about Forest Hills and Woodside is also good. They're a little closer to LGA than Jamaica, so that might work better assuming your train from Ron stops there (they almost all stop at Jamaica).

Just looking for a bit of an update/clarification. A friend will be coming in to Jamaica on the LIRR from Long Island and needs to get to Laguardia on a Sunday evening.

How safe/easy is it to get a black cab at the Jamaica Station?
Incoming train terminates at Jamaica, so he'd have to transfer for Woodside/Forest Hills. Train to Woodside actually faster given the schedule at that time. But Would either of those be a better option in terms of finding a taxi?

I ask because I've gone to the Jackson Heights E train stop a few times and sometimes you have to wait a bit for a cab to pull up.

Primary concern is ease, not cost. Suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

Just looking for a bit of an update/clarification. A friend will be coming in to Jamaica on the LIRR from Long Island and needs to get to Laguardia on a Sunday evening.

How safe/easy is it to get a black cab at the Jamaica Station?
Incoming train terminates at Jamaica, so he'd have to transfer for Woodside/Forest Hills. Train to Woodside actually faster given the schedule at that time. But Would either of those be a better option in terms of finding a taxi?

I ask because I've gone to the Jackson Heights E train stop a few times and sometimes you have to wait a bit for a cab to pull up.

Primary concern is ease, not cost. Suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.I've never had a problem hailing a black car at Jamaica Station. It's safe and easy. (That said, I've never had a problem hailing a black car in Jackson Heights, either.)