The "usual" route from the west to JFK requires driving on the Van Wyck Expressway. Except for the early morning(before 10 am) this roadway moves at a snails pace. [After completing the work on the Airtrain roadbed, the roadway underneath, the Van Wyck Expressway, (1)has lanes which are not properly aligned, (2)construction at most hours of the day and night!,
(3)lots of traffic.] The only other "good" route is the Belt Parkway. Conclusion: try to avoid driving to JFK.