JFK and LaGuardia are only around 15km apart as the crow flies, which sounds like the easiest transfer in New York — and yet neither airport has a rail connection, so getting between them is more awkward than the short distance suggests. For most travellers, a taxi or rideshare ends up being the practical default, with a public transport combination via the subway and a dedicated bus link as the budget alternative. For a broader look at all three New York airports, see our New York airport to the city guide; if your itinerary instead pairs JFK with Newark, see our separate JFK to Newark guide.
Why this feels harder than it should
Unlike JFK, which connects to the LIRR and subway via its own AirTrain, LaGuardia has no rail link at all — a long-discussed direct connection was never built. Both airports sit in Queens, reasonably close to each other on a map, but there's no single service that runs between them; every option involves at least one change, and the road route crosses some of the borough's more congested corridors. It's a good example of a transfer where the straight-line distance is misleading.
Taxi and rideshare: the default choice
Given the short distance, most travellers simply take a taxi or rideshare rather than working out the transit combination. Journey times are typically 20 to 45 minutes in ordinary traffic, though the road corridors serving both airports — particularly the Van Wyck Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway — are among the more congested in the city at peak times, and a journey that takes 20 minutes at 10am can take well over 45 minutes in the evening rush. Fares are metered rather than fixed, and while the trip is short, it's still a taxi ride across two airport access roads, so it isn't as cheap as the distance alone might suggest.
The public transport route: AirTrain, subway and the Q70
The transit option strings together three separate services. From any JFK terminal, take the AirTrain JFK to Jamaica Station, then the subway a handful of stops to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue in Queens — a hub served by several lines. From there, the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus runs non-stop to LaGuardia's terminals, taking around 10–15 minutes in typical traffic and departing frequently, roughly every 8–10 minutes through the day. The Q70 itself doesn't charge a fare; you pay only for the AirTrain and the subway leg, tapped with the same OMNY contactless payment used across the rest of the subway.
Total journey time on this combination usually comes to 45 minutes to just over an hour, depending on how the subway and Q70 connections line up and how much traffic the bus hits on Grand Central Parkway. It's unglamorous compared with a taxi, but it's a genuinely reasonable option if you're travelling light, want to save money, or are simply curious to try it — and unlike a taxi, the Q70 itself isn't affected by general road traffic the way a car would be, since it has some dedicated lane priority.
Terminals and where you actually land
Both airports have multiple terminals, and it's worth checking which one you're arriving into and departing from before choosing a route. At LaGuardia, the Q70 calls at Terminals B and C; if your flight uses a different pier, factor in the airport's internal walkways or shuttle to reach the bus stop. At JFK, the AirTrain loops through every terminal, so getting to it is straightforward regardless of where you land — the variable is really the subway and Q70 connection at the far end.
How long to allow
As a rough planning figure, budget at least 1.5 to 2 hours from touching down at one airport to being ready to clear security at the other, whichever route you choose — this covers disembarkation, the transfer itself with a sensible buffer for traffic or connection waits, and check-in and security at the second airport. If you're travelling at a peak commuting time, add extra margin to the road option in particular, since that's where the variability is greatest.
If you're connecting on two separate tickets
If your JFK and LaGuardia flights are on two entirely separate bookings rather than one through itinerary — for instance an international arrival at JFK and a separate domestic onward flight from LaGuardia — this counts as a genuine self-transfer, and neither airline is obliged to help you if the first flight runs late and you miss the second. The usual minimum connection time published by an airport only applies to connections within that same airport, so it offers no protection here at all. You'll also need to collect and recheck any checked luggage yourself, since it won't transfer automatically between two unrelated airports. Given how exposed the taxi option is to traffic, and how many changes the transit option involves, build in a genuinely generous buffer — several hours rather than the bare journey time above — if you're attempting this pairing on separate tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Is there public transport between JFK and LaGuardia?
Yes, but not a direct one — it combines the JFK AirTrain, a short subway ride to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, and the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus, typically taking 45 minutes to just over an hour in total.
Why do most people just take a taxi for such a short distance?
Because the transit option, while workable, involves three separate legs and doesn't save enough time over a taxi in ordinary traffic to be worth it for most travellers, especially with luggage. It remains a solid budget choice when traffic is bad or cost matters more than speed.
How long does a taxi take between JFK and LaGuardia?
Typically 20 to 45 minutes, but this varies a lot with traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway and Grand Central Parkway — allow closer to the higher end during peak commuting hours.
How much time should I allow if I have a connecting flight between JFK and LaGuardia?
As a rough figure, budget at least 1.5 to 2 hours from landing at one airport to being ready to clear security at the other, and considerably more if you're on separate tickets.
Sources and further reading:
- JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport official transfer-between-airports guidance (Port Authority of New York and New Jersey).
- MTA official route information for the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus and the New York City subway.