JFK and Newark sit on opposite sides of New York Harbor, roughly 30–35km apart depending on the route, and there's no single train that runs between them — every option means crossing through or under Manhattan. Between them you're choosing mainly between a multi-leg rail journey and a taxi or rideshare that's entirely at the mercy of traffic, and the honest answer is that neither is fast, so this transfer deserves more buffer than most. 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 LaGuardia, see our separate JFK to LaGuardia guide.
The standard route: AirTrain, then rail through Manhattan
Both airports have their own AirTrain systems — confusingly similarly named but entirely separate — and the standard public transport route strings them together with two mainline rail operators in between.
Option one: AirTrain, LIRR, NJ Transit
From any JFK terminal, take the AirTrain JFK to Jamaica Station, then the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) into New York Penn Station — a fast, comfortable hop of around 10–15 minutes. At Penn Station, change onto an NJ Transit train bound for Newark Airport Rail Station, non-stop in around 25–30 minutes, then take the AirTrain Newark monorail on to your terminal. Door to door, this combination typically runs to an hour and a half to two hours, including the AirTrain legs and a realistic change time at Penn Station, which can be crowded and confusing on arrival.
Option two: AirTrain, subway, PATH
An alternative uses the subway instead of the LIRR: AirTrain JFK to the A/E subway line, riding into Manhattan to the World Trade Center, then the PATH train under the Hudson to Newark Penn Station, before NJ Transit or the AirTrain covers the last stretch to the terminal. This is usually a little cheaper than the LIRR route since it uses standard subway and PATH fares rather than a commuter-rail ticket, but it involves more changes and generally takes somewhat longer — a reasonable choice if you're already comfortable with the New York subway and want to save on the fare rather than the time.
Taxi and rideshare: simple in principle, unpredictable in practice
A taxi or rideshare avoids all the changes and can, in light traffic, be genuinely quicker than the rail route. In practice, journey times swing enormously: on a clear run outside peak hours it can be under an hour, but through weekday rush hour, a Friday evening, or a bad accident on the connecting expressways or tunnels, it can stretch to well over ninety minutes. Both airports' own transfer guidance quotes a wide range for exactly this reason — treat any single figure you're given as a floor, not a promise. Costs are considerably higher than the rail option, and bridge and tunnel tolls add to the fare on top of the distance charge.
A construction-era wrinkle at Newark
Newark's AirTrain system has been undergoing a major, multi-year replacement, with a new system expected to enter service around the end of the decade. During construction phases, the terminal-to-station AirTrain leg has at times been replaced on weekdays by shuttle buses running during a set daytime window, with normal AirTrain service resuming outside those hours and on weekends. This kind of advisory can add real time to the final leg of the journey. Check the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's current service alerts for Newark before you travel, and build in extra time if a construction-related advisory is in effect on your travel date.
How long to allow
As a rough planning figure, allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours from touching down at one airport to being ready to clear security at the other, whichever route you take — this covers disembarkation, collecting bags if needed, the transfer itself with realistic waiting and walking time, and check-in and security at the second airport. Add more if you're travelling with checked luggage on separate tickets, during rush hour, or if a Newark AirTrain advisory is running. This is a notably more generous margin than a same-airport connection needs, and it reflects both the distance involved and how exposed the road option is to traffic.
If you're connecting on two separate tickets
Travellers occasionally book a flight into JFK and a separate onward flight out of Newark (or vice versa) as two independent tickets rather than one connecting itinerary — sometimes to save money, sometimes because no single airline serves both legs. If that's your plan, this is a genuine self-transfer, and the usual minimum connection time published by either airport doesn't apply at all, since it only covers connections within the same airport. You'll also need to collect and recheck your own baggage rather than relying on it following you through, which adds a real step to the journey. Treat this pairing as one of the riskier self-transfers to attempt on a tight schedule, and lean toward the rail route over a taxi if your buffer is limited, since it isn't affected by road delays.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train between JFK and Newark?
No. There's no single service — the standard route combines the JFK AirTrain, the LIRR or subway into Manhattan, and NJ Transit or PATH onward to Newark, followed by the Newark AirTrain to the terminal.
Is it faster to take a taxi between JFK and Newark?
It can be in light traffic, but journey times vary enormously — from under an hour to well over ninety minutes — because the road route crosses some of the most congested corridors in the New York area. The rail route is slower on paper but far more predictable.
How much time should I allow for this transfer if I have a connecting flight?
As a rough figure, budget at least 2.5 to 3 hours from landing at one airport to being ready to clear security at the other, more if you're on separate tickets or travelling at a peak time.
Do I need separate tickets for the AirTrain, LIRR and NJ Transit?
Yes. Each system — both AirTrains, the LIRR, NJ Transit, the subway and PATH — has its own fare and ticketing, with no shared pass covering the whole journey.
Sources and further reading:
- JFK International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport official transfer-between-airports guidance (Port Authority of New York and New Jersey).
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official press releases on the AirTrain Newark replacement project.
- MTA (Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit) and NJ Transit official route and fare information.