How NYC is laid out
Six commercial airports serve the New York area, but for most travellers the choice is between three: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. Which one you should use depends on where you are going, where you are staying, and — more than anywhere else in America — how you plan to get between the airport and the city.
The airports compared
| Airport | Location and distance | Flights | Rail link | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFK — John F. Kennedy International | Queens, ~16 mi | Everything — the main international gateway | AirTrain to LIRR or subway | Long-haul international; widest choice of carriers |
| LGA — LaGuardia | Queens, ~8 mi | Domestic and short-haul only (1,500-mile rule) | No rail; free Q70 bus to subway | Domestic trips; closest to Manhattan; newly rebuilt |
| EWR — Newark Liberty | New Jersey, ~16 mi | United hub plus major international carriers | NJ Transit direct to Penn Station | United flyers; only direct rail link to Midtown |
| HPN — Westchester County | White Plains, ~33 mi | Domestic, limited carriers | Car or Metro-North + taxi | Westchester and Connecticut suburbs |
| ISP — Long Island MacArthur | Islip, ~50 mi | Domestic, low-cost focused | Car or LIRR + shuttle | Long Island residents; small-airport speed |
| SWF — New York Stewart | Newburgh, ~60 mi | Domestic plus limited international | Car or coach | Hudson Valley; cheap fares when available |
Which one should you fly into?
Flying long-haul international? JFK carries the widest range of carriers by far, with Newark a strong second — particularly if you are on United or a Star Alliance partner. LaGuardia is not an option: its perimeter rule limits nonstops to 1,500 miles, which is why it has no European flights at all.
Flying domestic? LaGuardia is the closest to Manhattan and, after its $8 billion rebuild, the most pleasant of the three to use. JFK makes sense if your airline or price says so, and Newark wins for anyone staying on the west side of Manhattan or in New Jersey.
The rail question matters more than the mileage. Newark is the only airport with a direct train to Midtown (NJ Transit to Penn Station, about 25 minutes — though note the weekday AirTrain shuttle-bus arrangement during construction, covered on our EWR page). JFK connects via AirTrain to the LIRR and subway. LaGuardia has no rail at all — a free bus links it to the subway. At 5pm on a weekday, the airport with a train beats the closer airport stuck in traffic.
The trap to avoid is booking purely on fare. A $40 saving disappears quickly when the cheaper airport costs you an extra hour each way and a more expensive transfer — price the whole journey, not the ticket.
Distances are not travel times
LaGuardia is half the distance of JFK from Midtown, and at rush hour can easily take longer to reach by road. New York traffic, bridge and tunnel queues and the time of day decide the journey far more than miles do. Whichever airport you choose, check live transit and traffic times before you leave.
Questions
Which New York airport is closest to Manhattan?
LaGuardia, at roughly 8 miles from Midtown - about half the distance of JFK or Newark. Traffic often matters more than mileage, so check live travel times.
Which New York airport has a train to Manhattan?
Newark is the only one with a direct rail link: NJ Transit to Penn Station in about 25 minutes. JFK connects via AirTrain to the LIRR and subway. LaGuardia has no rail link at all.
Why does LaGuardia have no international flights?
A perimeter rule limits LGA nonstops to 1,500 miles (except Denver and Saturdays), so long-haul international flights use JFK and Newark.
Is JFK or Newark better for international flights?
JFK carries the widest range of international carriers. Newark is the stronger choice for United and Star Alliance itineraries, and for anyone staying on Manhattan's west side or in New Jersey.