LaGuardia is the closest of New York’s three big airports to Manhattan, about 9 miles from Midtown. Without heavy traffic the drive takes 25 to 40 minutes; on weekday afternoons it can take an hour.
There is no train to the terminals, so every option starts with a bus or a car. Here is how they compare.
At a glance
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q70 bus + subway | Bus free, subway $3 | About 15 min on the bus, then the subway | Light luggage and the lowest cost |
| Q70 bus + LIRR | Bus free, LIRR $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 peak | Bus to Woodside, then the train | A quick train to Penn Station or Grand Central |
| M60-SBS bus | $3 | Depends on traffic | Upper Manhattan, along 125th Street |
| Yellow taxi | Metered, plus surcharges and tolls | 25 to 60 min | No booking: taxi stand at each terminal |
| Uber or Lyft | Set by the app, changes with demand | 25 to 60 min, plus the wait for a car | Riders who already use the apps |
| Private car (RoolDrive) | Flat $120 Luxury Sedan, $150 Luxury SUV, tolls included | 25 to 60 min | Luggage, families, late arrivals, business |
Fares and times for other services are approximate, as of October 2026, from the official pages listed under Sources; they change, so check before you travel. RoolDrive prices are our own.
The free bus and the subway
The Q70 LaGuardia Link is free. It stops in front of Terminals B and C and runs nonstop every 8 to 10 minutes to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, about 15 minutes away in typical traffic. From Terminal A, take the airport shuttle to Terminal B first.
At Jackson Heights, change to the E, F, M, R or 7 train into Manhattan. The subway costs $3: tap a contactless card or phone, or an OMNY card, at the gate. If you take a bus and the subway with the same card, the transfer within two hours is free.
The Q70 also stops at 61 St–Woodside, where you can change to the Long Island Rail Road for a short ride to Penn Station or Grand Central: $5.25 off-peak and $7.25 at peak times, bought in the TrainTime app.
For Harlem and the Upper West Side, the M60-SBS bus stops at every terminal and runs along 125th Street, with stops on Broadway at 106th, 116th and 120th Streets. It costs $3.
The catch is your bags: subway stations have stairs, trains can be crowded at rush hour, and you still have to walk from the station to your door.
A yellow taxi
Taxis wait at the taxi stand outside each terminal, with no booking. The meter starts at $3.00 and adds $0.70 per one-fifth of a mile, or per minute in slow traffic, so a slow ride costs more.
On top of the meter, the TLC lists a $5.00 LaGuardia surcharge, a $2.00 airport access fee for pickups at the airport, a $1.00 improvement surcharge and a $0.50 MTA surcharge. Weekdays from 4 to 8 pm there is a $2.50 rush-hour surcharge, and from 8 pm to 6 am a $1.00 overnight surcharge. Trips into Manhattan below 96th Street add a $2.50 congestion surcharge, and below 60th Street a $0.75 congestion pricing toll. Bridge and tunnel tolls and the tip are extra.
Uber and Lyft
Rideshare apps pick up at LaGuardia, and the app shows you where to meet your driver. The price is set by the app when you request the ride and can be higher when many people want a car at the same time, for example when several flights land together.
Landing late, or with a lot of luggage
The subway runs all night, but trains come less often late at night; check the MTA’s schedule for the Q70 if you land very late. With large bags, children or a group, a car from the curb to your door is simply easier.
A Luxury Sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 3 large bags; a Luxury SUV up to 6 passengers and 6 large bags.
Which one should you choose?
- Travelling light, in the daytime, on a budget: the Q70 and the subway.
- Going to Penn Station or Grand Central: the Q70 and the LIRR from Woodside.
- Going to Upper Manhattan: the M60-SBS.
- You want a car without booking: the taxi stand.
- Bags, children, a late flight or a meeting to get to: a private car booked ahead, at a price you know before you land.
LaGuardia to Manhattan with RoolDrive
A private chauffeur from LaGuardia to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat $120 in a Luxury Sedan or $150 in a Luxury SUV, tolls included. The price is the same at rush hour and late at night. Going back to the airport, Manhattan to LaGuardia is also a flat $120 or $150.
Add your flight number when you book: your chauffeur follows your flight, and waiting is free for the first 60 minutes after you land. You can change or cancel for free up to 1 hour before pickup.
What you get
Every RoolDrive ride comes with things a bus, a taxi or a rideshare app doesn’t promise:
- Complimentary bottled water
- Free Wi-Fi and a phone charger
- A clean, professionally detailed car
- A professional chauffeur in a suit
- Help with your bags
- A professional chauffeur and a private Sedan or SUV, door to door
- All bridge and tunnel tolls
- Flight tracking: add your flight number and your chauffeur follows delays and early arrivals
- 60 minutes of free waiting after your flight lands, for baggage claim and customs
- Complimentary water, Wi-Fi, a phone charger and help with your bags
- Your chauffeur’s name, vehicle and plate in the app, and a direct line to call or message them
- Free changes and cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup, with a full refund for card payments
All prices and what’s included: LaGuardia car service. Full details in our Terms of service.
Questions
Is the bus from LaGuardia free?
Yes. The Q70 LaGuardia Link has been fare-free since May 2022, from Terminals B and C to Jackson Heights and Woodside. You pay $3 when you change to the subway (as of October 2026).
Is there a train from LaGuardia to Manhattan?
Not from the terminals. Take the free Q70 bus to Jackson Heights for the subway, or to Woodside for the Long Island Rail Road.
How long does it take to drive from LaGuardia to Midtown?
About 25 to 40 minutes without heavy traffic, and up to an hour on weekday afternoons.
How much is a private car from LaGuardia to Manhattan?
With RoolDrive, a flat $120 in a Luxury Sedan or $150 in a Luxury SUV to anywhere in Manhattan, tolls included.
What if my flight lands late?
Add your flight number when you book. Your chauffeur tracks the flight, and waiting is free for the first 60 minutes after landing.
