Triangle Trip

One of the most efficient and economical ways to get to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) from below 57th street Manhattan is via MTA’s R, N or Q train. Total cost for a one way trip will be less than US$3.00, which includes a transfer from the train to the bus. If you’re in NYC for a few days, consider reading my article on how to maximize the value of the unlimited MTA Metrocard.

The R, N and Q trains run north-south along Broadway and through the center of Manhattan island to Queens. Once you get to Queens, hop on the M60 bus for about 20 minutes max and you’ll be at a LGA terminal.

Here are the step by step directions to get to LaGuardia Airport LGA from Manhattan.

1a. Get on the Q when you are at an interchange station because the Q runs express vs the N and R.

2. Get off the N or Q train when you’re at Astoria Boulevard – which is 6 stops after you have arrived to Queens (you’ll know when the train moves onto elevated tracks).

3. Exit Astoria Boulevard station and stay on your right hand side. Look for signs that read M60 bus and display an airplane.

5. The M60 bus will be coming off the bridge from Manhattan. Jump on the M60 and it will take you straight to all the LGA terminals.

You can pick up the same bus from LGA if you’re arriving into NYC. However, there are no vending machines in LGA for you to get a Metrocard. You’ll need to have US$2.25 in change, or you’re out of luck. For NYC visitors, you may want to check out my NYC Visitor’s Guide.

For your convenience, here are links on how to get from Manhattan to Newark (How to get to NYC from Newark) and JFK (How to take NYC public transportation to/from JFK).

If you’re visiting New York or get on the New York City subway or bus (MTA) at least four times a day, we highly recommend you get an unlimited ride Metrocard. For the visitors, you may want to checkout my previous blog to see NYC in a day (or two).

There are unlimited Metrocards for daily, weekly and monthly use. The published terms and conditions for an unlimited Metrocard are:

1. You cannot use the unlimited Metrocard within 18 minutes of your previous use (also known as “swipe”).

2. You cannot swipe in other passengers for a fee.

These terms don’t prohibit you from swiping your friends in for free. And, the 18 minute hold on your Metrocard only applies to the station you swiped in at. If you go to another station (NOT another turnstile across the street for the same station; an entirely different station), or a bus, you can swipe your unlimited card again, before the 18 minutes is up.

Below is an example of how you could maximize the use of your unlimited Metrocard (see map for reference):

1.  Swipe your friend in at Astor Place for the 6 train.
2.  Walk one block over to the 8th Street station and swipe in to get on the N, R or W train.
3.  Use the same card to get on the M6 bus to go down Broadway.

Here’s what you cannot do:

1.  Swipe your friend in at Astor Place for the 6 train.
2.  Walk one block over to the 8th Street station and swipe in.
3.  Go back to Astor Place for the 6 train. Unless 18 minutes passed between step 1 and 3, the card won’t work.

You can, however, walk up to the Union Square 14th Street station to reuse the same Metrocard.

Hope this helped you maximize the usage of your Metrocard. You may want to use this opportunity to check out all the skating rinks in NYC – check out Omnifarious’ previous post.

A follow up to my post highlighting issues with public transportation from JFK to NYC, here are step by step instructions to get you to the City from JFK for $7 instead of paying the $45 flat fee + tips on a dirty taxi with a rude taxi driver.

Just follow these instructions and you won’t be lost or intimidated with the process.

If you’re going to Uptown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Sutphin Boulevard. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Sutphin Blvd which is after the Federal Circle stop. Sutphin is also the last stop before the train goes back to JFK.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit. Right before the turnstiles, you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7. There are options to deposit more money in the Metrocard which can be used on NYC buses as well. The $7 card will pay for the $5 Airtrain and leave you $2 for the E train which you will take to get to Uptown/Midtown Manhattan.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall and make a left. You’ll see a sign that reads LIRR and Subway (E, J, Z trains).
4. Walk pass the LIRR boarding area/tracks until you see an elevator at the end of the hall. Take that elevator to level B – the basement.
5. Get out of the elevator and the NYC subway entrance is to your left. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the E train towards Manhattan.
6. Lexington Avenue/53rd Street is the first stop in Manhattan for the E train. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
7. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

If you’re going to Downtown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Howard Beach. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Howard Beach which is two stops after the Federal Circle.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit where you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7 — $5 pays for the Airtrain and the remaining $2 will pay for the A train.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall take the elevator or escalator down to the Subway station. You’ll see signs that reads “To A Train.”
4. After you have reached the ground floor, you will see NYC subway entrance. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the A train towards Brooklyn/Manhattan.
5. Broadway-Nassau Street is the first stop in Lower Manhattan for the A train. It is near Wall Street and NYC City Hall. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
6. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

Hope you find these instructions helpful. Have a great time in NYC!