My first piece of advice about traveling between Newark and JFK or LGA airports is to avoid doing it if at all possible! It can be a daunting task to cross a huge city and two rivers, especially if you are short on time. However, there may be times when it’s unavoidable.
Since there may be a time when you need to transfer between NYC airports, I thought it would be helpful to share information about how to do it. In this post, I cover how to get from Newark to JFK or LGA. It is not as far to transfer between LaGuardia and JFK, but it’s not simple so I have included information on that as well.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information.
TL;DR: If you have the budget or are short on time, booking a car service is likely your best bet for transferring between NYC airports.
Contents
Location of NYC Airports
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, it’s handy to know where the three main airports in the New York City area are located. Take a look at the NYC airport map below, and you’ll see that JFK and LGA are pretty close to each other, while EWR sits on the other side.
The distance between JFK and EWR varies from 30 to 42 miles, depending on the route you take. LGA to EWR is about 32 miles (or 26 miles if you pass through Manhattan). Meanwhile, JFK and LGA are just about 10 miles apart, but with the notorious traffic congestion in the area it can feel much farther.
My Experience Transferring from LGA to EWR
For over 13 years, I was based in New York City so normally I would not need to travel between NYC airports. On one occasion, I was traveling to Houston on United Airlines. My flight was one of the few United Airline flights from LaGuardia airport.
Unfortunately, there was bad weather in Houston and my flight was canceled. If I wanted to get there that day my only option was to catch a flight out of Newark, United’s hub. I didn’t have time to really think about it, otherwise, there is no way I would have made it.
I jumped in a cab and said take me to Newark as fast as you can. Luckily, it was not rush hour, but we did run into a little traffic. My bill was well over $100. If I hadn’t made that flight, I probably would have had to cancel my whole trip since it was only for a weekend. I was thankful I made it to Houston to see my friends.
Note: If you are planning ahead and know you will be tight on time, you can save money by booking a car service with Carmel in advance and you can earn airline miles.
Best Ways to Go From JFK to EWR (or vice versa)
There are actually many ways that you can transfer from JFK to EWR. Technically, you can use any of the options that I listed in my post about JFK transportation options and then connect to any of the Newark airport transportation options.
Taxi or Car Service
This will be the fastest way (unless you’re traveling during rush hour), but it will be pricey. I’d recommend taking a car service or taxi from EWR to JFK only when you’re in a real hurry. If you decide to go for it, think about booking a car service online in advance to skip the taxi line and save some time.
With Carmel Car Service, you can easily book online and even earn frequent flyer miles for the ride. Additionally, Carmel’s pricing is in line with a NYC taxi and cheaper than most other car service companies in NYC. This will be your most affordable taxi or car service option.
Click here to check the price and get more information about Carmel Car Service.
NYC Airporter Bus – Now Closed
**NY Airport Express stopped running during COVID, and I’m not sure when express bus service will be available again.
To make things simple and affordable, I suggest that you use the NYC Airporter bus option (now called the NYC Express Bus) from JFK and transfer at the Port Authority bus terminal stop to the Newark Airport Express bus.
Just remember if you are going from EWR to JFK, you need to catch the Newark Airport Express from the EWR and then transfer to the NYC Airporter at Port Authority. Please print out two copies of your confirmation, one for each bus. For only $29, this is a steal!
ETS Shuttle
ETS offers a direct shuttle from EWR to JFK. I have not used this option. I am skeptical about it because the time estimates on their website vary from 45 to 90 minutes for transferring between EWR and JFK depending on the page you are viewing. Knowing New York traffic, I seriously doubt they ever make it in 45 minutes.
You can read reviews of the ETS shuttle here.
Best Ways to Go From LGA to EWR
There are actually many ways that you can transfer from LGA to EWR. Technically, you can use any of the options that I listed in my post about LGA transportation options and then connect to any of the Newark airport transportation options.
Public transportation
To reach Newark Liberty from LaGuardia Airport, you’ll need to make your way to the city and catch either the Newark Airport Express or an NJ Transit Train. Unfortunately, LaGuardia isn’t seamlessly connected to NYC via public transportation. While there are a couple of bus options, there’s no direct train or subway service to Manhattan.
While taking an NYC bus to Manhattan might save you a bit of money, it’s important to note that it can be quite time-consuming.
Taxi or Car Service
Once more, a taxi or car service is likely the speediest option, but it comes at a cost and might not be the most budget-friendly choice. If time is of the essence, it might make sense for you pay for the convenience. If you opt for this route, consider booking a car service online to skip the taxi line and save valuable time.
I strongly recommend Carmel Car Service for this, as their online booking process is straightforward, their rates are reasonable, and you even have the opportunity to earn frequent flyer miles for your journey. It’s a win-win!
Click here to book online with Carmel.
NYC Airporter Bus – Now Closed
**NY Airport Express stopped running during COVID, and I’m not sure when express bus service will be available again.
Just like traveling between EWR and JFK, this is my preferred option. Take the NYC Airporter bus (now called the NYC Express Bus) from LGA and transfer at the Port Authority bus terminal stop to the Newark Airport Express bus. Book this as one ticket on the NYC Airporter website and remember to print out two copies of your confirmation, one for each bus. The fee for this journey is still $29, which I think is very good value!
Just remember if you are going from EWR to LGA, you need to catch the Newark Airport Express from the EWR and then transfer to the NYC Airporter at Port Authority.
ETS Shuttle
ETS also offers a direct shuttle from EWR to LGA. I have not used this shuttle either for the same reasons I mentioned above. I don’t find their website user-friendly, and I think they are overly optimistic about their time estimates. I seriously question whether it is possible for anyone to get from EWR to JFK in 45 minutes – except in the middle of the night maybe!
You can read reviews of the ETS shuttle here.
Best Ways to Transfer from LGA to JFK
Even though the distance from JFK to LaGuardia airport is only 10 miles, you still need to allow time for the transfer. There are no train options available, so it is likely you will have to deal with traffic.
Public Transportation
As I mentioned earlier, the public transportation options to reach LGA are quite limited. It’s important to note that there’s no direct train connecting LGA to JFK, so attempting to use public transit for this route would eat up well over an hour of your time.
In light of this, your best alternatives are to opt for a taxi or a car service. However, it’s worth mentioning that traffic could be a challenge with either choice.
Taxi or Car Service
Going by taxi can be a good option. The one thing you have to keep in mind is there could be a long line to get a taxi depending on the time you land. You can also use Uber or another car sharing service but again depending on the time you land you may have to deal with surge pricing. It may be worth an extra dollar or so, to book a car service in advance. Check out my preferred car service, Carmel, and earn frequent flyer miles for your ride.
Click here to reserve a ride with Carmel.
NYC Airporter Shuttle
**NY Airport Express stopped running during COVID, and I’m not sure when express bus service will be available again.
Another good option, this service, now called the NYC Express Bus, runs between JFK and LaGuardia airports every 30 minutes. The average travel time for a JFK LGA transfer is 60 minutes and it costs $17 per person.
Transferring Between NYC Airports is Not Easy
In summary, it is best to avoid transferring between NYC airports if you can. Even if you are just going between JFK and LaGuardia airports it will take time.
Train options for airport transfers are rather limited, and the unpredictable traffic conditions in the city can make your journey take longer than you might expect. You need to make sure you allow plenty of time between flights at different NYC airports. Keep in mind that attempting to fit in some sightseeing during a short layover might not be feasible.
Have you had to transfer between NYC airports or airports in other cities?
-Anisa
Pin for Later
Expert Tips for Transfering Between EWR, JFK, and LGA Airports
- Avoid transferring between NYC Airports if possible but if you can’t be sure to allow plenty of time. If possible plan to make the transfer during off-peak times.
- It will be easier to transfer between airports with less luggage. Get our packing tips here.
- If your budget allows, you may want to book a car service online in advance with Carmel. As a bonus, you earn frequent flyer miles for your ride. Click here to book online with Carmel.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you. Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit. The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.
Two Traveling Texans is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Last Updated on September 17, 2023