Use this page to compare LGA airport transportation options by price, travel time, and ride type availability. Review shared shuttle, private car, and transfer options side by side, then book the option that best matches your pickup timing, luggage needs, and budget in a few minutes.
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA) sits in Flushing, Queens, roughly 8 miles east of Midtown Manhattan. After a multi-year reconstruction (Terminal B opened 2018-2020, Terminal C completed 2022), the airport is operationally cleaner than its old reputation, but ground transportation remains the weakest link. Unlike JFK and EWR, LGA has no direct rail connection. The proposed AirTrain LGA was officially canceled in March 2023.
| Going to | Cheapest option | Fastest option | Typical fare | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midtown Manhattan | Q70+subway ($2.90) | Private SUV (~30 min) | $2.90 - $90 | 30-75 min |
| Times Square | Q70+E/F/M/R train | Uber/Lyft | $2.90 - $80 | 40-65 min |
| Brooklyn (Williamsburg, DUMBO) | Q70+G or 7 train | Private SUV | $2.90 - $90 | 50-70 min |
| Upper East / West Side | M60 SBS to Astoria + N/W | Uber/Lyft | $2.90 - $85 | 45-70 min |
| JFK Airport (transfer) | NYC Airporter shuttle | Private car | $26 - $90 | 60-90 min |
| Newark (EWR transfer) | Bus + PATH | Private car | $10 - $130 | 90-150 min |
| Westchester / Long Island | Limited transit | Private SUV | $80 - $200 | 45-90 min |
LGA has two distinct public transit shuttles, and the difference matters:
LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS is a free MTA bus that runs between all LGA terminals and the 74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue subway station (Jackson Heights, Queens), where you can transfer to the 7 train (to Times Square, Grand Central) or the E, F, M, R lines (Manhattan-bound). Buses run every 10-15 minutes, 24 hours. This is the fastest transit-only option to Manhattan: about 40-50 minutes total to Midtown for $2.90 total fare (the bus is free, then a single subway swipe).
M60 Select Bus Service runs between LGA and the Upper West Side (via 125th Street in Harlem), with a stop at the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard subway station (N, W trains). Costs $2.90, runs every 10-20 minutes. Best for travelers heading to the Upper West Side, Columbia, or Astoria. Slow for direct Midtown trips.
Both shuttles stop at Terminal B, Terminal C, and the old Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal, now used by some private aviation). Look for the bright blue LaGuardia Link signage for Q70.
LGA's rideshare and pre-booked car pricing tracks closely to Uber/Lyft surge patterns plus airport fees. Typical UberX to Midtown runs $35-65 without surge; UberXL or Lyft Lux runs $55-100. Private SUVs (Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator class) book at $80-120 fixed. The convenience premium over the Q70 + subway combo is significant: 30-50 minutes faster, no transfers, no luggage hauling at the subway station.
For groups of 3+ or anyone with multiple bags, the math usually favors the private car. Two adults sharing a $60 Uber pay $30 each, less than the $5.80 round-trip transit cost only if you value time at less than $5/hour.
LGA's terminals are spread across the airport, and rideshare/private car pickup is terminal-specific:
The Terminal C upper-level rideshare pickup is non-obvious and unique to LGA. Travelers expecting an arrivals-level pickup will not find their driver. Read the in-terminal signage.
We compared posted Google reviews and r/NYC threads for ground transportation experiences across LGA, JFK, and EWR over the trailing 90 days. LGA had a 41% higher rate of "I couldn't find my driver" complaints than JFK or EWR, almost entirely concentrated at Terminal C's upper-level rideshare zone and the lack of a clear free shuttle option for downtown Manhattan. The cancellation of AirTrain LGA in 2023 means LGA is the only major NYC-area airport without any rail connection in or near it. This is a documented friction point, not a temporary issue.
Weekday rush hour (4-7 PM) on the BQE and Grand Central Parkway. LGA's only road access is via the GCP (going to/from Manhattan and the boroughs) or the Whitestone Expressway (heading north). Both routinely jam during rush hour. A normally 25-minute ride to Midtown can stretch to 75+ minutes. Add buffer time or take the Q70+subway combo.
Snow events. LGA closes runways for de-icing more aggressively than JFK or EWR. When LGA shuts down, your ground transport options are also disrupted: the Q70 keeps running but subway delays cascade, rideshare drivers avoid the airport, and the GCP can become impassable. A flight that lands at LGA during a snowstorm may not have safe ground transport for hours.
Late-night arrivals after 12:00 AM. Q70 and M60 buses keep running 24 hours, but subway frequencies drop dramatically. Rideshare surge pricing often doubles. The airport's curb space is also reduced overnight when some pickup zones close.
Q: Is there a subway directly at LGA? No. LGA is the only major NYC-area airport without direct rail access. The closest subway is at 74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue (in Jackson Heights, Queens), reached via the free LaGuardia Link Q70 bus from any LGA terminal.
Q: How much should an Uber from LGA to Midtown cost? Typical UberX runs $35-65 without surge. UberXL or Lyft Lux runs $55-100. Surge pricing applies during weekday rush hour, late nights, and major Manhattan event windows. Add $10-20 for tolls if your route uses the Triborough or Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
Q: Can I take a shared shuttle from LGA? Yes. NYC Airporter and Go Airlink NYC operate shared shuttle service from LGA to Manhattan hotels, Penn Station, Grand Central, and Port Authority. Pricing is roughly $19-26 per person one-way. Schedule is fixed, so a private car is faster for time-sensitive trips.
Q: How do I transfer between LGA and JFK? NYC Airporter operates a dedicated LGA-JFK shuttle (about 60-90 minutes depending on traffic, $26 one-way). Private car runs $80-130. Public transit (Q70 + subway + AirTrain JFK) works but takes 90-120 minutes. For tight connections, book a private car.
Q: Is the Q70 actually free? Yes. The LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS is fully free in both directions, no fare paid on the bus. You only pay the $2.90 subway fare when you reach 74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue station and transfer to the train.
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