What Is The Closest Airport To Times Square

My friend once flew into Newark, hopped in a cab, and cheerfully told the driver, "Times Square, please." Forty-five minutes and one very awkward silence later, he learned an expensive lesson about New York geography. The driver, to his credit, didn't laugh. Much.

This is the moment most travelers realize that "closest airport to Times Square" isn't just a trivia question. It's a decision that can save you an hour, fifty bucks, or a small existential crisis on the Grand Central Parkway. So let's sort it out.

The Honest Answer: LaGuardia Wins

If we're talking pure distance, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the winner. It sits roughly eight miles from Times Square, which sounds delightfully close. It isn't always, but let's start with the good news.

Here's the catch, though. "Closest" and "fastest" are not the same thing in New York. Traffic has a vote, and it usually votes against you. A trip that takes twenty minutes at 6 a.m. can stretch to forty-five during rush hour.

Getting From LaGuardia to Times Square

The cheapest route involves the Q70 SBS bus, which is free, connects to the subway in Jackson Heights, and gets you to Midtown for the price of a MetroCard swipe. Total travel time: about 45 to 60 minutes.

A taxi or rideshare takes 30 to 45 minutes in normal conditions and costs around $35 to $50 before tip. Not terrible. Not great either. You know how it goes.

JFK: Farther, But Sometimes Smarter

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) sits about 15 miles from Times Square. On paper, that's roughly double LaGuardia's distance. In practice, it's often the smoother option.

Why? The AirTrain connects JFK to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road, which means you can skip the highway entirely. The subway ride to Times Square takes about an hour, and the fare is $11.40 with the AirTrain surcharge.

How to Get From LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan + Times Square

The LIRR route is faster. You hop off at Penn Station and walk or grab a short subway ride to Times Square. Total: around 45 minutes. See? Farther doesn't always mean slower.

What About a Taxi From JFK?

Expect 50 to 75 minutes and a flat fare around $70 plus tolls and tip. During bad traffic, you'll question every life choice that led you here. We've all been there.

Newark: The Plot Twist

Then there's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which isn't even in New York. It's in New Jersey, roughly 12 to 16 miles from Times Square depending on the route.

Here's the plot twist: Newark is often the fastest airport for reaching Midtown. The NJ Transit train from Newark Airport to Penn Station takes under 30 minutes. Yes, really.

The AirTrain plus NJ Transit costs about $26 round trip, and you land two blocks from Times Square. It's almost unfair to the other airports.

Taxis and rideshares from Newark run $60 to $80 and take 40 to 60 minutes when traffic cooperates. Spoiler: it often doesn't. The Lincoln Tunnel has ruined many a plans.

Easiest (and Cheapest) Way From JFK Airport to Times Square and

So Which One Should You Actually Choose?

If you can fly into LaGuardia, do it. It's genuinely the closest, and the cab ride won't bankrupt you. Short flights from the East Coast usually land here anyway.

If LaGuardia isn't an option, don't panic. JFK is perfectly manageable thanks to the AirTrain, and Newark might actually beat both of them if you're heading to Midtown.

The real answer depends on three things: where you're flying from, what time you land, and how much you value your sanity. A 5 p.m. arrival at JFK is a different beast than a 7 a.m. one.

The Bottom Line

LaGuardia is the closest airport to Times Square by miles. Newark is sometimes the closest by minutes. And JFK is the reliable middle child that quietly gets the job done.

Check all three before booking. Compare total travel time, not just distance, because New York traffic is the great equalizer. It humbles everyone eventually.

And if you do end up in a cab from Newark, at least now you'll know exactly why it's taking so long. That's worth something, right?