Driving to JFK
Because traffic conditions in NYC, especially routes involving bridges or tunnels, can be unpredictable, it is best to allow yourself extra time to reach JFK and your flight. From Manhattan it takes a minimum of 30 minutes to reach JFK by car, but if there is heavy traffic, it could take 2 hours. Consider the different transportation options.
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If you never been to New York City and are concern about passing through shade neighborhoods, remember this no matter how you get there you will be going through some questionable areas. But if you are on free ways the whole time this will not be a concern to you. Only if you were to leave the freeway and go into the streets and start trouble would you have problems. Anyway, you can be just about anywhere in NYC during the day - just mind your own business and treat everyone with courtesy. It is only after dark that there can be some problems. Get your self a good map and plan a few ways to get to JFK airport. Keep abreast of traffic jams, listen to the traffic radio stations. They give up to the minute traffic reports every 10 minutes. 880 am on every minute ending in 8 and 1010 am on every minute ending in 1. One last thing, make sure you have enough cash for the tolls and parking.
If you want to avoid all the hassles, your best bet is to take a taxi or car service. The taxi driver knows the safest, best way to go because he's been around and doesn't want to get killed himself or lose his car / limo.
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JFK Airport Driving Directions
Getting to JFK Airport
If opt not to take a JFK taxi or car service and decide to drive, I will show you the best possible routes to from JFK airport.
How to Get to JFK by Car From NYC, Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey
Driving to JFK Airport can be a breeze or an unrelenting hassle. JFK is in southern Queens, just off the Belt/Southern State Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway.
Directions From Manhattan
- Midtown Tunnel: Take the LIE east to the Grand Central east to the Van Wyck south. The Van Wyck leads directly to JFK.
- Triborough Bridge: Take the Grand Central east to the Van Wyck south. The Van Wyck leads directly to JFK.
- Williamsburg, Manhattan, or Brooklyn Bridges: Go south on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) to the Belt Parkway east. At exit 19 take the Nassau Expressway (NY-878), which leads directly to the airport.
Directions From Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE): Take the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) south to the Belt Parkway east. At exit 19 take the Nassau Expressway (NY-878), which leads directly to the airport.
- Jackie Robinson Parkway: Take the Jackie Robinson Parkway (Interboro Parkway) east to the Van Wyck south, which leads directly to JFK.
Directions From the East (Long Island)
- Southern State:Take the Southern State Parkway west until it merges into the Belt Parkway. The highway's name changes to the Belt Parkway. Follow the Belt Parkway west to the JFK Expressway. The JFK Expressway will take you directly to Kennedy Airport. Follow the signs for JFK at exit 20.
- Long Island Expressway (LIE ) or Northern State: Drive west on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) or Grand Central/Northern State. Take the Cross Island Expressway to the Van Wyck Expressway. Follow the Van Wyck Expressway directly to Kennedy Airport. Then drive west to exit 20 for JFK Airport.
Directions From the Bronx, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Upstate New York
- I-87 NY Thruway aka Major Deegan: Head south on the Thruway-Major Deegan Expressway to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95). Take the Cross Bronx Expressway east to I-678. Follow I-678 south across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (Toll for passenger vehicles - $5.00.) to the Van Wyck Expressway south. The Van Wyck will lead directly to Kennedy Airport.
- I-95 New England Thruway: Go south on the New England Thruway (I-95) to the Bruckner Expressway. Take the exit for the I-678 (Hutchinson River Parkway) and follow it across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (Toll for passenger vehicles - $5.00.) to the Van Wyck Expressway which leads directly to Kennedy Airport.
- I-84/I-684: Head south on I-684 to I-287 and then west on I-287 to I-87 NY Thruway to the Major Deegan Expressway. Switch to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) east, and then follow I-678 south across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. From the bridge take the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678), which goes directly to JFK. Or Head south on I-684 to the Hutchinson River Parkway (I-678). Follow the Hutchinson River Parkway south across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (Toll for passenger vehicles - $5.00.) and to the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) which will lead directly to the airport.
- Alternate Route from the North: Listen to the traffic report on 1010 Wins radio as soon as you approach the Bronx. If there are delays on the Whitestone Bridge, follow signs for the Throgs Neck Bridge. From the bridge, follow the Cross Island Parkway south to the Belt Parkway/Southern State west. Follow to exit 20 for JFK.
Directions From New Jersey
- I-78: Go east on I-78 to the New Jersey Turnpike south to Exit 13. Cross the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island, and follow Staten Island Expressway (I-278) to the Verrazano Bridge. Exit the bridge to take the Belt Parkway east. At exit 19 take the Nassau Expressway (NY-878), which leads directly to the airport. Or Drive north on the NJ Turnpike to Exit 13. Head east across the Goethals Bridge (Tolls $6.00 from NJ to Staten Island) to the Staten Island Expressway (I-278) to the Verrazano Bridge ($8.00 for passenger vehicles, one-way charge). Follow the Gowanus Expressway north to Prospect Expressway south to 10th Ave. Follow 10th Ave. to McDonald Ave. South, turn left on Caton Ave. to Linden Blvd. (NY Rt. 27), then take Linden Blvd. to Nassau Expressway directly to Kennedy Airport.
- I-80/I-280: Go east on I-80 to I-280 east to the NJ Turnpike south to Exit 13 for the Goethals Bridge. Take the bridge east to Staten Island, and follow Staten Island Expressway (I-278) to the Verrazano Bridge. Exit the bridge to take the Belt Parkway east. At exit 19 take the Nassau Expressway (NY-878), which leads directly to the airport.
- Alternate Route from New Jersey: Just after the Verrazano Bridge, exit to Ft. Hamilton Parkway (east) to Linden Boulevard (NY 27). Take Linden Boulevard to the Nassau Expressway directly to the airport. Note: Linden Boulevard is not a highway, but a thoroughfare through the heart of Brooklyn.
Alternates routes to get to New Jersey from JFK
Leaving JFK, if you can get to the Grand Central Parkway and take that to the
Long Island Expressway (head west), you will lead right into the mid-town tunnel
and then manhattan. From there, take 34th street or whatever to Lincoln tunnel.
Also, leaving JFK, look for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (head towards
queens). Follow that until you exits for Manhattan Bridge. Take Manhattan Bridge
through Manhattan to the Holland Tunnel.
Also, leaving JFK, take the Van Wyck parkway to the Grand Central Parkway to the Tri-Boro Bridge into Manhattan. Once in Manhattan, take the FDR Drive uptown (becomes Harlem River Drive eventually) until you see signs for the George Washington Bridge. Follow until on bridge.
If at all possible, avoid the Van Wyck Expressway during the day. The AirTrain to JFK now runs silently above the Van Wyck casting jealousy on all drivers below. Here is a tip if you are already on the Van Wyck driving north from JFK skirt the Van Wyck's southern lanes by driving on the access road through South Jamaica. This road is a great alternative. Just make sure to rejoin the Van Wyck before you reach Atlantic Avenue, where local traffic can get nasty.
INFORMATION FOR DRIVING TO JFK
For real time information call 1-800-AIR-RIDE (1-800-247-7433). Live operators available 8 am to 6 pm EST, Monday to Friday. Recorded information available at all other times.
JFK Airport Arrivals, Departures and Terminals
JFK Terminals
- Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and more - Terminal 1
- Delta - Terminals 2 and 3
- Continental Airlines - Terminal 4
- JetBlue Airways - Terminal 6
- British Airways - Terminal 7
- United Airlines - Terminal 7
- American Airlines - international flights - Terminal 8
- American Airlines - domestic flights - Terminal 9
