Image of interior of a terminal in LaGuardia Airport with food vendors.

LaGuardia Airport is a popular hub for domestic flights and welcomes thousands of travelers per year. (Photo credit: Eric Friedebach)

New York is a city that seems to be constantly moving, and with that comes countless transit options that connect NYC among its boroughs and with the rest of the world. If you’re arriving to New York and confused about how to navigate and find the best transit options for you, never fear! We at New York Habitat have your complete guide to airport transportation around New York City to ensure your transition from the airport to your new apartment is as smooth as possible.

In the first part of our series, we gave you all the fast facts you need to know about John F. Kennedy International Airport, the transportation options available to connect you with any neighborhood in NYC, and how a New York Habitat agent can help coordinate your travel plans with your landlord or host. Now, it’s time to explore the other airport in Queens, New York—the small-but-mighty LaGuardia Airport.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA): Some fast facts

Image of a blue sign for M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport.

MTA city buses provide travelers with a cheap and easy connection to 13 subway lines, 24 hours a day! (Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)

LaGuardia Airport is located on the edge of Astoria and Jackson Heights, Queens. At a glance, here are some important things to know about LaGuardia:

  • LGA is the smallest of New York City’s three main airports, but the closest to Manhattan.
  • LaGuardia only accepts domestic flights, with the exception of a few flights from Canada.
  • This is because LaGuardia has no customs or border control services.
  • There is no AirTrain or direct subway service to LaGuardia.

Because of its lack of direct subway service, transport options from LaGuardia are more limited than JFK, but that doesn’t mean it’s hard to get around! Check out your options below when traveling to and from LaGuardia airport:

New York Habitat infographic describing LaGuardia transportation options including taxi, buses and subway.

Know your options: Here’s all the ways you can get around New York from LaGuardia Airport.

Thanks to LaGuardia’s relative proximity to Manhattan, it’s pretty simple to get wherever you need to go via taxi, bus, or subway.

Traveling by taxi

Image of yellow taxis waiting to pick up travelers at the curb of LaGuardia Airport and a traveler with a suitcase.

Hail an NYC yellow taxi at the curb of LaGuardia for direct transportation to any destination in New York City. (Photo credit: Grant Wickes)

Like at JFK Airport, you can also easily take a yellow taxi from the curb at LaGuardia Airport to any location within the city limits. As a reminder, New York City taxis will always be clearly labelled with an NYC Taxi logo and a roof light. Unlabeled cabs cannot legally pick you up at the curb, so be aware not to get into an unlabeled or unregulated taxi.

Unlike JFK, there is no flat-rate fare for trips to and from LaGuardia. Your fare will vary by your destination, but you can expect a trip to Midtown Manhattan to cost around $50 with gratuity and tolls. A taxi will be the most expensive transportation from LaGuardia, but is the most direct route and saves you the trouble of having to carry your luggage. You may want to consider paying the higher price if you have a bulky suitcase in tow!

Traveling by bus and subway

There is no direct subway service to LaGuardia, but a city bus can easily connect you with almost any subway line. The M60 and Q70 bus lines pick up and drop off directly at LaGuardia airport and will cost you $2.75 via your MetroCard for a one-way trip. Fortunately, one free transfer is included with your fare (within 2 hours), so you won’t need to pay again if you have to get on the subway.

Via the M60 bus, you can transfer to the A, B, C, D, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 subway lines, and with the Q70, you can transfer to E, F, M, R, 7 subway lines. These bus lines also directly serve the neighborhoods of East Elmhurst, Astoria, Woodside, and Jackson Heights in Queens, and Morningside Heights and Harlem in Manhattan.

The M60 and Q70 buses are budget-friendly ways to travel, and these particular lines even offer special racks for traveler’s luggage.

Where to stay

Image of living area of NY-17230 with sofa, decorative fireplace, television, area rug and artwork.

This 3-bedroom apartment in Long Island City is available for stays of 1 month or longer, and comes fully furnished in a trendy contemporary style! (Rental ID: NY-17230)

Trying to decide which airport to fly into, or pick an apartment rental convenient to LaGuardia? Check out these popular neighborhoods that are directly served by bus lines and subway transfers accessible from LaGuardia Airport:

  • Woodside, Queens
  • Long Island City, Queens
  • Astoria, Queens
  • Upper Manhattan (Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights)
  • Harlem, Manhattan

New York Habitat has a full selection of furnished apartments, roommate shares and vacation rentals throughout Queens and Manhattan. Ask your agent about any of these neighborhoods for more information!

Peace of mind with New York Habitat

Whether you’re moving to New York for months at a time or arriving for a short vacation, booking a furnished apartment with New York Habitat can help simplify your arrival. Here’s how:

But don’t just take our word for it! Below, you can find testimonials from past clients who took advantage of New York Habitat’s unique approach to apartment rentals to cope with a change in travel plans.

What to do if your travel plans change: Our clients’ experiences

Sometimes, the unexpected happens, and our travel plans don’t always go as smoothly as we hope. No matter what type of situation you find yourself in, we’re ready to put our 30 years of experience to work to help you solve the problem, and our friendly owners are in touch as well to go above and beyond to assist you. For example, here are some cases we’ve handled in the past:

  • New York Habitat infographic featuring client reviews from past apartment tenants describing the benefits of connecting with an apartment host.

At New York Habitat, we aim to personalize your apartment rental experience. When you rent an apartment with us, you can travel or move with the knowledge that you’ll have the human touch of someone to help you with any problems you may encounter. If you’re looking to get in touch with one of our agents to help with your apartment search, use our form to submit a request. We look forward to connecting you with your ideal apartment!