Taxi route from the city to JFK

That's a good question. Why not Google map it and let the driver know the shortest or fastest route. This way he will get you there quicker and save you money.

The Fastest Route: Take any of the lower Manhattan water crossings to a respective exit in Brooklyn and follow that roadway until you reach Atlantic Ave. Once there, drive east to the North Conduit to The Belt Parkway or the Nassau Expressway. Follow airport signs.

Going through Harlem is how I usually do it and it tends to be a short enough trip. That said, you should be charged a flat rate (I think $30 or $45) for NYC-airport transfers, so it shouldn't matter how long the journey is (and the driver won't get anything out of ripping you off)

Anyone ever taken the subway to JFK? I tried it once . . .that's a real adventure to say the least.

@JenMac its a great alternative when you are not traveling with much luggage other than that the other cheap alternative is the Super Shuttle but you have to be ready hours before your flight, For some reason they always arrive early without any notice at my doorstep but I only use them when I am traveling alone and don't want to spring the $50-55 cab fare( with toll and tip). @JVS the cabs I use all tend to take me via the FDR, the Triboro Bridge and then into the outskirts of Queens and then the Van Wyck expressway which takes you on to JFK. If you are leaving from Midtown your cab should probably use the Quensboro ( no toll bridge) and take you via LIC on to JFK can't fathom why you should go via Brooklyn?

@JenMac I've taken the JMZ line to JFK and it was no big deal. Of course, it's something I would only do if I was traveling light. There's no need to bring a bunch of baggage onto the subway, as uptowngirl mentioned.

@Everybody: There seems to be many different ways of getting from Manhattan to JFK. The question concerns either speed or being cheap. If you want speed, the fastest route is what I posted earlier. If you want the cheapest, well it seems to me the subway would be. It really depends on how much luggage you have, how many people are in the party, and how much you have to spend for transportation.

The route from Penn Station to Newark isn't so bad - maybe 30 minutes. But JFK is a lot less pleasant - long, hot, crowded, etc.

ajadedidealist: the train to Newark is definitely the best route all around: it's fast, easy and cheap!

As long as you don't go on NYE, @JenMac. Trying to get through Penn Station on New Year's Eve was a nightmare! I've never seen so many drunk people in my life...

Trying to go anywhere on NYE in any kind of public transport/ car service is a nightmare....

Thanks for the advice guys, most times they take me via the FDR/Triboro Bridge/Van Wyck expressway, this feels the most direct anyhow.

Where are you headed, @JVS? Anywhere interesting?

@ajadedidealist I once made the mistake of taking the train from Penn Station to Newark on the eve of Thanksgiving it was horrendous to say the least. The crowds at the airport were unbelievable.. never again. Though a friend later told me I should have taken the PATH train from the World Trade Center station. Havent done that as yet for when I last flew out from Newark I took the Super Shuttle Service.

@Uptowngirl: I don't like traveling on a holiday. But if I have to, I will, considering it is a whole lot cheaper to do so.

@hhusted I dont know if our tickets were any cheaper, we were on our way to London to catch a connecting flight onwards to Asia and Continental was the only airline that worked for us at that time but now I know better than to travel at the time of a major holiday.

@ajadedidealist, no plans to visit the east coast in the next 6 months, will be in San Francisco in July for a conference. I do visit New York at least once a year though.

@JVS: I am planning on going to LA within two to three months. I may go up to San Fran while visiting. I went to San Fran last year and loved it.