smasafy

Can anyone tip me what is the fastest way to get from JFK to Albany?
Is there a train?
thanks in advance
Alan

earl30

Switch planes and fly!!!

stillbrowns

There is Amtrak, but you'd have to get to Union or Penn Station. You're fastest route is going to be flying, you're cheapest - renting a car. By the time you get to the train station, the train probably won't be faster than driving.

Rob

If you decide to fly you might have to go to LGA from JFK. The train leaves from Penn Station in the city. RT fare is around $85 dollars. If you take a taxi to the train station the cost will be $35 each way plus tip and toll. The Airport bus would be less than $15 each way. Taxi to Penn station would take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. The train to Albany take close to 2 hours 30 minutes.

HowardR

Must you fly into JFK? The planes to Albany leave from Laguardia. However, even if you can change your reservation, connecting with a plane at LGA seems to be the best way, assuming the flight schedule to Albany is convenient timewise. It's much easier to get from JFK to LGA than it is to get to a train station in NYC.
If the connection isn't convenient, then I suggest you rent a car at the airport and drive to Albany.

smasafy

Thanks for the answers.
Apparently, I will be landing in Newark and would like to take the tain to Albany.
Should I take the path to Penn Station and then Amtrak? do I need to book in advance for Amtrak? I will be with loggage, any particular problem with that?
Many thanks again,
Alan

Owen_ONeill

I assume the luggage is such that you can pul it with you and get it up and down an escalator or two? If so it shouldn't be a problem.

The Skytrain from EWR to Penn runs every twenty minutes or so and there's always room - just make sure you get off at Penn Station NYC and NOT in Newark - there's a Penn Station stop in Newark also! If it's a busy weekend or a holiday is about to start (e.g. schooll break for colleges), the trains from NYC to Albany do get sold out - best to reserve in advance to be safe.

BudgetQueen

There are fairly frequent trains via Amtrak to Albany- but delays are frequent and common. Yes you do need to book ahead- look at the "rail sale" site on the reservation page- sometimes $15 special- look for the trains to Boston or Chicago since Albany is one of the stops. But from Newark- it is fast and easy to drive, just get on the NYS thruway.

Wildflower

smasafy, if you are flying to Newark the best way is to rent a car and just drive, it is two hours from EWR. This way you will avoid New York City. The train that runs to Albany is not the one that goes to Boston. There are commuter trains Albany-NYC to/from Penn Station. My husband used to take this train often for his business meetings in Manhatttan. We often fly from EWR to ALB, it is a 30 minutes flight but sometimes air fares are insane and it seems it is cheaper to fly from Newark to Paris than to Albany. Once a while there are great air fares and it is possible to fly to Albany for around $80.00 We did it a few times. Good luck!

JohnH

Continental also has flights from Newark to Albany, which might be more convenient.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Flights between Alb and all the NYC airports cost a lot, except during occasional flight sales. Car rentals in the NYC area cost a lot too. Since you have luggage, either a taxi, or the NY Airport Service bus would be the way to get into Manhattan from JFK or LGA. Once in awhile the subway is faster, but not good if you have luggage. From EWR, I think the Olympia bus, with a stop diagonal to Penn Station is the easiest way.

Unless your activities in Albany are very limited, you'd probably want a car. If you time permits, consider taking the NY Airport service shuttle to Grand Central Terminal, then taking a MetroNorth train north of NYC -- eg to Poughkeepsie, where you might rent a car for the rest of your trip. If you are a veteran, you could join Veteran's Advantage (look for it on Amtrak's discounts pages) and get 50% off coach seating on most Amtrak trains (black outs Fridays 11am-11pm, and Sundays 11a-11p, and 15% off at all times ... full fare is about $50 each way NYC - Alb. You could also take bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC (all the shuttles stop here too), but I'm only mentioning, not recommending it.