nd5524

If I take a taxi from La Guardia to Penn Station on a Tuesday afternoon (est. arrive is 4:30), what time will I approximately be arriving at Penn Station? Taking into consideration airport checks upon arrival, baggage, wait for taxi, and traffic to Manhattan....

First time in NYC, and I would like to know a rough estimate.

Thanks!

nytraveler

Your arrival will depend on:

What time the plane actually arrives - afternoon flights into LGA are often late
How long it takes you luggage to appear - may be 10 minutes or 30
How long it takes to get a cab - probably 5 to 10 minutes - unless weather is bad or there is a lot of construction
Time to get to Penn Station - based on traffic

I would assume no more than 30 to 40 minutes from when you get in the cab. Probably 6 pm if your luggage isn't long delayed.

(You can do the trip in 20 minutes at 7 am on a sunday.)

txdbog

If youre going to Penn Station I would say closer to probably 6:30 by cab. If you dont have too much luggage and are going to Penn anyway you may want to take a cab to a subway...I forgot which one is the closest. But take the subway to Penn and then catch whatever train you need from there (I assume thats why youre going to Penn)

Aduchamp1

Ask the cabbie if he knows the back way to the 59th Street Bridge or if the tunnel is better. Even though the tunnel is directly crosstown from Penn, they close a lane outbound at the evening rush and everything could get backed up.

nd5524

Thank you for the responses. Yes TXT, I was thinking of possibly doing this, just taking a taxi to the nearest metro. I will only have one 22" carry-on. Not sure if this is fine or if it is too much luggage for NYC metro. I have taken the metro all over the world, except Mexico City, with this roll-on bag, but I am not sure how packed the metro will be.

nd5524

Please let me know what you guys think about a 22" carry-on in a metro station. I would then just be getting a taxi to the nearest metro station from La Guardia.

Aduchamp1

La Guardia is not that close to the nearest subway stop.

The best stop is N or Q train at Astoria Ditmars Blvd and you get off at 34th Street in Manhattan and then walk one block west to Penn Station. Ditmars is the first stop in Queens, so you will get a seat but you will have to schlep your luggage up several flights of stairs at Ditmars because there is no elevator and some stairs at 34th because there is an elevator there but it is a huge station.

Here is the subway map which includes LaGuardia.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

nytraveler

There is no Metro in New York.

If you want to take the subway you will have to deal with several flights of stairs at least twice - but as long as you can easily carry the bag up the stairs you won;t have a problem.

However, the subway won;t be any faster than taking a cab.

bigbomoho

i would take a limo,either carmel or dial 7 and not risk a line getting into a taxi,so you will get therequicker

Aduchamp1

There is a very quick and an extremely long line of taxis to the right of the American Airlines terminal

panecott

You can also take the airport bus from LGA to Penn Station. It's $12 one way. I use the airport buses all the time and find them to be reliable and convenient.

http://www.nyairportservice.com/

nd5524

Thank you for all of the responses

nd5524

Last question, if anyone thinks they can answer it: How much do you think a taxi from La Guardia would cost to East Rutherford, New Jersey (about 2 miles west of Secaucus Junction? Please give me a worst case scenerio. I would rather be pleasently surprised

Aduchamp1

From the NYC Taxi amnd Limousine rules:

For a trip beyond the limits of New York City, except Westchester or Nassau Counties, or Newark Airport, the fare shall be a flat rate (a flat rate is a definite amount fixed between the driver and the passenger at the start of the trip). This flat rate shall be negotiated prior to the trip and entered into the meter via the technology enhancements or TPEP system (when available) using Rate Code 5.

I will start the bidding: $85 including tolls and tip? I am really guessing.

doug_stallings

Worst-case scenario is $150 including all the tolls and tip (though it could be more), but it's extremely unlikely that you'll find a cab driver willing to do that. If you want to go directly to East Rutherford, then you want to arrange a car service like Dial 7, and then you can get a hard quote that will be honored.

The closest subway from LGA can be accessed quite easily on a city bus if you don't mind taking one about 10 to 15 minutes from the airport ($2.25 in coins only, or you can buy a Metrocard in the middle of the main terminal on the arrivals level, where American Airlines comes in).

You'll be able to board the N/Q train at Astoria Blvd. and go right into Manhattan (but you have to climb a VERY long staircase at Astoria Blvd.). When there's no traffic, I once did this trip in 40 minutes to my office at 55th/Broadway; Penn Station is 3 stops further (about 6--8 minutes more). This subway station is considerably closer than the other one most easily accessed from LGA, which is the Roosevelt Ave. stop on the E/F/R trains; however, those go straight to Penn Station, while the N/Q goes only to 33rd/6th Ave., one long block away.

nytraveler

For that trip you should not take a taxi. NYC taxis don;t have to leave the city - and many won;t - since they don;t wantt to come back empty. For that trip contact Carmel or Dial 7 car service and they will give you a specific fare (so you're not subject to extra $ for trffic delays). On top of the fare they give you you will have to pay bridge tolls (about $13) and tip (20% of fare but not toll).

(If you take a taxi the tolls are the same as is the expected tip.)

nd5524

Perfect, I will contact a car service, asap!

nd5524

Doug - Just in case I take the metro route, do you remember what the BUS # is for the bus that takes you to Astoria BLVD?

ellenem

M60 bus goes to Astoria Blvd.

nd5524

You guys have been great! Thank you so, so much!