8-hr. layover at New York's Kennedy Airport -- Suggestions?
Jul 9th, 2010, 04:55 AM
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8-hr. layover at New York's Kennedy Airport -- Suggestions?
My husband and 21-year old daughter have an 8-hour layover at Kennedy Airport in New York. What suggestions would you have to entertain ourselves in the city -- we would ideally like to take a boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty and other typical sightseeing activities. Would it be best to catch a hotel shuttle from the airport, or take a bus or the subway? Thanks!
Jul 9th, 2010, 05:04 AM
#3
You can take the AirTrain to the subwayo are headed in the cit( two choices depending on where you are traveling to in the city) into the city. If you want to go to the Statue of Liberty, buy timed ferry tickets way ahead of time, however, I don't know if 8 hours layover is enough time for the S of L.
Jul 9th, 2010, 05:22 AM
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Take the AirTrain to Penn Station. Instead of the boat ride to the Statue of Liberty - save money and time by riding the Staten Island Ferry. It is free and provides a nice view of the statue. http://www.siferry.com.
Depending on time / heat / how much they want to walk they could spend time walking around Wall Street or take the train and meander through Canal Street. One could then trek into the Village for some great restaurants.
Depending on time / heat / how much they want to walk they could spend time walking around Wall Street or take the train and meander through Canal Street. One could then trek into the Village for some great restaurants.
Jul 9th, 2010, 06:00 AM
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When you note an " 8 hour layover" - are you referring to thetime between the scheduled landing and the scheduled take off of the next flight? If so - be aware that those "8 hours" can easily become something more like 5 hours given disembarking and loading times including passing thru security et al. YOur best bet might be taking a taxi into mid- town ($45 fare) and compare that to airtrain plus subway or LIRR fares - not too much difference. Doubtful if you can do a ferry ride to SOL in the time you actually would have. Try - a visit to Rockefeller Center - Top of the Rock - and/or a look at Times Square - and something to eat.
Jul 9th, 2010, 06:09 AM
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8 hours between flights is not alot of time. The landing time is when the wheels touch down on the runway and if the flight is late or the airport is busy all bets are off.
Remember they have to be at the airport 2 hours before the next flight for check in a security checks, so that cuts the time down alot.
If they want a taste of the city, grab a cab if the time is not near rush hour the ride will take about 45 minutes in light traffic and more in heavier traffic.
They can get off near 5th and 42ne and walk up to Rock Center, then over a couple of blocks to Times Square, get a bite to eat and then grab a cab back to the airport.
Remember they have to be at the airport 2 hours before the next flight for check in a security checks, so that cuts the time down alot.
If they want a taste of the city, grab a cab if the time is not near rush hour the ride will take about 45 minutes in light traffic and more in heavier traffic.
They can get off near 5th and 42ne and walk up to Rock Center, then over a couple of blocks to Times Square, get a bite to eat and then grab a cab back to the airport.
Jul 9th, 2010, 06:31 AM
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Eight hours is not nearly enough time to go to the Statue of Liberty. The excursion alone takes a minimum of 4 to 5 hours including waiting time, and that doesn't include the amount of time necessary to get to and from Manhattan from JFK (at least an hour for downtown). The only way you can get a sail-by of the statue on your time schedules is to take the Staten Island Ferry (about 25 minutes each way), which is free. You then have time to do a little more sightseeing downtown in the Financial District and perhaps walk halfway across the Brooklyn Bridge before dashing back to Penn Station on the 1 train from Fulton Street (also the closest station to the South Street Seaport). You will have a maximum of 3 or 4 hours in Manhattan, but that's enough time to see a couple of sights and grab a quick bite to eat.
I think you'd be able to do more if you went to the Rock Center area on this trip. There's another thread on this very subject with a lot of useful information.
You do not say what day of the week or time of day you are arriving at JFK, however, and that is crucial to your decision for how to come into Manhattan. Your ONLY viable option downtown on a weekday is NOT a taxi; there is simply too much traffic, especially in the morning and late afternoon. You will have to take the Airtrain to the Long Island Rail Road ($12 per person each way if off-peak). The trip to Penn Station takes about 30 to 40 minutes from the terminal, and the trip downtown on the subway (your ONLY viable option on a weekday) is about 15 or 20 minutes by the 1 subway to South Ferry.
On a weekend, you could do the trip by taxi for just a little more than the cost of the Airtrain/LIRR combo, but it could still take more than an hour (though could take as little as 45 minutes), so you might have a little less time in the city. And of course if you see all you want to see and are ready to head back to the airport about 3 hours before your flight, then you could just hop in a cab for the return as long as you are not traveling between 4 and 7pm on a weekday. During rush hour, the trip time can easily double, though it usually isn't that bad.
I think you'd be able to do more if you went to the Rock Center area on this trip. There's another thread on this very subject with a lot of useful information.
You do not say what day of the week or time of day you are arriving at JFK, however, and that is crucial to your decision for how to come into Manhattan. Your ONLY viable option downtown on a weekday is NOT a taxi; there is simply too much traffic, especially in the morning and late afternoon. You will have to take the Airtrain to the Long Island Rail Road ($12 per person each way if off-peak). The trip to Penn Station takes about 30 to 40 minutes from the terminal, and the trip downtown on the subway (your ONLY viable option on a weekday) is about 15 or 20 minutes by the 1 subway to South Ferry.
On a weekend, you could do the trip by taxi for just a little more than the cost of the Airtrain/LIRR combo, but it could still take more than an hour (though could take as little as 45 minutes), so you might have a little less time in the city. And of course if you see all you want to see and are ready to head back to the airport about 3 hours before your flight, then you could just hop in a cab for the return as long as you are not traveling between 4 and 7pm on a weekday. During rush hour, the trip time can easily double, though it usually isn't that bad.
Jul 9th, 2010, 08:52 AM
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NYC hotels don't have airport shuttles. so they will either have to cab it - $60 each way - or take the Air Train and LIRR - about $15 each way per person.
And if you have 8 hours between flights you need to see how much time you really have. You have to assume at least an hour each way in and out of the city - plus arriving back at the airport 2 hours before your ongoing flight. Also, how they will deal with their luggage and carry-ons needs to be explored. If their luggage is checked through they will just need to find the place at JFK that will allow then to check carry-ons.
So they have somewhere in the range of 3 hours in the city, assuming flight is not signifiantly delayed.
This isn;t enough time to do the Statue of Liberty - which requires about 6 hours including ferries. They could take the free Staten Island Ferry for a nice view of it - and a great view of the Manhattan skyline on the way bck.
Or they could head for midtown and ascend the Top of the Rock and get a nice meal (not available on the plane or at the airport).
And if you have 8 hours between flights you need to see how much time you really have. You have to assume at least an hour each way in and out of the city - plus arriving back at the airport 2 hours before your ongoing flight. Also, how they will deal with their luggage and carry-ons needs to be explored. If their luggage is checked through they will just need to find the place at JFK that will allow then to check carry-ons.
So they have somewhere in the range of 3 hours in the city, assuming flight is not signifiantly delayed.
This isn;t enough time to do the Statue of Liberty - which requires about 6 hours including ferries. They could take the free Staten Island Ferry for a nice view of it - and a great view of the Manhattan skyline on the way bck.
Or they could head for midtown and ascend the Top of the Rock and get a nice meal (not available on the plane or at the airport).
Jul 11th, 2010, 01:26 PM
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You have all certainly given us the best information we could ever ask for! I think a 3-hour window for actually being in the city is probably a very good guess, assuming our plane (from O'Hare) arrives on time. Is the "Airtrain" the subway? (where do you get that?) Then from there we arrive at Penn Station?? Taking the Staten Island Ferry also was a great suggestion. Where does that come in? I've only been in New York City once and it was many years ago, so I'm far from knowledgeable about the transportation system. Loved the idea of going to the Top of the Rock for dinner and then back to the airport after a little walking around. Wall Street is where? The Village is where? Thanks for any info you can pass along. If you ever get to Chicago, let me know!!!!
Jul 11th, 2010, 05:26 PM
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The Air Train is the rail that circles the airport. You need to take the Air Train to either the Long Island Railroad Jamaica station (quicker trip, costs a little more) and leaves you off at Penn Station. Or you can take it to the subway - a longer trip and you need to buy a MetroCard in the airport (subway doesn't take cash) and you can get off at a number of stops. Look at hopstop.com to see your options.
The Staten Island ferry leaves from South Ferry (subway called that) at the southern tip of Manhattan. the roundtrip will take about 1 1/4 hours. If you do this you should plan on staying downtown and returning via subway - you won;t have time to go to midtown too.
The Staten Island ferry leaves from South Ferry (subway called that) at the southern tip of Manhattan. the roundtrip will take about 1 1/4 hours. If you do this you should plan on staying downtown and returning via subway - you won;t have time to go to midtown too.
Jul 11th, 2010, 06:16 PM
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You won't have enough time to do the Staten Island ferry, to do that you have to add on another hour or so to get downtown on the subway and back to Penn Station.
Just get a cab into the city or take the Air Train to the subway get off at Penn Station, walk around abit, see the Empire State Building (again just from ground level) maybe grab a bit to eat, then head back to the airport.
Just get a cab into the city or take the Air Train to the subway get off at Penn Station, walk around abit, see the Empire State Building (again just from ground level) maybe grab a bit to eat, then head back to the airport.
Jul 11th, 2010, 06:19 PM
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I agree with the idea to take the Airtrain to Penn, and just check out Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock if time permits. You could do a cab if it's an off time. You'll get a quick "NYC fix" that way. You might take a walk up and down 5th Ave as well.
Jul 15th, 2010, 08:27 AM
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Sorry for the delayed response. Thanks everyone for your input. Will do the Airtrain to LIR to Penn Station. Top of the Rock sounds like a great way to experience a little bit of New York. Will squeeze anything else we feel we've got time for. Too bad we can't stay a few days in between! Brace yourself for the hot hot weather we are having here in Chicago -- next week they are calling for even hotter. All coming your way eventually. Happy Summer! Thanks again!
Jul 15th, 2010, 09:14 AM
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There are two different AirTrain routes that connect to public transport. Take the AirTrain route that ends at Jamaica Station to connect to the LIRR to Penn Station (located at 33rd St and Seventh Ave).
However, since you plan to visit the Rockefeller Center area (50th St and Fifth Ave), it might be just as well to connect at Jamaica Station to the E subway train on the lower level. The E train stops at 53rd and Fifth Avenue, just a few short blocks from Rockefeller Center. (Cost per person for AirTrain plus E train is $7.25 each way)
If you go by LIRR through Penn Station, you will have to get from 33rd St to 50th St by some means . . . foot, subway, taxi, bus . . .
However, since you plan to visit the Rockefeller Center area (50th St and Fifth Ave), it might be just as well to connect at Jamaica Station to the E subway train on the lower level. The E train stops at 53rd and Fifth Avenue, just a few short blocks from Rockefeller Center. (Cost per person for AirTrain plus E train is $7.25 each way)
If you go by LIRR through Penn Station, you will have to get from 33rd St to 50th St by some means . . . foot, subway, taxi, bus . . .
Jul 15th, 2010, 09:41 AM
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The E train is less expensive than LIRR and runs express in Queens. LIRR to Penn Station means you'll have to change for a subway train or hoof it to Rockefeller Center (about a mile from Penn Station).
Jul 15th, 2010, 10:16 AM
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The E train is indeed less expensive than the LIRR (about half the price), but it's well over an hour to get into Manhattan from there, triple the travel time on the LIRR. Not really a good idea when you have a limited number of hours.
From Penn Station you can walk to Times Square easily, walk over to Rock Center, and then take the subway or a taxi back to Penn Station. That's the best use of time, even if it's more expensive.
From Penn Station you can walk to Times Square easily, walk over to Rock Center, and then take the subway or a taxi back to Penn Station. That's the best use of time, even if it's more expensive.
Jul 15th, 2010, 10:27 AM
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If you do decide to visit Downtown, here is a link with all the information you could possibly need. Lower Manhattan has many historic sites and you could do alot in the time you have.
http://downtownny.com/
PS. You don't have to get on a ferry to see the Statue of LIberty, you can see her just fine from Battery Park so you don't want to take the hour round-trip to Staten Island if you don't want to.
http://downtownny.com/
PS. You don't have to get on a ferry to see the Statue of LIberty, you can see her just fine from Battery Park so you don't want to take the hour round-trip to Staten Island if you don't want to.
Jul 15th, 2010, 11:14 AM
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Hopstop estimated the LIRR slightly longer than E train when considering the trip all the way to Rockefeller Center. While the actual ride on the LIRR may be faster than the E train, the LIRR waiting time makes the timing about the same.
Depending on the taxi line, a taxi could take 30-60 minutes and cost $60 each way for all.
The OP will have to choose if time, money, or least changes is most important.
If the OP's family decides to concentrate on downtown instead of midtown, then at JFK they could take the AirTrain to Howard Beach and take the A subway train to downtown Manhattan (Fulton St).
Depending on the taxi line, a taxi could take 30-60 minutes and cost $60 each way for all.
The OP will have to choose if time, money, or least changes is most important.
If the OP's family decides to concentrate on downtown instead of midtown, then at JFK they could take the AirTrain to Howard Beach and take the A subway train to downtown Manhattan (Fulton St).
