I need a bit of help. What are my options to get from either JFK, LaGuardia or even Albany's airport into Poughkeepsie, NY? I mean besides renting a car and driving myself. I need to be in Poughkeepsie on the week of Dec 11th and was wondering if I have transportation options from New York.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Metro North goes from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie.
http://www.mta.info/

I wouldn't go unless I was sure I had a way to get back.

Amtrak also goes from Penn Station to Poughkeepsie. If you fly into Kennedy, you can take the airtrain from the airport to Jamaica Station, then take the LIRR to Penn Station. I don't know if this is the most convenient method but it is an option you may want to explore.

thank you for your quick replies

Amtrak also goes from Albany to Poughkeepsie, and it's a lot closer than JFK, EWR, or LGA. I'd go that route if you can. The Amtrak ticket (and the air ticket) will probably be more expensive, but the convenience is a lot more. You're probably only 1/3 the distance from Albany as you would be from NYC.

But you can certainly get there on Metro North or Amtrak from Manhattan. Amtrak is significantly quicker than Metro North but costs at least double.

If it were me, I'd probably rent a car if flying into JFK or LGA and just drive. It's about 100 miles. It would certainly save you at least an hour to 90 minutes on the trip.

I fly out of JFK occasionally and always park my car in Poughkeepsi, ($25/week). I take Metro North to Grand Central- it's half the price of Amtrak. I then, take the S subway
to A subway- downtown, to Howard Beach. Then the Airtrain to JFK. I have NO issues and this works perfectly for me. You need to have NO mobility limitations and the ability to carry and manage all your bags.

Metro North has trains about once/hour, exept late night, and takes 1 hour 40 minutes.

From where are you traveling?
Will you have access to a car in Poughkeepsie? You really need to have a car if you want to get around or really do anything.

Public transportation options have been listed above. Getting to/from any of the NYC airports is a very long, painful trek. Logistically it's a little easier from Albany. You'd take a taxi to the train station, then Amtrak to POK. There are only a few trains a day, so you may have a long wait for a train. There are lot more train options (MetroNorth) out of NYC.

To Poughkeepsie by car from:
Albany airport is 90min regardless of the time of day or day of week. Doesn't vary much at all.

LGA is about the same 90min - usually not too variable.

JFK is closer to 2 hrs, with more variability.

Stewart/Newburgh airport is 45min, limited flight options.

White Plains is about 75min - very little variability. Flights are usually more expensive than LGA.

I would make my decision based on flights (non-stop & price) into JFK, LGA, ALB, HPN, or SWF, then rent a car as Doug suggests.

The Albany-Rensselaer train station is across the river from the airport, about 15 miles away, a 20-30 minute drive.

To my mind, the easiest public transit connection would be through LGA. From LGA you could take the M60 bus or a taxi to the 125th Street MetroNorth train station and catch the train to Poughkeepsie.

Not sure how l ongyou will be there - but unless you're staying with someone you will need a car to get around - essentially impossible without one.

LGA is not a great choice since it is not well served by public transit - and getting from there to one of the train stations would be a trek - on top of the train to P. IF you can fly directly into Albany it might work better. But JFK is better than LGA.

nytraveler, I beg to differ. I believe the public transit connection to MetroNorth trains is simpler from LGA--fewer connections and less time than would be necessary from JFK.

I suspect the OP may find that he or she needs a car once in Poughkeepsie, so flying to Albany and renting a car there is still probably the best option.

The metro north train ride is a lovely ride from Grand Central to Pok. along the Hudson River. View West Point, Storm King, Bannermans Castle, Sleepy Hollow, etc.

I think the best option is flying into Stewart Airport and renting a car. It's the closest one to Poughkeepsie.