Hi,

We'll be flying in/out of JFK to catch a Yankees game. With the cost of hotels as they are, we've decided to do it as a day trip.

What is the best way to get between JFK and yankee stadium before/after the game?

I figure we can easily get a taxi from the airport to the stadium (what would this cost), but no sure taxi's are accessible at the stadium to get back to the airport.

suggestions greatly appreciated,

janet

The only alternatives I can think of are rental car (but the problem may be traffic if you are going on a weekday) and subway.

Is this a weekday or weekend game? My guess is weekend/day game since you're doing a day trip. If day game, they usually start 1pm, so traffic from JFK to Yankee stadium shouldn't be too bad - it's about a 20min drive, give or take. Pretty easy to get to. 687/Van Wyck North to Grand Central Pkwy West, across the Triboro bridge then onto I-87N direction Albany a mile or so and you'll come right to the stadium at exits 6&5.

You'll pay $4.50 each way for toll over the Triboro bridge, $12-15 for parking. Getting into the Yankee stadium parking lots isn't a problem - you basically follow the flow of traffic and park in whatever lot they direct you.

The problem with driving yourself as I see it is finding your way back from the stadium to JFK. Navigating out of the lots onto the Major Degan expwy (I-87) in the right direction (East) can be very confusing as you can get all twisted around near the stadium. Routes are not well marked to get back on the highway either.

Public transportation - subway would be pretty straightforward and pretty cheap ($2). You'd take the D train right from the stadium along with about 50% of the fans right into Manhattan, then switch to the A train (you can transfer D to A in a couple of places) going in the direction of Far Rockaway. Total time about 20min on the D to midtown, then another ~50-60min to JFK/Howard Beach. That's a lot of time on the subway.

Thinking about it I guess I'd recommend taxi from JFK to the stadium, then subway back to airport.

One caveat. My directions assume you are NOT a Boston fan flying in to root for the Red Sox. If you are, then there's a bridge I'll direct you to - the one with the "for sale" sign next to it.....

J

Do NOT take a taxi or rent a car, it is impossible to find parking or a taxi back to the airport.

Take the Air Tran to the A train and change to the D train at either 59th St (at the same platform) or at 145th St (go down the stairs to the lower platform).

Traffic and parking are a HUGE PROBLEM during the game and if you don't know the Bronx, you will be in traffic and I guarantee you will get lost at least once and probably more than that.

Do yourself a favor and take the subway.

There will be lots of people on the subway after the game so you don't have to worry about your safety. Make sure you change trains again to the A on the way back.

Have a GREAT time.

Here's a subway map
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

I would also recommend taking the AirTrain to the subway, but I'd take the AirTrain to the E train and then transfer to the 6 train uptown at 51 st. It should be a bit faster than going through downtown.

Agreed -- do not rent a car or take a taxi. Public transportation is the way to go -- train to subway.

Enjoy & Go Yankees!!

Regarding mclaurie's advice -- the 6 does not go all the way to Yankee Stadium. Transfer at 59th or 86th Street to the 4 train, which is an express in Manhattan and has a great view of the Stadium when you arrive.

So...

AirTrain to E to 6 to 4. Easy enough.

If you're not familiar with NYC this is not a trip you want to make by rental car - since the traffic around the stadium is truly horrendous unless you know the back routes. Also - depending on day/time of game and what else is going on traffic to/fro JFK can be awful.

Cab to Yankee Stadium is an option - no idea of the price - but would expect at least $60 with tip and toll. But you won;t be able to get a cab back. You'll have to get a car service - which means placing an order in advance, then calling when you're actually ready to leave. You would need to call them for an estimated price (try Carmal or Dial 7) and they WILL charge for any waiting time.

Agree the least expensive by far is public transit - Airtrain to subway. The trains will be mobbed - many fans do this - but be sure you have a good subway map with you - and leave time for the trip. I've never done this from the airport but imagine it will take at least an hour and probably more. Also - on the way back - leave time to get out of the stadium - 55,000 people leaving at once, train to JFK, how long to get through security (have had it take up to 1.5 hours) and them to make the plane.

I assume this is an afternoon game - night game won;t give you time to get back to the airport.

I ride the 4 train to Yankee Stadium all the time, and it is rarely "mobbed," so don't worry about crowds on the subway on the way there -- particularly if you walk to either end of the platform and avoid the more-crowded middle cars.

This looks like a JetBlue special to me. I'm assuming you have plenty of time pre-game and post-game to get back to the Airport.

I would multi-mode it.

From JFK to Yankee Stadium

Hail a cab at the terminal. Tell your driver you want to go to Yankee Stadium and to take the Throgs Neck Bridge to the Cross Bronx Expressway to get there. The driver can take either the Grand Concourse or Jerome Ave exits. Tolls for the bridge are not included in the meter price. You could take the subway, but hey, live a little.

From Yankee Stadium to JFK

Now that the Yankees have lost, get on the (D) Train heading into Manhattan (can't hail cabs at the Stadium). Take it to 7th Avenue Station. Switch for a Jamaica-bound (E) train (this will be a reverse of direction, you will now head "Uptown/Queens"). Take the (E) until Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave Station , where you can connect directly to the JFK Airtrain, which will return you to your terminal for the flight home. You will need $5 in Metrocard value (declining balance only, NOT ON A DAILY PASS) for each passenger for the Airtrain above and beyond the $2 per person Subway fare you paid at the Stadium station.

JFK to the Stadium - you pay the meter rate plus a toll of $4.50' plus a tip. Cost will be around $60. You are not likely to find a taxi to take you back to JFK so the subway would be the way to go. Follow the subway directions listed in OC's post..

thanks all.

Yes this is a jetblue special for a Yankees/Red Sox game.

I like QC's suggestions and especially liked the "now that the Yankees have lost "

thanks again,

janet

Is that the reason they're leading the American League East - all those games they've lost?

time to don pinstripes Janet.

Yes - the Boston Massacre 2 has taken it's toll. Perhaps you may be too depressed to make the trip.

A 5 game sweep in Fenway!

Go Yankees!