Hi staying at Newport Rhode Island but dropping hire car off la guardia airport then staying in manhatten. Wanting to be in New York around 3 pm. should we travel early from Newport or should we stay nearer to laguardia night before. Any suggestions would be grateful.
Thanks

You're looking at a three to three and one-half hour drive, so I can't see any reason to stay near LGA the night before. (Also it is not a pleasant or interesting place to stay. )

So, leave Newport mid-morning, stop for lunch, and drop your car at LGA.

Why not drop off your car in Manhattan, near your hotel?

Thanks for that. We didn't want to drive in New York so will stick with Rhode Island and drive to Laguardia. Any suggestions for a reliable transfer service into Manhattan?

LGA is in New York City & driving into Manhattan is no more difficult than getting to LGA.

From LGA car drop off to Manhattan, taxi is easiest. You can have a taxi meet you at your drop off, or take the rental car shuttle back to the terminals and get a taxi at the airport taxi stand.

Unfortunately, I think it will be difficult for you to find a taxi near the car-rental drop-offs. These are in a rather unattractive area near the airport on less trafficked streets where few taxis go. You'll probably have to take the shuttle or walk over to the terminal to get a taxi (the taxi line by American Airlines in Terminal B is the closest to the car-rental offices). Or you could jump on the M60 bus into Manhattan and then take a taxi once you get there, or get a taxi near the Astoria Boulevard subway stop before you cross the Queensboro Bridge.

I too would recommend dropping the car off in Manhattan closer to your hotel. There are places in upper Manhattan if you don't want to drive much in the city. There is likely going to be a drop-off on the Upper East Side that's easy to get to from the FDR Drive, and from there you can easily get a taxi.