What is the best way to get from New York City to JFK? Are there shuttles that run regularly?

There are buses that leave regularly from the Grand Central Terminal area to JFK and I think it's about $10 each way.

You can also take the subway, the A train $$2.00 to the AirTran $5.00 which will take you directly to your terminal.

There's also the Blue Van, and the price is just about the same (1-800-bluevan).

Hope this helps.

I've used the Airport Express Bus and found it to be quite good if you don't want to spend the money on a taxi or limo. The prices are good. They leave from Grand Central and also Port Authority.
link. http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm

Good luck

We took the Airport Express bus from Port Authority (which we could easily walk to from our hotel a block away). It was very nice and comfortable, and had big storage areas underneath for luggage. It also stopped at Grand Central. Our tickets were $11 each.

JFK is in NYC. I assume you want to know how to get to Manhattan from JFK airprt.

If "best way" is least expensive, I agree with wantsomesun that Airtrain to A train or E train (depending on location in Manhattan). This is a great option if you're not hauling a lot of luggage.

Easiest is probably a cab. Allow about an hour for traffic. Fare from the airport to Manhattan is $45 plus tolls and tip - I usually tip $10, but 15-20% is okay.

The "best" way depends on how many of you are traveling, from exactly where in NYC, what time of day and budget. Options are train, bus, taxi and car service.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm

Thanks to those of you who responded kindly to my question of getting to JFK. I was looking for what each of you consider to be the "best way" and appreciated your advice.

For me the "best way" depends on what my options are. Those of you that graciously made your suggestions are appreciated!

P.S. mclaurie, thank you for the link. It is really helpful.

The following is copied from my Fodor's weekly newletter.
Making your way into Manhattan after flying into one of the three major airports can require as much or as little coordinating as you like. The available means of transport are endless---taxis, buses, subways, trains, private car. Here's a rundown of all your options followed by information specific to the airport that you are flying into:

Option #1: Save your sanity! Hire a car service.
Car services can be a great deal because the driver will often meet you on the concourse or in the baggage-claim area and help you with your luggage. The flat rates and tolls are often comparable to taxi fares, but some car services will charge for parking and waiting time at the airport. To eliminate these expenses, other car services require that you telephone their dispatcher when you land so they can send the next available car to pick you up. New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission rules require that all car services be licensed and pick up riders only by prior arrangement; if possible, call 24 hours in advance for reservations, or at least a half day before your flight's departure.

Car service companies include:
Carmel Car Service (PHONE: 212/666-6666 or 800/922-7635, www.carmelcarservice.com)
Executive Town Car & Limousines (PHONE: 516/538-8551 or 800/716-2799)
Gotham Limousine (PHONE: 212/868-4733 or 800/993-0050)
London Towncars (PHONE: 212/988-9700 or 800/221-4009)
Manhattan International Limo (PHONE: 718/729-4200 or 800/221-7500)
Mirage Limousine Service (PHONE: 212/744-9700)
Skyline (PHONE: 212/741-3711 or 800/567-5957)
Tel Aviv Car and Limousine Service (PHONE: 212/777-7777 or 800/222-9888)

Option #2: No time to plan? Take a taxi.
Outside the baggage-claim area at each of New York's major airports is a taxi stand where a uniformed dispatcher helps passengers find taxis. Cabs are not permitted to pick up fares anywhere else in the arrivals area, so if you want a taxi, take your place in line. How much will your fare be? See our descriptions for each airport below for more information.

Option #3: Save with strangers! Take a shuttle.
Shuttle services generally pick up passengers from a designated spot along the curb. New York Airport Service (PHONE: 718/875-8200, www.nyairportservice.com) runs buses between JFK and LaGuardia airports, and buses from those airports to Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, and hotels between 33rd and 57th streets in Manhattan. The cost range is between $10 and $15. Buses operate from 6 AM to 11:10 PM from the airport; between 5 AM and 10 PM going to the airport. A $5 bus leaves either airport at the top of the hour for Long Island Railroad's Jamaica Station. The ride between both airports and the station is 30 minutes.

SuperShuttle (PHONE: 212/258-3826 or 800/258-3826, www.supershuttle.com) vans travel to and from Manhattan to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. These blue vans will stop at your home, office, or hotel. Courtesy phones are at the airports. For travel to the airport, the company requests 24-hour advance notice, which you can arrange yourself or through a hotel concierge. Fares range from $13 to $22.

Option #4: Time to spare, but not the cash? Take public transport.
This could mean taking a train, subway, or bus; it all depends on the airport. See your options below.

How much will that trip cost? More on airport transfers...

* JFK International Airport (JFK), Queens, NY (PHONE: 718/244-4444)



Taxis charge a flat fee of $45 plus tolls (which may be as much as $4.50) to Manhattan only, and take 35-60 minutes. Prices are $16-$55 for trips to other locations in New York City. You should also tip the driver.

AirTrain JFK (PHONE: 718/244-4444, www.airtrainjfk.com) links to the A subway line at Howard Beach station and Jamaica Station (where the Long Island Railroad as well as three subway lines in the adjacent Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue station connect to Manhattan). AirTrain JFK runs 24 hours, leaving Howard Beach station every 4 minutes during peak times and every 12 minutes during low traffic times, and leaving Jamaica Station every 10 minutes. From midtown Manhattan, the longest trip to JFK will be via the A train (under an hour); the quickest trip will be with the Long Island Railroad (about 30 minutes). When traveling to the Howard Beach station, be sure to take the A train marked Far Rockaway or Rockaway Park, NOT Lefferts Boulevard.

Because I never seem to be able to "limit"my luggage-=I usually book a shuttle online --for my arrival.For my return I usually have the hotel book
the shuttle. In my experience, I am usually tired and jusr want to get to airport...so I take a taxi--(Often the shuttle has to make 4,5, or 6 stops at other hotels, can be tiring !!!)..
Hope this helps
PS I love your User name...

The A train goes to JFK. I was under the impression that it went straight to the airport and that you didnt need the AirTran becuase i thought that ran from Jamaica station. However be sure that the A train you get on is going to the airport and not to Rockaway. That would suck.
Also a car service can take you. I think its probably btwn $25-40 depending where you come from. Most convienent for sure.

More good information. Thanks. Since the NYC stop is something of a layover between two separate parts of our trip, we aren't really wanting to splurge (we're already spending too much money on travel this year), so the shuttle actually sounds pretty good. I hadn't thought about booking it ahead of time, although I did that in Seattle and it worked out well. Think I'll look into the shuttle as soon as I have more specifics attended to.

The fastest and cheap way from manhattan is taking the LIRR from Penn Station to Jamaica then take the Airtrain.

I don't know which shuttle you're thinking of using. The shared ride to your door shuttles like Super Shuttle are not a good idea imo. They take forever, are notorious for being cramped and whatever you do, don't pay fot a roundtrip. They've been known not to show up for your return ride. The ones to Grand Central or Port Authority are fine.

I still say, the "best" depends on who, where and what time. You haven't shared any of that info with us.

I agree with Mclaurie. On previous trips, I decided against the super shuttle for the reasons listed.
Instead I went with the Airport Express Bus and have always been happy. But it also depends on where your hotel is. We were able to walk from Grand Central ( and Port Authority on another trip) and we rolled our suitcases the couple of blocks to the hotel without a problem. If you have a lot of luggage, you may not want to do this.

Another option is to 'meet' someone in the taxi line and share a taxi. We've done that too.

Right you are, mclaurie. I didn't say much about my plans. I guess I just expect everyone to be mind readers! Sorry...

Anyway, we'll be staying at the Grand Hyatt this spring. We'll arrive at JFK, pick up a rental car, take care of family obligations (including a couple of days in Washington D.C. - travel details still undetermined for the D.C. leg), then return to New York. We will spend 3 days there (at the Hyatt), seeing some of the sites, then fly out of JFK for Amsterdam in the early evening. There are two of us, and we'll each have a carry-on bag and a larger suitcase, so there is a bit of luggage to be managed.

I know that "best" is a subjective thing. I guess it was a poor choice of words, as it has elicited several comments. Thanks to you all, I now know what is available and your suggestions are very helpful to me in my decision making process.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice.