Cabbies often ask which bridge I want to take when going to Manhattan from LaGuardia. What are thhe relative merits of each bridge? If it matters, we'll be arriving at LaGuardia around 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon. Thanks

Unless your destination is the financial district, you're being asked whether you want the Triboro Bridge, 59th St. Bridge, or the Midtown Tunnel. The Triboro is better for west side addresses as it allows the cabbie to traverse Manhattan through Harlem and come down one of the southbound west side avenues; the 59th Street bridge has no toll but makes sense only of your destination is an east side address above, say, 48th St. The Midtown Tunnel makes sense for anything below 42nd St. or the Times Square vicinity.

If you arrive at LaGuardia at 3 p.m., you're probably in a cab at 3:30 and are starting to face the outbound rush hour with inbound lane restrictions. Unless my destination neatly fits one of the specific criteria mentioned above, I usually say, "whatever is less congested this afternoon."

Thanks Neal- excellent information. Our destination sorta falls through the cracks- 44th and 5th. I've got to believe your "whichever is less congested" recommendation is perfect. As I am bringing my 17 year old daughter for her first visit to NYC, are there any other factors we should consider- ie. cooler view while crossing, passing by a particular site that would impress? Thanks

Well, the coolest view will be the one from the airplane on the way in (unless there are low clouds). But, if it's view you want, then request that the driver take the 59th Street bridge (it also saves $4). That will bring you across the East River at the heart of midtown. That's sure to impress.

I disagree - I always find that the Triborough is faster - although there is a toll.
You can easily take the FDR south as far as you need and that time of day going downtown should be fairly empty - it's usually faster even to the lower west side - just follow around the battery.

Mayo you should take the tunnel. all due respect i do this trip all the time from Denver, coming in late afternoon, and without fail the tunnel has been the fastest way. esp. because you get into the city about 8-12 blocks from where you need to be. triboro gets you into the upper east side at 116th street. you do the math. anytime you can avoid the FDR drive, do it.

Isn't it great asking for advice? I think davensteph is correct (and thus nytraveler is wrong) about the Triboro and the FDR Drive. At 4 p.m. I would expect it to be clogged southbound from 96th St. onward. I ruled out the Midtown Tunnel because a) it has no view and the LIE approaches to it offer a fairly dismal view of New York and environs, and b) 5th Ave. flows southbound only, meaning that for a cab to get to 44th and 5th from the tunnel (the exit is at 36th St. and 2nd Ave.) requires a lot of backtracking (there's this big thing called Grand Central in the way).

How about, "whatever is less congested this afternoon"?

You want relative merits? I'll give you relative merits:

Triboro Bridge
-$4 toll.
-Good view of skyline, but it's kind of distant.
-Easy airport access.
-Direct highway access.
-Best for Manhattan above 96th Street.
- At 3PM will be moving nicely, unfortunately the FDR Drive will be a nightmare.

Queensboro Bridge
-Free.
-Excellent skyline view on the UPPER level, not much view on the LOWER level.
-No direct highway access.
-Often jammed on either end- avoid the PEAK travel direction. You will hit traffic, and there is little you can do to avoid it, unless your cab can swim.

Queens-Midtown Tunnel
-$4 toll.
-Exceptional skyline view right before the entrance coming from Queens, (BUT ONLY IF YOU TAKE THE L.I.E.) especially at night.
-Nothing to see in the tunnel.
-Best access to midtown.
-Not famous (i.e. no "We went across the Brooklyn Bridge!" bragging afterwards).
-Your best traffic bet, hands down.

Williamsburg Bridge
-Free.
-Direct highway access.
-Great skyline views coming from LaGuardia- you will see ALL of Manhattan once you hit the Queens-Brooklyn border.
-Only appropriate for Manhattan below 14th Street or the Financial District.
-Bridge flow will be good inbound, but abandon all hope, he who enters the BQE mid-day.
-If you are willing to spend time and money, this will give you the skyline overview you crave.

Easiest: Triboro
Penny wise, Pound foolish: Queensboro
View: Queensboro UPPER
Soup-to-Nuts: Williamsburg
Fastest: Triboro, usually.

With all due respect to the other posters the Triborough bridge is really the best way to go - unless there is a major accident or stoppage on it or the FDR (rarely). I have done the trip from LGA into the city literally hundreds of times and take the FDR from 96st south literally thousands of times. Iknow the FDR always LOOKS awful. But its' very decpetive. No matter how bad it looks the FDR from 125 st to the 40's almost always moves quickly - it rarely takes more than 12/15 minutes. And to go to 44th st you wouldn't get off at 38th st (there is no exit at 36)- you would get off an exit earlier - at the UN - and go across 47th st.

Have the cabbie take the upper roadway of the 59th Street Bridge. The view is spectacular of Manhattan, especially the U.N. Your daughter will be impressed. As for you, remember this is the place where Simon & Garfunkle wrote the 59th Bridge Song as they drove into Manhattan in the early 60's. So, feel groovy and welcome to New York!

To nytraveler - listen, you young whippersnapper: I was taking cabs from LaGuardia into Manhattan before you were born and I'm telling you right here and now: one flat tire on the the southbound FDR and you've got the proverbial traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights (and there's a scout troop short a child...). Sorry, couldn't resist.

maytoad, aren't you glad you asked? QC laid out the plusses and minuses of each bridge rather nicely, I think. My advice is still, go with the (traffic) flow and trust that your cabbie wants the shortest trip because it means another fare sooner.

Wasn't that IDLEWILD that you were taking cabs from back then?

Actually, it was coming in on the Flying Boat at Marine Terminal or the Clipper at Bennett Field!

Thought it was called New Amsterdam then! But look what $24 worth of beads could buy...

Ok well I LIVE here and would also suggest the Triborough as the most impressive for a first trip to NYC. The FDR is almost always full, so you will hit traffic almost anywhere you go in Manahattan, that's what happens when something like 1 million cars decend on the city daily.

The 59th ST Bridge is going to be having some construction going on fairly soon, and because it is free there is more traffic on it all the time.

If you want a few she will remember always do the Triborough.

Have a great time while you are here.

Having flown into LaGuardia a couple dozen times over the years, usually mid afternoon and heading into the Midtown West or Times Square area, I always tell the driver "whichever" way is best for traffic. It seems they almost always pick the Triboro Bridge, and then head down the FDR. A couple have taken the midtown tunnel, but it seems we always get totally bogged down as soon as we emerge on the Manhattan side. On the other hand, on departure, nearly every driver seems to head through the midtown tunnel and up to LaGuardia -- usually in mid morning.

Neal -

I very much doubt that you were taking cabs from LGA to Manhattan before I was born - how old are you??? And I did say if there is an accident all bets are off (but really, how often does that happen?)

I've never had a cabbie ask me what bridge I want them to take. I'd say 90% of the time I end up on the Triborough bridge.

Now this thread is funny. For 11 years I worked at 50th and Fifth and flew in and out of LaGaurdia all the time (still do, but now from Union Square). Whenever I saw a cab work his way towards the Triborough, I pounced and yelled "try and rip off some other woman!"

Your cab fare will be less if you take the Midtown Tunnel to 44th and Fifth and it's a straight shot up Third, Park, or Madison from the Tunnel exit. Screw the view and the FDR.

Sometimes (rarely), the ride can be faster from the Triborough but everything in NYC depends on everything else. At 3 PM, coming into Manhattan on the 495 should be quite quick since rush hour is preparing for the departing traffic. The fact still remains, the Triborough is much further north (125th St.) and sooo much longer in distance. EVERY cab driver who works La Gaurdia Airport knows the highest fare comes from taking the Triborough into Midtown.

Frankly, taking a car service is the most cost effective method, regardless of route. If traffic is abysmal, there won't be a meter ticking.