LGA Airport to Times Square is an easy trip once you know which option actually fits your budget, luggage, and arrival time. There is no direct subway from LaGuardia, so most travelers end up choosing between a yellow cab, a rideshare or private transfer, a shared shuttle, or the free Q70 bus plus the subway. For most visitors, the real decision is simple: save money with public transit or pay more for a direct ride that gets you to your hotel with less hassle.
This guide breaks down the best ways to get from LGA Airport to Times Square in 2026, including what each option really costs, how long it usually takes, and which one makes the most sense for families, late-night arrivals, and travelers with heavy luggage. That way, you can choose the right route before you land instead of figuring it out in the terminal.
Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way to Get from LGA Airport to Times Square?
For most travelers, the best budget option is the free Q70 plus the subway, while the easiest option is a yellow cab or pre-booked private transfer. There is no direct subway from LaGuardia, so the real choice is simple: spend less and make one transfer, or pay more for a direct ride to your hotel.
The MTA recommends the Q70 as the main public transit option from LGA. It runs nonstop from Terminals B and C to Jackson Heights, usually every 8 to 10 minutes, and the ride takes about 15 minutes in typical traffic. The Q70 itself is free, so for most riders you only pay one subway fare to continue into Manhattan.
A yellow cab or private transfer makes more sense when comfort matters more than savings – especially after a long flight, with heavy luggage, with kids, or when you need the most direct route into Midtown. That option usually costs more, but it removes the transfer and gets you to your hotel with less hassle.
One detail many visitors miss is that Times Square is not one exact drop-off point. A hotel near Port Authority may be easier from one subway transfer, while a hotel closer to Bryant Park or the east side of Times Square may make another option more practical. That is why the best route is not only about price – it is also about where your hotel actually is.
LGA Airport to Times Square: Compare Cost, Time, and Convenience
| Option | Typical 2026 cost | Usual total time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow cab | Metered fare, plus $5 LGA surcharge, $2 airport access fee, Manhattan surcharges, tolls, and tip | Usually about 25 to 45 minutes | The easiest hotel drop-off, heavy luggage, families, and groups |
| Uber or Lyft | Dynamic fare, plus airport fees, tax, surcharges, and tolls | Usually similar to a taxi | Travelers who want to compare the live app price against a cab |
| Q70 + subway | $3 total for most riders | Usually about 40 to 60 minutes | The best-value option for most Times Square visitors |
| M60 + subway | $3 total for most riders | Usually slower than Q70 for Times Square | Mostly useful for Terminal A arrivals or Upper Manhattan stays |
| Shared shuttle | About $32.60 to $35 per person | Usually slower than a direct car | Solo travelers who want an easier option than public transit |
| Private transfer | Private sedan starts around $67 base fare | Usually about 25 to 45 minutes | The easiest pre-booked option for families, business travelers, and late arrivals |
For most visitors, the real decision is simple: take the Q70 + subway if you want the best value, or take a yellow cab if you want the easiest arrival. The Q70 is still the main public-transit route the MTA recommends from LaGuardia, and the current subway and local bus fare is $3 for most riders.
The M60 is worth knowing, but it should not be framed as the default Times Square option. It is more useful for Terminal A arrivals and some Upper Manhattan routes. For a classic Times Square hotel, the Q70 is usually the cleaner public-transit play.
For travelers who do not want to deal with a transfer, shared shuttles currently start around $32.60 to $35 per person, while private sedan service starts around $67. That makes shuttles more logical for solo travelers than for couples or families, because once you are paying for multiple seats, a taxi often becomes the better-value direct option.
What I would remove from this section is the LIRR paragraph. It is useful, but it belongs later as a short “Midtown shortcut” note, not inside the main comparison block. For this keyword, the table should stay tightly focused on the fastest decision. The MTA does list a Q70 + LIRR option via Woodside, but that is more of a secondary tip than a core Times Square answer.
👉 Check current private transfer prices for your travel dates
Fastest Option: Taxi, Uber, or Private Transfer
If speed matters most, a direct car is the best way to get from LGA Airport to Times Square. You skip the bus-to-subway transfer, avoid dragging luggage through a station, and get dropped much closer to your hotel. Current operator guidance for private car service from LaGuardia to Manhattan puts the trip at about 25 to 45 minutes in normal traffic, which is the right planning range for taxis and rideshares too.
For most visitors, the real choice is between a yellow cab and a pre-booked transfer, with Uber or Lyft used as a live price check. A yellow cab is usually the simplest option when you land because the taxi line is official, easy to find, and does not require advance planning. A pre-booked transfer makes more sense when you are arriving late, traveling with family, or want the least stressful hotel transfer after a long flight.
A yellow cab from LaGuardia to Times Square is not flat rate. It runs on the standard city meter and adds the $5 LGA surcharge, a $2 airport access fee on pickup, the New York State congestion surcharge for trips in Manhattan south of 96th Street, and the separate congestion-relief-zone toll for trips entering Manhattan south of and including 60th Street. Since Times Square falls inside that zone, those extra charges matter on this route.
Uber and Lyft are not automatically cheaper. Current NYC311 guidance says for-hire vehicle trips can include a $2.75 congestion surcharge, an 8.375% state tax for car service and black-car style trips, a $3.50 airport access fee at LaGuardia, and a separate congestion-pricing toll for entering the Manhattan zone. That is why the app price can look competitive at first and still end up higher than expected.
For most travelers, the smartest move is simple: check the rideshare app after landing, compare it against the taxi line, and keep a pre-booked transfer in mind if you are arriving late, traveling with kids, or do not want any guesswork. That gives you the fastest realistic option without overpaying blindly.
Best for: travelers with heavy luggage, families, late-night arrivals, and anyone who wants the easiest hotel drop-off.
👉 Compare private transfer options from LGA to Times Square
Cheapest Option: Q70 Bus and Subway
For most travelers, the cheapest way to get from LGA Airport to Times Square is the free Q70 plus the subway. The MTA calls the Q70 the best public transit option from LaGuardia. It runs nonstop from Terminals B and C to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av / 74 St-Broadway, usually every 8 to 10 minutes, and the ride takes about 15 minutes in typical traffic. Buses also have luggage racks, which helps more than many first-time visitors expect.
Once you get to Jackson Heights, the best subway depends on where your hotel actually is. For many Times Square hotels, the 7 train is the cleanest choice because it goes straight to Times Sq-42 St. But if you are staying closer to 8th Avenue or Port Authority, the E train can be the better move, since the Q70 connects at Jackson Heights to the E/F/M/R/7 complex and the official E line map shows 42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal as an E stop.
This is the part many tourists do not expect: the Q70 itself is easy. The only real friction is the transfer. If you are traveling with one backpack or a small carry-on, this route feels like a great deal. If you have two large suitcases, kids, or a hotel that still leaves you with a decent final walk, it can feel less convenient than it first sounds.
The price is what keeps this route so strong. The Q70 is free, and the subway fare is currently $3 for most riders. Because MTA transfers between bus and subway are free for two hours when you use the same card or device, the full Q70 + subway trip to Times Square still costs just $3 for most people.
Best for: solo travelers, couples packing light, and anyone who wants the best-value route into Midtown.
Alternative Public Transit Route: M60 to Manhattan
The M60-SBS is the public transit option worth knowing if you land at Terminal A. Unlike the Q70, which is mainly the better fit for Terminals B and C, the M60 stops at every LaGuardia terminal, so it can be the cleaner option when you want a direct airport bus without first repositioning inside the airport.
For a Times Square hotel, though, the M60 is usually not the first route we would choose. It makes more sense for travelers heading toward Harlem, the Upper West Side, or anywhere closer to 125th Street and Broadway, because that is where its Manhattan routing and easiest connections sit. If your goal is Midtown West or the core of Times Square, the Q70 + subway is usually the cleaner play.
The fare is simple: $3 for most riders, the same base fare used for local buses, Select Bus Service, and the subway. So the real question here is not price – it is whether the M60 fits your terminal and your hotel location better than the Q70.
Best for: Terminal A arrivals, Upper Manhattan stays, and travelers who want to get into Manhattan first and figure out Midtown second.
Shuttle from LGA to Times Square: Is It Worth It?
A shuttle can make sense, but it is more niche than many airport websites make it sound. GO Airlink’s current LGA shared-ride pages show pricing starting around $32.60 per person each way on one page and $35 on another Manhattan-focused page, which puts the real current range in the low-to-mid $30s per person.
That can be reasonable if you are traveling alone and do not want to deal with transit. It gets less attractive once you are paying for two or more people, because yellow taxis do not charge extra for multiple passengers or luggage, and the cab fare is per ride rather than per seat.
Shuttles sit in an awkward middle lane. They are usually more comfortable than public transit and often cheaper than a private car, but they are rarely the best answer for both price and speed at the same time. That is why we would frame them as a solo-traveler convenience option, not the default recommendation for everyone.
Best for: solo travelers who want something easier than the subway but do not want to pay for a private transfer.
Best Option for Families, Groups, and Heavy Luggage
For this trip, direct rides usually win. A yellow cab does not charge extra for multiple passengers or luggage, so once you are pricing two, three, or four people together, it often makes more sense than a shared shuttle that charges per person.
Public transit can still look better on paper than many families expect. On the subway and on local, limited, rush, and Select Bus Service buses, up to three children under 44 inches tall ride free with a fare-paying adult, and you also get one free transfer within two hours when you use the same card or device. That keeps the Q70 + subway route very cheap for some families, especially if you are traveling light.
But this is where the real-world part of the trip matters more than the fare. If you are dealing with strollers, checked bags, tired kids, or multiple suitcases, a direct ride is usually the better choice from LGA Airport to Times Square. The Q70 is still a strong option with light luggage, but once the trip includes a transfer and a hotel check-in right after landing, convenience usually matters more than saving a bit more money.
For most readers, the practical rule is simple: if you are a solo traveler or a couple packing light, the Q70 + subway can still be the best-value option. If you are traveling as a family, a group, or with heavy luggage, price out a yellow cab and a private transfer first.
👉 Check private transfer prices for your travel dates
Late Night or Early Morning: What Changes?
Late-night and early-morning trips from LGA Airport to Times Square usually come down to one simple trade-off: pay more for less hassle, or save money and accept more waiting. Public transit is still an option at those hours, but the weak point is not the airport bus itself – it is the transfer. When service is thinner, one missed connection can turn a cheap ride into a much slower one. The current MTA schedule pages for both the Q70 and M60-SBS are live, which is exactly why checking real-time service before leaving the terminal matters more at off-hours.
If you are arriving late with heavy luggage, kids, or a same-night hotel check-in, a yellow cab or pre-booked transfer is usually the better choice. A direct ride removes the station transfer and gets you to your hotel with less guesswork when you are most tired. Just remember that yellow cabs add a $1 nighttime surcharge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., so late-night convenience does cost a little more.
If you still want the cheapest option, the Q70 + subway is usually the better public-transit play for most Times Square stays, while the M60-SBS matters more if you land at Terminal A or are staying farther uptown. At these hours, the smartest move is to check live MTA service first, then decide whether the savings are still worth the transfer.
How Long Does It Take to Get from LGA to Times Square?
For a yellow cab, Uber, Lyft, or private transfer, the safest planning range is usually 25 to 45 minutes from LGA Airport to Times Square in normal conditions. That is the fastest overall option because it removes the bus-to-subway transfer and gets you much closer to your hotel door. The catch is simple: Midtown traffic can change the ride fast, especially on weekday afternoons and evenings.
For the Q70 + subway, a realistic planning range is usually 40 to 60 minutes total for most Times Square hotels. The reason is that the Q70 itself is only part of the trip – it takes about 15 minutes to Jackson Heights in typical traffic, then you still need the subway segment, station movement, and the final walk to your hotel. If the transfer lines up well, this route feels efficient. If it does not, the total time climbs quickly.
For the M60 + subway, plan on it being slower than the Q70 for most Times Square stays. It can still make sense from Terminal A or for travelers heading farther uptown first, but for a classic Times Square hotel it is usually not the fastest public-transit route.
The practical rule is simple: if you have a Broadway show, timed ticket, dinner reservation, or hotel check-in you do not want to miss, do not plan around the best-case timing. For most travelers, the smart assumption is about 45 minutes by direct car and about an hour by Q70 + subway, with extra cushion during busy traffic or late-night transfers. That one adjustment usually saves more stress than trying to shave off a few dollars or a few minutes.
How Much Does a Cab Fare from LGA to Times Square Cost?
A yellow cab from LGA Airport to Times Square is not flat rate. This trip uses the standard NYC taxi meter, so the final total depends on distance, traffic, tolls, and tip. The part many visitors miss is that this route also adds several fixed charges before the metered distance and time even do much work.
For this trip, the fixed charges already stack up quickly. You start with the $3 initial charge, then add the $5 LGA surcharge, $2 airport access fee, $0.50 MTA State Surcharge, $1 Improvement Surcharge, $2.50 New York State congestion surcharge, and the $0.75 Congestion Relief Zone toll. Because Times Square sits in Manhattan south of 96th Street and inside the congestion zone south of and including 60th Street, both Manhattan-related charges apply on this route.
That means you are already at about $14.75 before tolls, tip, and the distance/time part of the meter. If you ride overnight, add another $1. If you ride during weekday rush hour from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., add $2.50 instead. That is why first-time visitors often underestimate this fare when they only look at the meter logic and forget the airport and Manhattan surcharges.
The practical takeaway is simple: do not think of this as one magic taxi price. Think of it as a metered ride with a meaningful surcharge layer built in. For most travelers, that still makes sense when convenience matters, especially with heavy luggage, kids, or a direct hotel drop-off in Midtown.
How to Get from Times Square Back to LGA Airport
For most travelers, the best budget return route from Times Square to LGA Airport is the subway to Jackson Heights-74 St and then the free Q70 to the airport. That is usually the cleanest public-transit option if you are flying from Terminal B or Terminal C, because the Q70 is the main airport bus for those terminals and runs nonstop from Jackson Heights back to LaGuardia.
If you are flying from Terminal A, the M60-SBS becomes more relevant. The M60 stops at every LaGuardia terminal, while the Q70 is built around Terminals B and C. That means Terminal A travelers should usually price the M60 against a direct car, rather than assuming the Q70 is automatically the best return option.
For an early flight, convenience matters more than it does on the way into the city. If you are leaving with heavy luggage, traveling with kids, or do not want to risk a slow transfer before sunrise, a yellow cab or pre-booked transfer is often the smarter move back to the airport. Public transit is still the cheapest option, but the value drops fast when one missed connection turns a simple return trip into a stressful one.
The practical rule is simple: use the Q70 for the cheapest return to Terminals B and C, use the M60 when Terminal A makes more sense, and switch to a direct ride when timing and luggage matter more than saving money. Before you leave your hotel, check live MTA service so you do not get surprised by a service change on the way back.
What Most Visitors Get Wrong
A lot of travelers assume there is a direct subway from LGA to Times Square. There is not. That is why this trip usually comes down to a simple choice: save money with the Q70 + subway, or pay more for a direct ride that gets you much closer to your hotel with far less hassle.
Another mistake is thinking all direct rides are basically the same. They are not. A yellow cab can work well, but a pre-booked private transfer is often the smoother option when you are arriving after a long flight, traveling with family, carrying heavy luggage, or landing late at night. Knowing your ride is already arranged removes a lot of the guesswork people do not want after landing.
Many visitors also book a shared shuttle too quickly without comparing it to a private transfer or even a taxi. For one person, a shuttle can make sense. But once you are traveling with two or more people, the value gap gets much smaller, and the convenience of a direct hotel drop-off usually matters more than people expect.
The other thing travelers often underestimate is how much hotel location changes the trip. “Times Square” is not one exact point. A hotel closer to 8th Avenue or Port Authority can make a transfer route feel easier, while other Midtown locations make a direct car or private transfer much more appealing, especially with bags.
And finally, many first-time visitors focus too much on the base price and not enough on what the arrival actually feels like. Saving money on paper is one thing. Dealing with a transfer, luggage, and a final walk through Midtown right after your flight is another. That is why a pre-booked private transfer often feels worth it for travelers who care more about a smooth arrival than squeezing out the absolute cheapest option.
If you want the simplest rule, it is this: choose the Q70 + subway for the best value, but choose a private transfer when comfort, timing, and an easy hotel arrival matter more.
FAQ – LGA to Times Square
Is there a direct subway from LGA Airport to Times Square?
No. There is still no direct subway from LaGuardia, so the usual public transit route is the Q70 or M60-SBS first, then a subway connection into Manhattan. For most Times Square stays, the Q70 + subway is the cleaner option.
What is the cheapest way to get from LGA Airport to Times Square?
For most travelers, the cheapest option is the free Q70 plus the subway. The Q70 itself is free, and the current subway and local bus fare is $3 for most riders, with a free transfer when you use the same card or device within two hours.
What is the easiest way to get from LGA to Times Square with luggage?
The easiest option is usually a yellow cab or a pre-booked private transfer. A direct ride removes the bus-to-subway transfer, gets you closer to your hotel door, and usually makes more sense with heavy luggage, kids, or a late arrival.
Is there a flat-rate taxi from LGA to Times Square?
No. A yellow cab from LGA to Times Square is metered, not flat rate. The total can include the standard taxi meter, the $5 LGA surcharge, $2 airport access fee, Manhattan congestion-related charges, tolls, and tip.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi from LGA to Times Square?
Not always. Sometimes it is, but app rides can also add airport fees, taxes, congestion charges, and other toll-related costs, so the final price is not always lower than a yellow cab. The smartest move is usually to compare the live app fare against the taxi line after landing.
Is the Q70 better than the M60 for Times Square?
Usually yes. For most Times Square hotels, the Q70 is the better public transit option because it runs nonstop to Jackson Heights and connects well to Midtown subway lines. The M60-SBS is more useful for Terminal A arrivals and for travelers heading farther uptown.
How long does it usually take to get from LGA Airport to Times Square?
A direct ride by taxi, Uber, Lyft, or private transfer is often about 25 to 45 minutes in normal conditions. The Q70 + subway is usually closer to 40 to 60 minutes total, depending on the transfer and your final hotel location.
Is a shared shuttle worth it from LGA to Times Square?
Usually only for solo travelers who want something easier than public transit without paying for a private car. Once you are traveling with two or more people, a taxi or private transfer often becomes the better-value direct option.
What is the best option late at night or early in the morning?
A yellow cab or pre-booked private transfer is usually the better choice at off-hours because it removes the transfer and cuts down on waiting. Public transit is still possible, but missed connections matter more when service is thinner.
Should I book a private transfer from LGA to Times Square?
It makes the most sense when you care more about a smooth arrival than the absolute lowest price. For families, late-night arrivals, heavy luggage, or travelers who do not want any guesswork after landing, a private transfer is often worth considering.
Final Word
For most travelers, the smartest budget option from LGA Airport to Times Square is the Q70 + subway, while the easiest option is a yellow cab or private transfer. The right choice really comes down to how much you want to save versus how much hassle you want to avoid after landing.
If you are traveling light and want the best value, public transit is hard to beat. If you are arriving late, carrying heavy luggage, or just want the smoothest hotel transfer, paying more for a direct ride is usually worth it.
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