JFK Airport Bus: Routes, Fares and the Free AirTrain Connection
The city bus is the cheapest way to reach John F. Kennedy International Airport — $3.00 a ride, against $8.75 for the AirTrain alone and $70-plus for a taxi to Manhattan. No MTA bus enters the terminal loop, so every bus trip ends with an AirTrain ride, but that ride is free if you board at the right station. This guide covers the five routes that serve JFK, where they stop, what everything costs after the January 2026 fare change, and when the bus is genuinely worth the extra time.
Quick answer: taking the bus to JFK
Five MTA routes serve the airport — the Q3, Q6, Q7, Q10 and B15. Take the Q10 (Kew Gardens and Ozone Park) or the B15 (Brooklyn) to the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station, then ride the AirTrain to your terminal for free — the AirTrain only charges at Jamaica and Howard Beach. Total cost: $3.00. The trade-off is time: allow 60–90 minutes from most of Brooklyn or Queens, and longer from Manhattan.
JFK bus routes at a glance
| Route | Where it runs | Where it serves at JFK | Useful for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 | Jamaica / 165th Street Terminal | Terminal 8, then Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station | LIRR and E/J/Z subway connections at Jamaica |
| Q6 | Jamaica to the airport's south side | Eastern Road, near Terminal 5 and the postal area | Airport staff and the cargo area |
| Q7 | Jamaica to East New York / Spring Creek | North cargo area | Cargo buildings, not passenger terminals |
| Q10 | Kew Gardens (E/F at Union Turnpike) and Ozone Park | Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station | The cheapest passenger route to JFK |
| B15 | Brooklyn — Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York | Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station | Direct Brooklyn access without the subway detour |
Bus stops around JFK move during the airport's redevelopment work. Check the live stop and schedule on the MTA's website or app on the day you travel, and use the free AirTrain to reach any stop from your terminal.
The $3 Route: Why Lefferts Boulevard Matters
AirTrain JFK charges a fare only at its two outer stations, Jamaica and Howard Beach. Every other station — including Lefferts Boulevard, Federal Circle and all the terminals — sits inside the free zone. That single rule is what makes the bus the cheapest way into JFK:
- Bus to Lefferts Boulevard: $3.00 total. Take the Q10 or B15 to the AirTrain station, then ride free to any terminal.
- Subway to Jamaica or Howard Beach: $3.00 + $8.75 = $11.75, because the AirTrain fare applies at those two stations.
The saving is $8.75 per person each way, and it multiplies for families. The cost is time: the Q10 and B15 make every local stop and are exposed to street traffic, so the same trip that takes 50 minutes by subway can take 80 by bus. For the full AirTrain picture — routes, running times and the Jamaica and Howard Beach connections — see our JFK AirTrain guide.
Fares in 2026
MTA fares rose on 4 January 2026, and the MetroCard is gone: as of 1 January 2026 you can no longer buy or refill one, and everything runs on OMNY contactless payment — tap a bank card, phone, watch or an OMNY card at the reader.
| Fare | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local bus or subway | $3.00 | Includes one free transfer within two hours |
| Express bus | $7.25 | No express route serves JFK directly |
| Single-ride ticket | $3.50 | Paper ticket, no transfer benefit |
| AirTrain JFK | $8.75 | Charged only at Jamaica and Howard Beach |
| AirTrain group fare (OMNY) | $4.50 per extra rider | First rider $8.75, up to five riders, $26.75 maximum |
| Weekly cap, subway and local bus | $35 | Pay for 12 rides in seven days, then ride free |
| Children under 44 inches | Free | Up to three children with a fare-paying adult |
The fare cap applies automatically when you keep tapping the same card or device — there is nothing to buy in advance, and no unlimited pass to work out. If your JFK trip is part of a week of city travel, the twelfth ride is where everything after it becomes free.
Where the Buses Stop at JFK
There is no central bus station at JFK. Routes stop at different points around the airport perimeter:
- Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station — Q10 and B15, plus the Q3's terminus. This is the stop nearly all passengers want; the station also serves the long-term car park and the free wait lot.
- Terminal 8 — the Q3 calls here before Lefferts Boulevard, the only MTA route that stops at a passenger terminal.
- Eastern Road, near Terminal 5 — the Q6, mostly used by staff.
- North cargo area — the Q7, for the cargo buildings rather than passengers.
From any of these stops the AirTrain reaches every terminal free of charge, with trains every 5 to 10 minutes and a journey time under 10 minutes. If you are not sure which building you need, check our JFK terminals and airlines guide before you set out.
Express Buses and the Private Shuttle to Manhattan
There is no MTA express bus between JFK and Manhattan. A private operator runs a scheduled shared shuttle — marketed as the NYC Airport Express or Grand Central Express — between JFK and Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. It is not part of the MTA network: fares start at around $15 per person one way according to the operator, seats are usually booked online, and departures are limited to set windows during the day, so confirm the current timetable before counting on it.
For most travellers the choice is between the $3 bus, the $11.75 subway-plus-AirTrain combination, and a car. Our JFK transfer cost comparison puts the door-to-door prices side by side, and the JFK taxi guide covers the flat-fare rules into Manhattan.
Bus, AirTrain or Taxi: Which to Choose
| Option | Cost per person | Typical time from mid-Manhattan | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus to Lefferts Blvd + free AirTrain | $3.00 | 90+ minutes | You are already in Queens or Brooklyn, travelling light, not in a hurry |
| Subway + AirTrain at Jamaica or Howard Beach | $11.75 | 60–75 minutes | The reliable default from Manhattan, immune to road traffic |
| LIRR to Jamaica + AirTrain | Varies + $8.75 | 45–60 minutes | The fastest public option from Midtown, especially off-peak |
| Taxi or ride-hail | $70+ per car | 45–90 minutes, traffic dependent | Heavy luggage, late nights, groups splitting one fare |
Practical Tips for the Bus to JFK
- Luggage space is limited. City buses have no racks — a large suitcase has to sit with you, which is awkward at peak times and unwelcome on a crowded B15.
- Allow for street traffic. The bus is the only JFK option that shares the road with everyone else. Build in the same buffer you would for a taxi, on top of the longer scheduled time.
- Buses run around the clock, but not at the same frequency. Overnight service on these routes thins out considerably; check the timetable rather than assuming a short wait.
- Buses are step-free. All MTA buses kneel and have ramps, and every AirTrain station is ADA-compliant with lifts and step-free platforms.
- Tap the same card the whole week. The fare cap only recognises rides paid with the same card or device.
Planning the timing of the whole journey matters more than the fare. Our guide to how early to arrive at JFK covers how much buffer to leave once you factor in the ground leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a bus from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
Not on the MTA network — no city bus runs directly between JFK and Manhattan. You can take the Q10 or B15 to Lefferts Boulevard and connect to the subway, or use the private shared shuttle to Grand Central, Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, which is operated commercially and priced from about $15 per person.
How much is the bus to JFK Airport?
$3.00 per ride on any of the five MTA routes that serve the airport, paid by tapping a contactless card, phone or OMNY card. That single fare covers you all the way to your terminal if you board the AirTrain at Lefferts Boulevard, because the AirTrain is free everywhere except Jamaica and Howard Beach.
Which bus goes to JFK Terminal 8?
The Q3 from Jamaica is the only MTA route that stops at a passenger terminal; it calls at Terminal 8 before finishing at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station. From any other route, transfer to the free AirTrain and ride to your terminal.
Can I still use a MetroCard on the bus to JFK?
No. The MTA stopped selling and refilling MetroCards on 1 January 2026 and the system now runs on OMNY. Tap a contactless bank card, a phone or watch wallet, or a physical OMNY card at the reader as you board.
Is the bus to JFK cheaper than the AirTrain?
Yes, if you route it correctly. A bus to Lefferts Boulevard plus the free AirTrain costs $3.00, while a subway ride to Jamaica or Howard Beach plus the AirTrain fare costs $11.75. The saving is $8.75 per person each way, in exchange for a slower journey.
How long does the bus take to JFK?
Allow 60–90 minutes from most of Brooklyn and central Queens, plus 10–15 minutes for the AirTrain and the walk. From mid-Manhattan a bus-based trip usually exceeds 90 minutes, which is why the subway or LIRR is the better choice from there.
Sources
- MTA — Subway and bus fares
- MTA — Fare and toll increases effective January 2026
- OMNY — weekly fare cap and how tapping works
- JFK Airport — AirTrain fares, stations and group fare
- Go Airlink — Grand Central Express shared shuttle
Bus stops, schedules and fares change, and JFK's roadways are being rebuilt through 2026. Confirm your route and stop with the MTA and check the AirTrain status before you travel.
