You’re standing in the middle of the new Moynihan Train Hall, or maybe the slightly more chaotic depths of the old Penn Station, and you realize you have exactly ninety minutes to catch a flight. New York Penn Station to LaGuardia Airport is one of those routes that looks deceptively simple on a map but can absolutely ruin your day if you don't know the rhythm of the city. There is no direct train. There is no "LGA Express" waiting on Track 14.
It’s a puzzle.
Honestly, the "best" way depends entirely on how much luggage you're dragging and whether you'd rather spend money or time. New Yorkers have been arguing about this for decades. With the recent billion-dollar overhaul of LaGuardia—which, let’s be real, used to feel like a bus terminal in a basement—the stakes are higher because you actually want to get there early enough to see the new terminals.
The Reality of the New York Penn Station to LaGuardia Airport Route
Traffic is the enemy. Always. If you walk out to 7th Avenue or 8th Avenue and hop in a yellow cab, you are at the mercy of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel or the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. On a rainy Tuesday at 4:00 PM, that taxi ride could take an hour and fifteen minutes. Or twenty minutes at 5:00 AM on a Sunday.
Because there isn't a "one-seat ride," you have to be tactical. Most people assume a Lyft or Uber is the fastest, but seasoned commuters know that the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) combined with a specific bus or a quick transfer is the secret to beating the gridlock.
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The "Pro" Move: LIRR to Woodside and the Q70-SBS
If you want to feel like you’ve hacked the system, this is it. Go to the LIRR screens. Look for any train stopping at Woodside. It’s usually a 10-minute ride.
Once you hop off at Woodside, you descend the stairs and follow the bright blue signs for the Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link. This isn't just a regular city bus. It’s a dedicated "Select Bus Service" specifically for airport travelers. The best part? It’s currently free. The MTA did this to encourage people to stop taking cars to the airport. It runs every 8 to 10 minutes and uses a dedicated lane on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE).
You’ll see people struggling with suitcases on the subway, but the Q70 has luggage racks. It’s civilized. Well, as civilized as Queens transit gets. You get off at Woodside, jump on the blue bus, and you're at Terminal B or C in about 15 to 20 minutes from the bus stop. Total time from New York Penn Station to LaGuardia Airport via this route? Usually around 35 to 45 minutes.
The Subway Grind: The E, F, M, R, or 7
Some people swear by the subway. They’re usually wrong, but sometimes it’s the only way if the LIRR is having a "signal problem" day.
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From Penn Station, you’d take the E train uptown toward Queens. You ride it to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av. This station is a massive underground labyrinth, but again, follow the blue airplane signs. You’ll emerge at a bus plaza where that same Q70-SBS picks up.
The downside? The E train can be crowded, sweaty, and doesn't have luggage racks. If you have three suitcases, don't do this to yourself. Or the other passengers. It’s cheaper—just the price of a subway swipe (or a tap with OMNY)—but the "mental tax" is higher.
When to Just Take a Car
Sometimes you’re exhausted. Sometimes you’re traveling with your grandmother or a toddler. In those cases, the New York Penn Station to LaGuardia Airport journey should be done in a car.
Expect to pay anywhere from $45 to $80 depending on surge pricing and tips.
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Pro Tip: If the rideshare apps are showing a $90 "Premier" price because of a rainstorm, walk over to the taxi stand at Moynihan. Yellow cabs have regulated pricing. They use a meter for LGA, unlike the flat-rate $70+ you pay for JFK. Even with the "out of state" or "peak hour" surcharges, a yellow cab is often cheaper during high-demand moments. Just tell the driver "LGA, Terminal B, via the Midtown Tunnel."
Why the "AirTrain" Doesn't Exist Here
If you’ve flown into Newark or JFK, you’re used to the AirTrain. It’s a monorail-style system that connects the rails to the wings. LaGuardia doesn't have that. There was a plan for one—the "AirTrain LGA"—but it was officially scrapped in 2023 after massive community pushback and soaring cost estimates.
Instead, the city is doubling down on the "bus-to-rail" connection. This is why the Q70 is free. It’s a consolation prize for the fact that we don't have a train to the gates.
Breaking Down the Logistics
- Cost: LIRR to Woodside is about $5.00 to $7.00 (CityTicket is your friend here). The bus is free. Total: ~$7.00.
- Timing: During rush hour (7-10 AM, 3-7 PM), the train/bus combo is almost always faster than a car.
- Accessibility: Penn Station and the new LaGuardia terminals are ADA compliant with elevators, but the Woodside LIRR transfer requires an elevator that is... let’s say "occasionally temperamental." If mobility is a major concern, a car is safer.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often see the "M60" bus mentioned on Google Maps. The M60 is great if you’re in Upper Manhattan (125th Street). If you’re at Penn Station, ignore the M60. To catch it, you’d have to take the 1, 2, or 3 train all the way up to Harlem first. It’s a scenic tour of Manhattan you don't need when your flight boards in an hour.
Another mistake: Not checking which terminal you need. LaGuardia's Terminal A (the historic Marine Air Terminal) is miles away from Terminal B and C. If you’re on the Q70 bus, it only goes to B and C. If you’re flying Delta, you want C. If you're flying American, United, or Southwest, you're likely B. If you’re flying Spirit or Frontier out of Terminal A, you have to take a separate shuttle once you get to the airport grounds. Check your boarding pass before you leave Penn.
Actionable Steps for a Stress-Free Transfer
- Download the TrainTime app. It’s the official MTA app for LIRR. It shows you exactly which track the next train to Woodside is on. No more staring at the giant screens like a confused tourist.
- Use OMNY. Don't wait in line for a MetroCard. Just tap your credit card or phone at the subway turnstiles or LIRR gates.
- Check the "LGA Terminal C Construction" alerts. Even though the airport is "finished," there’s always something happening on the Grand Central Parkway that can add 20 minutes to a car trip.
- If you take the LIRR, sit in the middle of the train. At Woodside, the stairs to the Q70 bus are toward the middle/rear of the eastbound platform. Positioning yourself early saves you a frantic 200-yard dash.
- Trust the Q70. It feels weird getting on a bus to go to a major airport, but in NYC, it’s the closest thing to an express shuttle we've got. It’s reliable, it’s fast, and it avoids the worst of the local Queens traffic.
Getting from New York Penn Station to LaGuardia Airport is basically a rite of passage. Once you've done the LIRR-to-Bus transfer successfully, you can officially stop calling yourself a tourist.