You're standing at a baggage carousel in Queens, looking at your phone in a mild panic because your connecting flight leaves from New Jersey in three hours. It's a classic New York City travel nightmare. If you've ever looked at a map and thought these two airports were "close enough" to wing it, you're about to get a reality check.
How far is LaGuardia from Newark Airport? On paper, it’s about 22 to 30 miles, depending on whether the GPS sends you through the heart of Manhattan or over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. But miles don't matter here. In New York, we measure distance in units of "stress" and "minutes."
Most days, you’re looking at a 45-minute drive if the stars align. If they don't? It's two hours. Easily. Maybe more if a stray raindrop hits the pavement on the Long Island Expressway.
Why the Mileage is a Total Lie
The actual physical distance between LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty International (EWR) is roughly 22 miles if you take the most direct route through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel. If you opt for the "outer" route via the RFK Bridge and the George Washington Bridge, it’s closer to 26 miles. If you're forced down through Staten Island via the Goethals Bridge, you’re pushing 32 miles.
But here’s the thing. You aren't driving through a cornfield in Iowa. You're traversing the most congested airspace and road network in North America.
I’ve seen people miss four-hour layovers because a fender bender on the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) turned a 30-minute leg into a crawl through purgatory. You have to cross at least two bridges or tunnels. You have to deal with the Port Authority’s unique brand of chaos. You have to navigate the fact that Newark is in an entirely different state.
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The Best Ways to Actually Make the Trip
Honestly, your choice of transport depends entirely on your budget and how much you value your sanity.
The Uber or Lyft Gamble
This is the most common choice. It’s "door-to-door," which sounds nice until you realize the door is stuck in traffic. Expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $160. Keep in mind that New York City Taxis and rideshares have to pay massive tolls—the Verrazzano alone is a gut punch—and many drivers hate this route because they might not get a "return" fare easily across state lines.
If you take a yellow cab, there’s a specific "out-of-city" surcharge for going to Newark. It’s not a scam; it’s just the rules.
The Shuttle Services
Companies like ETS Air Shuttle or Carmel used to be the gold standard. They’re still around. They’re basically shared vans. It’s cheaper than a private car, usually around $45–$60 per person, but you’re at the mercy of everyone else’s terminal stops. If you’re the last person dropped off at EWR Terminal C, you’ll be vibrating with anxiety by the time you see the departures sign.
The Public Transit Odyssey
God bless you if you try this with three suitcases. You’ll take the M60 SBS bus or the Q70 LaGuardia Link to a subway station. Then you take the subway to Port Authority or Penn Station. From there, you hop on NJ Transit or the Newark Airport Express bus.
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Total cost? Maybe $20.
Total time? Two hours minimum.
Total sweat? Profuse.
The Three Routes: A Breakdown of the Chaos
When you ask a driver how far is LaGuardia from Newark Airport, they’re mentally calculating three specific paths.
- The Manhattan Cut (The "Bold" Choice): You go through the Midtown Tunnel, across 34th street, and through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel. Avoid this between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Just don't. Manhattan crosstown traffic is where dreams go to die.
- The GWB Route (The "Northern" Choice): Up through the Bronx and across the George Washington Bridge. It’s longer in miles but sometimes faster if the BQE is a parking lot. However, the GWB is the busiest bridge in the world. If one truck stalls, the whole system collapses.
- The Staten Island Route (The "Last Resort"): Taking the Verrazzano to the Goethals. It’s way more miles. It feels like you’re driving to Philadelphia. But sometimes, it’s the only way to move at more than 5 mph.
Real Talk: The Layover Buffer You Actually Need
If you are booking separate tickets—meaning you fly into LGA on Southwest and out of EWR on United—do not, under any circumstances, give yourself less than five hours between flights.
Think about the math.
It takes 30–45 minutes to get off the plane and grab your bags.
It takes 15–30 minutes to find your ride.
The transit takes 60–90 minutes.
You need to be at Newark 2 hours before your flight for security.
That’s four and a half hours right there. And that’s assuming no delays. If you have an international flight out of Newark, give it six hours. Seriously.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People assume there is a "train" between the airports. There isn't. Not a direct one. New York’s transit system is a hub-and-spoke model designed to get people into Manhattan, not to shuffle tourists between secondary hubs in different states.
Another misconception is that Newark is "just across the water." Technically, yes. But that water is the Hudson River, and there are only a handful of ways over it. Each one is a bottleneck.
Also, Newark (EWR) is huge. LaGuardia (LGA) has been rebuilt into a beautiful, gleaming facility, but its exits are still a mess. Getting out of LaGuardia can sometimes take 20 minutes just to hit the highway.
Expert Tips for the Cross-Airport Dash
- Check the "Belt": If you're in a car, tell the driver to check the traffic on the Belt Parkway versus the BQE. Sometimes the long way is the short way.
- Blade? if you’re a high roller or just desperate, Blade offers helicopter transfers. It’s about $200ish usually, and it takes 5-10 minutes. It sounds ridiculous until you’re about to miss a $2,000 flight to London.
- The "Coach USA" Bus: If you can get yourself to Port Authority Bus Terminal, the Newark Airport Express bus is actually quite reliable and runs every 20-30 minutes.
The Verdict on the Trek
So, how far is LaGuardia from Newark Airport? It’s far enough that you should avoid doing it if you can. If you're booking travel, try your hardest to keep your connections in the same airport. JFK to LGA is bad. EWR to LGA is a test of your will to live.
If you must do it, book a car service in advance. Don't rely on finding an Uber at the curb during peak hours. A pre-booked car service like Dial 7 or Carmel gives you a fixed rate and a driver who knows the "secret" backroads through Elizabeth or Bayonne that GPS sometimes misses.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check Your Terminals: Newark has Terminals A, B, and C. LGA has Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal), B, and C. Know exactly where you are going so you don't waste 15 minutes circling the airport loops.
- Download "MyTransit": This app is way better for local NJ Transit and NY Subway data than Google Maps when things start going wrong.
- Monitor the "Bridge and Tunnel" Alerts: Check the @PANYNJ Twitter (X) feed or their website for real-time alerts on the Holland Tunnel or GWB closures before you leave the curb at LaGuardia.
- Set a "Hard Exit" Time: If you aren't in a vehicle at least 3.5 hours before your Newark departure, start looking into flight change options immediately.