You’re standing on a subway platform in Queens, clutching a heavy suitcase while a G train screeches past on the opposite track. You’ve got a flight in two hours. You’ve heard people talk about taking the train to LaGuardia Airport, but when you look at the official subway map, there’s a giant, frustrating void where the airport should be.
It’s the great New York City travel paradox.
While JFK has the AirTrain and Newark has its own dedicated rail link, LaGuardia remains the only major East Coast hub without a direct rail connection. It’s a bit of a local joke, honestly. For decades, politicians have promised a "one-seat ride" from Manhattan to the terminals, yet here we are in 2026, still dragging luggage onto city buses. If you’re looking for a literal train that pulls up to Terminal B, you’re going to be looking for a long time. It doesn't exist.
However, that doesn't mean you can't use the rails to get there. It just requires a bit of "Queens maneuvering."
The Myth of the Direct Rail Link
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The "AirTrain LGA" project is dead. After years of debate, environmental impact studies, and a ballooning price tag that hit billions, Governor Kathy Hochul officially pulled the plug on the planned elevated train from Willets Point. Why? Because it made zero sense to most transit experts. It would have forced travelers to head past the airport to Queens, then double back on a separate train.
So, when people talk about taking a train to LaGuardia Airport today, they are actually talking about a "Train-to-Bus" hybrid.
It sounds clunky because it is. But if you’re trying to avoid a $70 Uber fare or the soul-crushing gridlock of the Grand Central Parkway during rush hour, the subway-to-bus transfer is your only real play. You’re basically using the subway to get as close as physically possible to the tarmac, then letting a bus bridge the final gap.
The Best Way to Do It: The Q70 LaGuardia Link
If you want the most seamless version of this journey, you need to find your way to the 7, E, F, M, or R trains. All of these lines converge at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station.
This station is the "secret" hub for airport travelers.
Once you swipe out of the turnstiles (or tap your OMNY phone/card), follow the bright blue signs. They aren't subtle. They lead you directly to the street level where the Q70-SBS, also known as the LaGuardia Link, waits.
Here is the best part: the Q70 is free.
The city made it free a few years ago to encourage people to stop taking cars to the airport. It runs 24/7, has luggage racks, and uses a dedicated bus lane for part of the trip. From the moment you step off the subway at Roosevelt Avenue, you’re usually at Terminal B or C within 15 to 20 minutes.
- Pros: It’s cheap (just the cost of a subway fare). It’s relatively fast. The luggage racks mean you won't be hitting a commuter in the shins with your carry-on.
- Cons: You still have to haul your bags up and down escalators at the subway station. If the elevators are broken—which happens more than we'd like to admit—you're in for a workout.
The Astoria Route: The N or W Train
Maybe you’re coming from the Upper East Side or Midtown. In that case, the Jackson Heights route might feel like a detour. Your other option is taking the N or W train to the end of the line in Astoria.
You get off at Astoria-Ditmars Blvd.
From there, you catch the M60-SBS bus. This bus is a workhorse. It starts in Morningside Heights, crawls across 125th Street in Harlem, crosses the RFK Bridge, and then hits all the LaGuardia terminals.
I’ll be honest with you: the M60 can be a gamble. Unlike the Q70, which is a short shuttle, the M60 has a long route. If there’s a fender bender on 125th Street or a backup on the bridge, your "quick" trip to the airport turns into a slow-motion nightmare. But if you’re already in Astoria or Upper Manhattan, it’s the most logical path. Just make sure you pay your fare via OMNY or at the curbside kiosk before boarding, as it is a Select Bus Service route.
What About the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)?
People often forget about the LIRR when planning their airport run. This is a mistake.
If you are coming from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or even parts of Long Island, you can take the LIRR to the Woodside Station.
Woodside is just one stop away from the Q70 bus.
It’s faster and more comfortable than the subway. The seats are cushioned. There’s air conditioning that actually works. If you’re at Grand Central, you can jump on an LIRR train and be at Woodside in about 11 minutes. From there, you just walk downstairs to the street level and catch that same free Q70 bus I mentioned earlier. It’s probably the closest thing we have to a "luxury" train to LaGuardia Airport experience, even if the last mile is still on rubber tires.
Why Does This Matter? (The Cost vs. Time Debate)
Why would anyone put themselves through this instead of calling a car?
Money is the obvious reason. A rideshare from Brooklyn or Manhattan to LGA can easily swing between $50 and $90 depending on surge pricing. During a rainstorm? Forget about it. You’ll pay $120 to sit in traffic for an hour.
But there’s also the "predictability factor."
The New York City subway system has its flaws, but it doesn't get stuck in highway gridlock. If you know it takes 30 minutes to get from Times Square to Jackson Heights, that time is usually consistent. The Grand Central Parkway, which feeds into the airport, is notorious for "phantom traffic"—backups that appear out of nowhere for no reason at all.
Taking the train to LaGuardia Airport (plus the bus) gives you a level of control over your schedule that a yellow cab simply can't offer.
The Future: Will We Ever Get a Real Train?
The short answer is: don't hold your breath.
Current plans from the Port Authority and the MTA have shifted away from heavy rail. Instead, the focus is on "Bus Rapid Transit" and better shuttle frequencies. There’s a lot of talk about extending the N train from Astoria, but the local community opposition is massive. People don't want an elevated train track running through their quiet residential streets.
In the transit world, this is what we call a "stalemate."
So, for the foreseeable future, your "train" ride will involve a transfer. It’s not elegant. It’s not world-class. It’s very... New York.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Trip
If you’re going to attempt this, do it like a local.
- Check the MTA Service Status first. Use the MYmta app or the TrainTime app. If the 7 train is running express-only or has massive delays, your "fast" route to Jackson Heights is blown.
- Use OMNY. Don't mess around with MetroCards. Just tap your phone or contactless credit card at the subway turnstile. When you get on the Q70 bus, you don't even need to tap—it's free. If you use the M60 bus, your subway tap counts as a free transfer.
- Terminal Check. Know where you are going. Terminal A (the Marine Air Terminal) is separate from B and C. The Q70 and M60 hit different spots. Terminal A is primarily for Spirit and Frontier these days, while Delta owns Terminal C.
- The Woodside Shortcut. If you have the extra $5 or $7 for a CityTicket, take the LIRR from Manhattan to Woodside. It saves you 20 minutes of subway stops and a lot of stress.
- Luggage Limits. If you have more than two large suitcases per person, do not take the train. The turnstiles, stairs, and bus aisles are not designed for "overpackers." You will be miserable, and the people around you won't be happy either.
Navigating the train to LaGuardia Airport is essentially a rite of passage for New Yorkers. It’s about saving money and outsmarting the traffic. It requires a bit of hustle, a bit of patience, and the ability to ignore the smell of a subway platform in mid-August. But once you’re sitting in the terminal with an extra $60 in your pocket, you’ll realize it was worth the effort.
