Astoria to JFK Airport by bus, LIRR and AirTrain
Quick answer: Take the Q18 bus from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St, then take an LIRR train toward Far Rockaway from Woodside to Jamaica, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7. The trip takes about 88 minutes door to door on a weekday (78 to 93 depending on the connection). The Q18 bus comes about every 10 minutes during the day. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Astoria to JFK Airport
- Q18
- LIRR
- AirTrain JFK
- Q18 Q18 busFrom 30 Av/31 St11 stops, about 20 min
- Change at Woodside Av/60 StWalk about 3 min
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Woodside toward Far Rockaway1 stop, about 10 min
- Change at JamaicaWalk about 7 min
- AirTrain JFK AirTrainFrom Jamaica Station5 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at Terminal 7
- JFK AirportWalk about 9 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Take the Q18 bus from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St. It's 11 stops, about 20 minutes.
- At Woodside Av/60 St, walk about 3 minutes to Woodside for an LIRR train.
- Take an LIRR train toward Far Rockaway from Woodside to Jamaica. It's 1 stop, about 10 minutes.
- At Jamaica, walk about 7 minutes to Jamaica Station for the AirTrain.
- Take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7. It's 5 stops, about 16 minutes. The AirTrain fare is paid at Jamaica or Howard Beach.
- From Terminal 7, walk about 9 minutes to JFK Airport.
Other ways to go
- Take a Manhattan-bound N or W train from 30 Av to Queensboro Plaza, then take an Outbound 7 train from Queensboro Plaza to 61 St-Woodside, then take an LIRR train toward Babylon from Woodside to Jamaica, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7: about 86 minutes.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | Q18 bus in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 87 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 91 min | About every 20 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 81 min | About every 20 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 96 minutes. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Woodside goes to Jamaica. Trains to Port Washington or Great Neck don't. On a weekday 86 trains do; look for Jamaica on the board.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Terminal 5. The next stop is Terminal 7. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
- AirTrain JFK: $8.75, paid when you enter or leave at Jamaica or Howard Beach. It's on top of the subway or LIRR fare.
- LIRR inside New York City (CityTicket): $5.25 off-peak, $7.25 peak. Buy it in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. It doesn't include a subway or bus transfer.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Astoria to JFK Airport: common questions
How do I get from Astoria to JFK Airport by public transit?
Take the Q18 bus from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St, then take an LIRR train toward Far Rockaway from Woodside to Jamaica, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7.
How long does it take?
About 88 minutes door to door on a weekday, 78 to 93 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 91 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Woodside Av/60 St and Jamaica.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 96 minutes. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from 30 Av/31 St to Woodside Av/60 St between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included. AirTrain JFK: $8.75, paid when you enter or leave at Jamaica or Howard Beach. It's on top of the subway or LIRR fare.
Related routes
- JFK Airport to Astoria
- Astoria to LaGuardia Airport
- Astoria to Midtown Manhattan
- Astoria to Financial District
- Times Square to JFK Airport
- Penn Station to JFK Airport
- Grand Central Terminal to JFK Airport
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- JFK Airport: AirTrain
- MTA: LIRR and Metro-North fares
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.