Chinatown to JFK Airport by subway and AirTrain
Quick answer: Take a Brooklyn-bound J train from Canal St to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7. The trip takes about 103 minutes door to door on a weekday (98 to 107 depending on the connection). The J train comes about every 8 minutes during the day.
Chinatown to JFK Airport
- J
- AirTrain JFK
- Walk 8 minto Canal St
- J J trainFrom Canal St, Brooklyn-bound22 stops, about 48 min
- Change at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK AirportWalk about 9 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
- Walk about 8 minutes from Chinatown to Canal St.
- Take a Brooklyn-bound J train from Canal St to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport. It's 22 stops, about 48 minutes.
- At Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, walk about 9 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 Brooklyn-bound A train from Fulton St to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Howard Beach Station to Terminal 7: about 93 minutes.
- Take a downtown J train from Canal St to Fulton St, then take a Brooklyn-bound A train from Fulton St to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Howard Beach Station to Terminal 7: about 94 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 | J train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock | 103 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 105 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 105 min | About every 10 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 103 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- 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.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Canal St (J platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport (J platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations. Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.
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.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Chinatown to JFK Airport: common questions
How do I get from Chinatown to JFK Airport by public transit?
Take a Brooklyn-bound J train from Canal St to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7.
How long does it take?
About 103 minutes door to door on a weekday, 98 to 107 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 105 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 103 minutes.
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 Chinatown
- Chinatown to LaGuardia Airport
- 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 subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
- Chinatown: visitor information
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.