Columbia University to JFK Airport by subway, LIRR and AirTrain
Quick answer: Take a downtown 1 train from 116 St-Columbia University to 34 St-Penn Station, then take an LIRR train toward Huntington from Penn Station to Jamaica, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7. The trip takes about 100 minutes door to door on a weekday (96 to 103 depending on the connection). The 1 train comes about every 5 minutes during the day.
Columbia University to JFK Airport
- 1
- LIRR
- AirTrain JFK
- 1 1 trainFrom 116 St-Columbia University, downtown11 stops, about 18 min
- Change at 34 St-Penn StationWalk about 6 min
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Penn Station toward Huntington1 stop, about 21 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 a downtown 1 train from 116 St-Columbia University to 34 St-Penn Station. It's 11 stops, about 18 minutes.
- At 34 St-Penn Station, walk about 6 minutes to Penn Station for an LIRR train.
- Take an LIRR train toward Huntington from Penn Station to Jamaica. It's 1 stop, about 21 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 downtown A train from 125 St to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Howard Beach Station to Terminal 7: about 118 minutes.
- Take a downtown 1 train from 116 St-Columbia University to 50 St, then take an uptown E train from 50 St to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7: about 108 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 | LIRR train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock | 101 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 99 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 99 min | About every 8 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 131 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Penn Station goes to Jamaica. Trains to Port Washington or Great Neck don't. On a weekday 168 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.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 116 St-Columbia University (1 platform) is not on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 34 St-Penn Station (1 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.
- 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.
Columbia University to JFK Airport: common questions
How do I get from Columbia University to JFK Airport by public transit?
Take a downtown 1 train from 116 St-Columbia University to 34 St-Penn Station, then take an LIRR train toward Huntington from Penn Station to Jamaica, then take the AirTrain from Jamaica Station to Terminal 7.
How long does it take?
About 100 minutes door to door on a weekday, 96 to 103 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 99 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at 34 St-Penn Station and Jamaica.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 131 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 Columbia University
- Columbia University 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: LIRR and Metro-North fares
- MTA subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
- Columbia University: 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.