JFK Airport to Astoria by AirTrain, LIRR and bus
Quick answer: Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train toward Penn Station from Jamaica to Woodside, then take the Q18 bus from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 St. The trip takes about 81 minutes door to door on a weekday (75 to 89 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about every 13 minutes during the day. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 St between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
JFK Airport to Astoria
- AirTrain JFK
- LIRR
- Q18
- Follow the signsto the AirTrain
- AirTrain JFK AirTrainFrom your terminal3 stops, about 13 min
- Change at Jamaica StationWalk about 7 min
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Jamaica toward Penn Station1 stop, about 11 min
- Change at WoodsideWalk about 2 min
- Q18 Q18 busFrom Woodside Av/61 St11 stops, about 17 min
- Get off at 30 Av/31 St
- AstoriaWalk about 2 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- At JFK, follow the signs for the AirTrain. Every terminal has an AirTrain station; take a train to Jamaica. Times on this page start from the middle of the airport, about 9 minutes on foot from the Terminal 7 AirTrain station.
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station. It's 3 stops, about 13 minutes. The AirTrain fare is paid at Jamaica or Howard Beach.
- At Jamaica Station, walk about 7 minutes to Jamaica for an LIRR train.
- Take an LIRR train toward Penn Station from Jamaica to Woodside. It's 1 stop, about 11 minutes.
- At Woodside, walk about 2 minutes to Woodside Av/61 St for the Q18 bus.
- Take the Q18 bus from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 St. It's 11 stops, about 17 minutes.
- From 30 Av/31 St, walk about 2 minutes to Astoria.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train toward Penn Station from Jamaica to Woodside, then take a Manhattan-bound 7 train from 61 St-Woodside to Queensboro Plaza, then take an Astoria-bound N or W train from Queensboro Plaza to 30 Av: about 84 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) | 82 min | About every 11 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 92 min | About every 20 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 88 min | About every 20 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 93 minutes. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 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 Jamaica goes to Woodside. Trains to Atlantic Terminal or Penn Station don't. On a weekday 87 trains do; look for Woodside on the board.
- Know your stop. Get ready after 30 Av/36 St. The next stop is 30 Av/31 St. 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.
JFK Airport to Astoria: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Astoria by public transit?
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train toward Penn Station from Jamaica to Woodside, then take the Q18 bus from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 St.
How long does it take?
About 81 minutes door to door on a weekday, 75 to 89 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 92 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Jamaica Station and Woodside.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 93 minutes. The Q18 bus runs only a few times from Woodside Av/61 St to 30 Av/31 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
- Astoria to JFK Airport
- JFK Airport to Times Square
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Astoria
- Penn Station to Astoria
- Grand Central Terminal to Astoria
- 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.