JFK Airport to Harlem by AirTrain, LIRR and subway
Quick answer: Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Penn Station, then take an uptown 2 or 3 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 125 St. The trip takes about 91 minutes door to door on a weekday (88 to 93 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about every 6 minutes during the day.
JFK Airport to Harlem
- AirTrain JFK
- LIRR
- 2 / 3
- 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 Station2 stops, about 20 min
- Change at Penn StationWalk about 6 min
- 2 / 3 2 or 3 trainFrom 34 St-Penn Station, uptown6 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at 125 St
- HarlemWalk 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 from Jamaica to Penn Station. It's 2 stops, about 20 minutes.
- At Penn Station, walk about 6 minutes to 34 St-Penn Station for the 2 or 3 train.
- Take an uptown 2 or 3 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 125 St. It's 6 stops, about 16 minutes.
- From 125 St, walk about 2 minutes to Harlem.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Howard Beach Station, then take a Manhattan-bound A train from Howard Beach-JFK Airport to 125 St: about 111 minutes.
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Grand Central, then take a Metro-North Hudson Line train toward Croton-Harmon from Grand Central to Harlem-125 St: about 91 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 | 92 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 90 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 90 min | About every 8 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 114 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Jamaica goes to Penn Station. Trains to Atlantic Terminal or Grand Central don't. On a weekday 176 trains do; look for Penn Station on the board.
- Take the first train that comes. The 2 and 3 trains all stop at both 34 St-Penn Station and 125 St.
- Know your stop. Get ready after 116 St. The next stop is 125 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: 34 St-Penn Station (3 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 125 St (3 platform) is not 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.
JFK Airport to Harlem: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Harlem by public transit?
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Penn Station, then take an uptown 2 or 3 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 125 St.
How long does it take?
About 91 minutes door to door on a weekday, 88 to 93 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 90 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Jamaica Station and Penn Station.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 114 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
- Harlem to JFK Airport
- JFK Airport to Times Square
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Harlem
- Penn Station to Harlem
- Grand Central Terminal to Harlem
- 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)
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.