Cobblehop / New York routes / JFK Airport to Long Island City

JFK Airport to Long Island City by AirTrain and subway

Quick answer: Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take a Manhattan-bound E train from Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport to Court Sq-23 St. The trip takes about 70 minutes door to door on a weekday. The E train comes about every 5 minutes during the day.

Ask Cobblehop

JFK Airport to Long Island City

Trip timeabout70min
How oftenAbout every 5 minutes (E)
  • AirTrain JFK
  • E
  1. Follow the signsto the AirTrain
  2. AirTrain JFK AirTrainFrom your terminal3 stops, about 13 min
  3. Change at Jamaica StationWalk about 9 min
  4. E E trainFrom Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, Manhattan-bound6 stops, about 21 min
  5. Get off at Court Sq-23 St
  6. Long Island CityWalk about 4 min

Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips

By Cobblehop · · Source: MTA schedules (fall 2026), checked November 7, 2026

Step by step

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. At Jamaica Station, walk about 9 minutes to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport for the E train.
  4. Take a Manhattan-bound E train from Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport to Court Sq-23 St. It's 6 stops, about 21 minutes.
  5. From Court Sq-23 St, walk about 4 minutes to Long Island City.

Times and frequency

From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.

DayFirst tripLast tripTypical tripE train in the daytime
WeekdaysAround the clock69 minAbout every 5 minutes
SaturdayAround the clock72 minAbout every 12 minutes
SundayAround the clock72 minAbout every 12 minutes

Late at night

This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 79 minutes.

Tips for this trip

Step-free access

For the subway part of this trip: Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Court Sq-23 St (E platform) is only partly accessible (Manhattan-bound only). Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.

What it costs

Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.

JFK Airport to Long Island City: common questions

How do I get from JFK Airport to Long Island City by public transit?

Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take a Manhattan-bound E train from Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport to Court Sq-23 St.

How long does it take?

About 70 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 72 minutes.

Do I have to change along the way?

Yes, once: at Jamaica Station.

Does it run all night?

This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 79 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.

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:

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.

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