JFK Airport to Madison Square Garden by AirTrain and LIRR
Quick answer: Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Penn Station. The trip takes about 65 minutes door to door on a weekday (62 to 66 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about every 6 minutes during the day.
JFK Airport to Madison Square Garden
- AirTrain JFK
- LIRR
- 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 20 min
- Get off at Penn Station
- Madison Square GardenWalk 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 1 stop, about 20 minutes.
- From Penn Station, walk about 2 minutes to Madison Square Garden.
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 | 65 min | About every 6 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 65 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 65 min | About every 8 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 64 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.
- Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (7th Avenue between W. 31st and W. 33rd Streets). (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- The Garden is right above Penn Station (34 St-Penn Station). (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Entrances. 8 Penn Entrance: 33rd Street and 8th Avenue; Chase Square (7th Ave Entrance): 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets; Chase Entrances B and C: 8th Avenue (source).
What it costs
- 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 Madison Square Garden: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Madison Square Garden by public transit?
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Penn Station.
How long does it take?
About 65 minutes door to door on a weekday, 62 to 66 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 65 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 64 minutes.
How much does it cost?
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.
Related routes
- JFK Airport to Times Square
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Madison Square Garden
- Grand Central Terminal to Madison Square Garden
- Financial District to Madison Square Garden
- 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)
- JFK Airport: AirTrain
- MTA: LIRR and Metro-North fares
- Madison Square Garden: 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.
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