JFK Airport to New York Botanical Garden by AirTrain, LIRR and Metro-North
Quick answer: Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Grand Central, then take a Metro-North Harlem Line train toward North White Plains from Grand Central to Botanical Garden. The trip takes about 111 minutes door to door on a weekday (104 to 119 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about every 9 minutes during the day. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Grand Central run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
JFK Airport to New York Botanical Garden
- AirTrain JFK
- LIRR
- Metro-North Harlem
- Follow the signsto the AirTrain
- AirTrain JFK AirTrainFrom your terminal3 stops, about 13 min
- Change at Jamaica StationWalk about 7 min to Jamaica
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Jamaica toward Grand Central1 stop, about 19 min
- Change at Grand CentralWalk about 4 min
- Metro-North Harlem Metro-North Harlem Line trainFrom Grand Central toward North White Plains5 stops, about 22 min
- Get off at Botanical Garden
- New York Botanical Garden
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 Grand Central. It's 1 stop, about 19 minutes.
- At Grand Central, walk about 4 minutes to Grand Central for a Metro-North Harlem Line train.
- Take a Metro-North Harlem Line train toward North White Plains from Grand Central to Botanical Garden. It's 5 stops, about 22 minutes.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Penn Station, then take an uptown 2 train from 34 St-Penn Station to 174 St, then take the Bx19 bus from Southern Blvd/Boston Rd to Southern Blvd/Botanical Gardens: about 136 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 New Haven Line train toward Stamford from Grand Central to Fordham, then take the Bx12 Select Bus Service bus from East Fordham Rd/3 Av to East Fordham Rd/Southern Blvd, then take the Bx19 bus from Southern Blvd/E 189 St to Southern Blvd/Botanical Gardens: about 117 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 | Metro-North Harlem Line train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 112 min | About every 32 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 120 min | About every 29 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 120 min | About every 29 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 140 minutes. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Grand Central run only a few times 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 Grand Central. Trains to Atlantic Terminal or Penn Station don't. On a weekday 102 trains do; look for Grand Central on the board.
- Check the train's destination. Not every Metro-North train at Grand Central goes to Botanical Garden. Trains to New Haven, Croton-Harmon or Stamford don't. On a weekday 34 trains do; look for Botanical Garden on the board.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Fordham. The next stop is Botanical Garden. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Metro-North Harlem local to Botanical Garden station, across the street from the Mosholu Entrance. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Entrances. Main Entrance: 2900 Southern Boulevard; Mosholu Entrance: 2950 Southern Boulevard, across the street from Metro-North Botanical Garden station; East Gate: corner of Waring Avenue and Bronx Park East (pedestrians only, daytime hours) (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 New York Botanical Garden: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to New York Botanical Garden by public transit?
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Grand Central, then take a Metro-North Harlem Line train toward North White Plains from Grand Central to Botanical Garden.
How long does it take?
About 111 minutes door to door on a weekday, 104 to 119 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 120 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Jamaica Station and Grand Central.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 140 minutes. LIRR trains from Jamaica to Grand Central run only a few times between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
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 New York Botanical Garden
- Penn Station to New York Botanical Garden
- Grand Central Terminal to New York Botanical 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
- New York Botanical 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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