JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center 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 5 Av/53 St. The trip takes about 80 minutes door to door on a weekday. The E train comes about every 5 minutes during the day.
JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center
- AirTrain JFK
- E
- Follow the signsto the AirTrain
- AirTrain JFK AirTrainFrom your terminal3 stops, about 13 min
- Change at Jamaica StationWalk about 9 min
- E E trainFrom Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, Manhattan-bound8 stops, about 26 min
- Get off at 5 Av/53 St
- Rockefeller CenterWalk about 10 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 9 minutes to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport for the E train.
- Take a Manhattan-bound E train from Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport to 5 Av/53 St. It's 8 stops, about 26 minutes.
- From 5 Av/53 St, walk about 10 minutes to Rockefeller Center.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Grand Central: about 82 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 | E train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock | 80 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 82 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 82 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 90 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after Lexington Av/53 St. The next stop is 5 Av/53 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Between West 48th and West 51st streets, and Fifth and Sixth avenues. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
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; 5 Av/53 St (E 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.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center 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 5 Av/53 St.
How long does it take?
About 80 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 82 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 90 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
- JFK Airport to Times Square
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- JFK Airport to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- LaGuardia Airport to Rockefeller Center
- Penn Station to Rockefeller Center
- Financial District to Rockefeller Center
- 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 subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
- Rockefeller Center: 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.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.