JFK Airport to Union Square 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 Queens Plaza, then take a Manhattan-bound R train from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq. The trip takes about 95 minutes door to door on a weekday (91 to 97 depending on the connection). The E train comes about every 5 minutes during the day. The R train doesn't run from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
JFK Airport to Union Square
- AirTrain JFK
- E
- R
- 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-bound5 stops, about 20 min
- Change at Queens Plaza
- R R trainFrom Queens Plaza, Manhattan-bound9 stops, about 20 min
- Get off at 14 St-Union Sq
- Union SquareWalk about 3 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 Queens Plaza. It's 5 stops, about 20 minutes.
- Take a Manhattan-bound R train from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq. It's 9 stops, about 20 minutes.
- From 14 St-Union Sq, walk about 3 minutes to Union Square.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal, then take a Manhattan-bound Q train from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to 14 St-Union Sq: about 92 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 | R train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 94 min | About every 8 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 96 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 102 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 106 minutes. The R train doesn't run from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 23 St. The next stop is 14 St-Union Sq. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
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; Queens Plaza (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Queens Plaza (R platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 14 St-Union Sq (R platform) is 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 Union Square: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Union Square 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 Queens Plaza, then take a Manhattan-bound R train from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq.
How long does it take?
About 95 minutes door to door on a weekday, 91 to 97 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 96 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Jamaica Station and Queens Plaza.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 106 minutes. The R train doesn't run from Queens Plaza to 14 St-Union Sq between about 1 and 5 am, so at that hour the trip uses another line.
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 Rockefeller Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Union Square
- Penn Station to Union Square
- Grand Central Terminal to Union Square
- 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)
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.