JFK Airport to Upper East Side 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 Lexington Av/53 St, then take an uptown 6 train from 51 St to 77 St. The trip takes about 89 minutes door to door on a weekday (87 to 91 depending on the connection). The E train comes about every 5 minutes during the day.
JFK Airport to Upper East Side
- AirTrain JFK
- E
- 6
- 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-bound7 stops, about 24 min
- Change at Lexington Av/53 StWalk about 10 min
- 6 6 trainFrom 51 St, uptown3 stops, about 5 min
- Get off at 77 St
- Upper East SideWalk 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 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 Lexington Av/53 St. It's 7 stops, about 24 minutes.
- At Lexington Av/53 St, walk about 10 minutes to 51 St for the 6 train.
- Take an uptown 6 train from 51 St to 77 St. It's 3 stops, about 5 minutes.
- From 77 St, walk about 2 minutes to Upper East Side.
Other ways to go
- Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station, then take an LIRR train from Jamaica to Grand Central, then take an uptown 6 train from Grand Central-42 St to 77 St: about 84 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 | 89 min | About every 5 minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock | 95 min | About every 12 minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock | 92 min | About every 12 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 98 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- UES = Upper East Side. (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; Lexington Av/51-53 Sts (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; Lexington Av/51-53 Sts (6 platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 77 St (6 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 Upper East Side: common questions
How do I get from JFK Airport to Upper East Side 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 Lexington Av/53 St, then take an uptown 6 train from 51 St to 77 St.
How long does it take?
About 89 minutes door to door on a weekday, 87 to 91 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 95 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Jamaica Station and Lexington Av/53 St.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 98 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
- Upper East Side to JFK Airport
- JFK Airport to Times Square
- JFK Airport to Empire State Building
- JFK Airport to Rockefeller Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Upper East Side
- Penn Station to Upper East Side
- Grand Central Terminal to Upper East Side
- 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)
- Upper East Side: 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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