You’re standing under the neon glow of the Broadway billboards, suitcase in hand, checking your watch. The flight leaves in two and a half hours. You need to get from Times Square to LaGuardia, and suddenly, the city feels like a giant, unsolvable puzzle. Most tourists just reflexively hail a yellow cab. It's the "New York thing" to do, right? Honestly, that might be your first mistake.
New York traffic is a living, breathing beast.
Depending on the time of day, that 9-mile journey can take twenty minutes or ninety. I’ve seen people lose their minds sitting in the Queens-Midtown Tunnel while the minutes tick toward their boarding time. It isn't just about distance. It's about timing, luck, and knowing which bridge is currently a parking lot. LaGuardia (LGA) has undergone a massive $8 billion renovation, so while the airport itself is finally world-class, getting there from the Crossroads of the World remains a chaotic rite of passage.
The Myth of the "Quick" Uber
Everyone thinks an app is the magic solution. You tap a button, a car appears, and you’re whisked away. But from Times Square, rideshares are often a gamble. If you’re near 42nd and 7th, your driver might be three blocks away but trapped behind a delivery truck for fifteen minutes.
Surge pricing is also a literal nightmare. During a rainy Tuesday rush hour, I've seen quotes for an UberX hit $85 before tip. That’s wild for a trip that’s technically less than ten miles. If you’re going to go the car route, sometimes walking two avenues west to 9th or 10th Avenue before calling your ride saves you twenty minutes of idling in Midtown gridlock.
The yellow cab has one major advantage: the taxi stands.
Instead of waiting for a specific license plate to find you in a crowd of thousands, you just hop in the first car in line. There is no flat rate for Times Square to LaGuardia like there is for JFK. You’re on the meter. Expect to pay somewhere between $35 and $55, plus the $1.75 airport access fee, tolls (usually $7-11 for the RFK Bridge or tunnel), and a tip. If the driver takes the 59th Street Bridge (Queensboro), there’s no toll, but you’ll pay for it in soul-crushing traffic on Northern Boulevard.
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The M60-SBS: The Secret for Savvy Travelers
If you want to feel like a real New Yorker, take the subway to the bus. I know, carrying luggage on the train sounds like a chore. It is. But it’s also the only way to guarantee your travel time.
Basically, you take the N or W train from the 42nd St-Times Square station uptown to the Astoria Blvd station in Queens. From there, you walk down the stairs and hop on the M60-SBS (Select Bus Service).
The M60 is a workhorse.
It has dedicated bus lanes for a good portion of the trip. Because it’s "Select Bus Service," you have to pay at the kiosk on the sidewalk before you board, or just tap your phone/OMNY card at the bus door. Don't be the person trying to find their MetroCard while a line of fifty people stands behind you. They will judge you.
Why the Subway Beats the Car
- Cost: $2.90 for the subway, and the transfer to the bus is free. You’re getting to the terminal for less than the price of a latte.
- Predictability: Trains don't get stuck behind double-parked Amazon vans.
- The View: When the N train goes over the elevated tracks in Queens, you get a great look at the skyline you just left.
The New Terminal Layout Changes Everything
The "New LGA" isn't just a marketing slogan; it’s a total reconfiguration of how you arrive. Terminal B and Terminal C are now massive, sleek hubs. If you’re flying United, American, Southwest, or JetBlue, you’re likely in Terminal B. Delta has its own sprawling fortress at Terminal C.
The old Terminal A (the Marine Air Terminal) is still out there by itself. If you’re taking a car, make sure you tell the driver exactly which airline you’re on. If they drop you at C and you need B, you’re looking at a very long, sweaty walk or a wait for the internal airport shuttle.
Internal shuttles at LGA are notoriously slow.
I once waited twelve minutes just for the bus to move between terminals. If you are coming from Times Square to LaGuardia, give yourself a buffer. The airport construction might be "finished," but the roadway patterns change often enough to confuse even veteran cabbies.
When to Leave: The Hourly Breakdown
Timing is everything. If your flight is at 6:00 PM on a Friday, leave Times Square by 3:30 PM. Seriously. The "Friday Exodus" is real. Everyone is trying to get out of Manhattan at the same time, and the tunnel becomes a bottleneck of despair.
Mid-day Tuesday? You can probably make it in 35 minutes.
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Late night? 20 minutes, easy.
But remember that Times Square itself is often closed for events. New Year's Eve, protests, or even just a particularly busy matinee day for Broadway can shut down streets. Check the "Citizen" app or Google Maps for red lines before you even zip your suitcase.
The "Free" Way (Sorta)
There is a relatively new option called the LaGuardia Link Q70. It’s a bus that runs from the 74th St-Broadway/Jackson Heights subway station directly to the airport. The best part? It’s free. New York’s MTA made this bus free to encourage people to get off the roads.
To use it from Times Square, take the E, F, M, or R train to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av. Follow the signs for the Q70. It’s fast, it’s clean, and it has luggage racks. This is arguably the most efficient way to get from Times Square to LaGuardia if you aren't afraid of the subway.
Most people ignore it because they think "free" means "bad." In this case, it actually means "smarter."
Avoid the Scams
When you finally get to the airport or if you're looking for a ride back to Times Square later, never, ever talk to the people hanging out by the baggage claim asking "Taxi? You need a ride?" These are "gypsy cabs" or unlicensed drivers. They will charge you double or triple the standard rate. Always go to the official taxi stand or use a reputable app.
Essential Checklist for the Trip
- Check your terminal: Delta is C, almost everyone else is B (except Spirit/Frontier/Boutique at A).
- Verify the bridge: Ask your driver if they’re taking the RFK (Triborough) or the 59th St Bridge. The RFK is usually faster but costs more in tolls.
- Charge your phone: You’ll need it for OMNY (subway/bus) or your rideshare app.
- Watch the clock: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM is the danger zone for traffic.
Getting from the heart of Manhattan to the airport shouldn't be the most stressful part of your vacation. If you have the budget and no time, take a cab. If you have no budget and plenty of time, take the Q70. If you’re caught in the middle, the N train to the M60 is the classic "I live here" move.
Actionable Next Steps
Before you leave your hotel in Times Square, open Google Maps and toggle the "Transit" vs. "Driving" tabs. If the driving time is more than 50 minutes, immediately head for the N/W or E train. Download the OMNY app or make sure your digital wallet is set up to avoid fumbling with MetroCard machines that often have broken screens. If you decide to take a car, walk to 8th Avenue or 9th Avenue to call your Uber; this avoids the heavy pedestrian congestion and "block-looping" that happens on 7th Avenue, potentially saving you $10 in "wait time" fees and 15 minutes of frustration.