Is there any relatively fast yet cheap way to reach the Bronx, NYC, from JFK?

Question

In about 12 days (on Wednesday 30th) I'll be travelling to New York City and I'll arrive at JFK around 4pm. I will stay in an AirBnB that's located in the Bronx (Neill Avenue), and I'd like to be there by 10pm if possible (but I'd much rather be there by 8pm), as to not inconvenient the hosts. I have no idea how much time I'll lose among possible delays, getting luggage and customs, hence why I'd like a fast solution.

I'll carry a small backpack, my carry-on baggage (i.e. a small suitcase) and a normal suitcase.

What are my options to reach it from JFK?

• Public transportation: using Google Maps for public transport tells me it takes about 2 hours with something like 4 changes in between, which means a big chance of losing at least one and hence an even longer trip.

• Taxi: Obviously the faster way is probably a taxi, but I have no idea how much it would cost... Probably way more than 100$, which is too much than what I'd like to pay.

• Uber/Lyft/similar: no idea how much these cost, since I've never used them before. I feel like it would be a little bit cheaper than a taxi, but I guess for something like a 45/60 minute trip (I guess?) it will still be around 80/100$.

Is there any other option or trick that would save me time and/or money?

I don't know, maybe there are buses that connect JFK to LaGuardia and I may take one of those and then just some other public transport to complete the trip, something like that?

Answer 1

You could take a taxi for the flat JFK-to-Manhattan fare to 125th St and Lexington Avenue, which would be about $65 including tip if you avoid tolls, and then take the 5 train from there to Morris Park or Pelham Parkway.

Starting with the train and continuing by taxi doesn't really make much sense: from anywhere you can get to on a train, the best way to get to your destination is by train. For example, to get from Woodside station to your destination by taxi will take about as long as getting there from JFK with a taxi, and it's only a few minutes faster than taking the subway. A shuttle bus to La Guardia similarly doesn't save very much time.

At the cost of a few extra minutes, you could do a three-seat ride by taking the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal from Jamaica and changing there to the 5 train; the transfer is pretty short. If you have a lot of bags, you can save yourself from having to change levels by taking the 2 or 3 from Atlantic to Nevins and changing across the platform to the 5. Otherwise, go downstairs from the LIRR platform and then up directly to the 4/5 platform.

The E/R/5 option from Jamaica isn't much worse, though; the E-to-R change at Queens Plaza is also across the platform.

Answer 2

Since the question was first asked, the Long Island Railroad added service to Grand Central Terminal. I would use this new option:

1. AirTrain from the JFK Airport to Jamaica Station. This costs $8.25 as of this writing, the ride takes 5-15 minutes, depending on which terminal you start at, and you may wait up to 10 minutes for the train. To pay, don't get involved with the inconvenient old MetroCard, which will go away soon. Rather, use the new OMNY payment system to tap the turnstile as you exit the AirTrain in Jamaica.

2. Long Island Railroad (LIRR) train from Jamaica station to Grand Central Terminal (GCT). The ride takes about 15 minutes, and you may wait up to 15 minutes for the train, or even longer at night. The AirTrain-subway-LIRR transfer in Jamaica is very easy. The LIRR fare varies depending on time of day: weekday morning peak you need a peak CityTicket for $7, at all other times you should get an off-peak CityTicket for $5. Do not buy a more expensive ticket, which is valid for more than 1 day. You can set up the MTA Traintime App on your phone to pay for the Long Island Rail Road or MetroNorth, or just but a paper CityTicket from a LIRR Ticket vending machine if you don't plan to ride the LIRR much. (The MTA promises that the LIRR will also accept OMNY in 2025.)

3. In GCT, follow the signs to transfer to NYC Subway. You need IRT #5 train toward Uptown and the Bronx. The fare is $2.90 as of this writing. The transfer could be a pain with a lot of bags, as it involves a ride on a very long escalator, and a long walk. Use OMNY to pay for the subway - don't use the old Metrocard.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of great options for this trip.

I'd expect it to take at least an hour by private car (Google estimates 50 minutes-1.5 hours, and it will take a bit of time to get a taxi or car). I checked Lyft at 5pm Eastern today, and while the prices will vary depending on demand and traffic, they're currently $66 for a regular ride and $58 for a shared Lyft Line ride (slower, as it will pick up and drop off other passengers). One of the other apps like Juno may be a bit cheaper. A taxi would be on the order of $55+tip with light traffic, but bad traffic at that time could increase that cost up to $80+tip, per TaxiFareFinder (and possible tolls depending on route). A car service like Dial7 will be about $55 plus tip (and any applicable tolls depending on route) less a $7 coupon if you book online, and you'll get a flat rate with them. That's somewhat expensive indeed, but coming off an international flight with bags and looking to avoid hassle, you might find it worthwhile.

There are also shared ride vans like SuperShuttle. You'd have the convenience of no transfers at a lower cost, but I would personally avoid that during rush hour given the time that could be involved in making lots of stops and going out of your way.

Phoog already has you covered on public transit. If you're willing to spend the fare for a taxi to Manhattan, you might as well go all the way by car to your destination and save the hassle of a transfer. I'd say it comes down to cost vs hassle vs time:

• Car, ~1-1.5 hours, ~$60-65, least hassle
• Public transit, ~1:45-2:00, ~$7.75-$15.25 (higher price including LIRR), multiple transfers

For me, a deciding factor might be exactly how far the AirBnB is from the subway. If you have to lug your bags a ways, that could tip the balance pretty quickly.

Answer 4

If it were me, I would take a particular route via Subway.

1. Air Train to Jamaica (Really Fast)
2. E train to Queens Plaza (E Train is an Express Train)
3. R Train from Queens Plaza to Lexinton Ave / 59th St
4. 5 Train to Morris Park

The Air Train and E train are very quick, and will get you most of the way in a hurry. The wait for the R and the ride on the 5 train will be a little longer. However, Subway in general is more efficient in the evening.

Probably the fastest method after 8 pm would be to take a Taxi/Lyft from Jamaica across the Whitestone bridge to the Bronx. Alternatively, taxi or Lyft from Queens Plaza across the Triboro might be a good idea.

A crazy alternative would be the Q44SPS Bus from Jamaica to the Bronx. It would probably be the cheapest method!