Long Island to LaGuardia Airport: Complete Transportation Guide

Long Island is over 100 miles long, so the best route depends on where you start. For most travelers, a private car is the easiest way to reach LaGuardia. Public transit also works, but it takes a few more steps. This Long Island to LaGuardia Airport guide shows every option, so you can choose fast.

The main public route is the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Woodside, then the free Q70 bus to the terminal. There is no train that runs straight to the airport. If you have a car, you can also drive there yourself.

What Is the Best Way to Get From Long Island to LaGuardia Airport?

A private car is the easiest choice for most travelers. The LIRR plus the Q70 bus is the main low-cost rail route. Your start point, bags, and flight time decide which one fits you.

LaGuardia has no train station, so every public route ends with a bus. The LGA public transportation page lists the bus lines that serve each terminal.

Taking the LIRR and Bus to LaGuardia Airport

There is no Long Island Railroad to LaGuardia Airport train, because LaGuardia has no LIRR station. The route has two parts: a train to Woodside Station, then a bus to the airport. Woodside Station is in Woodside, Queens, and the Q70 LGA Link bus starts right there.

Woodside is the first stop east of Penn Station and Grand Central Madison. Your train may end in Manhattan, but you get off at Woodside first.

1. Find a train to Woodside. Open the TrainTime app and search your station. Not every LIRR train stops at Woodside, so check before you buy.

2. Change at Jamaica Station if needed. Jamaica is the main LIRR hub, where many lines meet. Switch there if your train skips Woodside.

3. Get off at Woodside. Leave the station and walk to the Q70 stop on Roosevelt Avenue.

4. Ride the Q70 LGA Link. It is free and stops at Terminals B and C.

5. Use the shuttle for Terminal A. The Q70 does not stop there, so take the airport shuttle from Terminal B.

Most LIRR branches stop at Woodside. These include Port Washington, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Far Rockaway, and Long Beach. Hempstead and West Hempstead trains stop there at peak times only. Oyster Bay and Montauk branch riders must change trains first.

Buy your ticket in TrainTime or at a station machine. It is separate from bus fare. The MTA's LIRR page has timetables and station details.

This route suits light packers on a flexible schedule. Woodside has elevators, and Q70 buses have luggage racks. Heavy bags still make the trip tiring.

Using Bus and Subway Transportation to LaGuardia

Bus transportation to LaGuardia Airport from Long Island means linking a few rides. No bus runs from Nassau or Suffolk straight to the terminals.

The Q70 LGA Link is the key piece. It is free, and it serves Terminal B and Terminal C. It links to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue and 74 St-Broadway. Those stops connect to the E, F, M, R, and 7 subway lines.

The Jamaica route

NICE buses such as the n6 run from Hempstead to Jamaica. From Jamaica, ride the E subway to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue. Then board the Q70 to the airport. LIRR riders can make the same switch at Jamaica Station.

The Flushing route

From Great Neck, the NICE n20G bus goes to Flushing-Main St. There, board the MTA Q90 to the airport. Port Washington Branch riders can also get off at Flushing-Main St for the Q90. The Q90 serves Terminals B and C, and you can pay with OMNY, MetroCard, or coins.

OMNY lets you tap a card or phone at the fare reader. NICE buses use their own fares, so check NICE before you ride. The MTA's LaGuardia guide explains each public option.

This option costs the least and has the most transfers. These two chains are the ones to know for a Long Island trip.

Driving to LaGuardia From Long Island

Driving means one leg and no transfers, and your bags stay with you. Your starting town changes the trip more than any other factor.

Route sites often treat Long Island as a single point. That gives a drive time that fits almost no one. A drive from Great Neck in Nassau County is nothing like a drive from Suffolk County. So never trust one drive time for the whole island.

North Shore drivers often take the Northern State Parkway, which becomes the Grand Central Parkway at the Queens line. The Long Island Expressway (I-495) is the other main road west. LaGuardia sits in Queens, just off the Grand Central Parkway. Use a live map for your exact route.

Rush hour slows every route, so check live traffic before you leave and add a buffer. Near the airport, follow signs to your airline's terminal. Roads around the terminals fill up at busy times, so allow extra minutes for drop-off.

If you plan to park, reserve a spot first. Garages can fill up at peak times. Check your route for tolls before you go.

LaGuardia Airport Car Service From Long Island

A private car fits best when you want a simple trip with bags, kids, or an early flight. Here is what you get:

• Door-to-door pickup at your home, hotel, or office

• No LIRR or bus transfers to plan

• Room for luggage, strollers, and gear

• One ride for families and groups

• A pre-arranged pickup at a time you set

• A professional chauffeur who handles the route

• Flight tracking, so your driver can adjust to delays

NY Empire Limo Services has served Nassau County and Suffolk County since 1996. Its Long Island airport transportation covers LaGuardia and the other major airports, with real-time flight tracking.

Pick the vehicle by passenger count and luggage. An executive sedan suits solo travelers and couples. An SUV gives families more room for bags. A Mercedes Sprinter Van fits larger groups. You can view available vehicles before you book.

At the airport, car services use set pickup spots. Terminal A uses the area across the street. Terminal B uses Level 2 of its parking garage. Terminal C uses the arrivals inner lane. The Port Authority, which runs LaGuardia, lists these spots on its car service page. Ask your driver where to meet you.

Check your boarding pass for your terminal. Delta uses Terminal C. American, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and several other airlines use Terminal B. Terminal A varies, so the LGA terminals page is worth a look.

A car costs more than transit. It pays off when time, bags, or people add up. When you book, share your airline, flight number, passenger count, and bag count.

How Much Does It Cost to Get From Long Island to LaGuardia?

No single price fits every start point on Long Island. Costs depend on how you travel and where you begin.

Public transit costs

• LIRR: The fare depends on your station and on peak or off-peak times.

• Q70 LGA Link: Free.

• Subway or bus: $3 per ride, and a subway-to-bus transfer is free for two hours.

• NICE bus: Separate fares apply.

The $5.25 off-peak and $7.25 peak CityTicket prices apply to trips inside New York City. An example is Penn Station to Woodside. From Nassau or Suffolk, price your own station in TrainTime.

Private car costs

The price depends on these factors:

• Pickup location

• Vehicle type

• Number of passengers

• Number of bags

• Date and time

• Extra stops or waiting time

Ask for a quote with your address and flight time. Avoid any flat price that ignores your start point. Taxi and rideshare fares move with demand and traffic, so confirm the fare before you commit.

How Early Should You Leave Long Island for LGA?

Do not plan around one travel time. A trip from western Nassau and a trip from the East End are very different. These factors set your timing:

• Flight departure time

• Your starting point on Long Island

• Traffic and time of day

• Your transportation method

• Luggage

• Check-in and security lines

• Transfer waits, if you use transit

• A buffer for delays

Work backward from your flight. Start with your departure time. Subtract the time you want at the airport. Then subtract your trip time and a buffer.

Transit adds waiting time at each transfer. The Q70 comes every 8 to 10 minutes. LIRR trains run on a set timetable, so a missed train can cost more time.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Match your trip to one of these examples.

• Solo traveler, one carry-on, midday flight. Picture someone in Great Neck. The LIRR to Woodside and the Q70 keep the cost low. A midday flight leaves time for transfers.

• Family of four, three suitcases, 6 AM flight. A family in Huntington has many bags and little time. A private car with an SUV keeps the morning calm.

• Group of eight from Suffolk County. Moving eight people across trains and buses is hard. A Mercedes Sprinter Van keeps everyone together.

• Budget traveler with a flexible schedule. The bus and subway route costs the least if you accept more transfers.

• Driver with a car. Driving works if you plan for traffic and parking, or if someone can drop you off.

The right long island to laguardia airport choice comes down to your bags, your start point, and your flight time. Pick the route with the fewest steps you can handle.

Ready for a car? You can reserve your airport transfer online.

FAQs

Can I take the LIRR to LaGuardia from Long Island?

Yes, but not directly. Take the LIRR to Woodside, then ride the Q70 to LGA.

Is the Q70 bus to LaGuardia free?

Yes. LGA and the MTA both list the Q70 LGA Link as free. It stops at Terminals B and C.

How do you get to LaGuardia Airport from Long Island without a car?

Take the LIRR to Woodside and ride the Q70. You can also take a NICE bus to Flushing-Main St and ride the Q90. Another option is a NICE bus to Jamaica, then the E subway and the Q70.

Is a car service better than public transit?

It depends on your trip. Count your transfers. Several transfers plus several bags usually means a car is easier. One bag and a flexible schedule usually means transit costs less.

Is there a direct train to LaGuardia Airport?

No. LaGuardia has no train station. The Port Authority dropped its AirTrain plan in 2023, so buses fill the gap.