LGA->T.S.->LGA

January 10, 2006 8:39 AM

What's the easiest way to go from LaGuardia to, say, Times Square? What about vice-versa?
posted by taumeson to Travel & Transportation (23 answers total)

Cab; Cab. Have 'em go through the Midtown Tunnel and then up the BQE. There's probably also a shuttle for the same price or slightly less.

LGA, unfortunately, doesn't have a proper subway stop, so you have to get out of the subway (the N/W, I believe) and hop on a bus for about ten or fifteen minutes. It's not a huge inconvenience, but you're looking at $4 in subway/bus fares, versus maybe $15 or so for cab fare. It's definitely worth it if you have any bags, as you most likely don't want to shlep those up and down the stairs to the train, and then into a likely crowded bus.

If you're on a TRUE budget, it's not a huge hassle to only use public transportation, but if you have $10 to spare, hop on that yellow pony!
posted by incomple at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006

Easiest? Hire a car and driver and have them waiting for you when you arrive.

Cheapest? Take the bus to 125th street where oyu can catch the 1 or 9 train which stops at Times Square.
posted by o2b at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006

Oh, and it probably goes without saying, but if you're going from LGA to Times Square, down the BQE and through the Midtown Tunnel.
posted by incomple at 8:47 AM on January 10, 2006

There's an airport shuttle bus that goes every 20 minutes between LGA and Grand Central. It's $12 each way. It stops in front of each terminal.
posted by tommassit at 8:54 AM on January 10, 2006

This bus company is a good option.

Also, a cab could be significantly more than $15 depending on traffic.
posted by staggernation at 8:54 AM on January 10, 2006

Take the M60 bus to the N/W stop and take that to Times Square. It costs $2 (the transfer is free) and does not involve sitting on the BQE, which is not your friend. Besides, cabs are for lamos, and I'm pretty sure the airport fare is more than $15.
posted by dame at 8:57 AM on January 10, 2006

D'oh!

(To get to Times Square, Port Authority would be a little closer than Grand Central, although it might take a while for the bus to get across town.)
posted by staggernation at 8:58 AM on January 10, 2006

I would not take a shuttle to Grand Central. To get to Times Square from there, you still have to take the subway, a cab, or a long walk.
posted by dame at 9:00 AM on January 10, 2006

MTA Service to LGA

Port Authority page here and here

Still, Incomple's suggestion is the best. It is worth the peace of mind.
posted by lampshade at 9:04 AM on January 10, 2006

Also, if you do take a cab, I'd take the Grand Central to the Triboro, then go crosstown up there and down the West Side. It seems out of the way, but it does avoid the BQE and LIE, which suck. Plus, you don't have to pay a toll (I think).

But really the subway is magic and doesn't have traffic. And depending on the time of day, it may even be faster.
posted by dame at 9:07 AM on January 10, 2006

M60 to N/W. It's the best. Ask the busdriver if you're unsure where to get off.
posted by lampoil at 9:23 AM on January 10, 2006

I would not take a shuttle to Grand Central. To get to Times Square from there, you still have to take the subway, a cab, or a long walk.

The subway from Grand Central to Times Square is a trivial and short trip. Don't pay attention to the haters. SEVEN TRAIN REPRASENT.
posted by thanotopsis at 9:32 AM on January 10, 2006

(a) I would take the shuttle train, which is on a higher level and invloves fewer stairs.

(b) You miss my point. If you're gonna take the train, just take it from the freakin' airport.

(c) The 7 is lame.
posted by dame at 9:38 AM on January 10, 2006

yup--the express bus to Grand Central, and then the S from Grand Central to Times Sq.
posted by amberglow at 9:39 AM on January 10, 2006

I too agree that the 7 is lame. It is like an even lamer version of the L train, only the L train has at least one fun stop.

The flip side of this coin is that fewer assholes ride the 7, so pick your poison.
posted by incomple at 9:47 AM on January 10, 2006

Admit it, the fun stop is the Jefferson stop.
posted by dame at 9:51 AM on January 10, 2006

This depends on whether you're carrying luggage. If no luggage, then M60 to the N/W is both fast and cheap. If you do have luggage though, getting on the N/W means hauling a suitcase up two flights of stairs. Not undoable, and, to my mind, worth it (wouldn't you rather spend that money on some good Chinese/Italian/Korean food?), but not the 'easiest' way.
posted by Sara Anne at 10:27 AM on January 10, 2006

Ditto what o2b said. I used to do just this, except I got on and off the 1/9 train a couple stops before Times Square. Either one works; the cab has the advantage that you can fall asleep or chat with the cabbie. The subway/bus is very cheap.

If you are a very nervous sort or you are wearing a $10,000 watch, standing around 125th St waiting for the M60 after dark might freak you out a little bit.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:34 AM on January 10, 2006

Is it just me, or does it seem crazy to take the M60 all the way to 125th, just to ride the 1 (no more 9) all the way back down to midtown? If you're going to the UWS, sure, but for Times Square? The N/W will result in a shorter bus ride AND a shorter train ride.

(And the N/W's a much pleasanter ride, if you ask me).

If you have a lot of luggage, take a cab.
posted by lampoil at 11:58 AM on January 10, 2006

I do this trip on a pretty often because I work in Times Square and fly out of LGA.

If, there's a long cab line at the airport, I take the Airport Service. It's easiest if you have exact change, $12. You can buy the ticket on the bus. The stop is just outside baggage claim. There is a freestanding sign; often there's an employee hanging around, advertising the bus. The bus will get you to Grand Central pretty quickly. I've often gotten there in 25-30 minutes, which is how long I might have spent waiting for a cab. Then I take the S (subway) to Times Square. This takes about 5 minutes.

Additionally, if my final destination is not Times Square, I often hail a cab at Grand Central. Late at night, there's nobody there trying to grab one.

Do not take the NY Airport Service bus past Grand Central because then you will get stuck in horrible 42nd Street traffic. They often make you switch to a different bus, too.
posted by kathryn at 12:11 PM on January 10, 2006

Response by poster: but what about getting back to LGA?
posted by taumeson at 12:21 PM on January 10, 2006

I always take the express bus -- it's a lot cheaper than a cab and a lot more convenient than the subway. And dame, the poster doesn't necessarily need to get to Times Square specifically:
What's the easiest way to go from LaGuardia to, say, Times Square?
I take that as meaning he wants to go to midtown and picked Times Square as a convenient landmark.
posted by languagehat at 12:57 PM on January 10, 2006

Then he should stay home. Because obviously directions change if you're going somewhere else.
posted by dame at 6:04 PM on January 10, 2006