La Guardia Airport Shuttle and Other Routes to the Upper West Side

LaGuardia Airport is about an 18-minute drive from Central Park West Hostel, so planning your transfer is a practical first step when you arrive in New York City. If you’re considering a La Guardia airport shuttle, the airport’s buses connect with subway lines and regional rail; licensed taxis and app-based rides offer direct pickups.

There isn’t a single airport bus described here as a direct ride to the Upper West Side. Instead, compare the M60-SBS, which travels along Manhattan’s West Side, with the Q70 LaGuardia Link, which connects to subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road in Queens.

A taxi, ride app or shared shuttle is another option if its destination and pickup arrangement suit your trip.

MTA bus stops are outside each terminal. The Q70 and M60-SBS serve different connections, so check your terminal and onward destination before choosing between them.

Q70 LaGuardia Link

The Q70 connects LaGuardia with Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue/74 St–Broadway and Woodside. At Jackson Heights, you can connect to the E, F, M, R and 7 subway lines; at Woodside, the route connects with the 7 and the Long Island Rail Road.

The Q70 serves Terminals B and C; it is not listed as a stop at Terminal A. Its service between the airport and its Queens transit connections is fare-free. For the onward subway journey, use this Upper West Side subway guide to compare your options.

M60-SBS

The M60-SBS runs between LaGuardia and the West Side via Astoria Boulevard and 125th Street, serving Terminals A, B and C. In Manhattan, its stops include Broadway at West 106th, 116th and 120th Streets, as well as stops on both sides of 125th Street, including Broadway and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

This route may be worth comparing if an Upper West Side stop fits your plans. MTA buses are wheelchair accessible and have ramps, but not all MTA stations are ADA accessible.

Other MTA bus routes

The Q48 and Q72 also serve LaGuardia, among other airport bus routes. If you’re considering one of these, check its route and connections against your destination rather than assuming it goes directly to the Upper West Side.

For a direct ride, LaGuardia lists licensed taxis outside each terminal. You join the taxi line and a dispatcher directs you to the next available cab; reservations aren’t needed.

Follow the signs after baggage claim. At Terminal B, the stand is curbside in the arrivals area on Level 2; at Terminal C, it is curbside in the arrivals area on Level 1.

The airport’s estimated taxi fare to Morningside Heights is $24–$45. That estimate excludes tips, tolls and MTA congestion pricing, and additional charges may apply. The airport lists a $1.00 surcharge on weekday taxi trips from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ET and a $0.50 surcharge daily from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET. It also lists a $0.50 New York State tax for trips within New York and a $2.00 Port Authority airport access fee for pickups.

Use the official taxi stand and avoid drivers soliciting inside the terminal. Check for a visible TLC license and a working meter; the airport says the meter must read $3.00 at the start of the trip.

Uber and Lyft

Pickup locations depend on the terminal: at Terminal A, they are directly across the street; at Terminal B, they are on Level 2 of the parking garage; and at Terminal C, they are in the arrivals inner lane. Follow the Ride App Pick Up signs and check your app, since locations can vary.

Uber and Lyft fares vary with destination and time of day. Check the app for the fare before you choose this option.

Uber Shuttle

Uber Shuttle is a bookable shared service with five routes serving LaGuardia and destinations that include 33rd Street, Times Square, 42nd Street, the West Village and the World Trade Center. You can reserve up to five seats in the Uber app; check the available route and destination there before booking.

Start with your terminal and the address or transit connection you need. The Q70 is useful for reaching its Queens subway and rail connections, while the M60-SBS runs into Manhattan along 125th Street and has several West Side stops. For a taxi or app-based ride, compare the pickup process and fare information with the public-transit connections.

If you’re weighing a shared ride against a private one, Uber Shuttle offers bookable seats on its listed routes, while Uber and Lyft prices depend on your destination and the time of day. A taxi uses a dispatcher line at the airport, with fares subject to the listed charges and possible additional costs.

Bus routes, pickup locations, fares and service conditions can change. Check the official site before you go, including MTA alerts for bus service and the airport’s directions for terminal pickups. For a ride app or Uber Shuttle, confirm the pickup point, route and fare in the app before setting off.