Home / New York /John F. Kennedy International Airport / AirTrain and E train to Penn Station vs AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central

JFK → New York · head to head

AirTrain and E train to Penn StationorAirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The AirTrain and E train to Penn Station reaches Midtown Manhattan at Penn Station; the AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central does not. Grand Central, on the east side of Midtown, not Penn Station: the one to take if you are staying near Grand Central or on the East Side.

The AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central is quicker: 30 min against 50 min.

AirTrain and E train to Penn Station: hours not recorded. AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central: 05:10–01:13.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in USD. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersAirTrain and E train to Penn StationAirTrain and LIRR to Grand CentralDifference
1US$11.75US$14US$2.25
2US$23.50US$28US$4.50
3US$35.25US$42US$6.75
4US$47US$56US$9
5US$58.75US$70US$11.25
6US$70.50US$84US$13.50
7US$82.25US$98US$15.75
8US$94US$112US$18

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
AirTrainE · Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (AirTrain); MTA New York City TransitAirTrain and E train to Penn Station
From
The AirTrain station at your terminal, trains to Jamaica
To
34th Street-Penn Station on Eighth Avenue, in Midtown; the E runs on to the World Trade Center
Journey
50 min

At Jamaica, leave the AirTrain and go down to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport for a Manhattan-bound E.

Late at night the E runs local and takes about 10 minutes longer.

Subway cars have no luggage racks and can be crowded at rush hour.

AirTrain and E train to Penn Station: price for every party size

See the MTA's JFK guide
AirTrainLIRR · Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (AirTrain); Long Island Rail Road (MTA)AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central
From
The AirTrain station at your terminal, trains to Jamaica
To
Grand Central Madison, beneath Grand Central Terminal on East 42nd Street
Runs
05:10–01:13
Journey
30 min

Fewer trains run to Grand Central than to Penn Station: check the board at Jamaica.

AirTrain and LIRR to Grand Central: price for every party size

See the MTA's JFK guide

This compares two of 6 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at John F. Kennedy International Airport