The Fastest Route to the Airport in New York City

By: Terry Gelber A.K.A. The Master Cabbie

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It is more than likely that when taking a taxicab from New York City’s  Manhattan to JFK Airport in Queens County, the taxi driver will choose, or suggest, a route that will include the Long Island Expressway to the Grand Central Parkway to the Van Wyck Expressway which will lead directly into John F. Kennedy Airport.

For most New York City airport trips this is a perfectly acceptable choice. In fact, many, if not most passengers, would suggest the same route. Above all, most passengers prefer to stay on the highway on an airport trip. Only a savvy New York City taxi passenger knows the best and possibly the fastest route to the Airport.

Some years ago I had mentioned the Atlantic Ave. route as being appropriate from downtown and lower Manhattan. It is by mileage, the shortest route. It does not take a highway until the very end of the route and might seem slower because of the traffic lights. But, back in the day when the Master Cabbie was just “the Hack Poet” at the height of rush hour with a reporter and camera in the Cab The JFK Airport Run was done in forty-four (44) minutes with less than $25 on the meter. 

Times have changed and the price has gone up. In fact, today there will be no metered fare from Manhattan to JFK or on the trip back. The taxi fare, set by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission is now a flat rate of $45, plus tolls. The flat rate will to some degree help avoid any shenanigans. That being said/written which route do you want to take? 

With the new GPS meters and onboard display panels being installed in the passenger compartment at this writing a passenger will be able to see the route as it is driven on their screen. 

I can tell you this. On my forty-four minute ride another cab took the same route to the Brooklyn Bridge and then took the Brooklyn Queens Expressway to the Long Island Expressway to the Grand Central to the Van Wyck in order to stay on the highway. The driver, who will go nameless, arrived at JFK Airport a full twenty minutes later. 

Traffic is always an issue. At two O’clock in the morning the highway will be a pleasure. I HOPE. But at Five O’clock in the afternoon on Friday the path from Wall Street to your private jet at JFK is the Atlantic Ave. route. 

WHY? It’s the mileage stupid! Fewer miles means? Less driving. Especially when the entire automotive demographic of NYC is on the Van Wyck Expressway, The Long Island Expressway and all roads in between trying to escape the Big Apple. 

And Remember:  Most passengers, that’s you, will not want to be off the highway for such a long trip, especially tourists with fears of taxicab pirates, even though New York City rid itself of the pirates along time ago. Of course there will be the occasional rouge driver. Usually driving an unlicensed gypsy cab or an off Duty limo driver moonlighting at the airport during his downtime. STRING ‘EM UP.  

If you want to be safe, and have recourse take a Yellow Cab. To be sure it is a Yellow Cab the color should be????? And there should a license plate, known as the Medallion on the hood of the cab.  The driver’s license and photo should be in a frame inside the taxicab as well as City issued rate card with medallion number and expiration date. 

Most taxi drivers in New York City complete their mandatory pre-license training at Master Cabbie Taxi Academy. It is the largest taxi driver training center in The US and probably the world. If you are interested in driving a taxicab in New York City go to the Master Cabbie web site www.mastercabbie.com and find out how. You can also order a map of New York City while on line if you want to prepare for your upcoming visit. The income potential for taxicab drivers in New York City is exceptional, and the barriers to licensing are few. 

The Fastest Route:

Take any of the lower Manhattan water crossings to respective exit roadway in Brooklyn and follow until you reach Atlantic Ave.(Not Long) Now drive east (Left) to the North Conduit to The Belt Parkway or the Nassau Expressway. Follow airport signs.