Taxi from Grand Central Terminal to Long Island City
A taxi from Grand Central Terminal to Long Island City costs about $18.95 on a weekday and $19.95 at night (2.9 mi, about 14 min). Add the toll for the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. From the official New York City taxi tariff in force since 5 January 2025, checked 31 October 2026.
Fare
- The route is the quickest by road (OpenStreetMap data); journey times allow for the city's usual traffic.
Through the day
| When | Typical fare | Light to heavy traffic | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday daytimeTuesday 12:00 | $18.95 | $18.25–$26.65 | The reference time |
| Weekday rush hourTuesday 17:30 | $21.45 | $20.75–$29.15 | Rush hour surcharge (weekdays 4pm–8pm) |
| NightTuesday 23:30 | $19.95 | $19.25–$27.65 | Overnight surcharge (8pm–6am) |
| Weekend afternoonSaturday 14:00 | $18.95 | $18.25–$26.65 | Only the traffic |
Where you start and end
- Pick-up: Grand Central Terminal
- The terminal on 42nd Street at Park Avenue, for Metro-North trains to Westchester, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut, and the Long Island Rail Road from Grand Central Madison.
- Drop-off: Long Island City
- The Queens waterfront facing Midtown across the East River, reached through the Queens–Midtown Tunnel or over the Queensboro Bridge.
About this trip
- How much is a taxi from Grand Central Terminal to Long Island City?
- About $18.95 on a weekday in the daytime, $18.25 to $26.65 depending on traffic, for 2.9 mi (about 14 min).
- Is it a flat fare or the meter?
- The meter: $3.00 to start, then $3.50 per mile.
- Which surcharges apply?
- On a weekday in the daytime: MTA State Surcharge $0.50; Improvement Surcharge $1.00; NYS Congestion Surcharge $2.50; MTA Congestion Pricing toll $0.75.
- Does the time of day change the fare?
- Weekday rush hour: about $21.45; Night: about $19.95; Weekend afternoon: about $18.95.
Zones and charges on this trip
Grand Central Terminal is in Manhattan south of and including 60th Street.
| Charge | On this trip | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| MTA State Surcharge | Yes, $0.50 | Trips ending at New York City or Nassau and Westchester counties |
| NYS Congestion Surcharge | Yes, $2.50 | Trips starting, ending or passing through Manhattan south of 96th Street |
| MTA Congestion Pricing toll | Yes, $0.75 | Trips starting, ending or passing through Manhattan south of and including 60th Street |
Route
Usually via East 46th Street, 2nd Avenue, Queens-Midtown Tunnel and 21st Street (NY-25A). Drivers may take another way when traffic is heavy. The toll for the Queens-Midtown Tunnel is added to the fare.
- New York City (taxi service area)
- New York City
- Nassau or Westchester (Rate #04): metered fare ×2
- Surcharge zones
- Flat-fare zones
- Airports
- Your route
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