# 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.

Worked out from the New York City tariff in force from 5 January 2025. Status: Verified. 2.9 mi, about 14 min by the quickest road 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.

## Through the day

| When | Typical fare | Light to heavy traffic | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday daytime (Tuesday 12:00) | $18.95 | $18.25–$26.65 | The reference time |
| Weekday rush hour (Tuesday 17:30) | $21.45 | $20.75–$29.15 | Rush hour surcharge (weekdays 4pm–8pm) |
| Night (Tuesday 23:30) | $19.95 | $19.25–$27.65 | Overnight surcharge (8pm–6am) |
| Weekend afternoon (Saturday 14:00) | $18.95 | $18.25–$26.65 | Only the traffic |

## Weekday daytime, line by line

- Pick-up charge, Standard metered fare (Rate #01): $3.00 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- Standard metered fare (Rate #01), New York City: 2.75 mi, 3.0 min in slow traffic: $11.74 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- Meter steps of 0.70 (completed steps only): −$0.54 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- MTA State Surcharge: $0.50 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- Improvement Surcharge: $1.00 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- NYS Congestion Surcharge: $2.50 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- MTA Congestion Pricing toll: $0.75 ([source](https://www.nyc.gov/site/tlc/passengers/taxi-fare.page))
- Total, typical traffic: $18.95

## 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 |

## More trips

- [JFK Airport to Long Island City](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-long-island-city/index.md)
- [LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Long Island City](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/lga-to-long-island-city/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Grand Central Terminal](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-grand-central/index.md)
- [LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Grand Central Terminal](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/lga-to-grand-central/index.md)
- [Grand Central Terminal to Newark Airport (EWR)](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/grand-central-to-ewr/index.md)
- [Penn Station to Grand Central Terminal](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/penn-station-to-grand-central/index.md)
- [Grand Central Terminal to Wall Street](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/grand-central-to-wall-street/index.md)
- [Grand Central Terminal to Javits Center](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/grand-central-to-javits-center/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Times Square](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-times-square/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Penn Station](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-penn-station/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Hudson Yards](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-hudson-yards/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Chelsea](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-chelsea/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to SoHo](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-soho/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Lower East Side](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-lower-east-side/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Wall Street](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-wall-street/index.md)
- [JFK Airport to Upper East Side](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/jfk-to-upper-east-side/index.md)

The full tariff: [New York City taxi fares](https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/index.md)

To cite this page: Taxi from Grand Central Terminal to Long Island City, TaxiFare, https://taxifare.org/us/new-york/grand-central-to-long-island-city/ (checked 31 October 2026)