Taxi from JFK Airport to Upper West Side
A taxi from JFK Airport to Upper West Side costs about $76.75 at any time: a flat fare plus extras (19.8 mi, about 55 min). 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 | $76.75 | – | The reference time |
| Weekday rush hourTuesday 17:30 | $81.75 | – | Rush hour surcharge, JFK flat fare (weekdays 4pm–8pm) |
| NightTuesday 23:30 | $76.75 | – | Same flat fare |
| Weekend afternoonSaturday 14:00 | $76.75 | – | Same flat fare |
Where you start and end
- Pick-up: JFK Airport
- New York's largest airport, in southeast Queens. Yellow taxis wait at the official taxi rank outside each terminal.
- Drop-off: Upper West Side
- Between Central Park and the Hudson River from 59th to 110th Street, with Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History.
About this trip
- How much is a taxi from JFK Airport to Upper West Side?
- About $76.75 on a weekday in the daytime, for 19.8 mi (about 55 min).
- Is it a flat fare or the meter?
- A flat fare: JFK ↔ Manhattan flat fare (Rate #02), $70.00. Surcharges come on top, so the total is about $76.75.
- 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; Airport Access Fee (JFK and LaGuardia pick-ups) $2.00.
- Does the time of day change the fare?
- Weekday rush hour: about $81.75; Night: about $76.75; Weekend afternoon: about $76.75.
Zones and charges on this trip
Upper West Side is in Manhattan south of 96th Street.
| Charge | On this trip | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| JFK ↔ Manhattan flat fare (Rate #02) | Yes, $70.00 | Trips between JFK Airport and Manhattan |
| 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 |
| Airport Access Fee (JFK and LaGuardia pick-ups) | Yes, $2.00 | Trips starting at JFK Airport or LaGuardia Airport |
Route
Usually via Van Wyck Expressway (I-678), Long Island Expressway (I-495), Queensboro Bridge and Amsterdam Avenue. Drivers may take another way when traffic is heavy.
- 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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