Taxi from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Upper West Side

A taxi from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Upper West Side costs about $49.05 on a weekday and $50.05 at night (9.9 mi, about 34 min). From the official New York City taxi tariff in force since 5 January 2025, checked 31 October 2026.

Weekday daytime · metered $49.05 $49.05 in light traffic · $67.25 in heavy 9.9 mi · about 34 min

Pick-up charge, Standard metered fare (Rate #01)Taxi Fare
$3.00
Standard metered fare (Rate #01), New York City: 9.91 miTaxi Fare
$34.69
Meter steps of 0.70 (completed steps only)Taxi Fare
−$0.39
MTA State SurchargeTaxi Fare
$0.50
Improvement SurchargeTaxi Fare
$1.00
NYS Congestion SurchargeTaxi Fare
$2.50
MTA Congestion Pricing tollTaxi Fare
$0.75
Airport Access Fee (JFK and LaGuardia pick-ups)Taxi Fare
$2.00
LaGuardia surchargeTaxi Fare
$5.00
Total, typical traffic
$49.05

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	$49.05	$49.05–$67.25	The reference time
Weekday rush hourTuesday 17:30	$51.55	$51.55–$69.75	Rush hour surcharge (weekdays 4pm–8pm)
NightTuesday 23:30	$50.05	$50.05–$68.25	Overnight surcharge (8pm–6am)
Weekend afternoonSaturday 14:00	$49.05	$49.05–$67.25	Only the traffic

Where you start and end

Pick-up: LaGuardia Airport (LGA): The airport in northern Queens, the closest to Manhattan. 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 LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Upper West Side?: About $49.05 on a weekday in the daytime, $49.05 to $67.25 depending on traffic, for 9.9 mi (about 34 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; Airport Access Fee (JFK and LaGuardia pick-ups) $2.00; LaGuardia surcharge $5.00.
Does the time of day change the fare?: Weekday rush hour: about $51.55; Night: about $50.05; Weekend afternoon: about $49.05.

Zones and charges on this trip

Upper West Side is in Manhattan south of 96th 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
Airport Access Fee (JFK and LaGuardia pick-ups)	Yes, $2.00	Trips starting at JFK Airport or LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia surcharge	Yes, $5.00	Trips starting, ending or passing through LaGuardia Airport

Route

Usually via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East, Roosevelt Avenue, Queens Boulevard (NY-25), 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
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