Guides Prices checked September 28, 2026
Newark to Manhattan: the AirTrain fee you can avoid
Newark is the only New York airport where the train fee disappears if you buy the right ticket.
The short answer
Take the AirTrain to the Newark Liberty airport rail station, then NJ Transit to Penn Station. The AirTrain costs $8.75 on its own, but the fee does not apply if you already hold an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket. A cab into Manhattan charges a Port Authority zone fare, $60 to $80 by destination, plus fees, tolls and tip. Checked September 2026.
- Newark AirTrain $8.75, waived with a rail ticket
- Cab into Manhattan $60 to $80 zone fare, plus fees
- NYC cab to Newark Meter + $20, tolls both ways
- Terminal A No direct AirTrain
Free. One email each morning. One-click unsubscribe. Never sold.
The AirTrain fee, and when you do not pay it
The Newark AirTrain connects the terminals to the Newark Liberty International Airport rail station, where NJ Transit and Amtrak stop. The Port Authority charges $8.75 to use it, with one important exception it states plainly: if you already hold an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket, the fee does not apply. In practice that means buying your rail ticket to or from the airport station rather than buying an AirTrain fare and a train fare separately. Riding the AirTrain between terminals is free either way. If you connect onward by PATH, that is a separate fare again.
| Route | What you pay | Time to Midtown | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTrain, then NJ Transit to Penn Station | $17.25 for an adult, the AirTrain fee included | About 45 minutes, the rail leg about 30 | Almost always, because it does not sit in the tunnel |
| Newark Airport Express bus | $23.50 one way, $39.50 round trip | About 50 minutes, traffic decides | Grand Central, Bryant Park and Port Authority stops |
| Cab | Port Authority zone fare: $60 for Battery to W 13th St, up to $80 above W 185th, plus $2 access, $10 at rush hour, $5 for East Side drops, $1 a bag, tolls and tip | 40 to 80 minutes | Groups with luggage, off-peak, and patience for the Lincoln Tunnel |
What a Newark cab costs, in each direction
Coming into Manhattan, a Newark cab does not run the meter. The Port Authority sets zone fares by where you are going: $60 for Battery to W 13th Street, $65 to W 50th, $70 to W 96th, $75 to W 185th and $80 above that. On top come a $2 airport access fee, a $10 surcharge at rush hour, $5 for East Side destinations between Battery Park and 145th Street, $1 for every bag including carry-ons, the tunnel toll and tip. Going the other way is what surprises people. A New York yellow cab to Newark runs the meter, adds a $20.00 Newark surcharge, and charges you its tolls to and from the airport: the Taxi and Limousine Commission bills the driver's return tolls to the passenger.
Newark to JFK and Newark to LaGuardia
Neither is quick. Both mean coming into Manhattan and going back out: NJ Transit to Penn Station, then the subway or LIRR toward Jamaica and the JFK AirTrain, or the subway toward Jackson Heights and the free Q70 for LaGuardia. Two hours is a fair planning figure for either. A New York cab from JFK or LaGuardia to Newark runs the meter, adds the $20.00 Newark surcharge and bills you its tolls both ways; the Port Authority estimates $160 from JFK and $110 from LaGuardia. If you are connecting between Newark and one of the New York airports on the same ticket, treat it as a separate journey rather than a transfer.
The three airports compared in one table are in our airport to Manhattan guide, with the transfers in airport transfers.
The questions people actually ask
How much is the AirTrain from Newark to Manhattan?
Buy an NJ Transit ticket from the Newark Liberty airport station to New York Penn Station: $17.25 for an adult, and it covers the $8.75 AirTrain fee. The rail leg takes about 30 minutes. Buy it before you board, because there is a $5 surcharge on the train. Checked September 2026.
What is the best way to get to Newark Airport from Manhattan?
NJ Transit from Penn Station to the Newark Liberty airport station, then the AirTrain to your terminal. It avoids the Lincoln Tunnel entirely, which is the single biggest source of missed flights out of Newark. Buy the rail ticket to the airport station so the AirTrain fee is covered.
Why is a taxi to Newark so expensive?
Because you pay the tolls twice. A New York yellow cab to Newark runs the meter, adds a $20.00 Newark surcharge, and charges you the tolls to and from the airport, since the Taxi and Limousine Commission bills the driver's return tolls to the passenger. Coming the other way, a Newark cab into Manhattan charges a Port Authority zone fare of $60 to $80, plus fees. Checked September 2026.
Does the AirTrain go to Terminal A?
No. The Port Authority says the AirTrain does not connect directly to Terminal A: it is about a 15-minute covered walk or a five-minute shuttle. Terminal C is roughly 7 minutes from the rail station and Terminal B roughly 11.
Is the Newark AirTrain running normally?
It is being modernised, and the Port Authority warns of temporary service disruptions with shuttle buses running whenever the AirTrain is unavailable. Check the airport's advisories before you rely on a tight connection.
The sources
Where the prices and rules above come from. Check them yourself:
- AirTrain Newark, Port Authority — read 4 September 2026: $8.75 unless you already hold an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket, Terminal A not directly connected, modernisation advisory
- NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission, taxi fare — read 4 September 2026
- MTA, subway and bus fares — read 4 September 2026: $3.00 base fare, one free transfer within two hours
The prices on this page change.
When one moves, this guide is corrected and the morning brief says so. Get the brief and you get the update the day it lands, with the rest of New York explained alongside.
Free. One email each morning. One-click unsubscribe. Never sold.