I think Mike in Albany actually may be right, especially considering his route is more likely to avo

I know most readers at some point have to fly out of JFK airport, hunter sports massapequa and it s a hassle getting down there! Could your readers recommend the fastest, easiest way to get to JFK for a 7pm flight midweek? We d really prefer to drive.
There is an Air Train that goes directly to the airport – I used to pick it up at the Jamaica stop (the LIRR and E train go there). You can take Amtrak or Megabus and hop on the LIRR or E from Penn Station, then take the Air Train. While it may take longer hunter sports massapequa (time-wise), I think it is easier. There is also satellite long-term parking at the airport, which has shuttle service. The JFK home page has a link to Google Maps for directions – that seems to be the best way if you really prefer driving.
I agree with #4 – My husband and I flew out of JFK for our honeymoon, and we rode down on the Megabus, caught the LIRR from Penn Station, hunter sports massapequa and then the Air Train to our terminal. We would have done the same in reverse on our return flight, if the flight hadn’t arrived two hours late and our bus had already left. My parents, when they fly out of JFK, spend the preceding night in a hotel, leave their car in long-term parking at the hotel, and then do the same thing I did. A bit more expensive, but hey, it works.
If you prefer to drive there on your own, you can save a lot of time and tolls by not taking the Thruway. Take the Taconic (as long as this is not the middle hunter sports massapequa of winter when there is a lot of ice on the roads). It turns into the Sprain Brook Parkway after the Hawthorne Circle interchange. Halfway through Yonkers, take the Cross County Parkway eastbound to the Hutch, and then take that to the Whitestone Bridge. The Cross Island Parkway goes straight down to the airport.
My father has driven to JFK twice, once going down the Taconic Parkway, and the other taking the Thruway (Tappan Zee). He said both were the easiest rides he has done. The Tachonic ends right at the JFK parking area, and the Thruway hunter sports massapequa way is so well marked he had no problem getting there at all. For early afternoon travel, which it sounds like you would be doing, the traffic for both ways can’t be that bad.
I agree with #3. Take I87 all the way until you hit 278 which takes you to Queens. The exits to Manhattan on the Major Deegan Expwy will be backed-up hunter sports massapequa a couple of exits so stay on the left lane all the time through there (I received this advise from a friend a few years ago and it’s never failed hunter sports massapequa me). Your flight of 7pm also means you will have plan on getting there really early or you will be caught in the rush hour and that will be a nightmare.
Why do you want to drive?? When my ex and I took two January trips to Puerto Rico to visit his parents, we took Amtrak down to NYC from Albany, and then took a cab from the train station to JFK. The Air Train was too new at that time (the trips were in 2004 and 2005) and my ex (a NYC native) didn’t trust it.
I think Mike in Albany actually may be right, especially considering his route is more likely to avoid traffic (at least compared to the Thruway) and circumvents horrible Manhattan roads (e.g. the FDR and Triborough Bridge). I’ve used SmartPark JFK with good results in the past.
Last time we went to JFK we took a taxi from Midtown & it was over $50.00. JFK also lost out luggage, or rather, kept it & sent it to us on our last day of vacation so we didn’t have it for the trip, but had to haul it home anyway.
My husband & I were traveling overseas so we had 4 bags to check and 2 carry-ons each. We got a one-way rental for about $120. Took the thruway down with no problems. If there are more than one traveling, drop one off at the gate with the bags while the other returns the car and hop the monorail back, it was very easy, low stress.
Kristi, I too agree with Mike about the Taconic. I used to live in Queens. Because of the ban on trucks and commercial vehicles you don’t hit as much traffic the time of day the reader is looking to travel. My preferred route was Taconic to 84 then 684 to Hutch to travel to NYC when I lived in Queens. It’s just as quick as the Thruway because traffic is much lighter. I recommend renting a car up here and leaving it at JFK and using the rental shuttles to the air terminal. A little extra but it makes travel to the airport very easy.
Yikes, I will be driving in the middle of the winter so I’m not sure about the Taconic but that definitely sounds like a good suggestion. I want to drive bc we’re on a tight schedule and I’m afraid of the variables (Amtrak delays per usual, I’m a complete fool when it comes to public transportation). Why is this so difficult!!
Premier Transportation out of Albany has a direct transport from Albany $65 each way to JFK that can’t be beat. That way, they will take you right to JFK and you don’t have to worry about parking, tolls, gas, bridges, and all o