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$15 one way fare to Grand Central, $27 round trip.
You can take the trains, but that all depends on how much you're carrying and if you're willing to lug whatever you have up and down the stairs w/o a problem.
You can also take the SkyTrain ($5) and then transfer to the subway ($2). Just make sure to ask one of the attendants which way to go on the SkyTrain (to get you to the appropriate subway stop) because it can be confusing.
Probably just easier to take the bus, but just in case you wanted something a tad bit cheaper. Good luck!
The AirTrain will take you to either Howard Beach (A train) or Sutphin Boulevard (E and J trains). From Howard Beach: A train to Broadway/Nassau Street in Manhattan, then transfer to 4 or 5 to Grand Central.
From Sutphin Boulevard, J to Chambers Street and transfer to 4 or 5...or E to Lexington Avenue and transfer to #6 (one stop going downtown to Grand Central).
You can take the JFK AirTrain to the Howard Beach station to connect with the A train. The A train will take you into Manhattan. However, watch yourself on this train at night, since it travels "local" (opposite of express) through some rough Brooklyn neighborhoods.
For a local, taking the AirTrain to either the A or the LIRR would be ok, but for an out-of-towner, I'd highly suggest taking the shuttle service that 009 references above (New York Airport Service) or the SuperShuttle. A taxi isn't that bad either.
TAXI
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Kennedy Airport (http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/ken_taxi.html - broken link)
$45 flat fare (for up to 4 people in a cab) + tip + possible peak time surcharges
My reasoning against the AirTrain/Subway or LIRR combos...
- The AirTrain can take 20-30 minutes to get from the terminals to either Jamaica (LIRR) or Howard Beach stations (A subway)
- the A train will take about an hour to get to Manhattan from Howard Beach
- Jamaica can be a little confusing for the uninitiated
- once on either the A or the LIRR coming into Penn Station, the OP will have to change subway lines in order to get to Grand Central
Traveling can be hectic enough. Why not keep things simple...
By the way, here's a fare-saving tip: from Kennedy Airport, you can catch the Q-10 bus, which makes the same terminal stops as Air Train. From this bus, you can make a free transfer to the A train at the Lefferts Boulevard terminal. Most people don't realize that this free transfer option is available--and of course, Port Authority, which runs Air Train, doesn't especially want anyone to use it. But it's there for anyone who doesn't want to pay their fee. All you have to do is buy a MetroCard, and everything is taken care of!
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commute to the city
