If you're headed to the Financial District, the good news is that all three New York airports connect to Lower Manhattan, and 17 John Street sits right on top of one of the best-served subway hubs in the city. Fulton Street is two blocks away, and the E train's last stop at World Trade Center is about a five-minute walk. Here's the honest breakdown of each airport, what it costs, and how long it really takes.
The short version: which airport is easiest for the Financial District?
JFK is the most predictable for downtown, because the E train runs straight to World Trade Center. Newark can be quicker in a car when traffic cooperates, and LaGuardia has no direct train, so you'll transfer or take a cab. If you get to pick your airport, JFK usually makes the simplest trip to this part of town.
From JFK to the Financial District
The cheapest way from JFK is the AirTrain plus the subway. Take the AirTrain from your terminal to Jamaica Station ($8.50), then the E train toward Manhattan. The E's last stop is World Trade Center, a five-minute walk from 17 John. Total is about $11 and 60 to 75 minutes depending on your terminal and the wait. Pay the subway fare with a tap of your credit card or phone at the turnstile (OMNY), no paper ticket needed.
A yellow cab from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan is a flat $70, plus tolls and tip, so figure closer to $85 to $95 all in. It takes 45 to 70 minutes, and it can be longer in rush hour on the Van Wyck. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) is usually in the same range or a bit more when demand is high, and it drops you at the door, which is the real advantage if you've got luggage or kids.
From LaGuardia to the Financial District
LaGuardia has no subway station of its own, so the transit route is a two-parter. Take the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus from your terminal to the Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Avenue subway station, then the E train down to World Trade Center. It's cheap (just the $2.90 subway fare) but slow, usually 60 to 80 minutes with the transfer.
Most people flying into LaGuardia just take a cab or rideshare. There's no flat fare from LaGuardia, so it's metered, typically $45 to $65 to the Financial District plus tolls and tip, and 30 to 50 minutes. LaGuardia is the closest airport by distance, so when traffic is light this is the fastest door-to-door option of the three.
From Newark (EWR) to the Financial District
Newark is in New Jersey, so it's a little more involved. The transit route is the AirTrain from your terminal to the Newark Liberty rail station, then an NJ Transit train into Penn Station in Manhattan, then a subway or short cab downtown. The combined AirTrain and NJ Transit fare is around $16, and the whole trip runs 60 to 90 minutes. Buy the NJ Transit ticket before you board.
A car from Newark to the Financial District is often the simpler choice: 40 to 60 minutes and roughly $70 to $95 with tolls and the airport surcharge. Traffic through the Holland Tunnel or on the Turnpike is the wild card, so pad your time if you're catching something.
Getting to 17 John Street once you're downtown
Wherever you come in, the last leg is easy. 17 John Street is between Broadway and Nassau, two blocks from the Fulton Street station, which is served by the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, and Z lines. The E train's World Trade Center stop is a five-minute walk. If you're in a cab, give the driver "17 John Street, between Broadway and Nassau."
Check-in is self-service through a smart keypad, and we send the door code and step-by-step instructions the day before you arrive, so a late-night landing isn't a problem. If you get in before your suite is ready, you can drop bags with the concierge in the lobby, free, and go explore. The front desk is staffed 24/7 if anything comes up.
A few practical tips
Use OMNY for the subway. Tap your contactless card or phone at the turnstile and you're through. After 12 taps in a week it stops charging, so a week of riding is capped at one weekly fare.
If you land late or you're traveling with a lot of luggage, a cab or rideshare to the door is worth the extra money. The subway is great, but hauling bags up and down station stairs after a long flight is not the way to start a trip.
Weekends and holidays change subway service. If a train is running local or rerouted, the station signage and the MTA app will tell you. From the Financial District, almost everything runs through Fulton Street, so you're rarely more than a short walk from a line that works.