$2.90 flat fare beats the $50+ LGA cab meter every time.
MTA Bus Service from LaGuardia runs from all three terminals (A, B, C) and pairs with the subway for a $2.90 OMNY or MetroCard swipe. With the free transfer, the airport bus leg effectively prices out to $0 once you add a subway ride, which is why locals use it when they care more about predictable cost than comfort.
Expect 45–70 minutes from LGA to Midtown with bus + subway, and assume you’re closer to 60+ minutes at rush hour. Reddit threads calling out “optimistic 35–40 minute” claims are accurate only in light traffic; Grand Central Parkway and Jackson Heights jams are the usual delay points.
Daytime headways run about every 7–10 minutes on the main airport routes, then thin out late night to less frequent service. Buses can be slammed with airport staff at shift changes around 6–8 a.m. and 10–11 p.m., so plan on standing with a rollaboard if you land around those times.
How to ride MTA Bus from LGA (step by step)
- 1. Load payment: Before you fly, set up OMNY on your phone or watch, or grab a MetroCard at an airport machine; you need $2.90 available for the first tap.
- 2. Find the stop: Follow “Public Bus” signs outside Terminals A, B, or C; each terminal has marked MTA stops with route signs like Q70 or M60.
- 3. Tap in on board: Board at the front door, tap OMNY or dip MetroCard on the bus reader, and grab space in the luggage area if it’s not already packed.
- 4. Ride to your subway: For Midtown, regulars use the Q70 to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Av for the E/F/M/R/7 or the M60 to Astoria Blvd for the N/W; both runs can take 20–35 minutes in traffic.
- 5. Transfer free to subway: Within two hours, tap into the subway with the same OMNY or MetroCard and the transfer prices at $0, keeping the whole bus + train combo at $2.90.
What regulars do and watch-outs
Locals check Google Maps or Apple Maps traffic on Grand Central Parkway before committing: if the map is solid red, they lean harder on bus + subway because taxis bog down too; if it’s light, some pay for a cab instead. One frequent comment from NYC Reddit: “If you’re even vaguely comfortable with the subway, LGA + bus is totally fine.”
Watch out for stairs at older stations like Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Av, which means dragging suitcases up and down multiple flights. Regular flyers on FlyerTalk call the setup “usable but clunky with bags,” so keep this for backpacks or light carry-ons. Tip: screenshot subway directions (with line colors and stops) on Wi‑Fi at the airport so you’re not wrestling with data in a crowded bus aisle.