Thirty to forty minutes into town, if you catch Jitney 12
Jitney Bus Route 12 is the backup local bus some budget flyers use between the airport area and town, with rides quoted around 30–40 minutes from the airport corridor into central Nassau. It runs along the same general west–east corridor as Route 10, but routing can vary by bus, so not every #12 passes close enough to feel useful for Lynden Pindling International (terminals A, B, C).
The jitney does not enter the airport grounds; you walk out from NAS to the main West Bay Street corridor and flag it down from the roadside. Travellers describe a 5–10 minute walk from the terminal area to where jitneys pass, then a cash fare of roughly $1.25–$2 paid directly to the driver. Have small Bahamian dollar bills or coins ready; there are no tickets, passes, or card readers.
Daytime headways sit in the 10–15 minute range on paper, but riders report sometimes waiting longer for a #12 than for a #10 along West Bay Street. Services shut down by early evening, with posts warning that jitneys including Route 12 do not cover late‑night or very early‑morning flights, so do not plan on it after sunset if you have a tight departure or arrival.
Typical comments: “Route 10 or 12 jitneys go along West Bay/Cable Beach – they’re cheap but you have to walk out of the airport,” and “We took a #12 from near the airport to town – it was crowded and slow, but only a couple of bucks.” Expect frequent stops, standing room during peaks, and a ride that can easily run 30–40 minutes versus 15–20 minutes by taxi.
Confusion is common because there is no official online map and some Route 12 variants head into side streets instead of straight toward downtown. Regulars ask locals at the stop which jitney number (10 vs 12) is coming first, then board whichever is going the right direction and walk or transfer at a known point like downtown Nassau. For time‑sensitive flights, they usually skip it and pay the taxi rate instead.
Step-by-step: using Jitney Bus Route 12 from NAS
- 1. Land at NAS and exit your terminal (A, B, or C) to the public curb within 5–10 minutes of clearing customs.
- 2. Walk out toward West Bay Street; most visitors report a 5–10 minute roadside walk from the airport area to the jitney corridor.
- 3. Stand on the side heading east toward downtown and watch for buses marked “12” or “#12” on the windshield.
- 4. Before boarding, ask the driver, “Are you going into town?” since some Route 12 runs cut off or detour into neighborhoods.
- 5. Board if it is the right direction, then pay the driver in cash – budget $1.25–$2 per person for the ride.
- 6. Hold onto smaller bags; large checked cases are awkward on a crowded jitney with limited floor space.
- 7. Watch your mapping app or street signs and ring the bell when you are close to your downtown stop, usually within 30–40 minutes from the airport corridor.
One simple tip: if you do not see a #12 within 15 minutes on West Bay Street, switch to whichever comes first, 10 or 12, as long as the driver confirms “downtown,” and keep taxi fare in reserve in case service thins out by early evening.