Least stressful route to drive to JFK on a Saturday morning? archived

78 to Turnpike to Goethals to Verrazano to Belt Pkwy to JFK. Takes 45 minutes without traffic. You should be fine on a Saturday.

I'd avoid Manhattan!

Thank You!

we drove through Manhatten to JFK last Sunday and it wasn't bad.

PS: the tolls are crazy expensive! I think $8 to get into Staten Island and $13 for the Verrazano. Plus the Turnpike.
PPS: there's construction on the Belt, so maybe allow a little bit of extra time.

composerjohn said:

78 to Turnpike to Goethals to Verrazano to Belt Pkwy to JFK. Takes 45 minutes without traffic. You should be fine on a Saturday.

I'd avoid Manhattan!

That's the route I'm taking tomorrow. Leaving the house at 6am....ugh.

But you'll be in the clear! 6am is a great time to leave. Just go to bed early.

Early in the morning I still find it quickest to go thru manhattan. Midtown tunnel to LIE to van wyck.
anything to avoid Staten Island and the Belt parkway.

Really? Faster than 45 minutes? I've driven it 4 times in the last couple months and it was 45 minutes each time. That seems hard to beat.

Usually takes me closer to 55 min going thru the city but I really dislike staten island.

You would only pay the $ 13 Verazzano toll going eastbound. Coming back go through the Holland.

Tom, that's an interesting idea.

grilled_weber said:

Early in the morning I still find it quickest to go thru manhattan. Midtown tunnel to LIE to van wyck.
anything to avoid Staten Island and the Belt parkway.

Midtown tunnel is where? I assume the Lincoln Tunnel to get there?

To get to the Midtown tunnel, go into the Lincoln Tunnel in the far right lane. At the other end, bear right and make the 1st left onto 35th(?) Street. Go straight across town and you will end up at the Midtown. Go through there and you are on the LIE.

Thanks mcb. Sounds like a good alternative route.

I just did that trip today, well yesterday/Friday actually.

78 to Turnpike to Goethals to Verrazano to Belt Pkwy to JFK is the way to go; now getting back I was planning on doing the reverse, but missed and exit, and went via the Holland Tunnel instead.

Unfortunately coming back was during rush hour, so no matter how I would have done it- it sucked, and it sucked even more that my car kinda broke down on Broome St.; luckily I was able to turn onto Mercer and park.

Also luckily, after taking a walk, and having dinner, the car started up, and I was able to make it home; also luckily it was well past rush hour, but I had to drive through the city with my left foot on the break, and my other on the gas to keep the car's RPM high enough to stop it from stalling out.


I've made a decision that after my daughters return trip home next Saturday, at Midnight no less, it will be a long time before I go to JFK again, if ever.

Monster, amen!
If this were my teenagers (and not my 11 year old), they would be in the $30 shuttle to Newark airport and not treated like royalty.

But JFK has Jetblue. A few weeks ago I flew from JFK to LA for $285 roundtrip, including taxes and fees! Flying out of Newark started at $600. Sometimes JFK is worth the hassle.

but not worth the drive, the shuttle, or other transport is better.

I think $285 is what we paid with Virgin America to LA.

Does Virgin fly from Newark?