Best Time to Drive from JFK to Midtown Manhattan

None of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 18-mile drive from JFK to Midtown Manhattan (via I-678 North and I-495 West) usually takes as little as 30 minutes and up to 111 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 83 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 4 pm on Saturdays (95 minutes).

Freeway, about 11 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 7 miles: 15 to 47 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to central Midtown Manhattan (6th Avenue) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from JFK to Midtown Manhattan by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	49	80	88	83	67	75	71	79	95	91	91	91	84	68	51	45
Tue	43	66	107	111	101	97	85	80	86	89	93	93	85	75	76	62	52
Wed	40	75	85	93	88	81	68	80	85	87	95	92	94	79	70	60	51
Thu	47	64	82	95	92	81	80	80	78	82	85	91	88	79	73	62	52
Fri	40	68	85	90	95	72	87	81	87	95	101	98	94	89	90	68	64
Sat	49	36	37	51	52	57	58	51	68	76	76	95	89	84	77	81	81
Sun	54	48	36	34	35	39	41	47	54	61	71	90	90	75	82	79	72

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from JFK to Midtown Manhattan?

On weekdays, leave early in the morning or late in the evening. The drive usually takes about 30 minutes then, versus up to 111 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from JFK to Midtown Manhattan?

The 18-mile drive usually takes 30 to 111 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 83 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from JFK to Midtown Manhattan?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 111 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

JFK to Fordham · JFK to Co-op City

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	49	80	88	83	67	75	71	79	95	91	91	91	84	68	51	45
Tue	43	66	107	111	101	97	85	80	86	89	93	93	85	75	76	62	52
Wed	40	75	85	93	88	81	68	80	85	87	95	92	94	79	70	60	51
Thu	47	64	82	95	92	81	80	80	78	82	85	91	88	79	73	62	52
Fri	40	68	85	90	95	72	87	81	87	95	101	98	94	89	90	68	64
Sat	49	36	37	51	52	57	58	51	68	76	76	95	89	84	77	81	81
Sun	54	48	36	34	35	39	41	47	54	61	71	90	90	75	82	79	72

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	49	80	88	83	67	75	71	79	95	91	91	91	84	68	51	45
Tue	43	66	107	111	101	97	85	80	86	89	93	93	85	75	76	62	52
Wed	40	75	85	93	88	81	68	80	85	87	95	92	94	79	70	60	51
Thu	47	64	82	95	92	81	80	80	78	82	85	91	88	79	73	62	52
Fri	40	68	85	90	95	72	87	81	87	95	101	98	94	89	90	68	64
Sat	49	36	37	51	52	57	58	51	68	76	76	95	89	84	77	81	81
Sun	54	48	36	34	35	39	41	47	54	61	71	90	90	75	82	79	72

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	30	49	80	88	83	67	75	71	79	95	91	91	91	84	68	51	45
Tue	43	66	107	111	101	97	85	80	86	89	93	93	85	75	76	62	52
Wed	40	75	85	93	88	81	68	80	85	87	95	92	94	79	70	60	51
Thu	47	64	82	95	92	81	80	80	78	82	85	91	88	79	73	62	52
Fri	40	68	85	90	95	72	87	81	87	95	101	98	94	89	90	68	64
Sat	49	36	37	51	52	57	58	51	68	76	76	95	89	84	77	81	81
Sun	54	48	36	34	35	39	41	47	54	61	71	90	90	75	82	79	72