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Wedding TransportationSprinter Van ServiceEvent TransportationRoadshow TransportationCity-to-CityPrivate AviationFamily Car ServicePre-booked car service from the Upper West Side to JFK Airport with flat-fare pricing, real-time flight tracking, and vetted chauffeurs who know every crosstown route from Lincoln Center through the Broadway corridor to Morningside Heights.
The Upper West Side to JFK Airport is approximately 18–19 miles, with typical drive times of 35–45 minutes off-peak and 60–90 minutes during rush hour. Unlike routes from Midtown or the East Side, every UWS trip begins with a crosstown leg—from Riverside, West End, or Broadway over to Central Park West or the Midtown tunnel approaches—before you even start heading east toward Queens.
True North VIP provides flat-fare airport car service from the Upper West Side to JFK with all tolls, parking, and fuel included. Every airport booking includes complimentary flight tracking—your chauffeur monitors your flight and adjusts pickup timing automatically. For arrivals, 60 minutes of complimentary wait time is included for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international.
Choose from Executive Sedans (2 passengers, 2 bags), Luxury SUVs (6 passengers, 6 bags), or Mercedes Sprinter vans (up to 14 passengers). Sedans slip through UWS side streets and Broadway bus-lane traffic; SUVs handle families with full luggage loads and child seats ($25 each). Add meet & greet ($25) for in-terminal pickup with a name sign at JFK baggage claim.
The Upper West Side runs from 59th to 110th Street between Central Park and the Hudson. Every JFK trip from here passes through three distinct phases.
From Riverside Drive or West End Avenue, you first need to reach Broadway, Columbus, or Central Park West. That initial 1–3 miles through narrow residential side streets can take 5–15 minutes depending on double-parking, delivery trucks, and school zone traffic. Someone at West End & 96th is in a different origin environment than someone at Broadway & 72nd.
From the UWS, your car heads south or east toward Midtown, then across the island to reach either the Queens Midtown Tunnel (via FDR/Midtown East) or the 59th Street/Queensboro Bridge. From the upper 80s–100s, the RFK/Triborough Bridge is also an option via Harlem River Drive to Grand Central Parkway. Your chauffeur picks based on real-time conditions.
Once in Queens, every route funnels into the Van Wyck Expressway for the final stretch to JFK. This segment is familiar to all Manhattan-origin trips but is the most unpredictable—construction, airport-bound traffic, and terminal ramp work can add 10–20 minutes in the last few miles.
Where you are on the Upper West Side determines your crosstown time, your crossing, and your departure window.
| Area | Primary Route to JFK | Off-Peak | Rush Hour | Pickup Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Center Area (59th-72nd) | Columbus Circle → Midtown East → QMT → Van Wyck | 30-45 min | 50-70 min | Closest to Midtown; fastest UWS origin |
| Central UWS — Broadway (72nd-86th) | 79th/86th crosstown → CPW/FDR → QMT → Van Wyck | 35-50 min | 55-75 min | Hotel cluster zone; Broadway bus-lane pickup |
| Riverside / West End (72nd-96th) | Side streets east → Broadway → crosstown → QMT/Bridge | 40-55 min | 60-85 min | Extra 5-15 min to reach avenues from deep west |
| Upper UWS (86th-110th, near CPW) | 96th/106th → FDR or RFK Bridge → GCP → Van Wyck | 40-55 min | 60-90 min | RFK Bridge option; add 10-15 min vs Lincoln Center |
Columbus Circle → QMT
Fastest UWS origin
Off-Peak
30-45 min
Rush Hour
50-70 min
79th/86th → CPW/FDR → QMT
Broadway hotel cluster
Off-Peak
35-50 min
Rush Hour
55-75 min
Side streets → Broadway → crosstown
Extra crosstown from deep west
Off-Peak
40-55 min
Rush Hour
60-85 min
96th → FDR or RFK Bridge
RFK Bridge option from upper blocks
Off-Peak
40-55 min
Rush Hour
60-90 min
Times reflect typical conditions. Holiday weeks, severe weather, and major events can extend drive times further.
The UWS has two strong rail paths to JFK: 1/2/3 to Penn for LIRR, and the A train direct to Howard Beach. Your choice depends on luggage, timing, and comfort.
| Option | Cost | Time from UWS | Transfers | Best When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2/3 → LIRR → AirTrain | $15-24 | 60-75 min | 2 (Penn + Jamaica) | Predictable, daytime |
| A train → AirTrain | ~$12 | 75-85 min | 1 (Howard Beach) | Budget, near CPW |
| Yellow Taxi | $85-100 | 35-90 min | None | Hail on Broadway/Columbus |
| Pre-Booked Car Service | Flat fare quoted | 35-90 min | None | Early/late, luggage, families |
Sources: JFK public transit | UWS boundaries
Sedan. Pickup on W 79th to avoid Broadway bus lane.
SUV required. Extra buffer for Riverside pickup logistics.
Sedan. 96th → CPW → FDR clear at this hour.
Reserve online or by phone. Provide your UWS pickup address, JFK terminal, flight details (for arrivals), passenger count, and luggage. Confirmation is instant.
For arrivals, we monitor your flight from departure to landing. If delayed or early, your chauffeur adjusts automatically. No need to call or update us.
Your chauffeur arrives at your building on a UWS side street or coordinates a Broadway-adjacent pullover. Doorman buildings: we pull to the awning. Hotels: side-street staging to avoid bus lanes.
Route selected in real time: Columbus Circle to QMT from the 60s, 79th/86th crosstown from mid-UWS, or RFK Bridge from the upper 90s. All tolls included in your flat fare.
Complimentary for all JFK transfers. Chauffeur timing auto-adjusted based on actual arrival. Requires airline and flight number at booking.
60 minutes complimentary for domestic flights. 90 minutes for international (customs and immigration buffer). Clock starts at actual flight landing.
24+ hours: full refund. 12-24 hours: 50% fee. 2-12 hours: 75% fee. Under 2 hours: 100% fee.
$25 add-on. Chauffeur meets you inside JFK at baggage claim (domestic) or outside customs (international) with a personalized name sign and luggage assistance.
$25 per seat. Infant (rear-facing), convertible, and booster seats available. Specify child age, weight, and height at booking.
All tolls (QMT, RFK Bridge, Van Wyck approaches) and JFK parking included in your flat fare. No surprise charges after the ride.
All vehicles are late-model (2023-2026), professionally detailed between rides. Sedans handle Broadway-area pickups; SUVs fit families with full luggage loads.
2 passengers | 2 large bags
Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5-Series. Navigates UWS side streets and Broadway bus-lane areas efficiently. Ideal for solo business travelers and couples.
6 passengers | 6 large bags
Cadillac Escalade ESV or Mercedes GLS. The right pick for UWS families heading to JFK with checked bags, strollers, ski gear, or child seats.
Up to 14 passengers
Mercedes Sprinter with captain's chairs. Perfect for UWS apartment building groups, corporate teams, or multi-family travel sharing a JFK terminal.
Automatic pickup adjustment for delays and early arrivals at JFK. Your chauffeur positions based on real-time flight data, not your estimated landing.
Professional chauffeurs who know UWS side-street staging, Broadway bus-lane rules, and every crosstown route from Columbus Circle to the RFK Bridge.
2023-2026 vehicles professionally detailed between every ride. Wi-Fi, bottled water, and phone chargers on board for the ride to JFK.
Available for 4:15 AM Sunday departures and midnight arrivals to the UWS, 365 days a year. No surge pricing, no shift-change gaps.
Full JFK guide: all terminals, pickup procedures, all routes
All Manhattan transportation services
Hub page for all NYC airport transfers
Broader Manhattan-wide JFK route guide
UES-specific route with crosstown and FDR details
JFK \u2194 LGA \u2194 EWR direct transfers
Flat-fare pricing from any Upper West Side address to JFK Airport. Flight tracking, vetted chauffeurs, and side-street pickup coordination included.
Flat fares · 60-min wait for domestic · 90-min wait for international · All tolls included
Last updated: February 2026
True North VIP is a New York City-based premium chauffeur and black car service. The company provides airport transfers to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro, and Westchester County airports, along with hourly charters, corporate ground transportation, wedding and event service, and city-to-city travel. Service covers all five NYC boroughs, Northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester County, Long Island, and the Hamptons, with vetted professional chauffeurs and a fleet of executive sedans, luxury sedans, SUVs, and Sprinter vans available 24/7.
To book a ride, visit truenorthvip.com/book or call +1‑347‑321‑9929.
