LaGuardia Airport (LGA), owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, serves the New York metropolitan area. Opened in 1939, the airport is currently a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It is also ranked third in terms of passenger traffic. The various airport terminals are Terminals A, B, and C.
LaGuardia Airport History
1929
On June 15, 1929, the 200-acre facility was used for the first time with its 2-acre concrete plateau connected to water by a 400 ft amphibious aircraft ramp. The former resort was then converted to a passenger terminal. After a month, using Savoia-Marchetti S.55 aircraft, service to Boston was launched.
1930 and 1931
By 1930, the airport housed seaplanes of the New York City Police Department Aviation Unit, and the site, which was called North Beach Airport, was renamed Glenn H. Curtiss Airport in honor of the New York aviation pioneer. On August 27, 1931, the Dornier Do X, the world’s largest airplane at that time, started its services from the airport, causing over 18,000 people to visit the huge flying boat on its first day of display.
1934 and 1935
In 1934, Mayor Fiorello La Guardi
a saw a development potential in Curtiss Airport. This resulted in New York City leasing the field for $1 per year. On January 5, 1935, the airport was officially named Municipal Airport 2. On the same day, La Guardia received a signed lease from Trans World Airlines (TWA).
He ordered the TWA flight to be flown from Newark Airport to Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. The program failed several times. During this program, the mayor and American executives developed an alternative plan to build a new airport in Queens.
1939
They chose North Beach Airport as the preferred airport and made several improvements to the site. On October 15, 1939, the airport was dedicated as the New York Municipal Airport. New York City spends $23 million to transform the airport into a 550-acre (220-ha) state-of-the-art facility.
2000 and 2001
The airport traffic continued to gr
ow, and the growth was so high that by the year 2000, the airport experienced overcrowding delays of over an hour. After September 11, 2001, the traffic started dropping due to terrorist attacks, thus helping the airport to solve the airport delays.
2010 and 2016
In April 2010, Christopher Ward, the Port Authority director, announced a full demolition and rebuilding of the Central Terminal of LaGuardia. Proposals went due, and the first construction phase began in 2016. Most of the redevelopment process has been completed.
2022, 2023, and 2024
In June 2022, Delta Airlines planned to
replace the gates of Terminal D and start the construction of Concourse D. In March 2024, LaGuardia Airport received the Airport Service Quality Award for “the best airport with 25 to 40 million passengers in North America in 2023.”
Where is LGA Airport?
LaGuardia Airport is located to the north of LGA’s primary access highway, the Grand Central Parkway. The exact airport location is East Elmhurst, Queens, NY 11371.
LGA Airport Map
You can refer to the LGA Airport map to find the location details about terminals, parking, pick-up & drop-off locations, and transportation facilities.
LGA Parking & Transportation
Parking facilities are available both onsite and offsite. Terminal and economy parking options are available onsite. If you are looking for affordable parking options, you can choose to park at the offsite LaGuardia Airport parking lots at lower rates by booking through GlobalAirportParking.com.
To get to and from the LGA Airport, you can choose public transportation, car, van, shared rides, or taxi.
Public Transportation
Five bus routes operated by MTA or the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are:
- M60
- Free LaGuardia Link Q70
- Q47
- Q48, and
- Q72
LaGuardia Link Q70 transportation services are free, while a one-way subway or bus trip costs $2.90.
Location of Bus Stops
- Terminal A – Past the Departures Hall, across the street
- Terminals B & C – Level 1, one floor below baggage claim and check-in
Car Service and Shared Rides
Transportation services available at LaGuardia Airport include app-based ride services and private car services such as Lyft, Uber, and Revel.
Pick-Up Locations
- Terminal A – Outside and across from the terminal
- Terminal B – Level 2 of the Terminal B Parking Garage
- Terminal C – Arrivals (ground) level
Taxi
- On weekdays, for trips from 4 pm to 8 pm, the peak-time surcharge is $1.
- The surcharge for daily trips from 8 pm to 6 am is $50.
- The same fare applies to all passengers traveling to the same destination.
How to get to LGA Airport
From Manhattan (via I-278 W)
- Head Northeast on Central Park W and move toward W 83rd St.
- Then turn right onto 97th St Transverse.
- Continue onto 97th St Transverse and merge with FDR Drive.
- Use the left lane to take exit 17 for Robert F Kennedy Bridge toward I-278/Bruckner Expressway/Grand Central Parkway.
- You can then continue onto the Robert F Kennedy Bridge.
- Merge with I-278 W toward Queens/Airport using the right two lanes.
- Continue onto Grand Central Parkway to reach LaGuardia Airport.
From Queens (via Union Tpke and Grand Central Pkwy)
- You need to first head south on 175th Street toward 75th Avenue and then turn right onto Union Turnpike.
- Stay on Union Turnpike using the left two lanes.
- Use the left lane to take the ramp onto Grand Central Parkway.
- You should then merge with Grand Central Parkway.
- Turn slightly left using the left two lanes to stay on Grand Central Parkway.
- Take exit 5 for 82 St toward Airport/Terminal A.
- You should use the right lane to turn right onto Ditmars Boulevard.
- Turn right onto Marine Terminal Rd to reach LaGuardia Airport.
How to get from LGA Airport to Manhattan
You can get from LGA Airport to Manhattan by catching a M60 Bus or a LaGuardia Link Q70.
The driving directions for those traveling in an M60 Bus are as follows:
- Catch the M60 Bus from one of the LGA terminals.
- The bus connects to the subway lines A C B D at 125 St (St. Nicholas Avenue), 2 3 at 125 St (Malcolm X Boulevard), and 4 5 6 at 125 Street (Lexington Avenue).
The driving directions for those traveling via the LaGuardia Link Q70 are:
- Catch the Q70 LaGuardia Link from Terminal B or C. Those who are at Terminal A can reach Terminal B via airport shuttles.
- Get down at Woodside Av/61 St. There is one stop between the terminal and Woodside Av/61 St, which is the Roosevelt Av/74 St.
- From Woodside Av/61 St, you can catch subway line 7 from the subway station to Manhattan.
- Those who get down at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave/74 St-Broadway can catch E, F, M, R, and 7.
- If you are at Woodside Av/61 St, you can transfer to Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and then to Penn Station, which is on 34th Street. This is the best route for those staying near Herald Square or on the west side of Manhattan.
Amenities
For LGA Airport, travelers’ convenience is of prime importance. Here are the various services the airport offers:
- ATMs
- Beauty and spa facilities
- Charging Stations
- Car service and parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Guest Service Desk
- Information Desk
- Mamava Nursing Pod
- Nursing Suite
- Pet Relief Area
- Sensory Room
- Welcome Center
Hotels near LaGuardia Airport
Hyatt Place Flushing LGA Airport
Address: 133-42 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Distance from LGA Airport: 1.5 miles
Address: 104-04 Ditmars Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY 11369
Distance from LGA Airport: 0.5 miles
Extended Stay America New York City LGA Airport
Address: 18-30 Whitestone Expy, College Point, NY 11357
Distance from LGA Airport: 3 miles
Airway Inn
Address: 82-20 Astoria Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
Distance from LGA Airport: 0.7 miles
LaGuardia Airport Lounges
Here are the various LGA Airport lounges:
- Delta Sky Club: At the Connector between C&D and Gate C26
- The Centurion Lounge: At Level 4
LGA Airport Food and Dining
LGA Airport has multiple restaurants at its various terminals that offer diverse cuisines.
You can find some of these restaurants below:
Terminal A
- Dunkin’: Near Gate A1
- Salotto: Near Gate A2
Terminal B
- Bar 212: Near Gate 49
- Dos Toros Taqueria: At Level 4, Food Court
- Dunkin Donuts: At Level 1, near Bus & Shuttle, and Level 4, near Food Court & Shops
- Eli’s Essentials: At Level 4, near the Food Court & Shops
- Green Leaf’s: Near Food Court
- Hill Country: Near Food Court
- Irving Farm Coffee Roasters: At Concourse B, near Gate 47
- Junior’s: At Level 4
- Mi Casa Cantina: At Concourse A, near Gate 22
Terminal C
- Birch Coffee/Rossi To-Go: Concourse G, near Gate D92
- Bubby’s: At Concourse E
- Chuko Ramen: At Concourse E, near Gate 76
- Cotto: Near C Gates
- Cotto Market: Near C Food Hall
- Eggy Weggy: Near Gate E76
- Essex Burger: At Concourse E, near Gate 74
- Fiorello Market: At Concourse G, near Gate 92
- Flatiron Tavern & Provisions: At Concourse G, near Gate D92
- H&H Bagels: At Concourse G, near Gate D92
LGA Airport Shops and Stores
You can buy gifts, souvenirs, family-friendly products, and duty-free items from the various LGA stores.
Here are some of the stores available at LaGuardia Airport.
- Buzz Feed News: At Departures, Level 2, 70’s Gates and Headhouse Connector, Level 3
- CIBO CEGM – Flatiron Tavern: At Concourse G, near Gate 92
- Cibo Express Gourmet Market: At C Food Hall, Concourse E, and Headhouse Claim Level
- District Market: At Gate 48
- FAO Schwartz: At Gate 48
- Gotham News: At Gate 24
- Hudson: At Gate 47
- LGA Duty-Free: At Gate 48
- MAC: Near Gate 48 and at Headhouse Connector Level 3
- Mad Ave Market: Near Food Court & Shops
- McNally Jackson: At Gate 48
- NYC Aglow: At Headhouse
- The Dean: Near Food Court & Shops
- WH Smith: At Concourse A near Gate 14
Accessible Services
- TSA Cares: It is a dedicated helpline that allows passengers with disabilities or other medical conditions to request assistance when they go through the TSA screening checkpoint.
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard: According to a program launched by the LGA Airport, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard is offered to passengers with hidden disabilities such as PTSD, autism, or hearing loss.
- Artificial Intelligence Remote Assistance (AIRA): AIRA was introduced to help blind or low-vision passengers independently navigate the airport with the help of Live Remote Agent.
- Hearing Loops: These are a type of assistive technology for hearing aid users where the sound will be directly broadcasted to their hearing aids when the hearing aids are set to the “T” (Telecoil) setting.
- Sensory Room: Sensory rooms help travelers unwind from the stress of flying by providing a calm and peaceful space. It is located post-security on level 3, Terminal C.
- Wheelchair Services: You can utilize wheelchair services if you request the airlines to make necessary arrangements before your flight.
Lost and Found
- If you’ve lost something in any of the LGA terminals, on a bus, taxi, or in other locations, you can directly contact Lost and Found.
- If the item was lost onboard an aircraft, directly contact your airline.
- For items lost at TSA Security Check Point, fill out the Lost and Found form available on the TSA website or contact the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673.
TSA Wait Time
The average TSA wait time at LGA Airport is 13 minutes, and it can vary.
TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck lanes are located at the LGA’s security checkpoints. Here are the hours of operation:
Terminal A
- Sunday – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 3 am to 8 pm
- Wednesday: 3 am to 9 pm
- Saturday: 4 am to 10 pm
Terminal B
- Sunday – Saturday: 4 am to 8 pm
Terminal C
- Sunday – Friday: 4 am to 8 pm
- Saturday: 4 am to 7 pm
Note: Based on the operational needs, these checkpoint hours may vary.
CLEAR
To get to your gates faster, you can use the CLEAR Plus facility. Here are the operating hours of CLEAR Plus at Terminal C:
- Sunday – Friday: 4:30 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday: 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Attractions Near LaGuardia Airport
Here are some attractions near LGA Airport that you can visit with your family.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Eleven Madison Park
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- New York City
- New York Hall of Science
LaGuardia Airport FAQs
How to get to LaGuardia Airport
You can get to LaGuardia Airport on public transit by taking the M60 bus if you are coming from Uptown Manhattan or the subway and LaGuardia Link Q70 if you are from Midtown Manhattan.
What terminal is Delta at LaGuardia Airport?
Delta Airlines operates from Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport.
How to get from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan
You can take the M60-SBS or the LaGuardia Link Q70 to get from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan.
What time does LaGuardia Airport open?
The operating hours vary at the different LaGuardia Airport terminals.
How far is JFK Airport to LaGuardia Airport?
If you travel via I-678 N and Grand Central Parkway, JFK Airport is almost 11 miles away from LaGuardia Airport.
How is the LaGuardia Airport weather?
LaGuardia Airport weather varies with the seasons. To learn about the current weather, check the live weather updates.