How to Get To New York City

Planes, trains, automobiles and buses will all get you to New York: The trick is knowing which one is right for you. Here's how to get from here to there .

** PLANE **: Many carriers offer service from Washington area airports to Newark, LaGuardia and JFK, starting at about $140 round trip, with restrictions. Once on the ground, here's how to get into town:

# From JFK (718-244-4444, http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.HTM). Taxi fare for the 15-mile, 40- to 60-minute trip to Manhattan costs $45 plus tolls (about $4) and tip. (From Manhattan to the airport, the cost is metered fare, plus tolls/tip.) For $5, the AirTrain JFK takes you to the Long Island Rail Road and E, J/Z subways at Jamaica station and the A subway at the Howard Beach station, from which it's a 60- to 75-minute ride to midtown. MetroCard, used for subways and buses, costs $2 per ride and is available at the airport and subway stations. Info: 718-330- 1234, http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us.

New York Airport Service Express Bus (718-875-8200, http://www.nyairportservice.com) runs between JFK and Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority and Penn Station; the 50- to 70-minute ride is $15 one way, $27 round trip. SuperShuttle (800-451-0455, http://www.supershuttle.com) is $17-$19 one way. Airlink shared-ride van (212-875-8200, http://www.airlinknyc.com) is $17 to midtown.

# From LaGuardia (718-533-3400, http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgaframe.HTM). Taxi fare for the eight-mile, 30- to 45-minute trip costs $30-$65, $22-$35 for groups, plus tolls ($4.50) and tip. The M60 public bus, which stops at the terminal, goes to 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, and other stops.

SuperShuttle charges $15-$17 to Manhattan. For the 40- to 60-minute ride, New York Airport Service Express Bus charges $12 one way, $21 round trip between LaGuardia and Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority and Penn Station. Airlink shared van is $13 to midtown.

# From Newark (973-961-6000, http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrframe.HTM). Taxi fare for the 16-mile, 45- to 60-minute trip costs $40-$60, plus tip and tolls (about $10).

The Olympia Newark Airport Express (908- 354-3330, http://www.coachusa.com/olympia) goes to Grand Central Station and Port Authority; the trip takes 45 to 60 minutes and is $14 one way, $22 round trip. Supershuttle charges $17-$19 to Manhattan. Airlink shared-ride van is $15 to midtown.

The AirTrain leaves from the gate level and connects to the Rail Link Station, where you can access trains to NYC's Penn Station (one way on NJ Transit is $14 and takes 30 minutes; one way on Amtrak is $28 and takes 23 minutes). Info: 800-626-7433, http://www.njtransit.com; 800-872-7245,http://www.amtrak.com.

From Newark's Penn Station, hop a PATH train ($1.50) for the 35-minute ride to West 33rd Street via Jersey City. Info: 800-234- 7284, http://www.panynj.com/path/index.html.·

**BUS**: Greyhound (800-231-2222, http://www.greyhound.com) has terminals in D.C. (1005 First St. NE), Arlington (3860 S. Four Mile Run Dr.), Springfield (Franconia-Springfield Metro station), Triangle (18518 Jefferson Davis Hwy.), Woodbridge (Amtrak/Virginia Railway Express station), Silver Spring (8100 Fenton St.), New Carrollton (Amtrak/Metro station), Annapolis (308 Chinquapin Round Rd.) and Frederick (MARC train station). Service from D.C. to New York City starts at $23 one way, with restrict- ions. Peter Pan Bus Lines (800-343- 9999, http://www.peterpanbus.com) shares terminals with Greyhound in Washington, Silver Spring and New Carrollton.

Several other companies offer service to New York City's Chinatown and midtown on the West Side. Schedules, locations and tickets can be booked at Gotobus.com (no phone) for $20 - $25 one way/$35-$40 round trip, plus $1 surcharge. Washington Deluxe (866-287-6932, http://www.washny.com) and Vamoose (877-393- 2828,http://www.vamoosebus.com) also can be booked on their own sites with no service fee.