There are many questions about it online, but few clear answers: how do I get out of JFK using public transit without getting screwed for $5 to go approximately one mile on the Airtrain, that used to be free? Here are detailed directions for how to get to the New York City subway system from JFK airport without paying the Airtrain that outrageous $5 fee.
Background: until about 2003 or 2004, there was a free shuttle from JFK to the Howard Beach station, on the A train of the New York City subway system. Then they put in the supposedly more convenient Airtrain, and started charging $5 for the formerly free system (not including standard subway fare, currently $2.00, and very soon to be $2.50.) Well, you can take the Airtrain to within about 200 yards of the Howard Beach station (Station A of the Airtrain), but unless you want to jump over barb wire fences and walk across the dreaded 600+ volt third rail, you can't actually get there from there.
GOOD NEWS! You can easily (and legally) walk from Station B of the Airtrain, which is the Long Term Parking / Kiss 'N Fly / Lefferts Blvd station, with about a 15 minute walk to the Aqueduct / North Conduit Ave station on the A train, which is the first stop north of the Howard Beach/JFK station. Here's how:
OPTION 1, EASY with SIDEWALKS, APPROX 20 MINUTES WALKING:
Get on the Airtrain from any JFK terminal. If you fly Delta, like I often do, you'll likely be getting on from Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. Make sure you take the Howard Beach-bound train, *not* the Jamaica-bound train. The LED signs and audible announcements often aren't particularly helpful: ask one of the (usually nice, usually helpful, usually omnipresent) staff wearing the Airtrain/information blazers. I think the blazers are maroon; they're usually looking around for people who look lost or confused. DO NOT ask any other apparent airport employees: they are usually WAY less than helpful. They don't seem to know how to get anywhere other than their individual destinations/homes.
GET OFF THE TRAIN at Long Term Parking, which is Station B, also sometimes referred to as Lefferts Boulevard, and/or Kiss 'N Fly (use your imagination.) It's the last free stop before the Howard Beach/JFK stop for the subway. If you miss it, just stay on the Airtrain: it'll soon turn around and go back toward the airport, and the first stop on the return will be yours.
When you get off the Airtrain, you can orient yourself by looking out the windows. On the south (wrong) side, you'll see a whole bunch of parking. On the north (correct) side, you'll see a bunch of parking, and what looks like about two or three freeways all running parallel behind it. (In case you care, it's the 878/Nassau Expressway, 17N/Belt Parkway/Southern Pkwy, and you might see South Conduit Ave/Route 27, which basically looks like a freeway.) You're looking north if you see the freeways. The subway station you want, Aqueduct/North Conduit, is northwest of you, but you can't see it from here. If you look to your right, which is east (toward the airport/direction you came from) you'll see a street, which is Lefferts Blvd. This is important.
Okay. Look for the escalators going down to exit the station. When you go down the escalator, turn left (north) and walk out the sliding doors, turn right, and walk about 50 feet to Lefferts Blvd. You'll see busstops. Do not cross the street. Turn left and walk north up Lefferts Blvd. You'll be walking along the parking lot chain-link fence with razor wire on top.
TWO CHOICES PRESENT THEMSELVES: first left on Aqueduct Road is the more direct, scenic route, but the sidewalks suck or are non-existent: this is MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCT, below. The other choice is to keep walking on Lefferts Blvd to North Conduit Blvd, which is INDIRECT/SIDEWALKS below.
INDIRECT/SIDEWALKSApproximate walking: 15-25 minutes to subway.
Walk along Lefferts, cross the street at Aqueduct Road, and start walking over those various freeways mentioned above. In about five minutes of walking, you'll come to the first road after the freeways, which is North Conduit Avenue. Cross the street to the north side of North Conduit and turn left onto it. Walk along the sidewalk for about another fifteen minutes. You'll pass some soccer fields on the south side of the street, and some residential neighborhoods on your right, then you'll pass the parking lots for the Aqueduct Racktrack. You might see the overhead subway trains chugging along to the west (the direction you're walking.)
Just after the racetrack parking lots, you'll walk under an overpass, which is the subway tracks.
Take a hard right through the doors into the subway station, buy your Metrocard if necessary. Ignore the somewhat incredulous looks of the station agent that you're standing there with luggage and just beat the system. Presumably, take the Manhattan-bound train via the stairway to your right (unless you want to go to Coney Island.) Congratulate yourself on saving $5.
MORE DIRECT/AQUEDUCTApproximate walking: 10-15 minutes to subway.
Follow the instructions above from the airport, exit the same station, and orient yourself similarly. When you start walking up Lefferts Blvd, you'll take the first left after the parking lot, onto Aqueduct Road. Don't cross over any freeways. Also don't cross the street; there's zero sidewalk on the north side of Aqueduct Rd.
Walk along the annoyingly sloped sidewalk, along the chain-link, razor-wire fence of the long-term parking lot. (You'll pass a car entry to the parking lot, which you could use as a shortcut if you're so inclined.) Toward the end of the parking lot, Aqueduct will curve gently to the left, then curve sharply to the right (heading north.) It's now running parallel with the subway tracks, which you can look through the brambles and up the slope and see trains occasionally running along. If you're feeling lucky or stupid, I guess you could hop the fence, then jump over the tracks, and climb up into Howard Beach/JFK station on the A train. (Officially Not Recommended.)
Keep walking north/northwest along Aqueduct Rd, which will soon run out of sidewalk. Fortunately, there's minimal traffic, but it's still preferable to take the first route and stick to sidewalks if you have a rolling bag or significant luggage. You'll be walking over a long overpass (over the Southern/Belt Parkway, and then North Conduit Avenue.) It'll slope back down, and you'll see some fences and gates and the racetrack parking lot behind these. Look for a footpath down the hill to your left, which takes you down to North Conduit Avenue, and immediately, the subway station doors on your right. If you start walking along the racetrack parking lot (this will be obvious) you've gone too far.
Follow directions above, being sure to congratulate yourself on saving $5.
Personally, I like the direct/limited sidewalk route along Aqueduct Road, but only with a backpack or less. The sidewalk route is a somewhat clearer to follow your first time, but also much more trafficked and louder.
Enjoy!
Later, I may post directions for walking out of other major airports, including a personal favorite, Melbourne airport, Australia. La Guardia is so simple you should be able to figure it out by yourself. Sacramento is also easy, but much preferable to bike out of, since it's a hell of a walk to town. San Diego is simple as pie.
