GWB to JFK Airport Toll
Two tolls required: GWB $16.79 plus MTA bridge $7.46 = $24.25 E-ZPass peak (NY tag; non-NY tags pay $12.03 on the MTA leg).
Tariffs effective 4 January 2026 | Verified 10 June 2026 | Source: Port Authority of NY and NJ, MTA Bridges and Tunnels
Route Comparison
| Route | E-ZPass Peak Total | E-ZPass Off-Peak | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GWB to JFK via Triborough/RFK Bridge | $24.25 | $22.25 | 26 miles | 45-65 min |
| GWB to JFK via Whitestone Bridge | $24.25 | $22.25 | 27 miles | 45-70 min |
| GWB to JFK via Throgs Neck Bridge | $24.25 | $22.25 | 30 miles | 50-75 min |
| Skip the GWB: NJ Tpk to Goethals + Verrazzano | $24.25 | $22.25 | 38+ miles | 60-90 min |
Why Two Tolls?
The George Washington Bridge connects New Jersey to Manhattan. JFK Airport is in Queens. To drive from the GWB to JFK, you cross the bridge eastbound (paying the GWB toll) and then cross another bridge or tunnel to get from Manhattan/Bronx into Queens (paying a second MTA toll). There is no toll-free route between Manhattan/Bronx and JFK that avoids the East River crossing.
The exception is taking surface streets through Manhattan and across a free East River bridge (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg) into Brooklyn, then through surface streets to JFK. This is rarely time-efficient, adding 30 to 60 minutes to the trip.
Recommended Route: GWB via RFK/Triborough Bridge
The fastest GWB-to-JFK route uses the RFK/Triborough Bridge (formerly the Triborough Bridge). From the GWB eastbound exit, take the Harlem River Drive south, then the FDR Drive south to the RFK Bridge. The RFK Bridge spans the East River from Manhattan to Queens (with a Bronx connection). From the RFK Bridge Queens side, take Astoria Boulevard / Grand Central Parkway east to the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) south to JFK.
Total distance: about 26 miles. Total tolls: $16.79 GWB + $7.46 RFK = $24.25 E-ZPass peak for cars with a NY-issued tag ($16.79 + $12.03 = $28.82 with a NJ or other non-NY tag, since MTA discounts apply to NY E-ZPass only). Time: 45 to 65 minutes depending on traffic.
Alternative: GWB via Whitestone or Throgs Neck Bridge
For drivers coming from the GWB northbound (toward the Bronx), the Whitestone Bridge or Throgs Neck Bridge offer alternative Bronx-to-Queens crossings. From the GWB, take the Cross-Bronx Expressway (I-95) east. Then take I-678 south to the Whitestone Bridge, or the Cross-Bronx Expressway to I-295 south to the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Both Whitestone and Throgs Neck cost the same $7.46 NY E-ZPass rate as the RFK, so total tolls are identical at $24.25. These routes are typically a few minutes longer than the RFK route but can be faster during evening rush hour when Manhattan surface streets are congested.
The Staten Island Alternative (Skipping the GWB)
Drivers starting in central or southern New Jersey can skip the GWB entirely: take the NJ Turnpike south, cross the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island ($16.79 E-ZPass peak, same PANYNJ schedule as the GWB), then the Verrazzano-Narrows to Brooklyn ($7.46 NY E-ZPass / $12.03 otherwise) and the Belt Parkway to JFK. Total tolls work out the same as the GWB routes ($24.25 peak with a NY tag), but the drive is longer for anyone starting near the GWB corridor. It only makes sense if your origin is already well south.
Round-Trip Cost: GWB to JFK and Back
The eastbound trip costs $24.25 E-ZPass peak with a NY tag. The westbound return: GWB is free (no charge), and the MTA bridge (RFK, Whitestone, or Throgs Neck) charges the same $7.46 in the Queens-to-Bronx/Manhattan direction. Total round trip: $24.25 + $7.46 = $31.71 E-ZPass peak for cars. The GWB off-peak rate reduces this to $29.71; the MTA leg has no time-of-day split.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
How much in tolls to drive from the George Washington Bridge to JFK Airport?
Driving from the GWB to JFK Airport requires two tolls minimum: the GWB ($16.79 E-ZPass peak for cars) plus a second crossing into Queens (the Triborough/RFK Bridge, the Whitestone Bridge, or the Throgs Neck Bridge, all $7.46 with NY E-ZPass). Total: $24.25 E-ZPass peak, $22.25 off-peak (the MTA leg has no time-of-day split for cars). Important: MTA crossings give the $7.46 rate to NY-issued E-ZPass only; NJ and other out-of-state tags pay the $12.03 Tolls by Mail level, making the peak total $28.82. Toll-by-Mail at both crossings: $35.33. Rates effective 4 January 2026.
Which is the cheapest route from the GWB to JFK?
All three Bronx-to-Queens bridges (RFK/Triborough, Whitestone, Throgs Neck) cost the same: $7.46 with NY E-ZPass ($12.03 for non-NY tags and Tolls by Mail). So the total GWB plus second-bridge toll is identical whichever you pick: $24.25 E-ZPass peak with a NY tag. Choose based on time, traffic, and routing preference. The Triborough/RFK is usually fastest from the GWB because of the direct connection via the Harlem River Drive and FDR Drive.
Can I drive from the GWB to JFK without paying a second toll?
Only by taking a longer route through Manhattan and crossing the East River via a free bridge (Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Williamsburg Bridge), then through Brooklyn surface streets to JFK. This adds 30 to 60 minutes vs the toll-bridge routes and is rarely worth the time. The MTA bridges and tunnels (RFK, Whitestone, Throgs Neck, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel) all carry tolls.
Is the Queens-Midtown Tunnel cheaper than the RFK Bridge for GWB to JFK?
Not for cars. Both the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and the RFK/Triborough Bridge cost $7.46 with NY E-ZPass ($12.03 otherwise) for passenger cars; the major MTA crossings share one toll schedule. Time-wise, the RFK is usually faster because the GWB-to-RFK connection via Harlem River Drive is direct. The Midtown Tunnel requires driving down Manhattan first, and using it for a Midtown entry can also trigger the congestion zone toll.
Are there any tolls between the GWB and JFK going westbound (JFK to GWB)?
The GWB westbound (into New Jersey) is free. The MTA bridges charge in both directions, so the return leg over the RFK, Whitestone, or Throgs Neck costs another $7.46 with NY E-ZPass. A round trip GWB to JFK and back costs $24.25 eastbound (GWB peak plus MTA bridge) plus $7.46 westbound (MTA bridge only, GWB is free) = $31.71 total with a NY E-ZPass at peak.