Getting There
Hello, Sirens. Travel time will soon be upon us, so here’s a post on getting to the conference from regional airports and train stations. We know that going somewhere new can be anxiety-inducing, so this post includes both a short summary version and our extra-long, detailed set of instructions, tested over our own many trips, sometimes including pictures, so that you can feel like it’s not your first time getting to New Haven!
If you’re renting a car, we’ll leave you to it; your car rental agency and (likely) your navigation apps will lead you to the Omni New Haven at Yale, where you can valet park for $30 daily/$25 daily for self-parking, with in and out privileges (price subject to change per the hotel).
If you’d rather not drive, however, you can take public transportation from many nearby locations. There’s a rail and bus network from the biggest airports, for example, and most locals will use these modes of transportation to get to Sirens. Our tip for a smooth ride: Make sure you have a credit or debit card that allows tap to pay, or enable a phone-based payment app, as that will work at many locations requiring a ticket and free you from figuring out the ticket machines. But do check out the payment options for each mode of transportation you’re using in advance, so you have cards, coins, or phones at the ready.
The directions below follow the main pathways through terminals, often using stairs or escalators, though elevator alternatives are available (generally near the escalators). For ease of wayfinding, we’ve mentioned the main paths; add a little extra time in case of lines at the elevators.
If you’re using taxis or ride shares from an airport, go to a taxi stand or rideshare pickup location. Never accept a ride from anyone soliciting customers on their own in or outside the terminal, for your safety.
NOTE: Many locations, including JFK and Newark airport, are undergoing construction. The directions below are subject to change at any time, so follow local signage and instructions from airport and train staff. And if you’re truly lost, you will find that locals may be gruff—but very willing to help out visitors.
JFK Airport
The short version:
- Take the JFK AirTrain to Jamaica Station
- Use the TrainTime app to purchase train tickets from Jamaica to New Haven Union Station (you will transfer trains at Grand Central)
- From the curb at the train station, take the Free Downtown // New Haven Shuttle to the New Haven Green (2 stops) and walk around the corner to the Omni New Haven at Yale
The long version, for people who like ALL the details:
When you arrive and have claimed any bags, follow signs to Terminals, often marked with yellow signs. If you land at terminal 4—Delta and various other airlines—you will see signage for terminals 1,5, 7, 8 (there’s no terminal 2, 3, or 6!). This may or may not be labeled specifically as AirTrain, a shuttle train for JFK airport that connects to the Long Island Railroad.
Some of the AirTrain stops are very close to the terminal; others, such as at terminal 5, are farther away and include moving walkways to reach the platform. See additional accessibility information at the bottom of the page here. Once you reach the AirTrain platform, you’ll find employees available to answer questions, but this step is pretty easy: Take the next train that is headed for Jamaica Station, and you’ll stay on until the end of the line.
At Jamaica station, follow the sweep of people down a corridor and to an exit turnstile. You’ll be asked for the AirTrain fare here, which can be paid with a contactless credit/debit card, your contactless mobile device app (such as Apple Pay), or by purchasing an OMNY card at a ticket machine. The cost for each method is currently $8.50, with a $1 additional fee to purchase a reloadable OMNY card, which replaces the MetroCard of days past. (If you have an old MetroCard with credit, there are still turnstiles that will accept them, but those turnstiles may be closed at any time.)
As you exit the turnstiles, look for the entrance to the Long Island Rail Road on the left, just past some quick service restaurants. Don’t go down the escalator unless you’re headed to the subway, which we don’t recommend for making a train connection to New Haven.
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Jamaica to Grand Central
Next up, you’ll take the Long Island Railroad and the Metro North to Connecticut. Fun fact: These used to be separate railways, but from a customer perspective, they’ll appear to be the same company. We strongly, strongly, strongly recommend installing the TrainTime app on your phone in advance. While you can’t input a credit card until your first trip, this app will assist you in seeing train schedules, platforms, fares, and connections in ways that are much harder to grasp if you buy a paper ticket and/or aren’t familiar with the local rail system.
You can use the train time app and input Jamaica as your start point and New Haven as your end point to see upcoming departures, as well as to buy tickets, which are good until 4 a.m. the next day, and once you activate the ticket, it’s good for a bit longer than your total trip. That means if you miss a connection, you can simply take the next train.
NOTE: We recommend purchasing tickets on your phone at Jamaica station so that you get an accurate fare (it’s slightly more expensive during peak hours) and accurate information on which platform to wait on. However, if you wait to purchase on board, you’ll get a penalty fee of about $8!
The TrainTime app will show you a schedule and combined fare for Jamaica station to Grand Central, and Grand Central to New Haven. It will also alert you if it’s cheaper to buy two separate tickets when you go to make your purchase.
Train platforms are announced about 20 minutes before departure. Activate your ticket before boarding the train and tap the option to “show” the ticket to the conductor (it’ll be in the same place as the “buy” button). In the image above, you can see that there’s a train departing from Track 2 in 5 minutes. There’s a bit of a gap in the schedule on this date, and there’s another train in 55 minutes. The train to Grand Central takes about 20 minutes, and will terminate there, with no additional stops. Once you’re there, you’ll transfer to a different train headed to New Haven. In the app, look for “More Departures” if you want to take a break or if the transfer time isn’t long enough.
When you arrive, don’t automatically follow other passengers. Look for signs to “concourse,” “Madison Concourse,” “Grand Central,” “Metro North” or the like. Grand Central is a maze of underground passages, and you might be swept into a crowd of commuters heading for their favorite secret exit to the street. (Ask us how we know.) You’re looking for these escalators (or their nearby elevator equivalents):
These very long escalators will take you up to the Madison concourse, which has plenty of information about Long Island Rail Road departures, and some excellent restrooms (for New York), though note the Metro North trains has restrooms in the odd-numbered cars. Keep right on escalators; walkers will pass on the left. At the top, don’t stop! Move out of the way of traffic! Make a left and continue down the corridor. The first set of escalators you’ll come to lead to Grand Central/Main Terminal, tracks 11–42, and will let you off near track 42. (An elevator is nearby.)
If you pass these escalators, you’ll see signs for “Dining Concourse,” which leads to the 100-level tracks, meaning tracks 100–117, and you’ll find additional escalators to that level along the corridor.
Grand Central Terminal and Metro North
NOTE: The street-level tracks at Grand Central are 11–42; that’s where you’ll find the iconic clock, as well as the Station Master’s Office, with (we think) the only family/single stall restroom in the station, a nursing room, and a women’s restroom. There are limited seats for ticketed passengers in the Station Master’s Office; benches in this station are rare. Down one level, in the dining concourse, you’ll find tracks 100–117, with a set of smaller men’s and women’s restrooms. The level below that is the Madison Concourse, with men’s and women’s restrooms and access down to the 200-level and 300-level tracks. Grand Central can be hectic and noisy; look for folks in red vests for assistance with railroad directions.
Use the TrainTime app for information to begin or continue your journey on a Metro North train. Trains to New Haven leave on either the Grand Central Terminal street level tracks (11–42) or from the next level down, with signs to the 100-level tracks or to the dining concourse (100–117). These tracks are accessible via ramps, mostly, with a few requiring an elevator if you don’t want the stairs. Remain on the train until the last stop at New Haven Union Station. The trip will take 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the time of day. The last train from Grand Central to New Haven leaves at 1:47 a.m.
NOTE: For the return trip, you’ll want to search in TrainTime for New Haven to Jamaica. Plan for your trip to take 3 to 3.5 hours from the station at New Haven to your terminal, plus any time you need for check-in, luggage drop, and security. That probably means you’ll want a flight leaving no earlier than 5 p.m. if you attend until the close of the conference at noon on Sunday, March 22.
NOTE ALSO: There is a Metro North station called New Haven-State Street. It is just over three blocks from the hotel, but it has limited service and is a regular commuter platform without services or a shuttle. (The reviews on Google Maps are mostly for New Haven’s Union Station, where the majority of trains arrive.) It’s perfectly fine to ride to this stop if it’s available and you don’t mind a short walk!
And see “New Haven Union Station to the Hotel” below for the last leg of your trip.
LaGuardia Airport
The short version:
- Take the free LGALink Q70 bus from curbside outside baggage claim to Woodside Station (2 stops)
- Use the TrainTime app to purchase train tickets from Woodside Station to New Haven; you’ll transfer trains at Grand Central Terminal
- From the curb at the train station, take the Free Downtown // New Haven Shuttle to the New Haven Green (2 stops) and walk around the corner to the Omni New Haven at Yale
The longer version, with ALL the details:
If you’re arriving at LaGuardia, you can transfer by bus to the Long Island Rail Road at Woodside or to the Metro North at Harlem. For simplicity’s sake, and because you probably want to easily get a seat on your train by getting on at the first stop, we recommend the shuttle bus to the Woodside Long Island Rail Road stop and taking a train to Grand Central, where you’ll transfer to New Haven at the start of the train line.
At LaGuardia terminals B and C, proceed to baggage claim, and then outside to the curb, where you’ll find the free LGALink Q70 bus. There will be signage, and the bus will be blue and well labeled. There is no fare! It’s free! Simply board the bus. The bus runs in a continuous loop, and arrives about every 10–20 minutes, depending on the time of day. It will make two stops after leaving the airport; the first is the subway at Roosevelt-Jackson Heights, and the second is the terminus at Woodside Station, where you will get off. If you’ll be making this return trip, make note of the drop-off location, as construction is in progress and the stop location can move a bit, and ask if this is where the bus picks up if you’ll be making the return trip. (There are more stops on the return, but it will be obvious when you reach the airport terminals.)
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Woodside Station
NOTE: As this is rail station is combined with a subway station, most access is via stairs, and due to construction, signage may be obstructed. There is an elevator at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 61st Street. Look for it across the street from Kennedy Chicken.
See the instructions for JFK above for more information about using the TrainTime app for access to the Long Island Railroad and Metro North. You’ll search for a trip from Woodside to New Haven, which will direct you to one of the tracks at this station, and take Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central. From there, you’ll transfer to a Metro North train to New Haven. Woodside is a smaller station with limited platforms to get lost on, so we won’t go into as much detail as we did for the JFK instructions; do read the train directions from Jamaica above in the JFK section, as the routes are similar, and your train will have stopped at Jamaica before picking you up.
For the return trip, allow 3 to 3.5 hours from the start of your train ride in New Haven for connections and the bus transfer to LaGuardia, not including check-in or security lines.
Newark Airport (EWR)
The short version:
- Take the Newark Airport AirTrain from your terminal to the Airport Train Station Stop at the end of the line (parts of the route may be replaced with a bus due to construction; follow signs and employee instructions)
- Take an Amtrak Northeast Regional train from Newark Liberty International Airport Station to New Haven Union Station
- From the curb at the train station, take the Free Downtown // New Haven Shuttle to the New Haven Green (2 stops) and walk around the corner to the Omni New Haven at Yale
The longer version, with all the details:
If you’re arriving at Newark Airport and want to take the train, Amtrak conveniently runs from New Jersey to New Haven using the Northeast Regional line. Specifically, you will want the train from Newark Liberty International Airport Station to New Haven Union Station; if your train goes directly to New Haven State Street Station without a transfer and you don’t mind walking just over three blocks to the hotel, that’s an option as well.
At Newark Airport, follow signs for their inter-terminal AirTrain toward Airport Train Station, and ride to the end of the line for access to Newark Liberty International Airport Station. As of this post, part of the ride might require a shuttle bus due to construction, or be changed and require you to rely on signage and directions from airport staff for wayfinding. If you’re traveling from Terminal A (one end of the line) to the Airport Train Station (the other end) and transferring to Amtrak, the trip could take about 20 minutes; allow extra time for the bus portion of the trip.
Entering or leaving the AirTrain at the Airport Train Station costs $8.50; scanning your Amtrak ticket at the turnstile should allow you through for free.
Once aboard Amtrak, continue your journey, and enjoy that two stations in a row—one in New Jersey, one in New York—are named Penn Station. Sit on the right side facing the direction of travel to New Haven for glimpses of Long Island Sound along the way. And see “New Haven Union Station to the Hotel” below for the last leg of your trip.
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
The short version:
- A pre-arranged car service is the easiest option
- Alternatively, take a longer trip via the 30-Bradley Flyer bus to Hartford Union Station, and CT Rail or Amtrak to New Haven Union Station
- From the curb at the train station, take the Free Downtown // New Haven Shuttle to the New Haven Green (2 stops) and walk around the corner to the Omni New Haven at Yale
Bradley International Airport is located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, not far from Hartford. Depending on the time of day, it’s a 60 to 90 minute drive to New Haven.
Public transportation options from this airport are somewhat limited, and we haven’t taken them (yet) ourselves. Uber and Lyft drivers may not want to make the trip all the way to New Haven, particularly if you arrive at rush hour or late at night; you may find it easier to look into Bradley’s list of taxi and car services and pre-arrange your ride for a predictable fare.
If you’re more adventurous, you can take the 30-Bradley Flyer bus, which runs about every 40 minutes (hourly on Sundays) from baggage claim door #6, and takes you to Hartford Union Station in about 30 minutes. Then you can take either a CT Rail train or an Amtrak Train to New Haven Union Station, or an express bus to the North Side of the New Haven Green. These trains leave approximately hourly, and take another 45 minutes to an hour to get to New Haven. We’d allow 3 hours to get back to the airport at the close of the conference due to the schedule gaps. And see “New Haven Union Station to the Hotel” below for the last leg of your trip.
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
We haven’t recommended this airport to folks traveling to Sirens as it has limited flights and services, and because of its location near the water, we’ve found it has a high rate of cancellations. It is served by Breeze Airways, mostly from cities in the southeastern US. It’s more of a drive-to and get dropped off airport, but transportation via taxi and Lyft is available; Uber is not licensed to pick you up on airport grounds. Visit their ground transportation page for more information.
Westchester County Airport (HPN)
Westchester County Airport, just over the border in New York, has an indirect connection to the Metro North rail system, but you’d have to take a bus that runs only about every two hours (and ride for another 40), ride about an hour by train down to Grand Central in Manhattan, and transfer to a New Haven-bound train for another 2.5 hours of travel time, plus transfers. We don’t think this is worth it and recommend renting a car or consulting the airport’s list of taxi and car services for options (and note that you must pre-arrange transport from this small, regional location).
Other Train Information
New Haven Union Station is served by Amtrak, the Metro North Railroad’s New Haven Line, and Connecticut’s Shoreline East and New Haven lines. A free shuttle bus to stops within half a block of the hotel is available (see below).
New Haven Union Station to the Hotel
When you arrive at New Haven Union Station, walk out to the curb, where you’ll be picked up by a green bus that says “FREE Downtown // Union Station Shuttle” on it. It runs for the distance of just under a mile to Chapel Street, on the south side of the New Haven Green, and drops off between Church and Temple Streets. Make a left on Temple, walk half a block, and you’re at the Omni New Haven at Yale in 2 minutes by foot. (If you miss this stop, the shuttle will turn down Temple and stop just after the hotel.)
This bus runs in a continuous loop, and buses pass stops about every twenty minutes.
If you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, you can walk to the hotel via sidewalks, on a mostly flat route, in about twenty minutes.
