If you’re jetting into NYC for a business meeting or short leisure visit, a hotel located close to the City’s two major airports can provide the perfect accommodation for your stay. While airport hotels are widely known to offer convenience and attractive rates, a number of hotels located near JFK and LaGuardia Airports also supply plenty more in the way of unexpected amenities and proximity to attractions. In recent years there’s been a transformative shift toward a more sophisticated experience at airport hotels in large cities around the world, as upscale hotels are being built within the airport terminals and hotels nearby are revamping their properties to accommodate travelers’ growing needs and expectations.
TWA Hotel. Photo: David Mitchell
These hotels, located at or near JFK and LGA, offer up-to-date appointments and a wide range of amenities. The most famous example is the TWA Hotel at JFK, housed within the airport’s landmark Eero Saarinen–designed former flight center. At that hotel and others, visitors can enjoy quiet, comfortable rooms and often find dining options ranging from full-service restaurants to casual grills to grab-and-go marketplaces. Lobby lounges are frequently sleek, contemporary affairs featuring clean lines, modern furnishings and bold color palettes. Many hotels offer fitness centers with the latest cardio and weight equipment; one even provides a studio for yoga enthusiasts. Those looking to kick back and relax can also find inviting pools, spas and sundecks for catching a few rays between meetings or tours.
Queens-based airport hotels also provide a gateway for those looking to immerse themselves in an authentic New York City experience. As the City’s most diverse borough, Queens is home to ethnic enclaves with restaurants serving all types of international cuisines—most notably Asian and Latin varieties—as well as premier museums, parks and sporting events. Read on to see which hotels are close to each airport, along with our suggestions about the sights and activities nearby. There’s so much to do, you may find yourself extending your stay.
Courtesy, Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport
Hotels near LaGuardia
Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport
Four Points by Sheraton Flushing
Hotel Indigo Flushing
Hyatt Place Flushing/LaGuardia Airport
New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott Hotel
Renaissance New York Flushing at Tangram
Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
LaGuardia Airport has undergone an $8 billion makeover with new terminals and amenities that make this bustling transportation hub state-of-the-art. The results can be seen at LaGuardia Terminal B, a project that was completed in 2022.
The Unisphere. Photo: Julienne Schaer
If you're staying near LaGuardia, you’ll want to visit beautiful Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a sprawling green space that hosted two World’s Fairs and is home to such landmark attractions as the Unisphere and the Queens Museum, which holds the one-of-a-kind Panorama of the City of New York. Also in the park are Queens Theatre; the Queens Zoo, where you can see pumas and Andean bears stalking the grounds and sea lions frolicking at snack time; and the New York Hall of Science, the only hands-on science museum in the City and host to an outdoor, space-travel-themed mini-golf course. East of the park lies the Queens Botanical Garden, with multiple walking paths through its flora and fauna.
Flushing. Photo: Eric Hsu
During warmer months, take yourself out to the ball game at nearby Citi Field to cheer on the Mets or hit a full round of golf in Forest Park. Finally, if you’re in the mood for some authentic Asian eats, head east to Flushing for excellent Chinese and Korean food and a chance to explore the neighborhood’s markets.
Hotels near JFK
Hilton Garden Inn Queens/JFK Airport
Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York City
TWA Hotel
Like LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International Airport is undergoing a transformation, with a planned $13 billion renovation. Among the airport’s most celebrated design projects is the TWA Hotel. With its 1960s interiors and glamorous rooftop pool deck overlooking the tarmac, this upscale boutique experience, which includes the landmarked TWA Flight Center as its lobby, is like a time machine dialed back to the start of the Jet Age.
Rockaway Beach. Photo: Ryan Struck
As for activities nearby JFK, explore the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge over on Broad Channel, which is a quiet spot for bird-watching, hiking and boat trips. Idlewild Park Preserve, just northeast of the airport, contains 160 acres of freshwater and tidal wetlands, woodland, meadow and grassland—and has some educational and activity-based programs run by the Eastern Queens Alliance. The Atlantic coast is just a short subway ride away at Rockaway Beach, NYC’s popular seaside community complete with boardwalk snack shacks (in season) and plenty of surf.
For a taste of local history, pay a visit to the King Manor Museum, due north of the airport in Jamaica; the historic house celebrates aspects of the borough’s early 19th-century era. A block away, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning houses the free Miller Gallery, which showcases emerging artists. For more culture, seek out the local Black Spectrum Theatre Company, which presents multimedia shows that examine social issues in the African-American community.
Courtesy, Resorts World Casino
If you’re feeling lucky, take a chance at the legendary Belmont Race Track—home to the third leg of the Triple Crown—or just kick back and while away a few hours at Resorts World Casino, filled with around 6,000 slots and electronic table games. It also holds the steakhouse RW Prime, where you can unwind with your winnings over a juicy rib eye and a classic cocktail. If you’re looking to explore some local eats, check out the neighborhood known as Little Guyana for a taste of South American and Caribbean cuisine in the center of Queens.