When You Should Choose Mass Transportation over Driving to Major US Airports

When I head to my airport in Southern Florida for a trip, I either drive to the airport or call an Uber.  Mass transportation in Florida is not even a consideration.  This logic is true for Las Vegas, Austin, New Orleans and Dallas.  I did learn that in other parts of the country, it is far better to take a subway or train than to drive.

Here are some  examples where you would be better off taking mass transportation than driving:

1. New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

New York City is infamous for its traffic jams and now for the construction that is going on at JFK. Seinfeld even did an episode on getting to JFK and how no one has ever beaten the Van Wyck Expressway.  During my last trip t NYC, I found out that Ubers could not pick you up at Terminal 4 due to the construction.  You would be bused to a Ride Share Parking Lot.  If you have to take mass transportation to have a car pick you up then why not just continue with the mass transportation?

At JFK, you can pick up the AirTrain in each terminal and that takes you to NYC’s famous subway or Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).  This is a reliable and stress-free option. This seamless system lets you bypass the unpredictable traffic, ensuring you arrive on time without the parking drama.

2. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

I found out the hard way when I almost missed my flight.  In Chicago, driving on I90 to O’Hare can cause you to lose valuable years off your life, especially when you see the Blue Line passing you as you are crawling on the highway.  You know that Blue Line will take a little over an hour from downtown Chicago.  Who can predict how long it will take if you drive?

3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

I used to believe that taking San Francisco’s BART system was the way but lately it is on par with driving.  I would not take a bus from SFO since the public bus would take twice as long as driving. 

4. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

For those heading to Dulles, the Silver Line Metro combined with the Washington Flyer bus service is the way to go. Parking at Dulles can be particularly expensive and driving through the D.C. metropolitan area is a challenge. The metro and bus combo provide a stress-free alternative.

5. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Traveling from downtown Boston to Logan International Airport is relatively easy by car unless you choose to do it during rush hour where it is anyone’s guess how long it will take.  An attractive option is taking the Blue Line T and the shuttle bus to the terminals. 

You should consider taking mass transportation from the airport in a city that has an effective subway system.  By doing so, you can avoid traffic challenges that you are seeing more and more.  By taking mass transportation will you be able to ease the stress of navigating through traffic and during peak time, save both time and money. 

You want to keep going on this topic, or do you have another idea?