Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our New York City JFK Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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The TSA agent told me about the 24-hour Dunkin Donuts in the baggage claim area, as well as making some suggestions of where I can grab a snooze. – TheInfamousJ
JFK Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (code: JFK).
What to Expect
JFK Airport has five active passenger terminals: Terminal 1 (T1), Terminal 2 (T2), Terminal 4 (T4), Terminal 5 (T5), and Terminal 8 (T8). They are connected landside (pre-security) by the free AirTrain, which operates 24/7 every 2-5 minutes. Airside connectivity is limited to T4-T8 via a walkway. Each terminal is big, so expect a lot of walking to reach your gate and other facilities. Your experience will vary depending on your terminal. For instance, Terminal 4 is the shiniest, with plenty of amenities, but Terminal 8 is cold and sparse until you’re inside the Secure area.
Airside in most terminals, you’ll have a decent selection of shopping, dining, and services. For 24-hour eats, however, you’re limited to Terminals 4 and 7. The airport has free and unlimited WiFi, a significant upgrade from their previous 30-minute limit. The biggest complaint from travellers is the lack of seating. Other complaints are the cold temps, noise, long security lines, and seemingly never-ending construction. Hence, an extra layer and noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs are essential for a decent experience. If you’re willing to pay for more comfort, several lounges are open to Economy-class travellers, and a few even offer shower facilities!
Sleeping in JFK Airport
New York JFK Airport is notorious for its crowds and lack of decent seating, adding to a not-so-comfortable sleeping situation. Your best bet is to head to the TWA area landside. Here, past travellers have found benches, 24-hour food options, and comfortable temperatures. Apart from this place, you’ll mostly find cold, hard metal benches with armrests if you can grab a seat. Overnight campers should be prepared to spread out on the cold concrete floor, so a travel mat, blanket, or sleeping bag is a must-have for cushion and warmth. Note that some security checkpoints close overnight, so you may only be able to access the airside areas three hours before your flight.
Recent reviewers report that sleeping conditions vary widely between terminals.
- Terminal 4 – Consistently described as cold, noisy, and brightly lit, especially in both arrivals and airside areas, with TVs and music playing through the night. Some travellers found a few armrest-free benches in T4 arrivals, but most seating still has armrests, leading many to sleep on the floor. On the airside, a few quiet pockets exist—around Gates B18 and A-gates—but only on the floor due to armrests. Airside sleep cabins exist.
- Terminal 5 – Described as loud, cold, and lacking suitable places to lie down, with many travellers resorting to the floor.
- Terminal 7 – Limited seating and cold but quieter in the early morning, though several travellers report being asked to leave around 2 AM.
- Terminal 8 – Airside offers carpeted areas and somewhat better benches, though temperatures can change suddenly when the AC increases in the morning. Landside options in T8 are limited.
Some reviewers noted that homeless individuals also sleep in T4’s landside areas, but did not report safety issues. Multiple reviewers said they felt safe throughout the night.
For uninterrupted sleep, there are sleep cabins in T4 and T8 and a hotel at T5. See Airport Hotels in the guide below for more info.
Read some traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our JFK Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
John F. Kennedy International Airport operates 24 hours, but security checkpoint hours vary by terminal and airline and may change without notice. Typical checkpoint hours are:
- Terminal 1: approx. 4:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Terminal 2: approx. 4:30 AM – 10:00 PM (note: Terminal 2 is largely inactive and scheduled for demolition; availability may be limited)
- Terminal 4: approx. 4:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Terminal 5: approx. 4:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Terminal 8: approx. 4:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Overnight access to secure areas requires a same-day boarding pass, and airside areas typically close after the last departures. If you remain landside overnight, you may not be able to pass security again until checkpoints reopen in the morning. Check directly with your airline to confirm check-in and security access times.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no official, designated rest zones. Some travellers report finding quieter seating in the following areas:
- Terminal 5, airside, near Gate 28 – padded benches; generally calmer late at night
- Terminal 4, airside, near Gate B32 – lounge-style seating
- Terminal 8, airside, near Gate 35 – some seating without fixed armrests
Availability, noise levels, and seating configurations change frequently, and none of these areas are guaranteed to remain accessible overnight. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
JFK Airport sees more than its fair share of flight cancellations due to bad weather, but this means they are generally more prepared than other airports. When mass cancellations happen, cots are available for stranded passengers who opt against getting a hotel room. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone with access to this information. Keep in mind that these cots cannot be reserved in advance and are unavailable except for mass cancellations. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
JFK Airport Hotels, Day Rooms & Sleep Pods
Quick Facts
- Nearest Hotel: Inside the Airport
- Sleep Cabins & Pods: Yes
- Day Rooms: Yes
- Nearby Hotels with Free Shuttles: Yes
When the prospect of sleeping on the floor or in a chair is giving you nightmares, there is good news for those of you who are looking to sleep at JFK Airport in comfort. For a quick cat nap, there are sleep pod/cabin options in T4, while an onsite hotel at T5 offers day rooms and overnight rates.
Sleep pods and hotels at JFK airport
TWA Hotel – Take the AirTrain to T5. The hotel is located outside the secure area, so you must pass through immigration and security to access it. The iconic hotel has no guided tours, but visitors are welcome to tour the property independently. You can also grab a drink at the infinity pool or get a day pass for the gym and showers (US$ 25). Day rooms are available from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM for a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 hours. 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM and 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Day room rates are $179 + taxes (4 hours) or $419 + taxes (12 hours). » Check Rates
Minute Suites – Two locations: T4, Concourse B, near Gate B39 and T8, Concourse C, Gate C37. Minute Suites offers private suites for travellers who need to relax, work, or recharge during a layover or flight delay. Each suite has a daybed where two can comfortably rest, a workstation, charging station, smart TV, free Wi-Fi, and an Amazon Alexa to provide a sound-masking system. Here are the rates as of February 2025: US$ 65 per hour. US$ 215 (overnight – eight hours, after 9:00 PM til midnight). Showers in the Concourse B location are $20 for 30 mins (added on to a minimum 1 hour stay) or $30 for 30 mins without a suite rental. Discounted rates for military/1st responder, crew, and more. Use Promo Code SIASUITES to save 15% off a Suite Rental or Overnight Stay when you book online.
Hotels near JFK Airport
- Comfort Inn » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express New York JFK Airport Area » Check Rates
- Days Inn Jamaica / JFK Airport » Check Rates
- Hampton Inn » Check Rates
- Courtyard by Marriott » Check Rates
- Fairfield Inn New York JFK Airport » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near JFK Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program.
KAL Business Class Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, airside, near gate 3. Hours: 9:30 AM – 12:50 AM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs • Korean Air First or Business Class passengers • SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
Lufthansa Business Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, airside, on the left after security. Hours: Unknown. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lufthansa or Star Alliance Business Class passengers • Miles & More Senator/HON Circle members • Lounge membership programs
Primeclass Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, airside, near gates 8 and 9. Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) • 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM (Tues) • 9:00 AM – 1:30 AM (Thurs and Sat). Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Lounge membership programs.
Turkish Airlines Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, airside, near gate 7. Hours: 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs • Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance Business/First Class passengers • Miles & More Senator/HON Circle members.
VIP ONE Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, landside, departure level, behind check-in counters E and F, next to the TSA checkpoint. Hours: 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Lounge membership programs • Select premium and elite passengers on participating airlines.
Capital One Lounge – Location: Terminal 4, airside. Hours: 24/7. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: Yes. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Capital One Venture X or Venture X Business cardholders • Capital One cardholders (limited complimentary visits).
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club with Etihad Airways – Location: Terminal 4, airside. Hours: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs • Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders • passengers on Etihad or partner airlines.
Emirates Lounge – Location: Terminal 4, Concourse A, airside. Hours: 3 hours before Emirates flight departures (typically 7:00 AM to 11:45 PM). Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: Yes. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Emirates First or Business Class passengers (excluding Basic Business fares) • Emirates Skywards Platinum/Gold members travelling in Economy.
HelloSky Lounge – Location: Terminal 4, airside, near gate 5. Hours: 24 hours. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Lounge membership programs.
Minute Suites – See “Hotels” section above.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – Location: Terminal 4, A-Concourse, above gates A4 and A5, airside. Hours: Unknown. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: Yes, with an entertainment zone and relaxation areas. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs • Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers • Delta One passengers on international flights • Flying Club Gold members, SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
Airline Lounges
If you are a First or Business Class traveller, you may have access to the lounges listed below. No walk-in or pay-at-the-door rates available. For more information, check the airline’s website.
Delta Sky Club – Location: Terminal 4, Concourse A, airside. Hours: 4:45 AM to 11:30 PM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs (Delta Sky Club members) • Delta One passengers • SkyTeam Elite Plus members • Passengers with The Platinum Card® from American Express • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Delta One Lounge – Location: Terminal 4, Concourse B, airside. Hours: Unknown. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: Unknown. Sleep Facilities: Unknown. Lounge Access: Delta One and other eligible long-haul business-class passengers on Delta Air Lines and select partner airlines; no general pay-at-the-door access.
Greenwich Lounge – Location: Terminal 8, above gate 12, airside. Hours: 4:15 AM to 1:15 AM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: American Airlines or British Airways Business Class passengers (long-haul flights) • oneworld Sapphire members • AAdvantage Platinum/Platinum Pro members with qualifying tickets.
Soho Lounge – Location: Terminal 8, above gate 14, airside. Hours: 4:15 AM to 11:30 PM. Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: American Airlines or British Airways premium economy or Business Class passengers (select fares) • oneworld Sapphire members.
Military Lounges
USO Center – Location: Terminal 5, landside, arrivals level. Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Active-duty military, National Guard, reservists, and their dependents with valid military ID. No walk-in or pay-at-the-door access.
Drinking Water
Free water refill stations are available airside near:
- Terminal 1: near Gate 5
- Terminal 2: near Gate 62 (availability may be limited)
- Terminal 4: near Gates B32 and B41
- Terminal 5: near Gate 28
- Terminal 8: near Gate 35
Landside refill options are available in Terminal 4 (Arrivals level) and Terminal 5 (near the TWA Hotel).
Food & Drinks
A small number of outlets and vending machines operate 24-hours.
- Camden Food Company (Terminal 4, Airside)
- Dunkin’ (Terminal 7, Airside • Terminal 8, Baggage Claim)
- McDonald’s (Terminal 4, Airside)
- Vending machines can be found in T4, Arrivals Hall East • Retail Hall East • Airside, Gate B23.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Short-term luggage storage is available landside through third-party operators:
- T1 – Baggage Storage by SmartCarte (Landside)
- T4 – Baggage Storage by SmartCarte (Landside) • Accommodations Plus (Landside)
- T8 – Meehgan Services (Landside, Arrivals)
Mobile Charging
Charging stations are available both landside and airside near seating areas in all active terminals, including Terminals 1, 4, 5, and 8. Availability depends on terminal access hours.
Showers
Public pay-per-use showers are not available. Shower access is offered inside select lounges, including the Air France Lounge, KAL Business Class Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Primeclass Lounge. Entry requires lounge access or an eligible pass. See the Airport Lounges section above for locations and entry details.
WiFi / Internet
Free unlimited WiFi is available. Connect to “JFK Free WiFi.” Signal strength varies by terminal, with generally stronger coverage reported in Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
Security & Safety
Airport staff seem to have no problem with sleeping travellers. In general, the security guards do a good job of preventing non-travellers from hanging out in the landside areas. Still, the occasional homeless person may wander the terminal, especially on cold evenings.
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at New York JFK Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Please don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay sharp, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
More Airport Information
Baby Care Facilities – Baby care and family-friendly facilities are available for travellers with young children.
- Nursing Stations are available airside in select terminals. Availability varies by terminal and location; hours are not clearly posted.
- Mothers can reserve a 30-minute stay in a Minute Suites location to nurse their child or pump at no cost. Their suites are cleaned after every guest and are engineered to be a quiet and restful place to retreat away from the airport terminals. Location: T4, Concourse B (near Gate B39).
- Family washrooms are available both landside and airside in Terminals 4, 5, and 8.
Information
- Information Desk – Information Desks and Welcome Centers are available in the arrivals areas of active terminals to assist with general questions and directions. Hours vary.
- Traveller’s Aid – Traveller’s Aid is a non-profit organization that assists stranded or distressed passengers with issues such as transportation help, lost funds, or emergency housing. Services are typically available during daytime hours.
Interfaith Chapel – Interfaith Chapel – A quiet space for reflection and prayer is available landside in Terminal 4.
Luggage
- Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
- Luggage Wrapping – Secure Wrap offers plastic wrapping services to protect checked bags. Availability is limited to select terminals.
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available throughout the terminals, both landside and airside. Fees and withdrawal limits depend on your bank.
- Currency Exchange – Currency exchange counters and services are available in Terminals 1 and 4, with limited airside and landside locations.
Pet Relief Areas – Pet relief areas are available both indoors and outdoors across most terminals. Indoor facilities are located airside past security, while outdoor areas are generally found near arrivals or departures curbs.
Shopping – Duty-free shops are available airside in select international terminals. In addition, a mix of retail stores, boutiques, convenience shops, and newsstands can be found throughout the terminals.
SIM Cards – Some shops and kiosks sell SIM cards, though availability varies. Travellers report finding SIM cards in Terminal 1 and Terminal 8 landside, but options may be limited late at night.
Spa & Salon Services – Spa services such as massages, manicures, and facials are available through BeRelax and XpresSpa in select airside locations. Hours vary and services are not available overnight.
Smoking – Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas. There are no indoor smoking rooms.
Things to Do
- Hotel Activities – From time to time, the TWA Hotel offers special activities such as roller skating or seasonal events. Access, pricing, and availability vary, and offerings are not guaranteed.
Do you want to make the most of your stopover or long layover by leaving the airport to do some sightseeing? Check out our JFK Airport Layover Sightseeing guide or explore Things to do in New York City on Tripadvisor.
Airport Shuttles
Go Airlink provides a ride-share airport shuttle between the airport and New York City. Service is available 24 hours per day.
AirTrain
AirTrain is an elevated railway system that serves JFK Airport and connects all airport terminals and parking lots with the Long Island Rail Road and New York City subway lines in Queens. AirTrain service runs 24 hours daily and is affordable, easy to use and wheelchair-accessible. Three overlapping routes are available: the Howard Beach route, Jamaica Station route and All Terminals loop. Passengers can ride the AirTrain free of charge around the airport but must pay $8.50 by MetroCard if entering or exiting at Jamaica or Howard Beach Stations. For more information, visit the Airtrain website.
Buses
A total of 6 bus routes (Q3, Q6, Q7, Q10, Q10 LTD and B15) used to connect the airport with surrounding metropolitan areas. These bus stops used to be adjacent to T5 and could be accessed via a free on-airport AirTrain trip to the T5 station. For more information regarding the bus routes, schedules and fares, visit the MTA website.
Car Rentals
The following car rental companies are available at the airport: Advantage • Alamo • Avis • Budget • Dollar • Enterprise • Hertz • National • Payless • Sixt • Thrifty. Location: Car rental counters or courtesy phones can be found on the arrivals level near the baggage claim in all terminals. You will take the AirTrain to Federal Circle Station to pick up the car.
Hotel Shuttles
Some area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Best Western JFK Airport Hotel • Comfort Inn JFK Airport • Fairfield Inn New York JFK Airport • Five Towns Inn • Hampton Inn NY – JFK • Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York • JFK Inn • The Five Towns Inn.
Passengers can take the AirTrain to the hotel shuttle waiting area at Federal Circle station.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Inter-Airport Transfers
The New York City metropolitan area is served by three major airports: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty. The Airlink NYC provides service between JFK and LaGuardia or JFK and Newark Airport (via Port Authority Bus Terminal transfer to a partner service). All County Express and ETS Air Shuttles also provide service between JFK and LaGuardia or Newark Liberty Airport.
Taxis
Taxi stands are outside each terminal, with a few exceptions. Due to renovation works, arriving passengers at Terminal 4 have to take a free shuttle bus from T4 to the Remote Ride App & Car Services Lot.
Ignore non-uniformed people offering to assist with baggage. Sample Taxi Fares from JFK Airport: Flat Fare is $70 (or $75 during peak 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM) to Manhattan (plus tolls and tip). The taximeter and receipt should reflect this is a flat fare.
Train
JFK is connected to the NYC subway station at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations. Once you arrive in any of the two stations, you can reach the airport thanks to the AirTrain. The fare is $11.40 ($8.50 for the AirTrain + $2.90 subway fare). For more information, visit the MTA website.
Last updated: 2026-01-09
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.
