7 Best Things to Do Near JFK Airport? Tips for a Layover

You are in a layover at the largest Airport in New York, John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, and have a few hours before your next flight. What are the things to do near JFK airport to spend your spare time?

Relax; there are plenty of things you can do, like scroll your social media for an hour or explore the New York tourist attraction near the airport.

In this article, I will let you know what the famous things to explore near JFK Airport are and the convenient means to access a flexible internet connection.

Can You Leave JFK Airport During a Layover?

Before leaving the airport, you should confirm does the authorities permit you to leave the airport during layovers.

If you are from countries like the UK, Germany, and Japan, it is allowed to leave the airport, but you will still require approval from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

You can apply for the approval before 72 hours of your flight. Once it is confirmed, you can leave the airport after passing U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Activities to Do During Layovers at JFK Airport

There are multiple ways to spend your spare time during layovers at the airport. The following are things to do near JFK Airport.

Explore the Rockaway Beach

During the layover of 2 to 3 hours, Rockway Beach is the best destination to relax. Travelling by Airtrain to the beach takes more time. The beach is around 8.8 miles from JFK. So it takes 20 to 30 minutes to travel to the beach in a car ride. It is the top activity you can do near the airport with no entrance fee. It's quite refreshing to get the free air for taking the next flight.

Visit Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge from a distance of 6.5 miles from John F. Kennedy Airport, and it takes 15 to 20 minutes to arrive at the spot by car. It is the prime location for layovers to explore the seasonal bird migrations.

The refuge is the home of over 300 bird species with variant traits. The refuge area comes under the Gateway National Recreation Area. Hence, you can go hiking with birdwatching.

Visit the New York Hall of Science

The New York Hall of Science is a distance of 8.5 miles from JFK Airport. The car ride takes 20 to 30 minutes to visit the hall. You will be required to pay the entrance fee of around $19 to $20. It is the most time-consuming activity; in 2 hours, you can explore, learn, and experience more things.

If you are a technology or physics enthusiast, there are over 400 exhibits with interesting topics. If you are traveling with your family, it's the best spot for your kids to explore interesting things.

Visit Queens Zoo

Queen Zoo is approximately 8 miles away from JFK airport. It is the 18-acre wildlife area found in the Meadows. Authorities charge a fee to enter the zoo, which varies depending on whether you are traveling alone or with your friends.

The zoo is home to 75 American animal species. The zoo also offers educational programs to educate visitors about wildlife.

Explore the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is 16 miles away from JFK Airport. It is the best destination to visit during your long layovers. It will take 45 to 50 minutes to travel to the building by car. The Empire State Building is 1454 feet tall, offering a 360-degree view of New York City.

On the 2nd floor, you can explore the exhibit galleries of the building's history and the construction process. It is the best tourist attraction to get a beautiful view of the whole city with colorful lights.

Travel to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is 30 to 35 minutes away from the airport by car. You will need to pay the entrance fee of around $10 to $20. The garden is a beautiful location to spend your spare time during your layover.

It is an easier destination for travelers to explore; the area of the Garden expands to over 50 acres, with a diversity of plants and landscapes. If you are visiting in spring, you can experience the beautiful cherry blossom views.

Take a Visit to Green Acres Mall

Green Acres Mall is an indoor shopping center 5 miles away from JFK Airport. There are around 150 stores in the mall with parking lots.

It is the best thing to do near the JFK airport, you can go shopping. The place is famous for its special meals. Hence, you should not miss the chance to explore the mall.

Tips for layovers at JFK Airport

During layovers, sitting at the gate and watching the clock to spend your free time is not an option. You can also follow the tips to spend the best time during a layover.

• Check the airport lounge and look for the food courts; take coffee and a light snack to spend your time.
• Connecting your device to the airport WiFi and watching your favorite show, unfortunately, will not provide you smooth cellular data connection. You should have an eSIM in your device to access the flexible internet.
• To avoid the painful waiting time, go through the tourist attraction nearby th JFK Airport during layovers.

Buy a USA eSIM to Stay Connected

Public WiFi at airports is not safe; roaming, portable WiFi, and SIM cards offer data, but you should be ready for the huge data bills. Then, what is the solution that offers an affordable and smooth data connection?

eSIM is the ideal solution for international travelers to connect. eSIM lets you connect your device with the supported network even when you land in the destination country. eSIM ensures provide seamless connection with remote activation and zero roaming charges. Choose a trustworthy carrier like Yaalo and buy an eSIM for the USA.

Yaalo eSIM for USA

Yaalo offers fixed unlimited data, voice, and text plans for travelers in the US eSIM. Data voice and text plan include the number for international calling. eSIM offers flexible data plans according to the user's requirements. You can buy the plan according to your travel needs.

• Offer 4G and 5G network coverage throughout the USA.
• Allow data sharing with other devices.
• No hidden or roaming bills.
• The basic fixed plan with 1GB of data starts from $2.87.
• Unlimited data plans for one day cost $3.62.
• Offer QR code or manual activation.

Whether you are in the airport or exploring the tourist destination, you can click pictures can share your travel memories with friends and family.

Conclusion

What is the best thing to do during layovers at the JFK airport? Layovers are generally boring when you have nothing to do. But if you are landing at the JFK Airport for a layover, there are multiple things you can do here.

You can visit Rockway Beach, Green Acres Mall, the Empire State Building, Queens Zoo, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and the New York Hall of Science. These are the nearby destinations of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport you can explore during a few-hour layover. You can watch your favorite movie in your spare time. eSIM will be the ideal solution to provide a seamless internet connection.

FAQs

What to do at JFK for 5 hours?

A 5-hour layover at JFK airport is enough to explore the Airport lounges, eat meals, and shopping, and relax. You can also explore the nearby tourist destination of the airport with exit permission.

Can you leave the airport during a layover without your luggage?

You can leave the airport without luggage, but it also depends on whether you have a domestic or international layover.