Teterboro or White Plains for the run south
Two airports start most private trips from New York to Florida. Flight times are within minutes of each other, so the choice comes down to your door, the clock and the season.
Photo: Midtown at dusk, about 12 miles from Teterboro.
Most private trips from New York to Florida start at one of two airports: Teterboro in New Jersey or Westchester County Airport in White Plains. From either, the flight to Miami takes about two hours and forty-five minutes to three hours, and to Palm Beach about two and a half. Since the time in the air is almost identical, the right choice comes down to your door, the clock and, in winter, the weather.
Teterboro (TEB)
Teterboro sits about 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan and has no airline service, so the whole airport is built around private aviation. Many charter aircraft are based there, which means more choice and often less positioning cost on the first leg of a trip. It is the default for Manhattan, Brooklyn and northern New Jersey.
The trade-offs are traffic and size. The drive from Manhattan depends heavily on the tunnels and bridges, and the airport has a weight limit, so the very largest business jets operate elsewhere. For trips to Florida, that limit rarely matters; almost every aircraft suited to the route uses Teterboro routinely.
Westchester (HPN)
Westchester County Airport in White Plains has private terminals alongside its airline side. It is the natural choice for Westchester, Greenwich and the rest of southern Connecticut, where it can be 15 to 25 minutes from home rather than an hour or more to Teterboro.
From Manhattan, Westchester is usually the longer drive, but on some days, and from the Upper East Side or the Bronx, the gap narrows. It is worth comparing both when traffic or the time of day is against you.
Typical drives to each airport
| Starting from | To Teterboro | To Westchester |
|---|---|---|
| Midtown Manhattan | 20–40 min | 45–60 min |
| Upper East Side | 25–45 min | 35–50 min |
| Greenwich, Connecticut | 50–70 min | 15–25 min |
| Scarsdale | 35–50 min | 10–20 min |
| Bergen County, New Jersey | 15–30 min | 40–55 min |
Two more options
Morristown (MMU) in New Jersey suits Morris and Somerset counties and the western suburbs. Republic (FRG) in Farmingdale is Long Island’s main business aviation airport and saves Long Islanders a long drive west. Both handle trips to Florida without difficulty.
At the airport
Both airports have several private terminals, known as FBOs. You drive to the terminal named on your itinerary, check in, and walk out to the aircraft, usually without a queue in sight. Because each terminal has its own entrance, make sure your driver has the exact name; at a busy airport the signs matter.
Many of the region’s charter aircraft are based at Teterboro, which is part of why it is the default for so many trips. Westchester has its own based aircraft and operators too, so availability is rarely a problem at either for a flight to Florida.
Timing the drive
The time of day can matter as much as the airport. Early morning departures miss most of the traffic heading into either field, and a late-afternoon flight lets you finish a working day in New York and still land in time for dinner in Miami. On Friday afternoons before holiday weekends, add generous time for the drive, whichever airport you choose.
What changes in winter
Whichever airport you choose, a winter departure can need de-icing, which adds time on the ground and a charge per event. Snow and low cloud can slow arrivals and departures across the New York area, and when the weather turns, the operator’s captain decides when to go. Allow a little slack on stormy days, and keep your phone handy for updates from the crew.
Positioning and price
Where the aircraft is based matters more than which airport you use. If the best aircraft for your trip is parked at Teterboro, departing from Westchester adds a short positioning flight to your bill, and the reverse is also true. The difference is usually small, around 15 to 20 minutes of flying, but it is one reason a good quote considers both airports rather than assuming one.
Coming home
For the flight back north, the question flips: land at the airport nearest where you are going. A family that left from Teterboro in December can happily return to Westchester in April if that is where they are heading. Flight times northbound are similar, sometimes a little shorter with a following wind.
Bringing pets
Dogs and cats travel on many aircraft from either airport once the operator has approved them. Small pets usually ride in the cabin at your feet; a large dog needs an aircraft with enough floor space, which can tip the choice toward a midsize jet. Mention every pet when you ask for a quote, so that only aircraft that accept them are offered.
If you split the season between two homes, give us both addresses. Each quote can then start from the airport nearest the house you are leaving that day.
The short answer
- Manhattan, Brooklyn or New Jersey: Teterboro, almost always.
- Westchester or Connecticut: Westchester.
- Upper Manhattan or the Bronx at rush hour: compare both.
- Long Island: Republic.
Tell us your address area when you request a quote and we will suggest the airport at each end, then price the trip both ways if it is close.
For the Florida end of the journey, see choosing your runway or plan both ends at once with the route guide.