LaGuardia to New Haven, CT

Wrong !!!!!! From LaGuardia you need to go to Grand Central Station and take a Metro North ( New Haven Line ) train to New Haven Look at this map http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrmap.htm

I would expect that there's also some kind of airport limo/shuttle service available, which would avoid the schlepp into the city. It's been years since I flew through LGA (long ago I did it often) and back then there was an extensive network of airport shuttle services, including more than one that could get you between LGA and New Haven. Google it and I bet you'll find a few of these options.

If it were me, I'd skip the trip to a NYC train station.

Check the LGA Airport website for directions. They have you taking a bus from LGA to the Metro North station at 125th St. and Park Ave. and then train to New Haven.

Thank you, all. I think I have a better handle on it now. The map helped me understand the trains and I found a shuttle as well.

Technically, you could go from Penn Station to New Haven. Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corrider stop in New Haven.

However, Metro North trains out of Grand Central are more frequent.

Thank you, Frank. Amtrak would have fewer stops, but less frequent. I’m also considering flying to Newark and taking Amtrak to New Haven. Transfer to Amtrak in Newark is easy, but even fewer direct trains to New Haven.

@Eef - Where are you coming from (speaking geographically, not colloquially)?

Are you aware that there is commercial air service to New Haven? There's not a lot, just one new-ish little cheap-o airline, but depending on where you're coming from, it could greatly simplify your travel logistics.

Check out Avelo Airlines, an ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) based at New Haven (HVN). They currently have flights between New Haven and (I believe) 13 or 14 cities, mostly in the southeast US -- Florida, Georgia, North & South Carolina, plus Nashville, Baltimore and Chicago. Plans for a bunch more small cities around the US east coast/midwest (plus a completely separate network of flights in/near the west coast - they do not appear to have any plans to connect their east coast and west coast destinations). Check their schedule carefully, flights may be highly "seasonal" (ie they start and stop throughout the year).

Their business model is to serve "smaller" airports (this saves them money). They are a strangle little airline (looks like all their planes are 737s, so jets), and relatively new - take a look at their route map - but super cheap fares, so expect all the things that ULCC airlines usually do (unbundled services, ie you pay for a checked bag, expect small seats, no frills, etc.). It won't be much help for you if your travel originates in London or Rome (well, maybe Rome, Georgia...) but if you're starting anywhere near one of the airports they serve, it could potentially eliminate all the hassles of flying through LGA and then navigating your way up to New Haven (it might also cost you less than what it costs to just take the train from NYC...).

New Haven's airport is small and super-easy to manage (I've flown in there many times, but years ago and usually by small plane).

Worth a look.

David, thank you for the suggestion. The trip starts in Rochester, NY so Avelo won’t work (never heard of this airline). I can get non-stop flights to LGA (then shuttle) or Newark (transfer to Amtrak). I haven’t looked at specific flights yet, but I think LGA will probably work better.

Ah, OK, understood.

In theory, you could fly from Rochester ROC to Baltimore BWI (on Southwest), then from BWI to New Haven HNV (on Avelo). But that's pretty crazy and not worth the time and trouble. I agree, if it were me, I'd fly to LGA and just take a shuttle to New Haven (it would probably be faster and much simpler than getting into the city and then taking the train).

Yes, Avelo is an obscure (new-ish) little airline. Their name roughly translates as "by bicycle" in French, so that may not instill a lot of confidence. 🤭 There are a lot of small, not-widely-known airlines out there, so I figure it's always worth doing a search for flights, sometimes you may be surprised that you can fly point-to-point even to/from smaller cities. In this case, sounds like you are on the right track.

Does flying ( American Eagle) to Hartford ( via PHL) ( 3 hrs) and then on to New Haven make for a simpler (more efficient) trip?

Hartford and New Haven aren’t particularly well connected, and Bradley airport isn’t even well connected to the city of Hartford.

Flying into Newark really would be the easiest option.

A few points which I hope will simplify this for you - Going from LaGuardia to Grand Central by public transportation doesn't equate with a voyage to Dante's Hell as has been characterized. here , its actually quite simple and straightforward . From the terminals at LGA , a large articulated bus ( Q70SBS ) goes nonstop and no fare to 74st Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights ,about fifteen minutes . There are elevators up to the tracks , and the #7 train takes you directly into Grand Central in 20 minutes . The metro north trains to New Haven leave twice an hour ( open seating , no restrictions or reservation required as on Amtrak trains ,) usable on any train at a price of $18 . The train makes some stops on the way but this would only add about 20 minutes to the trip over an Amtrak Acela .As far as a shuttle to New Haven , its a bad idea for two reasons - Prices for a car service run between $250 and $300 . Even if you found something more reasonable , traffic in and around the area is horrendous . The only two ways to get to New Haven by road are The Merritt Parkway and I-95 , both of which are usually parking lots for 60 miles from Westchester County to New Haven . ( I go to New Haven once or twice a month to a meeting held there , and what should be a one hour drive , requires me to leave two to sometimes three hours in advance to make it on time . Here is the airport to subway bus connection on the map https://new.mta.info/map/5371 Also , dont take the bus to 125 st to the train station there, it will require going from the airport to Manhattan via the Triborough Bridge ,and as in the rest of the area , the traffic can really hang you up .

There is another option.....

Take Amtrak from Rochester to NYC and then transfer to a train headed to New Haven.

This entire trip is around 10.5 hours. But doable. No hassles with buses, subways, airport security.....

David , AVelo Airlines ? Sort of reminds me of this " Odd Couple " encounter - https://youtu.be/_S9wWA8xdWE

Update: thank you for all the advice. It was very helpful. This trip was for my son who is not an experienced traveler. I was able to give him backup plans in case things got messed up. Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

He ended up going with a shuttle from LaGuardia to New Haven, called Go Shuttle. Cost was $75 plus tip per person. There were 4 passengers, but could have been 6. Transport direct to hotel in New Haven. Reservation made in advance. The only disadvantage with this shuttle is that it only runs until 8:30 pm. Flight was on time, so not an issue.

He returned by train to NYC to Grand Central.

Appreciate all the help!

Blockquote
Wrong !!!!!! From LaGuardia you need to go to Grand Central Station and take a Metro North ( New Haven Line ) train to New Haven Look at this map http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrmap.htm

Rome2rio is not wrong.

You can take Amtrak from Penn Station to New Haven. Trains run from about 6 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.

As you mentioned, you can also take Metro North from Grand Central to Nw Haven.