Whether you are an experienced airport sleeper or new to the game, this sleep guide will give you the essential information to better prepare you for sleeping in New York City LaGuardia Airport.
Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at New York City LaGuardia Airport. If you have a tip to share, write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!
Coronavirus Update: We’ve heard past reports that the terminal closes from 12:00AM – 4:00AM and a recent traveller indicated they were permitted t re-enter at 3:00AM. Be prepared to go outside or have a backup plan to stay at an airport hotel. If you are a daytime sleeper, perhaps the rest of the guide will help you, but keep in mind that it was written before Covid-19 and the information may have changed. Read the latest traveller reviews for any updates or user tips.
Sleeping in New York City LaGuardia Airport
Locations & Seating
This old airport is undergoing a major overhaul, March 2019 saw some renovations being completed (a portion of Terminal B for instance). In the meantime, travellers agree that the terminals remain dirty and lacking amenities, including any decent seating. What seating exists is old and has armrests. The ongoing construction is only adding to the issue of finding a clean, comfortable spot to sit. If you’re able to find a decent patch of clean-ish floor to spread out on, a sleeping mat or even air mattress will provide necessary cushion and warmth.
The most common sleep spots are the 2 food courts in Terminal B. You may be able to push together chairs and tables for makeshift beds. You certainly won’t be alone.
Rest Zones
There are no designated rest zones within the airport.
Temperature
Expect the airport to cool down at night, as air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie and a pair of gloves provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting
It seems lighting stays on most of the night. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise
Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements regarding things like boarding calls and general airport announcements (safety warnings, passenger pages, etc). At night when there are no more flights, you would think the announcements would be put to rest, but that is not always the case. As a precaution, you should come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
Showers
Unfortunately, there are no showers available to freshen up.
Food & Drink
We are unable to confirm whether any food concessions are open 24-hours, so do stock up on food and water before eateries and convenience stores close for the night.
Hotels
If you’re looking for a decent night sleep, your best and safest bet may be a nearby hotel. Several are located within a short drive, offering free shuttle service, and a couple are even in walking distance. See the hotel section of our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at LaGuardia Airport.
Lounges
While LaGuardia Airport has several lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our New York City LaGuardia Airport Guide that you can pay to access.
Security & Safety
Many travellers have commented on the number of homeless people camping out here, especially overnight – it has been such a problem that many news outlets have covered the situation. Between this and the lack of amenities and sleep spots, shelling out for a hotel may be worth your peace of mind.
Still, if you’re trying an overnight stay, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:
- Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport alone or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras where you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you, and they will direct you to a safe spot.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone, we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
- Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with only earphones and a laptop bag strap, but without the iPods or laptops that were attached. The same goes for important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body so no one can get them without waking you up.
- Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall so that it would be hard for someone to access it.
- Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee, stay alert, and stay awake. You can always sleep on the plane!
Pro-tip: If you are sleeping 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 begin to arrive for morning flights.
LaGuardia Airport Photo Gallery
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