driving to JFK airport tips?

I've never been to the jfk airport but i will be flying out of there on a monday night in January. I'm coming from the Philadelphia area. Is it a difficult drive? Are there lots of signs? Google maps made it seem like it's mostly highway (I-95 to Interstate 278 to the belt parkway to Nassau expressway). any tips are appreciated. someone on yahoo answers suggested an alternative route: Outerbridge Crossing (Route 440) across Staten Island, the Verazzanno Bridge, then the Belt Parkway .

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Let's be honest. Only 'mad dogs and Englishmen' would try to get from Philadelphia to JFK airport on a Friday evening. You are going to be fighting traffic nearly the entire way which makes it imperative that you know exactly which routes and exactly which exits you will be using. And even then you should plan on this drive, which could be done in about two hours in ideal conditions, taking closer to three and a half or more.

The route itself is very straightforward. Use your favorite local connection to the New Jersey Turnpike and take that up to Exit 13 to I-278 east across Staten Island and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge take the first exit, FROM THE LEFT LANE, for the Belt Parkway East and Kennedy Airport. This will entail making a 180° ramp turn and another 90º left turn for the on ramp to the Belt Parkway. Then just follow the unnumbered Belt Parkway for about 15 miles to Exit 19 for the Nassau Expressway and Kennedy Airport. Just a mile and a half later you will take Exit 1S for the Van Wyck Expressway South and Kennedy Airport.

For parking you're on your own, sorry.

AZBuck

I wouldn't even consider driving from Philly to JFK, then paying to park your car. Take a shuttle.

it won't be a friday, its a monday. and we'll be there in the afternoon since the flight leaves at 6. also, im getting dropped off, so i won't need parking. thanks for your tips