The best hotels in Long Island City, New York, ranked

Axel's take on Long Island City: #12 of 12 in New York, 5.9/10

A practical Queens base only when the station walk works. The strongest value score and good hotels cannot fully offset the thinnest doorstep choices, weaker sightseeing access and less consistent neighborhood character.

Long Island City can make sense for travelers comfortable using trains throughout the day. Court Square and Queensboro Plaza offer useful Manhattan connections, while MoMA PS1 and Gantry Plaza State Park give the neighborhood its own appeal. The waterfront, however, is not an automatic feature of every stay: the station districts and riverfront streets feel quite different.

Recent local advice repeatedly favors checking the actual walk around Jackson Avenue, Court Square and Queensboro Plaza rather than relying on a quick advertised ride to Manhattan. Some farther-flung streets have little activity between the station and your door. Choose it as a practical base, especially for Queens outings; skip it if walking home through Manhattan is part of the dream.

• Best for: travelers on a budget, sports fans
• Skip it if: You want Manhattan sightseeing on foot; You dislike quiet station-to-door walks
• Getting around: 7/N/W serve Queensboro Plaza; Court Square has 7/G and weekday E/F, with E/F/R at Queens Plaza; JFK via E–AirTrain, LGA via 7–Q70, EWR via 7 to Times Square, subway to Penn and NJ Transit.
• After dark: Jackson Avenue and the main station districts have evening activity; some industrial streets offer a much quieter walk with few places open.
• Rates: Typical Axel rate $403 a night

Where to stay in New York: every neighborhood ranked

The best hotels in Long Island City, ranked by Axel's take

Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.

1. The Modernist Hotel 8.8/10, small, family-run mid-range boutique hotel in Long Island City. A strong Queens base for roomy stays and genuinely helpful service. $346 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
2. Home2 Suites by Hilton NY Long Island City/Manhattan View 8.7/10, practical 3-star all-suite hotel in Queens. A strong family base with useful kitchens and easy subway access, not Manhattan atmosphere. $273 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
3. The Local - Hostel 8.6/10, social budget hostel with dorms and private rooms in Long Island City. A strong budget base for meeting people and reaching Manhattan without staying there. $125 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
4. Aloft by Marriott Long Island City-Manhattan View 8.6/10, modern, limited-service 3-star in Long Island City. A strong Queens base with welcoming staff and easy subway access to Manhattan. $250 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
5. LIC Hotel 8.5/10, no-frills 3-star in Long Island City, Queens. A strong-value Queens base with clean rooms, breakfast and easy subway access. $186 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
6. The Boro Hotel 8.4/10, industrial-style boutique hotel in Long Island City. A strong Queens base for skyline views, comfortable rooms and genuinely welcoming service. $282 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
7. Courtyard Long Island City/New York Manhattan View 8.4/10, practical 3-star chain hotel beside Queens Plaza subway connections. A strong Queens base for Manhattan trips, provided train noise won’t spoil your sleep. $249 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
8. Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City New York 8.2/10, practical 3-star chain hotel near Queens Plaza. A dependable Queens base with excellent subway access, but rooms show their age. $255 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
9. Ravel Hotel Trademark Collection by Wyndham 7.2/10, 4-star boutique and event hotel beside the Queensboro Bridge. Roomy accommodations and skyline views, but event noise makes this a conditional pick. $239 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate

Recent hotel rates in Long Island City

Seen by Axel within the last 7 days, most recently Oct 16, 2026. Each rate is per night: the stay's total as a free account pays it, including any fee the hotel collects at check-in, divided by its nights, beside the public rate seen for the same stay, also per night. These are examples, not live inventory: sign up free and Axel checks live rooms and rates for that hotel and those dates.

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Each page lists every stay Axel priced for that hotel this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.

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• Hotels in New York in October 2026