More NYC travel advice, please

[novelist_wannabe]

OK, so my first actual visit to New York (had a six-hour layover at JFK once. It was about the least friendly place I've ever been) is coming up in about six weeks. We have a pretty clear plan of what we want to see and do, but I've got a transportation issue for which I'd like some input. Because the lodging is free, I'll be staying at a resort in the Poconos 80 miles out. We're looking at two day trips into the city. I've checked bus fares and they cost too much. So I'm going to drive at least most of the way in. What I need to know is what is the best approach:

1.) Drive all the way into the city (is the traffic and parking as bad as it's made out to be?)
2.) Drive to Newark, park at EWR and take public transportation into the city.
3.) Something else (you tell me)

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Either way, don't forget to fill up in NJ.

 

[JackReacher]

You can find city parking online for a price that won't make you want to murder someone.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

That's helpful. I had no idea you could purchase parking online. It appears driving into the city and parking is not significantly different in price than parking at the airport and taking the shuttle bus.

 

[The Big Ragu]

1) Traffic depends on when and exactly where you are heading. It helps if you know the different routes in (tunnels, GW bridge) and how to navigate, and you won't have that benefit. It doesn't have to be miserable. ... but the parking if you do get yourself into Manhattan will be more expensive than parking outside of NY and taking public transportation in -- unless you can find street parking. It's doable, especially if you head to upper west or upper east side or lower east side. But you probably don't want to do it unless you know exactly where you are driving around in circles looking for street parking.
2) You can do the Newark route, but it might even be cheaper and more convenient to drive to one of the other Path stations and park nearby. I have never done this, but what comes to mind as a guess (and you might want to look into it) is Journal Square -- which is near Jersey City. I'd bet that a parking lot near there is a lot less than it will be in Manhattan, and if the lot is right near the Path station, the train will zip you right into Manhattan cheaply.

 

[cranberry]

Drive in and take the Lincoln Tunnel. It will take a couple hours. Then park at the Edison ParkFast on 42nd St. between Ninth and Tenth -- it's a park and lock place (so you keep your car keys) and not terribly expensive, plus it's only a couple blocks north of the Lincoln Tunnel. That will put you in good position to go see pretty much anything in Manhattan.

 

[Boom_70]

If you are going to drive I would not leave the Poconos until after 9 am to avoid heavy RT 80
commuter traffic in Morristown area. Leaving after 9 will also put you behind the NYC traffic.

I would take RT 80 to I95 / GW Bridge Lower Level . Then West Side HGHY to 57th St. There is
a parking garage at Holiday Inn on 57th between 9th and 10th ave that's reasonable. You are
walking distance of Midtown and close to major subway hub at Columbus Circle to get downtown.

When leaving city I would either try to be on road by 3 pm or stay until after 6pm to avoid reverse
traffic issues.

I come from another direction so I've never done train from NJ but the guy to ask is Moddy who
I believe commutes in.

If you don't hit traffic the drive is not bad.

BTW The Poconos has a *** good factory outlet in Tannersville that's off beaten path a bit so selection
is real good at place like North Face and Polo. Go to main Polo store in NYC and then find items you want
at 1/3 price at outlet.

 

[Boom_70]

Drive in and take the Lincoln Tunnel. It will take a couple hours. Then park at the Edison ParkFast on 42nd St. between Ninth and Tenth -- it's a park and lock place (so you keep your car keys) and not terribly expensive, plus it's only a couple blocks north of the Lincoln Tunnel. That will put you in good position to go see pretty much anything in Manhattan.

Edison lot is also good. Tunnel or Bridge really depends on traffic One could be 10 minutes and the other could be an hour. Would listen
to traffic reports on way in - News Radio 88 with traffic on the 8's. As you come into to 95 from 80 you can then decide based on traffic
report to go Lincoln Tunnel or GW Bridge.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

We'll be way after six leaving the city. If I leave late enough to avoid morning rush, am I also playing roulette in terms of parking availability?

 

[cranberry]

I would take RT 80 to I95 / GW Bridge Lower Level . Then West Side HGHY to 57th St. There is
a parking garage at Holiday Inn on 57th between 9th and 10th ave that's reasonable. You are
walking distance of Midtown and close to major subway hub at Columbus Circle to get downtown.

I have friends who use this lot all the time. They can't find one less expensive.

 

[Boom_70]

We'll be way after six leaving the city. If I leave late enough to avoid morning rush, am I also playing roulette in terms of parking availability?

No - not at time of year you will be going. Really any time of year there is plenty of parking. I've never
been shut out of that Holiday Inn lot.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

After looking at a map, that might be the winner. Boom thanks for the tip on the outlet center. We have another day trip to Cooperstown planned, but we'll take a couple of days where we're not riding so much.

 

[Boom_70]

I have friends who use this lot all the time. They can't find one less expensive.

Yeah - it's a big with The CBS News crowd who's office is right down street. What I live about it is that you can easily get back out
to West Side Hghy

 

[novelist_wannabe]

From what I can tell after following a couple of the parking tips here, the cost of parking in the city is roughly equivalent to what I'd spend at an off-site park-n-fly at EWR plus the cost of the shuttle x 2. I'm feeling less inclined to go the EWR route now.

 

[cranberry]

You should drive all the way into Manhattan.

 

[trifectarich]

Drive to Hoboken; take the PATH train. It'll only cost you an arm for parking, not an arm and a leg, you'll feel safer, and the train trip into the city is a matter of minutes.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I'd listen to Boom and Cran -- if they say those lots work, they do.

If you decide to park in Hoboken, though, and it saves you money (I have no idea about any of this), though, trifectarich is right. The path from Hoboken to the World Trade Center is only the blink of an eye. I'm just not sure that parking in Hoboken is any cheaper if Cran and Boom are giving you cheap lots near the West Side highway.

 

[cranberry]

At the end of the night the last thing you're going to want to do is take a train to Hoboken then get your car then drive another two hours.

 

[Boom_70]

I'd listen to Boom and Cran -- if they say those lots work, they do.

If you decide to park in Hoboken, though, and it saves you money (I have no idea about any of this), though, trifectarich is right. The path from Hoboken to the World Trade Center is only the blink of an eye. I'm just not sure that parking in Hoboken is any cheaper if Cran and Boom are giving you cheap lots near the West Side highway.

Agreed it all comes down to parking. Have no idea how convenient the parking is in Hoboken for The Path trains. I've never found
Hoboken an easy place to drive around in . It's a bit of a maze.

 

[Boom_70]

At the end of the night the last thing you're going to want to do is take a train to Hoboken then get your car then drive another two hours.

Right and then you have to find your way out of Hobeken to main highway which if you don't know the area is not easy. Likely a maze of
6 or 7 turns on side streets. Miss one and it could take you an hour to find your way out.