EWR Hotel - Times Square transportation

[JessyCruises]

We are a group of 11 sailing on Anthem of the Seas on March 1.  We are staying at the Doubletree at EWR.  We are driving in early on Feb 29 and are planning on spending the day in and around Times Square/Central Park after checking into the hotel.  We will have cars and can park in Manhattan but I know it is very expensive from past experience.  Is there a more economical way to get us over there without it taking forever?

 

We may not all be returning to the hotel at the same time.  There are a few seniors in our group who won't want to be walking around all day & night.  Unfortunately it is not an option to change hotels to Manhattan.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[meadowlander]

2 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

We are a group of 11 sailing on Anthem of the Seas on March 1.  We are staying at the Doubletree at EWR.  We are driving in early on Feb 29 and are planning on spending the day in and around Times Square/Central Park after checking into the hotel.  We will have cars and can park in Manhattan but I know it is very expensive from past experience.  Is there a more economical way to get us over there without it taking forever?

 

 

Public transit options are available. If you were to use NJ Transit trains from the EWR train station to NY Penn Station the fare is $15.25 one way or $11.25 for age 62+. Train ride is about 30 minutes.  Not cost effective.

 

If you take NJ Transit trains from Newark Penn Station to NY Penn Station, fare is $5.25 with senior rate at $2.45, ride about 25 minutes. Add cost of Uber to NPS.

 

If you use PATH trains from Newark Penn Station, one way fare is $2.75. There is weekend maintenance work on the PATH line from NPS to the World Trade Center. You would have to transfer from PATH at either Journal Square stop or Grove Street stop to the PATH line that terminates at 33rd street in NYC. The latter train will go to NYC via Hoboken. Estimate 25-30 minutes from Journal Square to 33rd Street and add 10 minutes for NPS to Journal Sq. The 33rd St station is on 6th Ave & 32nd St.

[waterbug123]

5 hours ago, meadowlander said:

 

If you use PATH trains from Newark Penn Station, one way fare is $2.75. There is weekend maintenance work on the PATH line from NPS to the World Trade Center. You would have to transfer from PATH at either Journal Square stop or Grove Street stop to the PATH line that terminates at 33rd street in NYC. The latter train will go to NYC via Hoboken. Estimate 25-30 minutes from Journal Square to 33rd Street and add 10 minutes for NPS to Journal Sq. The 33rd St station is on 6th Ave & 32nd St.

 

If you go with this option, note that the 32nd St. is about 50 blocks north of the World Trade Center.  From 32nd St. it's 14 blocks north to Times Square and another 13 blocks north to the lower end of Central Park.  So depending on which stop you end up at, you'd likely need to then get the subway north to be in the part of midtown you want to spend the day in.  You could take cabs/Uber, but you'd probably need 2-3 vehicles and the subway is usually a lot faster; not sure how the cost compares.

[138east]

Another possibility with cars is to drive and park at Secaucus Junction (turnpike exit 15X).  Train is $4.25 with $1.95 senior fare.  

[JessyCruises]

11 minutes ago, 138east said:

Another possibility with cars is to drive and park at Secaucus Junction (turnpike exit 15X).  Train is $4.25 with $1.95 senior fare.  

 

If there a charge for parking at the station?

[mjkacmom]

Another option is to take route 3 to NJ park and ride and bus to port authority.

[138east]

4 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

 

If there a charge for parking at the station?

https://www.parkfast.com/secaucus-parking
 

looks like $16 for 12 hours on a Saturday.

2 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

Another option is to take route 3 to NJ park and ride and bus to port authority.

Possibly park for free at Harmon Meadows and take the bus?

[princeton123211]

15 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

We are driving in early on Feb 29 and are planning on spending the day in and around Times Square/Central Park after checking into the hotel.

You are talking about driving in on a Saturday in which there will be little to no traffic. In this case driving at very least will be just as fast as a NJ Transit or PATH train and having the car(s) might be a lot easier for the seniors traveling with you. 

 

15 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

We will have cars and can park in Manhattan but I know it is very expensive from past experience.

It doesn't have to cost a ton to park in Manhattan-- there are places where you can park that aren't that bad. The worst thing you could do from a cost standpoint is valet park at a nice hotel-- thats the most expensive option by far. Theres a garage on 42nd Street called Manhattan Parking Plaza-- you literally don't need to make any turns after the Lincoln Tunnel-- you will run right into it on 42nd Street. I think its like $45 for 12 hours, close walking distance right into Times Square, and as easy to get back into the tunnel to New Jersey as it is to get in. 

 

There are less expensive parking options if you want to drive a little bit more. 

 

15 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

We may not all be returning to the hotel at the same time.  There are a few seniors in our group who won't want to be walking around all day & night.

For those that want to stay a little longer (and don't mind walking a bit more), taking a PATH or NJ Transit train might work for them. You can also Uber/Lyft. 

[mjkacmom]

When we drive in, we use an app like parking panda, to save money, but it’s also so easy just to put the address into gps and be guided door to door. If you do t want to drive, can you switch your hotel that are closer to public transportation options?

 

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by mjkacmom

[JessyCruises]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone!  I think we might just drive and park from the sounds of it.  Is there a toll between EWR and Manhattan?

[princeton123211]

14 minutes ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

Is there a toll between EWR and Manhattan?

Toll at the Lincoln Tunnel is $16 but drops to $13.75 for Peak with EZ Pass and $11.75 non peak with EZ Pass. If you have EZ Pass you will pay the $11.75 based on when you said you'll be going through. There is no toll to come back to New Jersey.

[138east]

Turnpike toll from exit 14 near the Doubletree to the Lincoln Tunnel is $2.15 each way.

[JessyCruises]

Well that is confusing lol. Does that mean it is $2.15 plus $11.75 for the way there and $2.15 back?

 

[princeton123211]

14 hours ago, Canadian Disney Mom said:

Well that is confusing lol. Does that mean it is $2.15 plus $11.75 for the way there and $2.15 back?

Yes-- two different tolls. The Turnpike will be $2.15 each way. The Lincoln Tunnel toll you will only pay once, as you enter it headed to New York. No tunnel toll coming back to NJ. 

[138east]

Without a NY or NJ EZpass you will pay the full $16 for the tunnel toll.

 

From the Port Authority website - “Please note all E-ZPass discounts apply to accounts at the E-ZPass New York and New Jersey Customer Service Centers only.”