(no subject)

[desh]

Hey, New Yorkers: What's the best way to drive most of the way to the city (on the Turnpike, coming from the south), park somewhere, and take public transportation the rest of the way into Manhattan? Where "best" means "a combination of cheapest, quickest, safest parking, and least trafficked"?

Thanks.

Comments

[rahaeli.livejournal.com]

I park in Hoboken and take the PATH train over. Hoboken's not cheap, but it's pretty safe -- safer than Jersey City or Newark, which are the other PATH stops. You could also park further out and take NJ Transit to PATH, but that's wayyyyy more complex.

It can be a bit tricky getting to the parking garage I use in Hoboken (oy, Hoboken, to quote a certain cartoon character) but if you're interested I think I can still do detailed directions from memory. :)

[sleepsong.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest the same, but also there are many more suburban towns (such as Summit) that have Park & Rides where you can park your car for the day (and pay at a station or something like that) and then take a bus into the city, or that have municipal lots near their train stations where you can leave your car for the day.

[desh]

Yeah, my dad lives about 6-8 stops past Summit, so I've parked near him before. The problem is, it's still an hour or so away from Penn Station at that point. It's perfect if I'm planning to stop by and visit him on my way home, which I'm not this time.

I've done that on the train, though. Never on a bus.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

Hm. I wish I could help more, but I've never had this problem, what with living in Brooklyn and all.

Depending on the time of day/day of the week, it's not so terrible to drive into Manhattan itself even and find a parking space, but don't tell anyone I told you that.

Alternately, I took a Jersey Transit train all the way to Trenton once on a day trip to Philly and it was easy and cheaper than Amtrak (and gasoline these days, possibly).

[desh]

Oh, I'd totally take NJ Transit from Princeton Junction, or the Chinatown bus all the way from Philly, if I wasn't planning to use my car in North Jersey immediately after my weekend in NYC.

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

on weekends i used to usually just drive straight into manhattan (from either princeton where i worked, or near hackettstown where i lived) and park there. that seemed to be a little-known secret because it was incredibly easy going.

[rahaeli.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I discounted places further out than H'boken or JC because of the time factor. If you park in H'boken, with a little bit of luck from the PATH timing gods, you can be downtown in 30 minutes.

[sleepsong.livejournal.com]

True. From Summit it takes about 45-50 minutes to get to Penn Station, but Hoboken has the advantage of giving you several different PATH routes rather than just one destination.

[rahaeli.livejournal.com]

Really, it all depends on where he's going once he gets into the city. :)

[desh]

Where I'm going when I get into the city? You mean there's something south of 70th street other than bus/train stations?

[rahaeli.livejournal.com]

Ha. You mean there's something north of the Village other than tourist crap and office buildings? ;)

[desh]

Definitely might be interested in that garage, yeah. We'll talk.

[ursamajor]

*nods* it's what hyoun and i did when we were down in the city a few weekends back - cheap hotel in elizabeth, park and ride at hoboken; the train ride itself is 15-20 minutes and $1.50, so very easy. it's the parking that'll kill ya, but $15/day is still cheaper than anywhere on the island.

[arie]

aaaah memories!

[angrychicken.livejournal.com]

Second this. And the PATH is fun!

[jessebeller.livejournal.com]

if you're looking to hit northern new jersey and upper manhattan, you might consider parking in teaneck and taking a bus to the george washington bridge station and taking the (A) train to 168th st where you can transfer to the (1) or (C) trains for the upper west side.

you wouldn't have to deal with anything below 59th st, and when you were ready to blow town, your car is already in north jersey.

NJ transit

[(Anonymous)]

Im from the DC area coming up to NYC and I was contemplating the same thing. I am considering taking a train from the NE corridor line, possible elizabeth or metropark. Is that a good idea?

Re: NJ transit

[desh]

From DC, I'd just take the Chinatown bus all the way.

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