You can take NJ Transit to NY Penn Station, and from there take either the subway or the LIRR train to JFK (short connection to Airtrain). Seems like the cheapest way to go. I did it last fall (LIRR not the subway) from Princeton Jct. out to JFK. I was by myself, with a few bags (headed for Italy), and I was amazed at how well it worked. I'd go that way again in a heartbeat.

Do some googling on "JFK LIRR" and you'll find more specific info. FYI, last October the LIRR was cheap to JFK on weekends with some sort of day ticket, making the subway not worth taking on Sat-Sun really.

We've used Olympic Airporter. Furthest south they go is Mercer County, but if you can park by your friends in New Brunswick, that would be an option. They make a stop in E. Brunswick.

You should look at price of one way car rentals. Several posters here have found (depending on the length of your trip) renting a car from NJ and driving it to JFK and dropping it is cheaper than parking and you don't have to worry about the safety of your car.

If you can get into Manhattan, from there you have lots of options from car service (dial7.com) to train (LIRR to AirTrain) to bus http://www.nyairportservice.com/

If you are anywhere near Atlantic City, there are buses into Manhattan.

Okay...I think we're leaning towards going to Manhattan then taking a car service or shuttle. Although good to know the subway isn't a huge pain -- that can be our emergency backup plan!

How much of a hassle the subway is is based on how much luggage you have and how comfortable you are dragging it up and down several sets of stairs. Also - depending on the time of day - getting on the subway at Penn Station with luggage can be forcing your way onto a crowded car. For preference - and only a few $ more I wold take LIRR form Penn Station to Jamaica. You still have stairs but the train will be less crowded and have room to stand next to your luggage (or put overhead if it's small).

Olympic airporter offers direct hourly service between EWR and JFK. Fare is $ 27 pp ow.
So you can take the NJ transit train to from New Brunswick direct to Newark airport station, grab the airtran transfer to where the buses and limos load and be on your way.
www.olympicairporter.com

Olympic Airporter seems the way to go, IMO. If you can get to Newark, then you're all set. Thanks for the tip, "joethekay", I may have to try that myself! Many overseas flights seem to be significantly cheaper leaving from JFK than from EWR.

The EWR connection is interesting, but we're going to stick with a shuttle from Penn Station. (Super Shuttle and NYAS seem to be the best price of those.) It saves us the AirTrain transfer, plus we're going to JFK during rush hour, so takingthe train in to Penn Station will also save us a tunnel crossing!

Supershuttle is NOT recommended by most people here. Dreadful service.
And if you;re talking about rush hour, traffic from midtown to JFK can ve very bag

If you are coming into Penn Station with NJ Transit, you can then take the LIRR/Airtrain to JFK. It also leaves from Penn Station

DO NOT take SuperShuttle - they are notorious for missing pick ups and/or driving people around to several diffeent hotel pick ups before actually heading to the airport. They can waste hours of your time.

I agree do NOT use Super Shuttle. If you want a bus, use the Airport Express but I don't think they go from Penn station to JFK, you have to go to Port Authority. If it's rush hour and you're arriving at Penn station anyway, take the train-any Long Island Railroad train to Jamaican and from there, the AirTrain. You'll probably have to stand from NYC to Jamaica, but it's not a terribly long trip.