Air Train(monorail that goes between the terminals and to NJ Transit) from airport to NJ Transit train to Penn Station, fast ,easy , cheap.http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=AirportConnectionsTo

I think the AirTrain Northeast Corridor Line goes from EWR into NY's Penn Station for $12.50. I don't know if Hurricane Sandy had any effect.

How many people are you and how much luggage do you have?

And why are you going to Penn Station? Is your hotel near there? Or are you getting a train to somewhere else?

(I assume the train referred to is back on a regular schedule after Sandy - but I would contact NJ Transit to be sure before trying to take it.)

(And, yes, Sandy filled Penn Station with water - so for many days there was either no service or significant delays.)

The other option is by way of Amtrak from EWR station. Their fare is $25 to $44 depending on the train. http://www.amtrak.com/home

is nytraveler a stalker?? 1 person or 2....2 bags or 4....would it matter??

Fastest and most economical to Penn Station is the Airtrain then NJ Transit, exactly as HappyTrvlr outlined. You can also take a bus, but I've found that the bus takes longer and drops you off near the Port Authority, though it may be a dollar cheaper reach way.

nytraveler is trying to point out that there might be better options: public transport if you are travelling alone/without a lot of luggage, or if you're a small group with several bags, splitting the cost of a taxi might be a reasonable option.
So yes, the more info we have, the better we can help - it does matter.

Duh

For two people, book a car service. It's only a few dollars more and a much more pleasant experience.

But to be honest, it's not "only a few dollars more". It's three times as much as the Airtrain and also requires a $13 tunnel toll and tip on top of the trip cost, and it can be significantly slower, particularly during the busy periods before Christmas (or any time of the year during the week).

And alot of people just miss the point that the OP asked for the cheapest way into the city that wasn't so inconvenient as to make it impossible. I'm almost always traveling by Airtrain to EWR, even with my dog in tow, and it's not that burdensome, and it saves a HUGE amount of money.

Yes - if there are 3 or 4 people with a lot of luggage - this might not be the best option. Especially if some are smaller children or elderly who don't want to haul stuff around.

The original answer is great for 1 or 2 people who can easily manage their own luggage.

If it's a family of 5 with 3 kids under 10 - it's a really bad idea.

Or if it's a couple of seniors who need someone to handle their luggage for them (the OP said "unless it's too much work" - which could have a lot of meanings) it might not be the best choice.

And if they want to go to Penn Station to pick up another train it makes sense. If they just want to get into the city for their hotel - other options might be more convenient (as the airport bus).

Is this Penn Station Newark or Penn Station New York?

(I'm assuming this isn't Penn Station Baltimore or Penn Station Philadelphia - there must be an interesting story why so many [main]stations are named "Penn")

They were probably stations for the Pennsylvania Railroad way back when.

Here is an interesting book about the building of the original New York Penn Station and the tunnels to it.
http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Gotham-Construction-Station-Tunnels/dp/B006Z37IS8

Yes - like the Hotel Pennsylvania in NYC - they were all at one time part of the Pennsylvania RR - the largest in the country - with more employees than the US government (1800 whatever -not now).

I am topping this to see if I understand correctly--I may be joining DD in New York for a quick weekend trip in a couple of weeks and airfares are substantially cheaper flying into Newark than LGA...

I looked at the link posted by nytraveler for the AirTrain and from what I understand I can catch it at the Newark Airport, pay $12.50 and take it to Penn Station? I will be by myself and will probably just have a duffel since it is just a two-night trip, and then just reverse the process to come back? Thanks for any help!

Just to clarify for musicfan, you can buy a ticket to NY Penn Station at any AirTrain station within the airport. The cost is $12.50 ($8.50 for seniors). Be sure to buy your return ticket from a vending machine at NY Penn Station (or buy a round-trip ticket at EWR). There is a $5 surcharge for buying a ticket aboard an NJTransit train.

The trip involves taking the AirTrain from your terminal in the airport to the NJTransit Newark Airport Station, then transferring to an NJTransit train to New York (two stops; the first is Newark Penn Station, likely not your destination).

The overall trip takes about 30 minutes, about 7 to 11 minutes of which are on the AirTrain. NJTransit trains into Manhattan run virtually all day at a maximum interval of 15 minutes, often much more frequently. You'll need to present your ticket for both the AirTrain and the NJTransit portions of your trip.

The greatest advantage of this travel scheme is the avoidance of traffic at the Hudson River crossings into Manhattan. No bus, cab or private car service can escape what are sometimes very lengthy waits at the tunnel entrances.

Thanks much for the information! So, is it pretty simple to figure out then? Even for someone from the Midwest who gets pretty much everywhere in her own car?

Yes, it's pretty simple. The Airtrain travels only in one direction then reverses course at the train station. Remember to retain the ticket you purchased. You have to insert it into the turnstile to exit, but it's pretty easy and fast. This is my preferred way to get to EWR.

Yes - just make sure you take NJ Transit from Newark Penn Station to NY Penn Station. If you take Amtrak by accident it will cost much more.

You all are the BEST! So, I:

--Get my luggage, etc.
--Buy an AirTrain ticket (roundtrip to make it easier) at the airport
--Take AirTrain to the NJTransit Station
--Transfer to a NJTransit Train to NY Penn Station

Returning:

--NJTransit Train from NY Penn Station
--AirTrain from NJTransit Station to EWR

Thanks again!

musicfan, your summary is correct except that you don't need a ticket for the AirTrain. But you can buy your NJTransit ticket within the airport at a machine at the entrance to the AirTrain.
By the way, senior tickets on NJTransit are half price -- but you have to buy them individually as one way, no round trip -- although the direction on the ticket makes no difference. (Both can indicate Newark to NY Penn even if you use one to come back).

Oh, I get it--that makes sense, thanks!

And I don't qualify for the senior citizen ticket, not yet anyway!

Thanks again!

Actually, it's three stops - Newark-Penn, Secaucus Junction, NY-Penn. But NY-Penn is the final stop so you can't really foul up.

BigRuss is correct. I neglected to mention Secaucus because our NJTransit line (not the one musicfan will use) often doesn't stop there.

Look into the newark airport bus http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp

Bus = potential for weekday rush hour traffic delays at Hudson River crossings; Train = no traffic delays.

The maps online seem pretty self-explanatory so I think I can do this! I like the idea of bypassing tunnel traffic!

Thanks again for all the help!