The best possible location in NJ to get into NYC via mass transit also depends on where in NJ you are staying. Tell us.

Is the rental drop off in the city anywhere near where you are staying? Will you have lots of luggage? Also, where you are and how close to EWR is a factor and if you have lots of luggage. I'm inclined to drive in and drop the car in NYC, without knowing all the details though.

As I mentioned, I will be in either Bridgewater or Ridgefield Park. I'm staying in Bridgewater, but my meeting on Friday afternoon is in Ridgefiled Park. I will probably leave directly from that meeting to head to Manhattan, but I will be returning to my hotel in Bridgewater for Friday night.

Yes, the rental drop off is only one block from where I am staying. No, I don't have a lot of luggage--carry on and a computer bag. I will be in Bridgewater on Saturday, until noon.

On Friday, from Ridgefield Park, you could drive to the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken, park, and take the ferry from there to midtown for your dinner. Or just drive into Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel and park at the Port Authority Bus Terminal which is just outside the tunnel and close to Times Square.

On Saturday, I'd drive into Manhattan and drop the car there.

Thank you for your help

I would drive in both cases. From RP I would go via Geo Washington Bridge, as the traffic may be better there on a Friday afternoon than the tunnel. To drive to Weehawken or Hoboken for mass transit you are going right by the Lincoln Tunnel anyway and may as well drive in then. Remember to prepare to pay tolls as I guess you won't have ezpass. However it is subway series weekend in NY (@ Mets) so it could be crazy using any transit option.

A game at Citifield will only effect the 7 train and that is just before and after the game.

Since it's a business meeting, I'm assuming they will cover the cost of parking and the tunnel toll, so it's probably best to drive into Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel and, as ellenem says, park at the Port Authority. By doing that, you don't actually have to drive much on Manhattan streets, and it's also a quick exit. There's a ramp almost directly from the tunnel into the parking facility, and it's conveniently located to Times Square. However, you need to realize that there will be a lot of traffic, and you should allow an extra 30 minutes of wait time at the tunnel on a Friday evening. In this case, the ferry might save you some time and might be worth considering, but you'll run into similar traffic problems getting there too.

For the second trip, I'd actually return the car at EWR and then take the train into Manhattan from EWR. It will save you some time on the return since you won't have to drop the car off on Sunday. Drop the car off as early as you can manage on Saturday and spend the day in Manhattan. You can drop your bags at the hotel. Take a car service to the airport on Sunday (either Dial 7 or Carmel), and be sure to arrange that on Saturday.