bus/train from Elizabeth to NYC?
 

We are visiting New York in July staying at Elizabeth New Jersey.
Does anyone know the easiet/quickest/cheapest way to get into NYC daily for 3 days and travel freely on subways/busses once in the city? Is there a pass which covers the city and tranport into the city?
Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

There are both bus and train options from Elizabeth into the city or to gateway stations in NJ such as Newark or Hoboken. Elizabeth is a reasonably large area so the best option might well depend on where you are starting from. For the best information, I'd check the NJ transit website (here's the link.)

http://www.njtransit.com/

Bus and train options during the week will certainly be more plentiful then on the weekends. I do not believe that NJ transit sells a short-term pass that provides unlimited travel for a 3 day trip. While monthly passes are sold, the cost isn't feasible for you.

Once in the city, it is possible to purchase a MetroCard that can provide you with unlimited, short-term travel.

thanks for this. we stay at the marriott residence inn 83 GLIMCHER REALTY WAY
ELIZABETH, NJ 07201 US
does anyone know whether that's near train or bus?

Richard,
On the NJ transit website, it has an option called "Trip Planner." You can type in an address and the date/time you want to leave and it'll give you options, both train and bus, with directions and distance to the stop/station.

Richard,
It looks like your hotel offers a free shuttle to Newark Airport. I would take that and then, as Ryan has already stated, NJ transit can get you into Penn Station in about 5 minutes. When getting schedules at njtransit.com, you'll want the Northeast Corridor Line.

The downside of floorit's suggestions is:
1. At Newark Airport, you'll have to take the AirTrain from the airport to the airport train station in order to catch the NJTransit.

2. Taking the NJTransit from Newark Airport station costs many times more than the fare from Elizabeth. That is because you are paying for the AirTrain as well. I don't remember the exact fares, but from Newark airport it is >$10 1-way, whereas from Elizabeth (or Newark Penn station) it costs $3 or so.

Maybe you can call the hotel directly to inquire your transportation options.

The closest station (other than paying at EWR for the monorail) is the North Elizabeth NJT station, (1180 North Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07201), 2.48 miles, according to Marriott's own "drive it" directions.

In addition, it appears you're staying adjacent to Jersey Gardens Mall, where you could take the #111 NJT bus right to NY Port Authority Bus Terminal. http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0111.pdf looks like a 35 minute bus ride.

http://www.njtransit.com/ada_tp_itinerary1.jsp

Will give you times & prices, I used
JERSEY GARDENS MALL and PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERM as my start & destination; prices for the times I asked for were $4.35-Reg / $1.95-Child/Sr/Disabled
Hope that helps.

Richard, You are staying near Jersey Gardens. Although the Elizabeth North train station is the closest, it's not near by any stretch of the word and certainly not a neighborhood to be walking though day or night. Your best bet, truly is to rent a car and drive, as this area is not particularly accessible to NYC by any public transportation without several connections, as the posters above have so aptly researched. I live about 15 minutes from where you are staying. I would never dream of taking public transportation from Jersey Gardens to the city. Another question...do you speak Spanish? Good Luck!

thanks for this advice. I don't think we'll be walking much in the neighbourhood, as we have a hire car.

I assume "hire car" is a rental car. If you prefer not to drive to NYC, then I'd suggest you drive to Newark Penn Station on Raymond Ave. (or St.) and take NJT or PATH trains to NYC. It may be preferable to park across the street at Gateway Center (there's a Hilton there).

That mall appears to be of good size, and according to your hotel's website, is only 200 feet from the hotel -- I can't imagine it's as bad as tpatricco feels it would be, and it's a single bus from the mall to NYC. Many of us in the US are so used to the privacy, "safety" and "convenience" of our own private cars that we refuse to consider public transportation. Often there's an attitude in the US that only "those" people ride a bus.

I had doubted that you would walk to the subway station, thought you'd be taking a taxi. Enjoy your visit.

In England we say 'hire car' for rental car!
Good to hear that bus is a possible option for us . Thanks for the advice.

I didn't mean to infer that the area was dangerous as much as that it is a largely industrial area. This Mall was built several years ago in the industrial area known as Port Elizabeth. It's adjacent to Newark Airport, which is why so many hotels have been recently constructed over there. It is surrounded by highways.

Since you have a rental car, I would recommend driving to the Elizabeth North train station and taking the train directly into New York Penn Station from there. There is car parking either free or for a reasonable $3 per day. This is the easiest way to go, and the trains on this line run late into the evening as well for your return to your hotel. Good luck!

tpatricco - I owe u an apology for my inference of your earlier post. I've parked over at Newark/Penn, but not at North Elizabeth ... so assuming it (N.E.) MIGHT be a bad area, I suggested Newark/Penn.

Looking on maps at the surrounding highways, it didn't look too promising for walking from the hotel, and I assumed they wouldn't have a car and would be looking for bus/taxi/rail options.

Thanks for all the help. we have read that driving or parking in NYC itself is too difficult, so these ideas are very helpful. Maybe for an evening visit to the city we might use the car to get us as far as the subway?

Do you really have to stay in NJ instead of staying right in the city? It would be alot easier for you to find a reasonable hotel, and be able to walk everywhere, or take subway/bus around the city.

This would also eliminate the need for a car.

I would suggest trying priceline or look at the Travel Lodge Inn on W42nd St.

Reasonable rates are available right now with lots of higher end hotels.

Hope this helps.

I agree that staying in the city itself if you can find accomodations that suit your budget would be a better idea than staying near Jersey Gardens. It would definitely eliminate the need for rental car (which is a considerable cost in itself). I've lived in this area of NJ all my life and I'm accustomed to driving & taking the trains too. I don't think driving into the city is more difficult than taking the train. We often drive because it allows us greater flexibility (and faster) return home, not being dependent on the train schedules. Off-peak these trains run once an hour. Depending on the neighborhood of NYC and the time of day that you're going is what most affects the cost and availability of parking. You can always park in a garage if you're willing to pay. Midtown garages are the most expensive. I find that it's not terribly difficult to street park below midtown in the evening and on weekends. You can do that and then take the subway anywhere in the city that you want to go. rb_travler, no offense taken...I didn't realize they'd have a rental car either. Driving to Newark & parking there is another option, but the EN Train station is a small commuter station which is closer to OP's hotel, and the route to drive there is less confusing than to Newark. Richard, I don't think anybody answered your question about rail passes. NJTransit only sells monthly passes, so for three days you just pay as you go. It's probably about $4-5 round trip from here to NY Penn Station. You can get all this info from their website www.njtransit.com Trish

All this advice is so helpful thanks! We have a car because we have 10 days in all, taking in Washington DC, Philadelphia and the Shenendoah National Park (to give us a break from city sights).
When you say "below midtown" in NYC for street parking, what does that mean? Sorry but we don't have the same city phrases that you have America!
Thanks again...

If you are going to have a car while you are there it makes it much easier.

Just drive to the Elizabeth NJ transit train station. This staition will have tains into PENN station NYC every 10-20 mins. Fares are 4.55. (The North Elizabeth station may be closer but it has less frequent service)>

Its located at Grand and Broad st. Here are directions

Maneuvers
Distance
Maps 

1: 
Start out going Southwest on KAPKOWSKI RD toward JERSEY GARDENS BLVD.
0.2 miles
Map

2: 
Turn RIGHT onto JERSEY GARDENS BLVD.
0.1 miles
Map

3: 
Turn LEFT onto 3RD ST.
0.4 miles
Map

4: 
Turn RIGHT onto TRUMBULL ST.
0.9 miles
Map

5: 
TRUMBULL ST becomes E GRAND ST.
0.9 miles
Map

6: 
Turn RIGHT onto BROAD ST.
<0.1 miles
Map

7: 
End at W GRAND ST & BROAD ST ELIZABETH NJ
Map

Total Est. Time:  9 minutes
Total Est. Distance: 2.77 miles

Richard - Sorry for the local speak. Midtown is generally considered roughly between 35th-65th streets.

Whichever train station you choose, ask someone at your hotel for directions. I'm not sure where bri19sp got those directions, but I don't even know where three of the streets mentioned are, and I live here! Mapquest's directions IMO are often odd routes, and there are simpler, more direct ways to get to where you want to go! Good Luck! Sounds like you will get to see some great sights on the East Coast! When is your trip?