Other than driving, what's the cheapest way to get to the Newark Airport from the DC or Baltimore area? Cheaper flights leave from that airport, and I wanted to find the best way to get there. Thank.s

Greyhound bus.

You can always take Amtrak to Penn Station then take NJ Transit back to Newark Airport because I don't think Amtrak stops at Newark.

Take a bus to Penn Central Railroad Station in Newark, NJ (about $70 RT). From there you can take a NJ Transit train to the airport (a few dollars - maybe $3?).

From Newark Penn to Newark Airport, NJTransit/AirTrain cost $7.50. The local bus #62 or 67 cost $1.25.

BTW, since Greyhound from DC to Newark cost ~$37 each way, total by bus will be about $38.5.

It will be a little cheaper to take the "Chinatown Bus" to NYC ($20), then backtrack to EWR by train or by bus.

greyhound / Peter Pan / Bonanza often matches the "chinatown" bus price.

Yup, and traveling with Greyhound/Peter Pan/Bonanza minimizes the chance that your bus will burst into flames en route, a la the Chinatown bus;-)

Some Amtrak trains do stop at Newark Airport Station, but it's not your cheapest way from DC, just the most convenient, probably.

Andrew

Those that do not stop at BWI almost always stop at Baltimore Penn, from where one can take the light rail south to the airport for under $2.

" traveling with Greyhound/Peter Pan/Bonanza minimizes the chance that your bus will burst into flames en route, a la the Chinatown bus"

It's true that a Chinatown bus burnt up a couple of years ago, after pulling over and unloading the passengers.

But it was a Greyhound bus that overturned and killed 5 people in upstate New York earlier this week.

rb - The OP needs to get to EWR, not BWI.

Anyways, aside from possible price difference, Chinatown buses go to NY Chinatown, while PeterPan/Greyhound goes to Port Authority. Both requires a subway ride to get to NJTransit or PATH trains for New Jersey, though I think Port Authority to NY Penn is probably faster.

I'd think there are direct NJTransit buses from Port Authority to Newark too, which is another cheap alternative.

Some of the Chinatown buses go to Penn Station.

I would never take a bus if I was concerned about getting there on time, especially a Chinatown bus.

All criticisms of Amtrak aside, I'd risk Amtrak in a minute to make a train at EWR before I'd step aboard a bus. If I was going to take a bus, take a major carrier that has multiple trips a day, not those Chinatown buses where 8 hour marathon trips are not unheard of.

MikeT - I think some of us are just having fun here, as the OP asks about the "Cheapest Way". So, that's what we're telling her. [Also, check her screen name!]