We will be staying at Marriot Manhattan coming from MA and do not really want to drive into NYC.
Does anyone have any suggestions on where we can drive to outside NYC ,leave car for 3 days and take train/subway in.

Metro-North stations generally have parking facilities that will allow you to park for long periods.

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/parking.htm

Does that mean you want to park your car before checking in? Are you ok with transporting luggage on mass transit?

My suggestion would be to drive down I-95 into Teaneck NJ and park your car at the Marriott there which is also part of a small office complex. There is a NJ Transit bus stop to NYC right there (#167). I often recommend this hotel over others in NJ (such as those around Meadowlands) since it is convenient for getting into Manhattan. It is also close to lots of NJ shopping and restaurants if you have a car.

Hi-if you are coming from MA (not exactly sure if you'd be coming down 95 or 1-84 through Danbury to 6-84), i'd recommend parking in a Metro North parking lot and taking the commuter train in. I'm not sure which stations offer long term parking but I'm sure if you call and ask they could tell you. If you are in western MA you could look at the Harlem Line Metro North stops that are an hour and a half or so north of the city-Wingdale, Pawling, Golden's Bridge, etc. I know it's free parking on the weekends but not sure about mid-week. Also (as a New Yorker who street parks) you can drive in and park on the Upper West or Upper East side and due to alternate side of the street parking rules you can find a spot for 3 days without having to move it, but pay careful attention to the signs! I live in the Yorkville area on the UES and can usually find a spot in about 20 minutes. Usually-don't quote me!

MetroNorth stations have no security and cars left there for several overnights (when the station is empty) may be stolen or stripped. (IMHO this is true of parking in an open lot or on the street anywhere.)

Also, many of the stations are full before 8 am and arriving later you would not find any spot open.

I believe that Stamford CT has a manned, paid lot where the car would be safe. But then you would have to pay train fare into the city and haul your luggage around Penn Station (often up a couple of flights of stairs) to get a cab to the hotel.

"MetroNorth stations have no security and cars left there for several overnights (when the station is empty) may be stolen or stripped. "

Hogwash, at least for the suburban MetroNorth stations. I do it all the time - no problems on either the Hudson or Harlem lines. Also, not one single report of anyone else having problems. It would certainly show up in the local newspaper if there were problems.

Driving from MA through NYC to get to Teaneck NJ also makes no sense.

From where in MA? If Springfield or points east, my recommendation would be to drive to somewhere along the New Haven line, such as New Haven, Fairfield, or S. Norwalk ten take MetroNorth RR.

If western MA, then drive to somewhere on the Harlem line, such as Brewster or Southeast - both are convenient off of I84.

New Haven has a parking garage with some security for Metro North. Where are you coming from in Mass?

If you park at any of the Metro North stations north of Southest there are very few through trains to Grand Central and there is limited service.

Is there a reason why Amtrak doesn't work for you from Massachusetts? If you're in the western part of the state I believe there are trains that run through Springfield.

I agree with the Stamford suggestion. There is a large multi-level parking deck at the station.

When we lived in Delaware, we often drove to Staten Island, parked the car, and took the FREE ferry over to Manhattan. We did this with luggage (one bag each) and had no problems schlepping to our hotel.

For the best advice, you really need to explain the route you'll be taking and how far away you're willing to park and ride. Here's a Metro North map. If you click any of the stations, you'll get info on parking there. http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrmap.htm

I'll also suggest you clarify the name of the hotel you're at. There are a dozen or more hotels in Manhattan with the Marriott name and to my knowledge, NONE of them are called the "Marriott Manhattan."

its no big deal driving into manhattan--its not like Boston,streets for the most part run parallel.Now i wouldnt drive IN manhattan while visiting,but drive in,pay the price to park at the hotel.Its not cheap,but compared to the cost of the total stay,its minimal, and Schlepping bags is a real painAt the Marriott Courtyard it was $50/day to park

J62 -

Sorry - it's not hogwash at all. I know people whose cars have been stolen (New Rochelle) and damaged (White Plains) within the last couple of years. Sorry if you don't read your local paper carefully enough. And even if you're willing to risk it, the lots are usually full by about 8 am.

If it were me I would leave the car at the hotel - but I know some people are overfaced by Manhattan traffic and the cost would probably be $120 for 3 nights - more than you would pay for parking in STamford and taking the train in.

I'd also suggest taking the train out of South Station to NY, you can park right at South Station and hop on the train, OR take the bus, which also comes into and out of South Station.

I've done the bus several times and it's convenient and cheap, and the bus is comfortable. Look into the Megabus, as it comes into Midtown Manhattan and it's a 10 block walk up 7th to the hotel or a quick subway or bus ride.

Sorry I should have given more info.
We will be staying at the Marriott Courtyard on 3rd-midtown east.

We want to drive as close to NYC without driving into it and park our car and take local transit.
We need the car for after our trip to NYC

I'd seriously rethink doing this, not because of the possibility of damage to your car, but because it's just not that difficult to drive to that hotel, park your car once, and retrieve it when you leave. There's a lot of traffic, sure, but the drivers aren't nearly as crazy as drivers in Boston or LA (or Cairo, where no sane human being should drive a motor vehicle LOL!)

I would look into the Weehawken Ferry...www.nywaterway.com/ . Your car is safely parked on the NJ side, a passenger ferry takes you across the Hudson, and a bus meets you to take you near mid-town locations. Worked great for us.

thats where we stayed last month--its an easy exit off the FDR and just a few avenues over---the valet will take your car and you dont have to worry at all--just take I95 to Bruckner expressway, to FDR (East River drive),get off at 53rd st exit--go straight west,make a left at 2nd ave, make next right at 52nd,take one street to 3rd,make a right and Marriott is on your left--VERY EASY

We drove into NYC as well and did not find it more difficult than driving in any other US city.

Where will you be heading after NYC when you say you need the car? East, west, north or south?