Driving and Park in NY city
 

We booked hotel in Newark and wiil arive from Mississauga, Ontario, on the 6th of August (Firday). The next day we will drive to NY city (Saturday and Sunday) to visit Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Trump Tower , Time Square, Central Parkway, Liberty Statue, Brooklyn Bridge and probably SOHO.

We considered driving because we will take along our parents (70 yos) and kids (10 and 7). We heard that on Saturday and Sunday we can park our car on street free. Can you please tell us which street that we can park for free around those point of interests? Or any suggestion to park the car?

Thank you
Nita

Good luck with parking in NYC! Only day you can park for free is on Sunday, and even then you must read the signs because there are area that are still restricted (Diplomats, Press, Commercial vehicles only, etc.)

On Sat. most of midtown street parking is MuniMeter where you can pay at the meter for a number of hours. Again, you must read the signs, because certain areas that allow parking will only allow commercial parking and you will be towed!

Here is a local website that is the least expensive and most hassel free way to pick if you must in Manhattan. Good luck!!

http://nyc.centralparking.com/New-York.html

That is assuming that you can find street parking, which is somewhere between difficult and impossible. You can probably find a lot to put it in, but that costs about 50 dollars a day on average. And driving in Manhattan requires nerves of steel. It can also easily take an hour to drive from Newark to Manhattan. Driving in New York is not like driving in most metros. Even for someone used to city driving and city parking it is a new and not so wonderful world.

The PATH train from Newark is much faster and more convenient. Now that said, unfortunately staying in Newark really isn't very convenient, unless you are visiting points of interest in NJ. There is a budget hotel (Travel Inn, I think) in Manhattan that does have parking and is relatively reasonable, that other posters have recommended. Hopefully someone else is sure of the name.

It is Travel Inn, home of the only free hotel parking in Manhattan.

Not sure why you have started 2 therads on the same topic. I answered on the other one. And everyone is explaining to you why this idea will not work.

You obviously have no idea how few parking spaces and how many cars there are in Manhattan.

Driving in much of the city isn't difficult (but I'm a native) but once you head downtown - where the grid pattern no longer applies - it can be difficult to get around since most streets in the city are one way.

Not all street parking is free even on Sunday. Reiterate what the above posters have said - read the signs, which can be confusing anyway.

Best bet - take the train. Really. Quicker, less frustrating and could be fun for the kids. My 91 year old mom rides the subway a number of times a week, so people in their 70's? Piece of cake.

hope the hotel in Newark has free parking--dont park on the street in Newark.If you do stay there,id take the PATH shuttle train to WTC stop,which puts you in the financail distrist--or the Penn which takes you to Penn Station.To get around in NYC id take the shuttel train,it has better access to subways.On driving in NYC, i admit for a native,like me, its not big deal--i ALWAYS advise folks when youre on those one way avenues DONT CHANGE LANES QUICKLY, the cabs will run you down.Gradually move over and then turn--PS Id stay in the city--itll be much more fu, and if the older folks get tired,which they will, they can just head back to the hotel and rest while you go on

Not a good idea to park on the street in NYC. If you dont read the sign correctly, towing can be very very expensive...and the price of parking lots is equal to some $ hotels/motels per night you've probably stayed in in small towns. Also if you;ve never driven in New York City you're in for a big shock.

there are tourist buses that take you all around the city.
Mayve even a hop on - hop off bus. Look it up on Viator dot com. Might be a better idea.

Agree that parking laws in NYC c an b arcane.

And if you misread or misinterpret a sign and are towed - it will cost in excess of $1000 to get your car back - including Parking Ticket (from $150 up), Towing Fee and Impound Lot Fee. It will also take most of a day.
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Really, Manhattan is not a place for cars unless you live here, have a monthly garage and use the car to get out of the city.