We're going to a game at Yankee Stadium on a Sunday afternoon coming from central Jersey. Would prefer not to drive, but may have to. Are there other easy, safe ways to get there? How difficult is the drive? I'm not a city driver.

You know, I live near Giants Stadium (my exact location shall remain confidential to protect the innocent) and for me to get from home to the Stadium via mass transit (bus to NYC & subway to the Stadium) takes literally 2 hours. The drive takes about 45 minutes in traffic. If there's an easy way for you to get into Manhattan via drive or mass transit there's always the D or 4 subway which will whisk you to the Stadium in about 25 minutes in total safety with other Yankee fans, otherwise I say drive, but the earlier you get to the Stadium the better. If you get there REAL early, take a walk through Monument Park in center field.

You know how to get there, right? The easiest route with the most time in NJ, best roads and least monkeying around is the GWB (take local lanes) to Major Deegan (Rt. 87) south, and follow the signs to park the car.

Charlie,

you can take NJ Transit bus or train into manhattan. Usually, there are plenty of parking space at the train station on the weekend. When you get off the bus or train in manhattan, walk to 6th Ave. You can catch the updown D subway to Yankees Stadium.

If you decide to drive, take the NJ turnpike across the George Washington Bridge. Then take 87 (Major Deegan Expressway) South to Exit 5. Yankees Stadium is on River Ave between E 157 and E 161 st. Most of the driving would be highway driving. Make sure you get there at least two hours before game time or you will sit in traffic and miss the opening innings. Have fun and go Yankees.

To not be at the mercy of a mass transit schedule drive to a place where you can get the subway. You will avoid local traffic near the stadium when the game is over. I suggest taking the Lincoln Tunnel and driving to the Upper East Side and parking on the street and taking the subway the rest of the way.

Parking opens up at 6PM weekdays on Manhattan streets so grab a spot by 86th and Lexington and take the subway right to the stadium. I do that all of the time.

The NY Waterway Ferry will take you there! It is in Weehawken, NJ. The trip is an hour and a half, but it is so nice to be on a boat! They serve food and drinks (beer, too, I think) and then you walk through a parking lot and over the road and you are at the stadium! The website is here:
http://www.nywaterway.com/baseball_cruise.html

Thanks for the various suggestions; I knew I could count on Yankee fans.

Al and Dave: Are you serious about getting there 2 hours early? I usually do go places early to avoid crowds, so if that's what you suggest...

Steve: We're going on a Sunday so is parking available on the Upper Eastside then? Is there a time limit? Never having driven in the city, what's the best route to get there, Upper Eastside?

Erika: I love taking the waterway ferry to lower Manhattan, so your suggestion sounds quite interesting, too. Are reservations possible/necessary for the ferry? Is the return trip a real mob scene?

The sooner you get to the GWB the less traffic you'll sit in the rest of the way to the stadium. If you get to the GWB toll booths 2 hours ahead of time you'll cruise right into the stadium, 1 hour you'll sit in some traffic but should still make the start of the game, anything less than 45 minutes and you'll miss the start.

The ferry could be a fun, but time-consuming, alternative. Your big advantage is that you can pick up the boat from the ferry terminal in Weehawken and avoid the city altogether. On the downside it costs something like $16 per person and takes 1 1/2 hours to get there. Check their website: www.nywaterway.com.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

Yesterday was our trip to Yankee Stadium, and we opted for the NY Waterways boat from Hoboken. On a hot afternoon, it was wonderful! Although it took 1 1/2 hours, we enjoyed the sights along the way and were able to relax rather than contending with traffic. Thanks for that suggestion.