ziggy

I have left my car in NY - Harmon, Poughkeepsie - and taken the train into NYC for a week.

Is it possible to do this too on the commuter trains in New Jersey? (I'm guessing "Yes.") Any suggestions for a station to leave from in New Jersey? Maybe 30 minutes to an hour to Penn Central. Information about which stations are better as far as safety is concerned would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

Zig

Cicerone

Parking at most suburban train stations in NJ within 60 minutes or less of NY is quite limited and generally restricted to town residents, or there is limited metered parking for 12 hours or less. A new station has just opened in Union on the Raritan Valley Line, and I understand you can park there fairly easily. However, you will need to change trains at Newark Penn Station for trains into NYC; the whole trip will take about 30 minutes. Another option is Rahway, which is on a direct line into NYC, and has some pubic parking. However, I don't believe you would be permitted to park for more than 12 hours at either place. You might take a look at the NJ Transit website for information (www.njtransit.com) or call the town halls of the towns you are considering.

The Metropark train station in Iselin (Edison area) has a lot of public parking, and you may be able to park there for a week. Trains stopping here are primarily Amtrak trains, I believe commuter trains stop as well. The Metropark station is an exit off the Garden State Parkway, exit 131. The Amtrak website (Amtrak.com) says the parking is "paid short term parking". You might want to call the Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL and see if they can give you parking information. New Jersey transit does not operate this station, so they probably cannot help you with parking.. Trains from Metropark get to Penn Station New York in about 35-40 minutes.

You may be able to park long term at the New York Waterways parking lots in Hoboken and Jersey City. You can take the ferry from here to downtown NYC (Wall Street/World Trade Center) or to mid-town. Take a look at their website at www.nywaterway.com or call 1-800-53-FERRY.

rkkwan

One safe parking site in NJ is Newark Airport. But of course you probably have to pay a little more.

LilyLace

I have parked at Newport Mall in NJ and taken the train over. Never for a week though, it's never full so you could ask.

suzanne

I've had friends visit who parked at the Metropark station. It costs $ though...not sure how much.

ziggy

Thanks - all responses are appreciated.

I checked the website and next to some stations in the "parking" column were "permit" and "free" and a few other comments. It might be best to call them because it may be "free" but if it is free for just 12 hours, that wouldn't help me.


I'll also check with Amtrack, and try to contact info about Metropark. The water taxi actually sounds like an adventure.

The parking charge at the NY stations I used was somewhere in the $4 - $8 per night.

Thanks again,

Zig

Suki

The Express from Princeton Junction takes about an hour to travel to Penn Station. The parking is plentiful and cheap at $2 or $3 a day, and the area is very safe. You could visit Princeton as well. It is a charming town.

ziggy

Thanks Suki.

I checked the Amtrak website and can get two roundtrip tickets form Princeton Junction to Penn Station for $112.00 - (through a "Bombay Dreams" Broadway special through Amtrak)- Promotion code V704 - 20% saving on Amtrak tickets.

I believe that's the option we'll take. Any you're right - it would be a great opportunity to visit Princeton. (Midwesterner here - don't know much about Ivy League)

rkkwan

Don't take the Amtrak! Take the NJ Transit and save yourself a bundle.

If you're paying $112 on trains, why not just park your car in Manhattan and save you all the time and hassle?

bardo

Go to NJ Transit Metropark station, pay the $3 day, and ride on NJ Transit to Penn Station in NYC for less than $10.

purplefreak

Park in Weehawken and take the ferry - NY Waterway.

ziggy

Thanks bardo. I went to the NJ Transit website - price is right but I'm not sure where Metropark is. On the schedule it says 100 Middlesex Tpk. - Garden State Parkway, exit 131A, 1 block east of Rt. 27. Didn't say which town it is near (I'm assuming the town itself is not called Metropark.)

Suki

NJ Transit is available from Princeton Junction. A ticket is approx $14 round trip to Penn Station. Amtrak will get you there faster, but what a price difference!

rkkwan

ziggy - Town for the Metropark station should be Iselin. Zip code is 08830.

ziggy

Thanks again for all the help - you're making this too easy!