Long-term parking outside NYC for a visit?
 

Hi, we're planning a few days in NYC in May, and have decided to drive this time in stead of fly, to avoid the whole airport scene.

I was thinking of ways to avoid paying a huge daily tariff to park the car while there, but really want to stay in Manhattan, not outside. I was wondering if there are places we could park the car securely for a few days, somewhere with easy transportation into the city from there. The place that comes to mind is Newark Airport, but wondering what other options there are.

We've been to NYC a few times previously, looking at hotels as well, watching the other thread right now. But we know the neighbourhoods well enough to make a choice, and we use the subway and walk extensively while there. We're an empty-nest couple, will probably hit the Metropolitan Museum and MOMA while there, or perhaps the Frick. Hope to do a Wednesday matinee show, and will definitely hit Chinatown, Soho and the village.

go to www.bestparking.com

then call the places directly to confirm price. seems you will need to park up near 108th st. west side to get under $100 for 4 nights.

perhaps there is an internet special for long term at one of the airports.The vans driving around all seem to have some sort of appealing price painted on them.

Thanks, I'll check that out. It looks like Newark airport has economy long-term parking for $18 per day. With a $15 trip into Penn Station on the Airtrain, that looks like a fairly reasonable way to do it.

actually, you might want to spend you first night at an airport hotel that has fly and stay rates. could be a good idea.

You might also want to consider parking at the ferry in Weehawkin, and then take the ferry over. Parking is very secure and convenient and the ferry's a lovely way to go to the city (and you can then use one of their buses to get to your hotel).

Thanks, the ferry looks interesting. I found their website but couldn't find any information about parking rates. Does anyone have a clue about where to look?

I see they have an 800 number, I guess I will call them.

You should be able to do better than $18/night and going to the airport is not exactly making your life easier. Where are you driving from? Do you know about metropark in Iselin, NJ off the NJ Tpke? There's also parking at the Secaucus Junction train station which is a lot closer to the city and probably cheaper for the transport and the parking.

Okay, I found the parking info. Sounds great, except if we're arriving at night might not be great after a long day of driving. Park n fly certainly would be another option.

We're driving from Toronto. Normally we would fly, but are bent out of shape right now about airports. We can fly from downtown Toronto, which is wonderful, but then end up at Newark and have to go thru immigration. I've heard that's a real pain. If we fly from the main airport, we have to pay for a limo, and go thru immigration there, so it's like a domestic flight. End up usually at LGR, but perhaps Newark.

Thought we would try driving for a change.

Have you considered driving to Buffalo, NY and flying from there? Jetblue.com often has great fares.

Thanks, no we have not. It's not flying that's the problem, it's the hassles at the airport. But I'll look at prices, thanks.

Weehawken currently looks like the best bet, and it comes with a scenic view!

We used the Weehawken Ferry last summer -- parked there for 4+ days for $50. Busses meet the ferries on the Manhattan side and go across town. Really convenient, especially if you're staying in a fairly mid-town location.

While Ihave not parked in Weehawken, I have used the ferry
to & fro to go to meetings there. It is a pleasant 7-minute
ride.
As azzure points out, the free buses are waiting there & do a loop first going to 42nd street and down 5th to 34th before returning to the ferry terminal. The price is so right.
However, I would check out how late they run back to the terminal if you intend to be in NYC late in the evening.

And there is senior rate if it applies here.

Wow, a senior rate! (Husband qualifies!)

I'm not worrying about coming back from Manhattan since we'll be pulling out early to drive home. But I worry about the evening we arrive. Looks like the ferry runs until after midnight, no problem, just want to ensure that the parking will be open, but I'm betting it is.

Thanks so much for the help here, it's been great. Booked our hotel yesterday, the Fitzpatrick near Grand Central.

As long as the ferry's running, the parking's open. If you have to park further away and have luggage, there is a tram that goes back and forth. Also, you do pay for the parking in the terminal, so make sure to bring your ticket! Enjoy.

We did the same last summer and the door man was the one who suggested a cheaper area to park. We saved about 25.00 for the week. Sometimes they are a wealth of information.

Often at the NYC hotels, you can self park your car in the same garage the hotel uses for considerably less.

Do check rates for your dates on iconparking.com and betterparking.com

One of the huge advantages of driving versus flying is being able to bring everything you want. We even bring a small fridge, if there won't be one in the room, and our own water, juice, soda, so as not to have to pay convenience store or hotel prices.

For a few dollars more, you can probably park your car more conveniently to the hotel and not have to haul your bags on a ferry then across the city.

When we use a distant garage, my husband drops off me and the bags at the hotel entrance, then parks the car. Leaving, he goes after the car while I bring the bags down and check out.

Thanks,

I'm sure we'll be travelling fairly light. We're used to public transportation, so really don't mind. Our hotel charges $49 per day for valet parking. I'm sure we could find something cheaper on the east side (near Grand Central), but it's really not worth it to us, why get snarled in traffic?

MP07950, not sure what you mean about bringing my ticket when I park--do you mean when we return from NY and it's time to pay up?

Pretty sure he means that you pay for your vehicle parking INSIDE the ferry terminal on the Weehawken side...there are no booths with lot attendants outside. So don't leave the ticket in the car, put it in your wallet or purse.

Hmm, so we just park the car and leave it, without a ticket? And leave it for 5 days tha tway? Sounds strange, do I have this right?

I think the parking at the Weehawken ferry is $20/night if you leave it overnight but $10 if just for the day. You should phone since it's unclear on their website. http://nywaterway.com/Home/RidetheFe...ult.aspx?ID=11

MPO means you pay for parking at the terminal when you get off the ferry and then walk (or ride) to get to your car. So don't leave the ticket in the car, take it with you.

You park your car, and you go inside the terminal. Inside the terminal you will (1) pay for your ferry tickets, and (2) get a dated receipt that shows you are parked in the lot. When you get back from Manhattan, you take that receipt to the window inside the terminal and pay for your parking. It's pretty obvious when you get there.

Thanks all. I've looked at most of the options--the cheapest city parking I can find close to our hotel is about $195 for the length of our stay. At Weehawken it sounds like it would be $100 (plus the cost of the ferry,$8.50pp x 4). At Newark about $40-$60 plus the cost of the AirTrain ($15pp x 4).

I'm going to go over all this again and see what seems easiest. Perhaps parking near the hotel would be worth it.

Are you using http://nyc.bestparking.com to calculate your overall cost for parking in a lot near your hotel? A check on that site of a randomly selected four-day noon-to-noon stay (May 10–14) reveals a lot at 230 East 44th, a block from your hotel, that charges $132 for the four-day duration. This lot does not guarantee its rates, however, so it would be wise to call in advance. Several lots that do offer guaranteed rates and reservations are only a few blocks farther away and are in the $132 to $156 range. Note that, in order to assure the guaranteed rate, you must print off a coupon from the website.

While you are here do see the new exhibit at Museum of the City of New York about cars in New York City

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...til-aug-8.html

Thanks, I did check bestparking for my dates, and I see the same $195 for the Icon Valor parking lot close by the hotel. But my dates are later in May, 18-23.

BTW, is a reservation made online with one of these midtown parking lots reliable? Will the space really be there, at the price, when you arrive?

Well there will be room for your car. You don;t get a specific space, as the cars are parked nose to tail 3 or 4 deep - and they keep your keys so they can move all of the cars around as needed. But if you tell them you won;t use the car for a couple of days they will put it at the back of the row and it will probably not be moved much.

(In NYC if you want your own space - that no one else can use and in which the car won;t be moved, typically you will find this only in private garages in very upscale buildings and it will be $800 per month or more. Or, if you own your own townhouse - from $4/$5 million and up, which has a garage - very rare.)

Thanks for the answer--that's fine, we won't be using the car, just don't want to arrive at the lot and have no space available.

How close do I have to be in estimating my arrival? What with the long trip, and midtown traffic, that's going to be a bit tough. Guess it's okay to get there a bit early.

First, if you're willing to walk a few blocks, you can save yourself $30 to $40. Have a look again at the bestparking map. Note, however, that some of the less expensive garages are pretty small. I'd call ahead to ensure that your reserved space will be available.

BTW, your stay is five days; I did my initial survey using a four-day stay, noon-to-noon. Regarding your arrival time, if you click on a particular garage, you'll usually see a matrix that tells you the rate for an hour earlier or later arrival and departure. I arbitrarily chose noon arrival and noon departure, but, if you're parking for a few hours less than 24 on the last day, you may have a bit of a cushion.

Thanks to all for your great information.

After all that, we decided to fly. Booked our flights on Porter Air today, to Newark. We'll see how bad Newark airport is, haven't been there for years.

But I will pass this great information on to our buddy who drives to NY every couple of months for the opera.

Let me update this subject, September 2015, because this is where I originally found the information -and it worked out great!

Park at the parking garage at Port Imperial / Weehawken, New Jersey:
http://www.nywaterway.com/IndoorParkingGarage.aspx
The cost is $14 per day and the car can stay as long as you like.

Then take the ferry ($9 one way) across to New York City (Manhattan):
http://nywaterway.com/PortImperialWe...nTerminal.aspx

Once you have arrived on Manhattan, there are a couple of free buses you can get on, which will take you to (or at least close to) your destination:
http://nywaterway.com/ManhattanBus.aspx

I can highly recommend this, it works great, rather than parking on Manhattan.