Newark Airport to Manhattan?
 

What is the best way to get from the Newark Airport to downtown Manhattan? The ultimate destination is the West Village. When I looked at the website it left me very confused. What is the approximate time it would take?
Thank You

There are many many threads on this. Most people will say car service like Dial 7. The time depends on traffic. I'd say 30 to 45 minutes.

There is a monorail at Newark that takes you to the Newark Airport NJ transit station. For about $14, you can take that train into NY Penn station, then take a taxi or subway to your hotel. The NJ Transit part will take about 30 -45 minutes.

If there are two of you, or you have too much luggage to take trains, a car service or taxi costs about 3 times as much, but is simpler. It will take about the same amount of time as the train depending on traffic.

Two weeks ago, we used Dial 7 limo service. They are professional and convenient. You reserve via internet and when you have grabbed your luggage, you give them a call and within five minutes they drive to the shuttle bus loading area and pick you up there. You pay the agreed fee + toll ($10) + tip.

The downside is: On weekdays after 3 p.m., Lincoln tunnel is heavily congested and the trip to West Village may take up to two hours. Then the AirTrain + subway will be faster.

So, this are the criteria:

Costwise, the AirTrain is the best option for single travellers and couples. If you are three or more, the limo might be cheaper.

Timewise, the limo will be quickest on weekends and on weekdays before 7 a.m., between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m.

Comfortwise, the limo is most convenient. A good compromise is AirTrain + taxi from Penn Station. AirTrain + subway requires some schlepping of luggage, especially if your final destination is not directly at a subway station or if you have change trains.

I think 2 hours is a huge overstatement of the timing. But well over an hour is not. One reason why a car service is significantly better than a metered taxi, which ticks off those minutes at a huge rate. I'm a big fan of public transit and actually prefer that when possible, unless I have loads of luggage. It is certainly far faster during the weekday rush hour.

>>>I think 2 hours is a huge overstatement of the timing.<<<

On Thursday, April 1, at 3:30 p.m. we needed two hours from EWR to W 63rd Street (I looked at my watch). And our relatives, who started one hour later from EWR, needed two hours, too.

I asked the driver if this traffic was normal. And he said, yes, each workday after 3 p.m. That's all I can say.

As NYC concert subscribers living in Madison, New Jersey (15 miles west of EWR), we make this trip frequently at the beginning of the weekday evening rush hour, our goal usually being a parking lot on West 56th near Carnegie Hall. We typically leave Madison between 4:00 and 4:30 with the intent of arriving at a pre-concert restaurant by 5:30 to 6:00. The earlier in that time period we leave, the less time it takes us, sometimes as little as 40 minutes, but rarely longer than an hour and a half.

However, there are several variables to take into account when comparing our experience with taking a taxi:

Having traveled east on I-78, when we reach the New Jersey Turnpike entrance just north of EWR, we always opt to use US Route 1 & 9 across the Pulaski Skyway to the Holland Tunnel. We see very few taxis using this route or at the entrance to the Holland, so, presumably, they use the Turnpike from EWR directly to the Lincoln Tunnel instead, not even using the Turnpike Jersey City Extension to the Holland.

When we reach the approach to the Holland Tunnel, if we see a lot of congestion, we can opt for a city-street shortcut through Hoboken and Jersey City that takes us to the bottom of the helix ramp at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. Again, we rarely see taxis using this shortcut, which means they have taken the Turnpike and I-495 to the beginning, not the end, of the very heavily congested helix. If they've taken this route, they don't have the option that we have of avoiding the time-consuming helix.

Once through the Holland, we take West Street (fka The West Side Highway) north to about 10th Street, where we leave it to go north on Tenth Avenue towards midtown. The closer to 5:00 we're running, the more congestion there is on Tenth in the high 30s to about 44th, mostly the result of empty commuter buses lined up to enter the Port Authority Terminal to begin their outward-bound runs, along with motorists trying to get to the Lincoln Tunnel. That part of Tenth Avenue can be a real obstacle course. Still, we see a great many taxis on Tenth, which, by experience (and conversations over time with taxi drivers), tells us that Tenth is a better route north than Eighth or Sixth.

If we've taken the Lincoln, we turn west, not east, on 41st or 42nd, again aiming for Tenth Avenue instead of Eighth or Sixth to go uptown.

All this having been said, however, YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Echnaton - you were going to 63rd St while the OP is going to the WEst Village. That trip is 30 minutes right there so 1,5 hours is more likely than 2 - unless there is a disaster - truck stuck in the tunnel or something.

And Dial 7 is not a limo service it's just a regular car service - standard dark sedans. If you want a limo (stretch Caddy or Mercedes) the cost would be much higher.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions!

what is the usual fare with Dial 7 from EWR to times square area. our flight is arriving around 7:30 pm? thanks for the info.

Dial 7 has a website. It's about $44.00 (plus tip and tolls) from EWR to Manhattan.

thanks sf. i will check their website.

We get in on Monday , Nov. 22 at about 5:00 pm so I guess we are looking at lots of traffic. We leave the following Monday at 11:00 am so that should have less traffic. Thanks again for all your help!

It costs about 60 to 70 all in from EWR into Manhattan by car service (with tolls and tips)
, more in a metered taxi.