Hi,
I am trying to find out the easiest/cheapest way to park in NYC.
Is it to leave the car outside on NYC (NJ/CT) and take a train or ferry in?
My son (college student = no momey) is going to NYC this weekend.
Thanks!

One simple idea is to park in IKEA (swedish chain furniture store)in New Jersey just across the street from Mewark airport and take the free IKEA shuttle bus (weekend service only) to the bus terminal in downtown Manhattan (two blocks from Times Square).

Typo above: NEWARK airport not Mewark

If a prize were to be awarded to the most innovative and cost-effective way of getting into NYC, then, it should go to DAX for the free parking plus free shuttle to downtown Manhattan from Newark.

Are you not letting us in on other minor details such as the free valet parking at IKEA and the complimentary snacks and refreshment during the 30 minute shuttle ride?

Good information.

some friends told us that the port authority has reasonable all day rates.

The only probelm with the IKEA idea is that the shuttle runs only during the store hours - and not even all of those. I would imagine a college student might well want to stay in the city later than 2:30PM.

But it's a great idea for someone who just wants to go into the city for the morning - rather than the whole day/evening.

That is an amazing idea DAX. I think it would help cpeicott, if we knew the times of arrival/departure and from where he's coming.

I had the misfortune of being at IKEA until about 9:30 p.m last weekend - I believe, if I'm not mistaken, the last shuttle bus from IKEA to NYC is 6:30 p.m.

But I would verify that just to be sure -- I was in somewhat of a delirious state during our IKEA experience, and may be off with the time, but I know it was not very late

If you are going to NYC for Saturday and
Sunday only, on street parking may be available. If depends on where your son intends to stay. .

On street parking is available on Sunday in the Times Square area. I thought there were also areas available on Saturday, but since I only had Sundays off for shopping and site seeing I can only comment for sure on whats available Sundays.

If he goes uptown (upper east or west side) it;s easy to get on-street parking for free on summer weekends - beause so many people take their cars to their beach or country houses.

You must park on side streets (avenues are metered) and do look at signs carefully though - to be sure there's not some special restriction. (You do;t want to be towed - it can be over $1000 to get your car back between tickets, tow fee and impound charges.)

Hi,
Thanks for your help.
My son is staying one night at cousin's at NYU and one night at Time Sq hotel.
He did end up driving into the city, so he will just have to see what he can find.
Thanks again!

If you find my previous posts about NYC parking I detail several neighborhhods in Queens that have very safe and very free parking. They are a quick subway or bus to subway ride from Manhattan.

If you are coming from the North do this....
Cross the Whitestone Bridge from the Bronx to Queens. Stay on the right. Take the Whitestone Expressway (not the Cross Island Expressway) to 20th Avenue. Make a right onto 20th avenue going West. Pass the shopping centers. Pass a few homes and factories. Then make a left onto College Point Boulevard going South. For several blocks around there you will see plenty of safe parking with no alternate side parking restrictions. A good block to look on is 25th Road. Find a curb that is not blocking a driveway and not within 15 feet of a fire hydrant and you can park there in theory forever. A bus, the Q65, runs along College Point Boulevard to Main Street (10 minute trip) where you can see Chinatown Queens and get a subway to anywhere.

For non-New Yorkers alternate side parking is a block where one side says No Parking Monday and Thursday 0800-1100. The other side says No Parking Tuesday and Friday 0800-1100. There are several neighborhoods that do not have these restrictions and are very safe and very convenient to a subway to Manhattan.

To regulator: Are you sure it's 8-11? I thought the ban was over at 10:00 AM. At least it is in the Bronx.

It varies......

In Jackson Heights the ban is from 1000 - 1130 on only one day per week. Brooklyn, where I work is two days per week but from 0830-1000.

I just want to state that there are some expensive neightborhoods like Whitestone, College POint, Bayside, and even Woodside with no alternate parking and a quick trip into Manhattan.

I have relatives in College Point and there is plenty of room on the streets. I know Jackson Heights well too. It just got the alternate side restrictions. Some blocks near LaGuardia still dont have it.

When I went on vacation I drove to the airport, dropped off my wife and the bags and made my own long term parking on the streets nearby for a whole week. My car (93 Ford Escord) is worth about $1000. It sucks to pay $140 just to park it for a week.

I consider most parking fees to be a ripoff. Tourists can save quite a bit with a little research especially if they have a cheap car.

Not to brag, but I am quite wealthy, but I refuse to replace a perfectly running car. A new car would be such a burden and a waste of money that I won't go through with it. I consider my junky (but running) car a luxury that I can park and drive anywhere without worry.

Is this parking idea (at IKEA) legit? If I leave my car there for three days, will it get towed?

regulator,

I see how you acquired your wealth.
8-)

kastaway, the IKEA idea sounds good in theory but not in reality.

You can't go from IKEA to Manhattan to IKEA. It must be round trip starting in Midtown and the buses only go from the Port Authority to Elizabeth in the morning and the return trips are only in the afternoon.

Rather than paying $30 a day to park at JFK I drop off whoever I'm going away with at Jamaica station then drive the car 3 blocks away and park in the side neighborhood then take a $1.50 car back to the train station to grab the airtrain. Oh, I love queens

Kastaway, my original posting was meant to help poor starving students on a budget. I don't mean to be the promoter of IKEA bus abuse.

Go Travel, I'm not sure what you meant. There is no IKEA bus ticket/pass or proof that you must show to board the bus. You simply step into the bus and pick your seat, no ask questions and the bus driver is very busy loading stuff people bought in the undercompartment. No one keeps track where you start your ride. There are quite a few IKEA busses hauling people back & forth everyday.