Six Hour Layover in Newark--What to do???
 

Anyone have suggestions on where we can go from Newark, New Jersey for six hours before our flight leaves for Europe? I've been told we could take a train into Manhattan, have lunch and maybe a stroll through Central Park.--Is this right, and if so, where would you go for lunch and what would you do? We've never really spent any time in New York so please help us learn the ropes! Also, I'm wondering if we can store our carry-on luggage at the airport or somewhere so we won't have to lug it around with us.

Thanks so much,

cal

Hi Cal:

That is a tough one!!

The fact that New York is only about 8 miles away is very tempting.

With allowing 2 hours to clear customs leaves only 4 hours.

Traffic to NYC could be an issue for surface transportation, could take 15 minutes or 1 hour to get to the city. "Train to the plane" would take at least 1 hour with the change of trains.

3 hours would not leave any time to see any of NYC (xcept like a Chevy Chase Vacation "Nod, OK..now back in the car") Forget Lunch!

Maybe take a cab to Hoboken, have lunch near the water and look at the city from across the Hudson! Would be an expensive lunch/cab combo.

Only alternative is to drink heavily in Newark AP!! :-)

All kidding aside, I think it might not be enough time to safely get in and back for your flight

I'd agree that it's not enough time and that drinking heavily is a good idea.

Bring a good book and chill. You do not have time to go to NYC.

My modest proposal is to take a cab to Ikea, which is literally across the highway from the airport. They have a decent cafeteria, where you can eat, and then you can walk around a bit. There are some other stores within walking distance. I admit this may not be a very exciting alternative.

I'm not sure why bmw732002 is allowing you 2 hours to "clear customs" since you're going TO Europe, not coming back FROM Europe. You will have checked in for your flight and checked your bags already, so you just need to clear security when you get back to the airport (coming back 2 hours in advance is far more than enough time for that).

Therefore, you have 4 hours to get into Manhattan, eat, and walk around, and get back, and that's plenty of time. I wouldn't hesitate to do that if you really want to. But if you go that route, take the Airtrain and then catch a NJ Transit train to Penn Station; you can be in Manhattan in about 30 to 40 minutes from leaving the terminal, giving you 2 or 3 hours in town (allow 45 minutes to get back just in case).

I would go into NYC. Like the PP said, you'll have a few hours anyways.

I'm a country bumpkin and have used the AirTrain from Newark to Manhattan a couple of times, it's very easy. (Just make sure you buy a ticket for Penn Stn, NY not Penn St, NJ...LOL!)

Maybe just choose one specific thing to do; e.g., go up the Empire State Building. Or if you want to go to Central Park, have a plan of how to get there, what you want to do/see there so you don't waste time wandering around aimlessly (unless of course you prefer completely free travel but since you're posting, I'm guessing not).

If you're around Grand Central Station, head to Juniors for a slice of cheesecake! We take ours "to go" and enjoy it while we wait for our flight to board.

Enjoy-la!

Doug:

Whst ever you call it 2 hours to clear customs, 2 hours to clear security, it still leaves 4 hours.

I would not want to worry about getting back from Manhattan to make my European flight. You are asking for trouble.

As one who has commuted to NYC from New Jersey for too many years I have seen too many train delays and traffic jams.

Ikea was a good idea howver!

"I would not want to worry about getting back from Manhattan to make my European flight. You are asking for trouble."

That's basically what I think too. I once missed a flight out on NY because my cab got involved in a big delay due to an accident. Fortunately, I wasn't flying to Europe!

Also, 2 hours is the standard amount of time you want to leave to clear security. If it goes quicker, good. But what if it doesn't?

I'm not sure you need 2 hours to clear security at Newark. True the lines are often long and do move slow but generally speaking you can get through security in 30 to 40 minutes on most days (allow more time during peak travel days like holidays).

The real problem is getting back to EWR from NYC. I'm assuming OP's flight to Europe leaves late afternoon or early evening. If that's the case depending on the severity of rush hour traffic it can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to get from Midtown Manhattan to EWR.

Remember Murphy's Law of Airport Travel WILL APPLY - The less time you have to get to the airport the more traffic jams you will encounter. Ask yourself do you really want to take the chance that the Holland or Lincoln tunnels (the main travel routes from midtown to EWR) won't be at their usual rush hour standstill they day you are travelling.

Also, that 6 hour layover is from scheduled touch down to scheduled take off. You can normally figure it takes an average of 30 minutes from the time the plane lands until you exit the terminal. The outbound flight will begin boarding 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure so that reduces the layover time to 5 hours. Subtract from that 1 hour travel time to NYC, a minimum of 1 1/2 hours to get back to the airport and 1/2 hour to clear through security so you now effectively have only 2 hours of actual "time in the city". To me that's just not worth the hassle.

Stick closer to the airport. Consider going over to the Airport Marriott (it's just across the parking lot from the terminal) and having a nice lunch at one of their restaurants. We've eaten in their regular restaurant several times and they have suprisingly good food. They also have a high end Steak House but I don't know if it is open for lunc (probably is so they can catch the business traveller crowd).

Hi all
Well, just back from a fab 2.5 week holiday in USA and we did this trip from Newark to Manhattan and it all went brilliantly. We cleared immigration in Ireland before take off and our bags were checked through to SFO. On landing we just made our way directly to the air train which is well signed posted and from there to Penn Station NY. We used our Amtrack train tickets (from Newark to NY) to use the left luggage in Penn station and exited the station a couple of blocks from the Empire State building. Unfortunatly, this coincided with the recent shooting...........
We walked the length of 5th Ave, had champagne in the Plaza Hotel, visted FAO Swartz, had icecreams in Central Park, walked back through Time Square had pizza and wine down a side street (great and strolled leisurely back onto train in Penn. We still had time for a coffee and chit chat in Newark before boarding for SFO. I thoroughly recommend this to all. I do agree with a previous poster though - have some idea of your itinerary and /or city map before leaving Penn, otherwise you face endless discussions of "i don't mind" etc which wastes precious time.

Glad you enjoyed the city - but you didn't walk the length of Fifth Ave. It runs north to south through most of Manhattan - quite a few miles from the Village up though Harlem.

I wouldn't want to drag my carryon luggage around IKEA. Leaving your luggage at Penn Station is a good idea, but your appetite for risk does come into play here. You could end up missing your flight if something goes wrong.

Have a nice weather plan and a rainy day plan if you decide to go. And if it is a rainy day, don't count on being able to find a taxi back to Penn Station.

Buy an airline lounge pass to make your long wait at EWR a little nicer. If you have a BusCl ticket, you get free access to the club.

You could go the other way from the Amtrak station (EWR) to Philadelphia. You could get off at 30th Street station and get a Philly cheese steak and see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
Going to NYC you have the Empire State Building about 3 blocks from Penn Station.
Just noticed this is a 4.5 year old thread. Advice still applies to future travelers.

Years ago I would take the free shuttle from the airport to Jersey Garden Mall and watch a movie in the large attached theater complex. Not as exciting as Manhattan, but relaxing without return worries.

Another time I took train to Portuguese restaurant in Ironbound Newark area but don't know if that's safe today.

Just noticed that tomfuller points out the old post date.

I didn't see it was an old thread either!

Shopping and eating in Newark Liberty isn't really all that bad, even in '08!!
Between the trains and Penn Station, it takes a long time--and then what?