My daughter in driving down from SUNY-Binghamton to meet me at Grand Central Station. I'm wondering if she should park and catch a train when she gets close and how would be the best way to do that? Thanks

Huh? Why don't you just meet her out in front of the station? It's just like catching a cab, only your daughter will be driving.

Unless she is familiar with driving in Midtown, I'd park the car and catch public transportation into Manhattan. Parking is expensive and dicey for the faint of heart.

Tim - You mentioned that your daughter is driving to the city from Binghamton. Is NYC your final destination or are you moving on from there? Will you need the car in the city?

Sorry chooser, we're from the midwest, I didn't know it was such a stupid question. I'm flying into NYC and staying at a hotel next to Grand Central Station. We thought it might be easier to park the car at a rail station and train in rather than pay $35-$40 a night in the city while we sightsee.

I was kind of hoping for a recommendation on which train station if it was even a good idea. Thanks.

It's not such a bad idea but coming from Binghamton it might be easier (and defintely faster) for her to go into NJ, leave the car at a park 'n ride and take an NJ Transit bus into NY. If it were a small group or folks with lots of luggage that's not a convenient method but in her case it might be just fine. She could take Rte 17 over to 95 and then the Tappan Zee Bridge to Tarrytown. Metro North train is about $12-14 RT and there's secure parking in the adjacent lot. It's about $6-7 per day to park and the train ride is 30-45 minutes depending on which train you get. Get parking ticket and pay in building wiht police substation at edge of parking lot (as I recall). A faster and easier drive is to take Rte 380 South from B'htn to Rt4 46 East and then merge onto Rte 3 East about 5 miles later. Get off at the Clifton/Main Ave exit, turn left, go under the under pass and then turn left again into the entrance for Clifton Commons plaza (it's the first left after the entrance that would put you back on Rte 3 East). After entering the plaza entrance drive make your first right and head up past the AMC movie theatre. At the end of their lot is a Super Stop and Shop grocery with a free parking lot - the corner of their lot serves as free park 'ride for NJ Transit buses. Round trip is about $6 and it's about a 30-40 minute trip into NYC. An alternative is to just keep driving to Weehawken (last exit before the Lincoln Tunnel) and follow the signs for Port Imperial Ferry. Ferry shoulod be about $10 RT and parking is about $10 per 24 hours.

The whole train thing sounds like a pain. I would tell her to park the car somewhere on the upper east or west side and then just take the subway to Grand Central. She should be able to find street parking somewhere between 60th and 86th streets on the east or west side, or she could put it in a parking garage which will run about $20 or $25 in those neighborhoods.

just a warning - unless you're parking for a good chunk of time (which depends on the garage you park in) - you could end up getting hosed on the parking. ie - it costs $26 to park over night, but $63 to park for 3 hours. Be careful to read the signs carefully if you choose to park in a garage.

I can top most of this....

The whole goal is to get to the West Milford, NJ park and ride. You can leave your car there indefinitely and take a bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Here are directions...
Route 17 to exit 124. Go on route 94 south. go through Florida, NY then through Warwick, NY. Then take route 17A east into Greenwood Lake. At the fork in the road by the bagel shop go right. You'll be on route 210. Pass through downtown Greenwood Lake. Route 210 makes a right turn after Oak St. Follow route 210. You will be going South on the west side of the lake. You'll see the lake on your left. As you are driving you'll cross into NJ. When the lake ends make a left. Go 1 mile and you'll see the park and ride on your right.

The advantage of this trip is that you'll have utterly no traffic and you won't have to pay for parking and your car will be secure.

Isn't there a train she can take to NYC? That seems like it could be easiest to avoid all the to and fro with parking, taking a train, etc.

To reach NYC from Binghamton by train it's necessary to drive about 70 minutes north to Syracuse, park (free) and get a five hour train ride to NYC at about $110-130 RT. Driving from B'htn to NJ suburbs takes less than three hours. Seems a bit easier to me but I make the drive from Syracise to the Meadowlands area several times every month and it has become routine (3 hrs 45 minutes door to door).