droolpatrol

at 5pm on a Friday? It looks on the map like we want to take the Van Wyck out of Kennedy to LIE and get off somewhere to get up to Queens Blvd. Is that the best way? How busy is this Queens Blvd? Thank you all in advance for your help.

droolpatrol

Whoops -- I hit send before I finished. At the other end of the bridge, I wanted to go to Park Ave., take a right and go up to 72nd St. through the park. Is this street through the park always open? It looks like it's one way going west, is that correct? Finally, how much time should we allow on a Monday afternoon driving from Nyack back to JFK. Thank you all again and Happy Easter.

nytraveler

If you tell us what your final desination is we may be able to give more help. Generally the 59th St bridge is not the best way into the city. And there are several transverses through Central Park - open all the time - but none at 72st - that's an entrance to the Park Drive - which is often not open - and doesn;t go straight across the Park.

If you're headed north of the city (based on your Nyack comment) you shouldn;t be going through midtown Manhattan at all - it will take forever vs circling the city.

droolpatrol

Thank you NYtraveler. It appears I have a questionable road atlas I've been using. Anyway, we want to get from JFK to an apartment at 71st and Central Park West on Friday at 5pm (and we prefer bridges to tunnels). After an event there, we will be following my Mother in Law from said apartment to her place in Nyack. Monday afternoon we will be returning to JFK straight from Nyack. Thanks bunches!

nytraveler

If I were you I wouldn;t do this by rental car at all. I would take a cab into the city (much simpler) and then go to Nyack with your MIL. If you need a car for that - rent it there, drive as needed, return there (if there's a drop off charge to leave at JFK) and then catch the local shuttle back to the airport.

I think you'll find this way more convenient/less stressful - and probably less expensive in the long run.

wantsomesun

I'd have to agree on the rental car. In the area you are going there is NO WHERE to park, other than a garage, and figure it will cost you $30 overnight. You are in one of the nicest residentail areas of the city,

I would also suggest taking a cab into the city. It is a flat rate from JFK so even depending on traffic won't be bad or you can get a car service for about the same price, figure $40-$50 including tip and toll.

Also if this is your first trip to the city, take the Triborough Bridge, the view of the city from there is really beautiful, and going that way you will avoid alot of traffic. You will be coming down on the FDR Highway, on the east side of Manhattan.

Have a great time while you are here.

droolpatrol

OK, I know a sane person would not rent a car, but it's a done deal as part of our Travelocity last minute package. I am bringing my little boy, and due to past experiences with DH's mother's driving, we will not be getting in the car with her. We will not be staying put in Nyack, we will be out and about to surrounding areas.

So, thanks again, and wantsomesun, you say that the Triborough bridge is better than the Queensboro?

wantsomesun

Yes, because it is so easy to get lost, and because it is a free way to get into Manhattan (no toll), the traffic is usually REALLY bad. We were stuck there for almost an hour the other day trying to get a friend home to Queens.

The Triborough Bridge is at the top of Manhattan, and the view of the city from there is.... WOW. Whenever we have someone new coming to visit that's the way we come into Manhattan.

Follow signs for the FDR South, take it to 96th St, turn right go 5 blocks to Park Ave and turn left onto Park Ave to your address. Ask the doorman for the closest parking garage.

nytraveler

Your best bet is to take the Grand Central Parkway which will lead you directly to the Triborough Bridge. From the Bridge take the FDR south and get off at 96 st. (The exit is actually on 97th. Take this straight across and through the park. Turn south (left) onto Central Park West.

I would find a garage in advance for the car so you're prepared. Either your host can give you info on one - or you can look at icon.com - which will list some of the garages in the neighborhood, give rates and allow you to reserve a spot.

wantsomesun

Sorry, my eyes must have been playing tricks on me. I thought you were going to the 70's on Park Ave instead of Central Park West (which is the avenue just to the west of Central Park). Well there are probably fewer places to park in that area as well, but lots of garages in that immediate area.

So again, the other poster is correct, take the 96th St exit, go to Madison Ave, turn up Madison one block to 97th and go through the park to Central Park West, (which is a 2 way avenue), turn left and head down to 71st.

Enjoy your trip to the city.

nytraveler

Sorry -

Perhaps I wasn;t clear. When you take the 96th St exit from the FDR the first cross street you come to is actualy 97th st. You can take this straight across and through the park (at first it's a two-way st - then turns into a one-way going west).

there is no need to go down to 96th st and cricle back up on Madison to 97th - it just complicates the trip.