Yet another question about NY Parking
 

We are doing a driving trip from Washington DC to Quebec and back for 2 weeks in Ocotober starting October 9th. We will be going from Washington DC to New York on a Sunday (the 11th) and then stay in NY for 2 days and leave for Manchester VT on a Tuesday probably mid-morning. A couple questions: <BR> <BR>I have read on the forums that parking in NY city is crazy and given our route, I am looking for parking suggestions outside the city where we can leave a rental car safely. I know people have mentioned both train stations and various airports. I am thinking it would be easiest to park somewhere that puts us on the side of the city that would be on our way out-so Connecticut maybe would be the best? <BR> <BR>We will be three people so I am wondering if it may end up being as cheap to take a cab into NY as a shuttle or train-depending on where we park-any thoughts? But maybe a train and then a cab in Manhattan is better-we are staying at the Gramercy Park Hotel on 2 Lexington Ave. in Lower Manhattan, so that is where we need to get to and leave from. I might add that my mother-in-law will be with us so I would like to avoid too much hiking around with luggage-although we are pretty good about packing light. <BR> <BR>Also, given that we will be arriving on a Sunday are we going to be running into a lot of people who are returning from week-end trips and,if so, is there a time of day (early afternoon or later in the evening) that would be better to target being on the roads near NY? <BR> <BR>Also, any feedback on the Hotel Gramercy Park would be appreciated-I have read sidewalk.com and it sounds nice and I have read in the forums here that it is a nice reasonable choice-but any other comments would be great. <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance-these forums are a lifesaver!

Why not leave your car in one the hundreds of parking garages in NYC? Leaving it at an airport lot seems a lot less secure. It seems ridiculous to drive outside the city just to park the car someplace and then have to arrange for alternate transportation out of that location, which may end up costing more than the cost of parking the car. Let me know if I missed the point in your question and then I'll try to come up with other ideas for you.

I have just read that it is crazy driving in the citya dn that parking is outrageously expensive...we will need to park it about 48 hours. <BR> <BR>I don't know the city well, but I am a pretty fearless driver-I drive all over Europe-so maybe since it is a Sunday traffic won't be too bad. Maybe you are right-any thoughts for a pay lot near our hotel?

Wow, what a lot of questions to pack into such an innocuous-sounding question! <BR> <BR>Let's take it from the top. The problem with a car in Manhattan is that it is useless to get from one point within the city to another. No one in their right mind would drive, for example, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Lincoln Center, even though both complexes have wonderful parking garages underneath them. The issue is that parking in that beautiful, self-parking garage beneath the Met will cost $18.00 for three hours; then another $18.00 while you tour Lincoln Center. As W. Shakespeare said, "Aye, that's the rub." <BR> <BR>Driving into Manhattan on a Sunday is a breeze. From Washington DC, you'll likely enter through the Lincoln Tunnel (you have been mis-informed: the Gramercy Hotel is in Midtown Manhattan... Lexington Ave. and, I think, 16th St.... in any event, many miles north of lower Manhattan). At the Manhattan end of the Lincoln Tunnel, a slightly confusing array of signs will give you the option of heading north to 42nd Street or south to 36th St. Head south, then eastbound across any street that catches your fancy. Lexington Ave. is on the east side and is one-way southbound. It should be less than 20 minutes from the time you exit the Lincoln Tunnel to the time you're in front of the Gramercy Park Hotel. <BR> <BR>I'll lay odds that the hotel has a garage, and that the garage rate is about $25-30 a day. Pay it and count yourself lucky. Don't park at Newark Airport, don't park at the Rye train station, don't park on Coney Island. Just park at the hotel and skip the pain of schlepping your bags across half of Manhattan. <BR> <BR>The number 4,5,and 6 trains stop down at Union Square, a few blocks south of your hotel. Use them to get around. It's $1.50 a person. By contrast, a cab ride from your hotel to the Empire State Building will cost about $6.00 including tip; trips uptown to the museums would cost $10-12. <BR> <BR>The Gramercy Park Hotel is fairly nice. I was at a wedding there a few years back, and it struck me as being a little the worse for wear and in need of a makeover. Perhaps it has had one in the intervening time period. The neighborhood is wonderful... lots of row houses, restaurants, and shops. <BR> <BR>Driving out of New York, go north on Third Avenue to 34th St., then right on 34th to the FDR Drive northbound, an expressway that follows the East River. If I were going to Vermont, I'd take the scenic route, meaning the Taconic Parkway. <BR> <BR>Feel free to email me if you want additional information or directions.

A quick amendment to the above post... driving into Manhattan on a Sunday morning (emphasis on the morning) will be a breeze. Driving into Manhattan at 4 p.m. on Sunday can be a maddening experience. <BR> <BR>You can make it from Washington DC to the entrance to the Lincold Tunnel in about four hours. I'd plan my arrival before noon. <BR>

Use the search function and choose Manhattan as the text and New Yourk as the topic. You'll find a number of posts with helpful info. I always park outside the city at a train station and ride in but I'm generally traveling alone with little or no luggage. It still seems like an easy routine to me but many folks disagree. If you have a group of 3 or more and can find parking for $20 per day or less in manhattan it may be better to just park there and take a cab to Gramercy Park Hotel (which has been recommended to me by several people as an excellent value). Keep in mind that the parking rates people quote may not incude the taxes and fees which typically run 18-20% above the base price. <BR>

Thanks everyone for the help-now I just have to decide what to do! I think I may go ahead and come into town and park nearby-worse case I can always leave the luggage and drive out again-but for a couple of days-I will probably just pay it-hey it costs me $14 for 2 hours here in Seattle for some places! <BR> <BR>Again-thanks!

Call the hotel they will recommend a good and cheap place to park. Also in less touristy places parking is cheaper check 9str to 29str on west side. Ask if they provide 24hr guard or lock (some do not). For free parking you can drive in to some areas like Queens (Maspeth, Forest Hills) which are save and have alternate side parking. Then take the subway (F,E,G) from Queens BLVD back to Manhattan.