How to Use the PATH Train to Access New York City from New Jersey
The PATH train system is primarily built to service Jersey City and Hoboken in NJ across the Hudson River from NYC. It also helps NJ riders connect to multiple points in Manhattan without having to transfer to the NYC subway system. There are three lines. The PATH does not connect directly with Newark airport. To access the PATH from Newark airport take the airport AirTrain (monorail) to the NJ Transit airport station, then take the NJ Transit train one station to the Newark Penn station. It may just as well be easier to stay on the NJ Transit train to Penn station in NYC rather than transfer to the PATH depending on your destination in Manhattan. The cost for any one way trip on the PATH is $2.75. Bikes are allowed, pets must be confined to a cage. The PATH is ideal for getting from Newark, Jersey City or Hoboken to Word Trade Center. The PATH will leave riders 5 blocks short of Times Square. Ride time from Newark Penn Station to NYC Penn Station is 22 minutes.
Cheap Hotel Near PATH Train in NJ Close to NYC
The Ramada near the Journal PATH station is the cheapest hotel near the PATH. Ride time from Journal station to the PATH World Trade Center station is only 15 minutes along the red line. Expect to spend about 25 minutes getting to the 33rd Street PATH station in NYC which is just a 15 minute walk to downtown. The Ramada average rates of $110 on weekdays or weekends. There is no parking at the hotel, but off site parking is available for $12/day. The hotel offers free wifi, and a grab-n-go breakfast. There is a shuttle to the airport from the hotel. A majority of online reviews rated the hotel as very good.
How to Use NJ Ferry’s to Access New York City
The NY Waterway Ferry system creates several opportunities to get from NJ to NYC. Fairs for a ferry ride are between $9.00 and $10 for adults, kids ride for less (rates vary between landing points). During the weekdays ferries leave about every 15 minutes from either NJ or the NYC side of the Hudson. During the weekend ferries are less frequent and run about every 30 minutes. For most lines the last ride during the weekdays happens around midnight and rides start at 7AM. During weekends ride times can be limited for certain landings, sometimes running only between 9AM to 4PM. Crossing the Hudson takes 6 minutes. The NYC landings drop riders 4 blocks from Times Square, and 2 blocks from World Trade Center.
How to Use the New Haven line to Access NYC from Connecticut
The New Haven Commuter Rail line connects NYC with Connecticut suburbs. Ride times are between 45 minutes to over and hour for most stations in Connecticut that have hotels nearby. Fairs cost between $10 to $15 for a one way ride. The New Haven line does not connect with Penn Station. It connects with Grand Central station in NYC about 4 blocks from Times Square. Trains operate from 5AM to 2AM both on weekdays and weekends. Expect trains to run at the worst 30 minutes apart on weekdays and accelerate frequency during rush hour. Ride time from Samford to Grand Central will take about an hour and cost $14 at the station. Ticket prices rise if you pay on board. Ride time from New Haven is an hour and a half and cost $21.
How to Use NJ Transit to Access New York City from New Jersey
The NJ Transit system consists of buses, several commuter rail lines, and three small light rail lines that operate near Newark, Hoboken and Jersey City. The only destination in NYC for NJ Transit trains is Penn Station which is about a 15 minute walk to Times Square. The system connects with Newark Airport. Anticipate spending an hour to commute from the airport to Penn Station in NYC. The fair will be about $12.50 and require two train transfers. Far outside of New York City the Mt. Arlington station is conveniently right off I-80. A ride to Penn Station will take about 1.5 hours and require one train transfer. It’s possible to leave between 6AM and 7AM and arrive back at Mt. Arlington around 9PM, the round trip fairs will total over $30.
How to Use Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line in NJ to Access NYC
The Hudson Bergen light rail is part of the NJ Transit system. It is a small line that helps residents get around Hoboken and Jersey City. In most cases the light rail line isn’t needed because for most hotels a PATH station is nearby. But, on bad weather days the light rail can be handy and reduce the number of blocks you might need to walk between your hotel and a PATH station. Trains operate from about 5AM to 1AM. You can’t connect into New York city, you can only connect to other stations where the PATH, a Ferry, or other NJ Transit train will connect to NYC. Adults pay $2.10 for a one way fair.
How to Use Hotel Van Services from New Jersey to Access NYC
There are 5 hotels just outside of NYC in NJ that are serviced by third party shuttle buses that offer a ride into Manhattan (usually close to Times Square). Fair prices vary, but expect to pay around $5 per person on average for a one way fair. Several comments noted the buses can be a little bit unreliable, and other people complained the buses don’t always drop people off right by the hotel door. Ride time into Manhattan is usually 15 minutes. Room rates at any of these hotels are always under $150 per night and parking is free at at all of the hotels which accommodate the van service. Those hotels are the Super 8, Holiday Inn Express, Executive Days Inn, Doubletree, Econo Lodge.
Hotels Outside of NYC with FREE Parking
There are several locations that have hotels with free parking and easy access to public transportation to NYC in the greater New York City area. The closest to NYC is the Comfort Inn 7 blocks from the Edgewater Ferry. The Ferry is a quick 10 minute ride into the city. Comfort Inn rates average about $140 per night. There are also options for hotel far outside of NYC, one of which is the Holiday Inn Express right off I-80 near the Mt. Arlington NJ Transit station. There rates average $110 per night, but a ride into NYC will take 1.5hrs and cost over $30 round trip. There are 5 hotels that are serviced by third party shuttle buses that help guest get from the hotel into Manhattan. One is the Super 8 which average rates less than $100 per night. Ride time to NYC from the shuttle bus is about 20 minutes. However, expect to wait around at least 20 minutes for the shuttle depending on its reliability. There is a group of suite style hotels near the Grove PATH station that offer free parking, but sometimes a minimum stay of a few nights is required. Hotels on the New Haven line near the Greenwich and Stamford, CT offer free parking.
Best Hotels Near PATH Stations
The PATH has 7 stations in New Jersey and the price points from station to station vary greatly. Hotels along the Hudson waterfront at the Newport or Exchange Place station have the highest rates. Expect to pay over $250 for a weekday stay. The most affordable hotel of the bunch is the Doubletree. If you are coming to NYC for a long term stay there are many suite style hotels available near the Exchange station, however often these locations require multiple night stays. Ride time from downtown Newark to World Trade Center is only 20 minutes and rates at hotels within walking distance to Newark’s Penn are at least $100 less per night than alternatives near the Hudson waterfront. The cheapest option is the Best Western Plus 5 blocks from the station. There rates average $100 per night. Parking, wifi and breakfast is all free. A shuttle is provided to Newark airport.
Hotels in Hooboken Near Ferry to NYC
There are three hotels near the NY Waterway landing platforms. The ferry costs an average $10 for a ride into NYC from NJ. It takes less than 10 minutes to cross the Hudson River. The ferry drops riders about 5 blocks shy of Times Square. The most affordable hotel near a ferry landing in New Jersey is the Comfort Inn. The hotel is about 8 blocks from the Edgewater ferry landing. Rates at the Comfort Inn average $145 on weekdays or weekends. Parking, wifi and breakfast are all provided for FREE. There is also a shuttle that will take guests within a 2 mile radius of the hotel. Reviews of the hotel are a mixed bag, but more often than not the hotel was rated as very good to excellent. The other two hotel options are much more expensive. Those are the W and Sheraton further south toward Hoboken. Rates at either hotel are about $300 on weekdays, at the Sheraton weekend rates drop to about $250.
Hotels off I-80 in NJ Along NJ Transit Lines Far Outside of NYC
Travelers coming to NYC along I-80 who would like to avoid east coast traffic will find comfort in staying near the Mt. Arlington station along the NJ Transit Morristown line. Both the Holiday Inn Express and Courtyard received praise across nearly all of their reviews. Walking to the NJ Transit station is doable, but not everyone will be comfortable doing so. Ride time into NYC is 1.5 hours and a round trip train ride will cost over $30 for one person. The average rates at the Holiday Inn Express are usually under $110 per night. The Courtyard averages rates around $160 on weekdays and $105 on weekends. It would be easy to spend a full day of sightseeing in NYC by taking the train close to 7AM and then boarding the train at NYC’s Penn Station around 8PM for a 9:30PM arrival back to the hotel. Breakfast is offered at the Holiday Inn Express for free, but not at the Courtyard. The Courtyard has pool.
Cheapest Hotel in NJ with Access to NYC via Bus Route
One of the absolute most affordable hotels is the Americas Best Value Inn outside of Newark near the Irvington bus terminal. There is a bus route that takes riders into NYC in about 40 minutes. Rates at the motel are under $70 per night. Reviews are a mixed bag, and lean toward the negative side. Several people pointed out the neighborhood is questionable. On the plus side, parking is free, so is wifi and breakfast. The motel provides a shuttle to the Newark airport.
Hotels in Connecticut Near Train Station to NYC
The New Haven commuter rail runs north east from NYC into Connecticut. Expect to spend at least one hour or more commuting into NYC’s Grand Central station from any of the CT stations with hotels nearby. Also anticipate spending over $20 per person for round trip fairs. Even so, there are two hotels of hotels within walking distance of station platforms the have competitive rates. The most affordable is the La Quinta at the New Haven station. The hotel is 1 block from the station and nighty rates average $105. Parking is free, so is wifi and breakfast. Closer toward NYC at the Stamford station rates for hotels rise. The cheapest hotel is the Hampton Inn. Here rates average $180 on weekdays and $115 on weekends. Parking is free, so is wifi and breakfast. The hotel is one block from the station. Most other stations with hotels along the New Haven line average rates over $200 per night.
Hotels Outside of NYC that Allow Pets
Travelers with pets coming to NYC will be happy to know there are two hotels that allow pet with no additional fees. The first is La Quinta in Connecticut at the New Haven station. Hotel rates are very competitive and usually average less than $105 per night. The hotel is one block from the train platform. New Jersey also has a hotel that allows pets for no extra fee. That is the Executive Days Inn near Union City. This hotel is servied by a shuttle bus that takes guests to NYC in about 20 minutes. Rates at the Executive Days Inn average less than $130 per night. There are other options, but all these hotels have additional fees and restrictions for pets.
