New York City Travel Forum

Can anyone help us (we are a family of 5) to find an inexpensive mode of transportation to get from the Newark Airport to Times Square? I read somewhere that we could ride the NJ Transit for like $5 if we have a Metro Card but we can't get a Metro Card until we get into the city. If we don't have one, then its going to be like $15 or $17 per person. Is there any other means of transportation that may be less expensive? I've already spent a ton of money on airline tickets and hotel and NY Pass.

Any advise would be really appreciated!!!

p.s. Is the Summers humid in NY like it is here in Florida?

Thank you,

Desperate from Florida!

Hi there,

I found the below in

http://www.nysubway.com/airport/newark.html

I have taken the below and it works dosen't take that much time (reverse the directions)

PATH / NJ Transit / Airtrain to Newark Airport – Cheapest Method
The least expensive way to reach Newark Airport is via the PATH subway/NJ Transit/Airtrain method. It’s a tricky route, but if cost is a factor, it can be done in about 90 minutes. From the 33 St./6 Ave. PATH station, you ride a PATH train to Journal Square, change there (across the platform) to a Newark train. From Newark Penn Station, take a NJ Transit train to the Newark Airport Train Station, and finally, transfer to a Newark Airport Airtrain to your terminal. Total cost of this method is $9.

PATH trains run every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays, every 30 minutes at night. On weekends, PATH trains run every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. While PATH and the Newark Airport Airtrain run 24 hours a day, NJ Transit has no service to Newark Airport between 2 and 5AM. Remember that the NJ Transit ticket you purchase in Newark also covers your Airtrain fare, so hold on to it when you leave the NJ Transit train. Only NJ Transit trains showing “EWR” on the departure board will stop at Newark Airport.

Good luck

ER

Hi there,

I found the below in

http://www.nysubway.com/airport/newark.html

I have taken the below and it works dosen't take that much time (reverse the directions)

PATH / NJ Transit / Airtrain to Newark Airport – Cheapest Method
The least expensive way to reach Newark Airport is via the PATH subway/NJ Transit/Airtrain method. It’s a tricky route, but if cost is a factor, it can be done in about 90 minutes. From the 33 St./6 Ave. PATH station, you ride a PATH train to Journal Square, change there (across the platform) to a Newark train. From Newark Penn Station, take a NJ Transit train to the Newark Airport Train Station, and finally, transfer to a Newark Airport Airtrain to your terminal. Total cost of this method is $9.

PATH trains run every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays, every 30 minutes at night. On weekends, PATH trains run every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. While PATH and the Newark Airport Airtrain run 24 hours a day, NJ Transit has no service to Newark Airport between 2 and 5AM. Remember that the NJ Transit ticket you purchase in Newark also covers your Airtrain fare, so hold on to it when you leave the NJ Transit train. Only NJ Transit trains showing “EWR” on the departure board will stop at Newark Airport.

Good luck

ER

Hi there,

I found the below in

http://www.nysubway.com/airport/newark.html

I have taken the below and it works dosen't take that much time (reverse the directions)

PATH / NJ Transit / Airtrain to Newark Airport – Cheapest Method
The least expensive way to reach Newark Airport is via the PATH subway/NJ Transit/Airtrain method. It’s a tricky route, but if cost is a factor, it can be done in about 90 minutes. From the 33 St./6 Ave. PATH station, you ride a PATH train to Journal Square, change there (across the platform) to a Newark train. From Newark Penn Station, take a NJ Transit train to the Newark Airport Train Station, and finally, transfer to a Newark Airport Airtrain to your terminal. Total cost of this method is $9.

PATH trains run every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays, every 30 minutes at night. On weekends, PATH trains run every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. While PATH and the Newark Airport Airtrain run 24 hours a day, NJ Transit has no service to Newark Airport between 2 and 5AM. Remember that the NJ Transit ticket you purchase in Newark also covers your Airtrain fare, so hold on to it when you leave the NJ Transit train. Only NJ Transit trains showing “EWR” on the departure board will stop at Newark Airport.

Good luck

ER

hi. WElcome to VT! As your profile is completely blank, we don't how if you are a seasoned traveler, if you've ever been to a big city, etc. Yes, if you are willing to carry all of your luggage up to the Newark/Liberty Monorail, then the NJT train, then down to the Newark PATH station, then up the stairs at 6 Ave/33 St PATH station in Manhattan, then you are welcome to it. For the 1 low price of $15 1 way, $25 R/T (as of February 2009, when I last took it), you can take the street-level CoachUSA bus from Newark directly to Port Authority. In fact, if you 5 people and all your luggage can miraculously fit into a cab (probably not), then take a cab. But then the cabbie makes You pay for all the tolls... You're better off on the CoachUSA bus, which does take credit cards right there on board. No stairs, no hassle. FEel free to look at my homepage for non-luxurious restaurants and attractions, like the (free) Staten Island Ferry, and the 1 fare each way Roosevelt Island Tram, at 2 Ave & 60 St. Enjoy my city!

You were told wrong about $5 from Newark Airport using MetroCard.

If you want cheap and have only carry-on luggage, you can take the #62 NJ Transit bus from the airport terminals to Newark Penn Station. Then from there take the PATH over into Manhattan. I would estimate total travel time at 90 minutes. This would cost you about $4-5/person.

First of all, you don't want to take the PATH. The closest PATH station is Newark Penn Station which is a ways from the airport.

Instead, one option is to take New Jersey Transit which has a station at Newark Airport. There is a monorail which goes from the airport terminals to the train station. You can buy tickets at the station (either in person or at a ticket machine). Make sure that you get on the train going towards New York City (not towards Trenton). It is generally three stops (sometimes two on express trains) from the airport station to Penn Station New York (33rd Street). It's the last stop for this train -- so you don't have to worry about missing your stop. From Penn Station, you can walk to Times Square (or take a subway, bus, or cab).

Another option is to take a bus from Newark Airport directly to Port Authority which is in the Times Square area. Here's a link for the Newark Liberty Airport Express.

http://www.coachusa.com/shortline/ss.newarkairport.asp

Enjoy your trip!

BillNJ,

I guess you missed the part in her original message about not wanting to pay $15-$17/person.

NJ Transit from EWR to NYC Penn is $15/one-way/adult and $11.25/one-way/child.

The Olympia Trails Bus is no cheaper.

So, she is stuck either taking the long arduous way via PATH or forking over more $$$.

Timessquare,
Personally, I recommend just paying the NJ Transit fare. If this initial transportation fee is such a major problem, they should probably reconsider their travel plans to such an expensive city as NYC.

If saving money is a matter of life-and-death for this family, they can board the NJ Transit train at the airport without a ticket. I don't recommend doing this because it is dishonest, but chances are good that they will never be asked for tickets if they stay near one of the doors instead of sitting in one of the main passenger areas.

After getting off the train in Penn Station, they can easily walk to Times Square. Total monetary cost for such a trip -- $0. However, like I said earlier, I don't recommend the dishonest practice of skipping the train fare unless it is truly a matter of life-and-death for this family (in which I would excuse the dishonesty of this action).