Stay in hotel in NJ to visit NYC
last update: 23April2013 - add new link to Links of Interest
With the high hotel room rates in New York City (NYC), specifically Manhattan, many people are looking for a less expensive alternative. Staying just outside NYC in New Jersey (NJ) is one good option.
This webpage focuses on staying in a hotel in New Jersey within reasonable distance to Manhattan and using public transportation to go into Manhattan.
Look at the hotels in Jersey City and Hoboken first. They are the most convenient to Manhattan.
Jersey City
:: Westin
This brand new hotel which opened in early 2009 is a block from the Pavonia/Newport PATH station for direct service to Manhattan. The hotel is also near the Newport ferry terminal. The ferry service which is the Newport - Midtown/W. 39th St. route runs only on weekdays. The ferry has free connecting bus service in Manhattan.
The hotel is next to the Exchange Place PATH station for service to Manhattan. Note that taking the PATH to 33rd St (midtown) requires a change of trains. The hotel is also near the Paulus Hook ferry terminal. The ferry service which is the Paulus Hook - Midtown/W. 39th St. route runs only on weekdays. The ferry has free connecting bus service in Manhattan.
The hotel is next to the Pavionia/Newport PATH station for service to Manhattan. The hotel is also near the Newport ferry terminal. The ferry service which is the Newport - Midtown/W. 39th St. route runs only on weekdays. The ferry has free connecting bus service in Manhattan.
The hotel is two blocks from the Pavionia/Newport PATH station.
It is located midway between the Pavonia/Newport and Exchange Place PATH stations. The hotel's website indicates that it offers a complimentary shuttle to the PATH stations.
Use this map to see the locations of the Jersey City hotels relative to each other.
PATH fare to Manhattan from all stations is $1.75 per person one-way. You can use the pay-per-ride (not the unlimited ride) Metrocards for the PATH.
The above Jersey City hotels are all within walking distance of one of the stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line. Take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the Liberty State Park station. At the station, NJ Transit shuttle bus (not free) #305 takes you into the park itself or you can walk. At Liberty State Park, there are ferries for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The shuttle is not available Jan 1 - Mar 25.
Another resource about the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
Use this map to locate the PATH and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stations.
Hoboken
:: W Hotel
The brand new hotel which opened in early 2009 is located 3-4 blocks from the Hoboken PATH / NJ Transit station with connecting service to Newark airport and direct service to Manhattan. The hotel is also near the Hoboken/NJ Transit Transit ferry terminal. The ferry which is the Hoboken / NJ Transit Terminal - World Financial Center route runs only on weekdays. The ferry has free connecting bus service in Manhattan.
Weehawken
:: Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel
The Lincoln Harbor terminal of the NY Waterway ferries is next to the hotel. The ferry service which is the
Lincoln Harbor - W. 39th St. route only runs on weekdays.
The ferry has free connecting bus service in Manhattan.
NJ Transit bus runs on Harbor Boulevard past this hotel to Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan.
Download the schedules for the #126,
the #156,
the #158, or
the #159 bus.
On weekends for ferry service, take the hotel's free shuttle to the Port Imperial ferry terminal.
There are three ferry routes that serves Port Imperial:
(1.) Port Imperial - Midtown/W. 39th St. (seven days a week)
(2.) Port Imperial - World Financial Center (weekdays only)
(3.) Port Imperial - Pier 11 (weekdays only)
Secaucus
:: Hyatt Place, Mariott Courtyard, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Homestead Studio Suites, La Quinta Inn and Suites
These seven (7) hotels are served by the #320 NJ Transit bus to NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal. Download schedule in PDF format.
The EZlink shuttle run by the Meadowlands Transportation Brokerage Corporation connects Harmon Meadows area with the Secaucus Junction train station during work week rush hours. NJ Transit trains connects Secaucus Junction station to NYC Penn Station. It is about a 15-minute ride. In general this option offers no advantages over the bus unless there are severe traffic back-ups at the Lincoln Tunnel. Check traffic conditions at 1010 WINS.
There is a map in PDF format showing the locations of the hotels, restaurants, shops, shuttle and bus stops in the Harmon Meadow area.
Go to this page to download coupons for stores in the complex.
:: Crowne Plaza
This hotel overlooks the Hackensack River. The #129 NJ Transit bus to NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal stops at the corner near the hotel. Download the schedule in PDF format.
Per the Secaucus.org website, this hotel is served by the #190 NJ Transit bus to NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal. Download schedule in PDF format. One thing worth noting is that while the bus to NYC picks up in front of the hotel, the return bus from NYC drop off location is not as convenient. This fact is mentioned in a few reviews for this hotel at tripadvisor.com. This is because the hotel is on a one-way eastbound access road. Buses coming back from NYC will be westbound on Paterson Plank Road. You will need to cross Paterson Plank Road and walk along a highway ramp to get back to the hotel. Here's a satellite aerial view (the bus dropoff is red marker; the hotel is green marker).
There is a map in PDF format of the greater Secaucus area. The locations of the Hilton Garden Inn and Crowne Plaza are shown.
North Bergen
Some of the reviews for the motel at tripadvisor.com mentions a shuttle bus that runs every 7-10 minutes in front of the motel to NYC for $3 one-way. Website for one of these shuttle bus companies. These shuttle buses are geared towards the Spanish-speaking community who live in/near Paterson, NJ. Newspaper article about these jitneys.
The #125 NJ Transit bus from NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal stops nearby at 30th Street and JF Kennedy Boulevard by the Toys 'R Us store. It is a long block walk from there to/from the motel. The #129 and #190 NJ Transit bus appears to run in front of the hotel on its way to NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal. The return bus #129 or #190 drops off at 31st Street and JF Kennedy Boulevard. map
:: Days Inn
The hotel website mentions that the North Bergen Park and Ride is within walking distance. Unfortunately, there are no sidewalks once you cross Tonnelle Avenue. Especially dangerous is the bridge over the railroad tracks. See it here. The hotel offers van service to Manhattan for a fee. The other option for transportation into the city is the #125 NJ Transit mentioned above for the Super 8 Motel.
Newark
The hotel is connected by an enclosed walkway directly to Newark Penn Station. Shown here.
From Newark Penn Station, you have the option of taking
(1.) NJ Transit trains to New York Penn Station [33rd St. and 8th Ave.]
(2.) NJ Transit buses #108 to New York Port Authority Bus Terminal [42nd St. and 8th Ave.]
(3.) PATH to midtown [33rd St. and 6th Ave.] (this requires change of trains) or downtown Manhattan [WTC]
Links of Interest
- Top five secret hotel bargains in New York City (October 15, 2010)
- 5 Bargain Hotels in New York City (September 19, 2007)
- Hotels in Jersey City and Weehawken (May 7, 2006)
- Hotels in NYC under $200 (May 7, 2006)
- 10 Budget Hotels in NYC (December 11, 2005)
- Budget Hotels in NYC (New York Magazine Cheap Guide)
Parking in New York City
The Travel Inn is the only hotel with free parking.
Use iconparking to reserve parking at a discount rate. You do NOT need anything to make a reservation, but you must print out the reservation form and bring it with you to get the discounted rate.
New York City operates three municipal parking facilities in downtown Manhattan.
Transportation options from Newark Liberty International Airport
The #62 NJ Transit bus has a luggage restriction of 22" x 16" x 6"
To Jersey City
- taxi
- #62 NJ Transit bus to Newark Penn Station; then PATH to Manhattan
- AirTrain to Newark Airport rail station; then NJ Transit train to Newark Penn Station; then PATH to Manhattan
To Secaucus
- taxi
- #62 NJ Transit bus to Newark Penn Station; #78 NJ Transit bus to Secaucus (weekdays between 6am-3pm)
- AirTrain to Newark Airport rail station; then NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction (not all trains stop at Secaucus Junction); then a taxi or #2 NJ Transit bus or your hotel's shuttle from Secaucus Junction train station to Harmon Meadow
To Weehawken
- taxi
- #62 NJ Transit bus to Newark Penn Station; then PATH to Exchange Place station; then Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Lincoln Harbor station
- #62 NJ Transit bus to Ikea store; then #111 NJ Transit bus heading to NYC - get off at Boulevard East and Baldwin Ave
- AirTrain to Newark Airport rail station; then NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction (not all trains stop at Secaucus Junction); then #129 NJ Transit bus to NYC - get off at Boulevard East and Baldwin Ave
To Manhattan
- taxi
- Newark Liberty Airport Express bus
- Airtrain to Newark Airport rail station; then NJ Transit or Amtrak (Amtrak will cost double) train to NYC Penn Station
- #62 NJ Transit bus to Newark Penn Station; then PATH to Manhattan
all-women residences NYC
- The Brandon [3 day minimum stay]
- The Webster [3 day minimum stay]
- Sacred Heart Residence [4 day minimum stay; ages 18-30]
- Parkside Evangeline Residence, 18 Gramercy Park South (intersection of Irving Pl and Gramercy Park South) [ages 18-35] 212-677-6200 parksidetsanyc@aol.com
- Centro Maria Residence
Sightseeing in NYC
bus tours
- Gray Line New York Sightseeing
- City Sights New York
- New York Party Shuttle Tours
- Marvelous Manhattan Tours
walking
waterway tours
- 1/2-priced tickets for various events in NYC including cruises (free registration required)
- Circle Line
- NY Waterway Sightseeing Cruises
- New York Water Taxi
- Spirit Cruises (dinner or lunch)
North Bergen Park and Ride
When heading north on the NJ Turnpike, take exit 16E. After you pay the tolls at exit 16E, there is a fork in the road. The right ramp is to go to the Lincoln Tunnel; the left ramp is to go to Route 3 / Park & Ride. Take the left ramp.
Once you take the left ramp, get into the right lane. At the first traffic light, make a right-hand turn onto Paterson Plank road. After you make the right-hand, turn stay in the middle lane. The right most lane is the ramp for Route 3 East. Next is the ramp for Route 3 West. Ignore them. Go through the next/second traffic light. At the third traffic light make a right. The entrance to the park and ride is just beyond the traffic light.
At the gate into the parking lot, push the button, and get a ticket. Do not throw that gate ticket away; you will need it to purchase tickets for the bus and to insert into the gate machine when you exit the lot.
There is a small building with tickets machines to pay for your parking and bus fare. The building is hidden from view when you first enter the lot. It is located directly under the overpass. The ticket machines accept both cash and credit cards. I've only paid with credit card and only paying for one person. I am not sure how the process works when you need to buy multiple tickets.
If paying by credit card, the ticket machines are confusing. You insert the gate ticket first. Then you insert your credit card into the same slot. A receipt will print and drop in the bin below. Your credit card will be returned first. Then the gate ticket and finally your bus ticket. Be sure you get all four items.
To exit to get to the NJ Turnpike, use the exit closest to the building.