Triangle Trip

There are many options from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to New York City. Below are the options and cost overview. I highly recommend option 6 — Newark Liberty Airport Express operated by Olympia Trails. See the options and you will know why #6 is the cheapest and most efficient.

1.  If you are true jetsetter, go with the helicopter!  You can get to Manhattan in less than 10 minutes and will earn extra airline points on Continental and Delta.

2.  Most business travelers take a cab or limo from EWR to NYC which will run you $90 or so because you’re responsible for the NJ Turnpike tolls and tunnels. You will also have to sit in traffic if your flight lands in the morning or late in the evening.

3.  Rent a car one-way from Newark and drop it off in NYC is a good option when you land late at night or very early in the morning. National Car Rental has many one-way deals from EWR to NYC as they need cars in the City – especially on the weekends. Most National facilities also has deals for you to bring the car back to NYC. These deals usually have rules demanding you return the car to either NYC or EWR by 2PM the next day. One-way rentals can go as low as $40 with tax to $70 — tolls not included.

4. Super Shuttle is an alternative if you don’t mind sitting in a minivan like wagon with 10 people. You may also have to sit through 20 stops as people are dropped off or being picked up before your destination. The cost is around $20 and you don’t have to pay for any tolls.

5.  If you are super cheap and economical, you can take the EWR Airtrain. The Airtrain is cheap (~$12) but super inefficient. You will need to take the EWR Airtrain to Newark station and change to either the NJ-Transit train or Amtrak. For the NJ-Transit option, you will need to get off the EWR Airtrain at Newark station, take NJ-Transit to Journal Square and switch to another train to take you to either 33rd Street Midtown or World Trade Center downtown. For the Amtrak option, you can pick up the train at Newark train station and take it to PENN station in Midtown West or to Grand Central Station on Midtown East. Either way, I do not recommend this approach for anyone. The cost saving vs time/effort is not worth it.

6.  The Newark Liberty Airport Express is by far the best and most efficient way to go to/from EWR to NYC. For $13, you are pretty much guaranteed to go from Midtown Manhattan to EWR in 45 minutes. The bus is large like a greyhound and comfortable — they are rarely full. Buses run every 30 minutes north/south along 42nd Street. Buses make stops at Grand Central, Bryant Park (by the Grace building) and Port Authority Terminal. The last bus leaves NYC and EWR at 1:00AM every morning and begins as early as 4AM. Staff on the bus are friendly and they accept cash or credit cards. The Airport Express is kind of hard to find in Newark as they did a horrible job with advertising and signage. There are bus and shuttle parking alongside all Newark terminals (A, B and C).

Hope everyone finds this post helpful. We look forward to your comments.