Mid-Atlantic - EWR to Ikea in Elizabeth, NJ

I will be travelling through EWR with my two children (4 & 6) in tow at the end of March. We have a 4 hour layover at EWR and I was looking to head over to the Ikea form the airport in order for them to have some time in the ball room and for me to enjoy some quiet time before heading back to the airport.

From google maps it looks as though it's an easy trip on the #62 bus to get to Ikea. Has anyone done this trip, or is it better to just take a cab?

Can't help you but just out of curiosity do you mean Ikea or Jersey Gardens?

Here's the bus schedule for the 62 so this should help you time the buses needed between EWR and IKEA. http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0062.pdf

Can't help you but just out of curiosity do you mean Ikea or Jersey Gardens?

Actually, I'm interested to get from EWR to Jersey Gardens!
How do I do it?

Actually, I'm interested to get from EWR to Jersey Gardens!
How do I do it?This should help. I found this on the Jersey Gardens website:

Transportation

Shuttle from Newark International Airport AirTrain Station P4
Leaves AirTrain station every 30 minutes from 10 am to 8pm (Sunday from 11 am - 6pm)

Returns from Jersey Gardens every 30 minutes from 10:15am to 8:45 pm (Sunday from 11:15 am - 6:45 pm)

Average trip time is 10 minutes

The shuttle bus will pick up and drop off outside Entrance B on the upper level (by Chilis Too). Tickets are $5 each way ($9 round-trip) and can be purchased from the bus driver on the bus.http://www.jerseygardens.com/go/gmap.cfm

Can't help you but just out of curiosity do you mean Ikea or Jersey Gardens?

I was intending to go to Ikea... but Jersey Garden's sounds interesting. Can anyone who has been there share some light on the "Children's Play Area" at the mall and what it entails?

-P

Jersey Gardens is an outlet mall. http://www.jerseygardens.com/go/dirlisting.cfm?fl=all

Of course, all clothing is tax free but if you buy taxable items, you'll only have to pay 3.5% tax as Elizabeth is a tax haven from NJ's regular sales tax of 7%.

Scroll down for some info about the children's area:

Small children will enjoy the unique soft play area at Jersey Gardens. This free activity area includes soft foam play element, including a yellow taxi cab with interactive steering wheel, a train engine, a water ferry, Mack truck, and an airplane.

http://mallimages.mallfinder.com/images/Glimcher/mall-jersey/mimages/PRESSKIT.pdf

Although the mall sounds interesting I think my kids would still prefer Ikea.

From google maps it looks as though it's an easy trip on the #62 bus to get to Ikea. Has anyone done this trip, or is it better to just take a cab?

Can anyone who has familiar with public transit out of EWR comment?

-P

I've never taken the trip but I've taken NJT buses a lot and judging by the high traffic bus line you're taking, I'd say it will be safe and on time (more or less) enough. And if all else fails, it will be easy to call a cab back to the airport.

I am curious to know what the OP eventually did last month and how successful it was.

I am curious to know what the OP eventually did last month and how successful it was.

I thought I might post an update.

As quoted from the Jersey Gardens website by Analise, there is a regular shuttle to the Mall . http://www.jerseygardens.com/go/gmap.cfm

Some points to be aware of-
1. The bus is small - it has only 3 rows, each taking 3 (or 4 slim people). So potentially could fill up with only 10 people. (There is a seat next to the driver). I just did a return journey and both legs were full - surprisingly no one was turned back. The point I'm making here is that either arrive early for your return leg to the airport or give yourself enough time in case you don't get on your first planned bus back to the airport.

2. The bus has no markings. It was white with a small cardboard stuck to the windows saying 'Jersey Garden Malls'. At P4 there are lots of other buses arriving, so watch out for it.

3. Both journeys took exactly 10 minutes. There were no traffic issues even at 17:45.

4. Payment isn't to the driver. You pay at the Mall Concierge where you get a ticket for the return leg. The cost was $9 for the return leg. Effectively this means if you were only going oneway (to the mall) it was a free journey.

Another update - there is actually also a mid-sized (?29 seats) Jersey Garden Mall bus with all the livery.