New York City - Driving from LGA to Jersey City Sat 9:30pm

Is there a best route for this? I am afraid to leave it to my Garmin when there are so many factors to incorporate into the route. I'd like to minimize cost and drive time, of course. I don't need to see any scenery ;)

The best route is the one with the least traffic.

If you have a smart phone, when you land pull up Google Maps, turn on the traffic and see which highways, bridges and tunnels are showing green and go that way.

Your Garmin will probably tell you to go Grand Central to BQE (I-278) to Williamsburg Bridge to Broome Street to Holland Tunnel (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lga+to+jersey+city&saddr=lga&daddr=jersey+city&ll=40.745436,-73.939362&spn=0.147741,0.220757&t=h&z=12&vpsrc=6&geocode=Fe8rbgIdYc2Y-yGzZpYOZsQvdw%3BFV12bQIdNqqV-yndr78l0lDCiTHZJc2iE_BJAg), which is almost certainly the most direct. If Broome Street is bad, you can also go to Canal Street, although it's likely to be just as bad.

If the BQE or Holland Tunnel are particularly backed up, and the Midtown and Lincoln Tunnels aren't, you can get off the BQE and take the LIE (I-495) to the Midtown Tunnel and take 37th Street across town to the Lincoln Tunnel, then take Route 1 down to Jersey City. But the Midtown Tunnel has a toll whereas the Wililamsburg Bridge is free (both Holland and Lincoln tunnels are free when leaving NY).

Thanks for the detailed routing. No smart phone but will check the Garmin traffic info, altho it has been unreliable in the past. The info about the tolls is very helpful. My husband is a former Brooklynite but has never had the occasion to cross Manhattan this way.

The directions given sound good if you don't mind driving across lower Manhattan. At the hour you're leaving LGA, traffic shouldn't be bad unless there is an accident. Also, check this website ( http://www.mta.info/bandt/traffic/ ) for any bridge/tunnel/street road closures during the weekend you're driving here.

Traffic can be slow on the WB and/or coming off the bridge onto the Lower East Side on a late Saturday evening b/c of all the traffic lights (used to be my preferred route into downtown).

An option would be to stay on the BQE continue south/east to the Manhattan Bridge (Tillary Street exit) and continue onto Canal Street - straight west to the Holland Tunnel entrance.

Third option would be to go 1 more exit further on the BQE to Brooklyn Bridge exit and across, keep left and turn left at the 1st. traffic light coming off BB at Chamber Street, then right turn at Church Street going north/uptown, bear left as it split for 6th Avenue (of the Americas) and then left on Canal Street, 2 blocks to the HT exit. Very few traffic on this route for late evening - plus there's the Hudson Street option for the alternate entrance to HT.

Tune to AM news radio 880 or 1010 for update traffic info/alerts every 10 minutes on the :08 and :11

Letitride3c:
I am assuming those bridges are free? Which has the easiest exit from the BQE. I don't really want to be driving thru the neighborhoods or anything...

I am hoping to standby for an earlier flight. How much of a difference would the time of day make for your recommendation if I were to arive at 4:30 on Sat for instance?

.... those bridges are free? easiest exit from the BQE. don't want to be driving thru the neighborhoods ... hoping to standby for an earlier flight. How much of a difference would the time of day make for your recommendation if I were to arive at 4:30 on Sat for instance?

Doing a MR? sprinting from LGA to EWR on a weekend? Regardless, the late afternoon is more challenging - okay, in general: more traffic on the BQE in all directions and coming into Manhattan, especially if this is around holiday time (rest of the month!) Newsradio AM 880 on the :08 PLUS 1010 on the :11 for latest traffic update is a must if Google and/or Garmin NAV isn't used.

For that time of the day - avoid the Williamsburg Bridge as crossing the Delancy onto Kenmare/Broome Street approach or further south via Canal will be a lot slower with people out in the Tribeca/Broadway shopping, etc. Both MB and BB are toll-free, just like the WB - easiest exit would be MB but the straight path across Canal Street will be slow, traffic lights all the way.

The BB is for cars/vans only (no buses, trucks or commercial traffic allowed) so it tend to be move faster & smoother, with better odds against major tieups (one, of course, never can predict) and if your DH used to live (drive ?) in Brrrrooklyn, then he should hopefully recall how to navigate - the Centre Street > left on Chamber Street > right on Church Street > and then the 6th Ave (or better yet, Hudson Street's tricky approach) would probably be faster time-wise with fewer cars/trucks/buses & get you into the HT.

Heading to EWR, beware of ongoing & long-term constructions and road work coming out of the HT into Jersey City's local streets, especially on the I-9 (non-toll) approach to EWR - it will be faster taking the tolled NJ Turnpike to Exist 14D for the airport (cash lanes for non-EZ Pass users are generally okay.)

For late weekend evening, average travel time is 40 to 60 minutes betwen LGA and EWR but for late afternoon, increasing to 60 to 90 minutes (or more) as traffic/bridges/tunnel conditions can really, really flip & come to a dead halt with no warning or advanced notice.

Lastly, if time is of the essence & toll money being a minor expense for not missing the flight or making an earlier standby (only if BQE heading to WB/MB/BB is seriously blocked or at a virtual standstill - backup option plan D is take the BQE to Rt. 495 West/L.I. Expressway to the Midtown Tunnel, cash toll into Manhattan & across 37th Street (you will be slowed down with traffic & shoppers in the PM, okay for late evening) to the Lincoln Tunnel - then follow it to the tolled NJ Turnpike southbound for EWR (do NOT use Rt.1-9 south due to above construction bottlenecks) - expected travel time of 60 to 90 minutes, not the quickest route but purely a detour/escape contingency only.

I am assuming those bridges are free? Which has the easiest exit from the BQE. I don't really want to be driving thru the neighborhoods or anything...

I am hoping to standby for an earlier flight. How much of a difference would the time of day make for your recommendation if I were to arive at 4:30 on Sat for instance?Your taking the later flight that allows you to leave at 9:30pm or later will get you MUCH lighter traffic. If you get something earlier, you might be stuck in bumper-to-bumper right from the beginning.

The bridges mentioned are all free as is the Holland Tunnel heading to NJ. To get to the Holland Tunnel, you will be driving on city streets.

I do this trip frequency and to get to Jersey City your only bet is
BQE south to Williamsburg Bridge to Holland Tunnel.

There is a method to wrap around the traffic on Delancy St/Kenmare including going south towards Canal (or Worth St to Leonard) or north to Houston West towards 7th Ave or West Side Hwy Southbound and come around the West entrance. It may not be faster but keeps you moving.

We stood by for an earlier flight arriving at 4:30 and the BQE was clear. For old times sake my husband took the Brooklyn Bridge into lower Manhattan where he once worked as a courier. We were disappointed that the view was blocked on all sides. Is the bridge undergoing some sort of refurbishment?

Is the bridge undergoing some sort of refurbishment?It seems like forever.