New York City - Traffic going from Manhattan to Newark in the AM?

I'll be in NYC in a few weeks, taking some potential clients out to dinner. I'm staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca that night, and then have to be in Kenilworth, NJ (next to EWR) around 9:30am the next morning. I'm assuming it's a reverse commute so traffic shouldn't be too bad in the morning. Anything I should be aware of or plan on? I figured I would give myself 45 minutes door to door, is that reasonable?

Also that reminds me I'll be landing at JFK at 3pm, and will be driving into Manhatten (to NYU Medical School), leaving JFK arond 3:30pm. I was hoping it would be about a 1 hour trip, but my sister who lives in brooklyn says 1.5 hours. Anyone have any insight here?

I think you are under estimating both trips. While it's possible your times may hold, it's also possible traffic will be horrible. Reverse commute is relative, it's still a mess, but no where near as bad as coming into the city would be. I would allow a bit more time and be happy if you arrive early.

Most days you would probably be OK, but when things go bad, it can be very bad.

Jfk to nyu medical school east side of manhattan: is my 1 hr unrealistic or both my estimate and my sister's unrealistic? As of now I am planning on 1.T hrs drive from rental car lot to being inside the building.

In the morning from tribeca to newrk, I'll give myself an hour. Looks like the hotel is on the lower west side of manhatten and about 20 miles to destination.

Thanks for the insight.

I've done JFK to NYU Med (next to where I live) in 25 minutes and I've also done it in 2 hours. With 0 traffic 25 minutes is realistic (and what google maps says for the trip) but otherwise 45 mins - 1h is about right.

The traffic within Manhattan can be really bad in the morning. Luckily you are right next to the Holland tunnel but traffic can still be bad early in the morning all the way to Newark.

We'll be doing this same commute July 16th from Manhattan (NY Plaza currently booked) to EWR as well.. but in the pm..

Our flight leaves 5:50 pm in the after noon.. So if we leave before rush hour say 1:30 pm.. would that give us enough time to get to airport via mass transit?

Depending, I may opt for an airport transfer.. Anyone know of a reasonably priced transfer? Seems a city always has a reasonably priced airport transfer company

Please follow as the thread moves to the Travel->NYC forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

We'll be doing this same commute July 16th from Manhattan (NY Plaza currently booked) to EWR as well.. but in the pm..

Our flight leaves 5:50 pm in the after noon.. So if we leave before rush hour say 1:30 pm.. would that give us enough time to get to airport via mass transit?

Depending, I may opt for an airport transfer.. Anyone know of a reasonably priced transfer? Seems a city always has a reasonably priced airport transfer company

Yes. What I would do since you have bags and you will be in the middle of summer, take a cab to Penn Station and from there NJ Transit to the Airtrain. The NYC subway stations are not a/c and its hotter underground than above ground. Not to mention what could be a crowded and hot subway car.

All told should take you about an hour or so.

In the morning, make sure you take the Holland Tunnel. I"m normally cominig out of it into Manhattan when you'd be going in. Canal St. won't have much traffic and it shouldn't be too bad. The Lincoln Tunnel will be far more crowded/congested since one of the tubes is reversed.

Just in case, I would give myself a little more than an hour. When the tunnels mess up, they really mess up.

We'll be doing this same commute July 16th from Manhattan (NY Plaza currently booked) to EWR as well.. but in the pm..

Our flight leaves 5:50 pm in the after noon.. So if we leave before rush hour say 1:30 pm.. would that give us enough time to get to airport via mass transit?That is plenty of time especially since July 16 is on a Monday.

Depending, I may opt for an airport transfer.. Anyone know of a reasonably priced transfer? Seems a city always has a reasonably priced airport transfer companyYou can take a bus to EWR from Grand Central, Bryant Park, Penn Station or the Port Authority. NYC's forum moderator, dstan, put this together. We get asked these questions all of the time so this will help you.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1001718-welcome-nyc-forum-please-read-first-really.html
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/NYC_Airports_to_Manhattan_Transportation_FAQ

45 minutes from Tribeca to Keniworth is accurate. Assuming no traffic at your time of departure (which is out of rush hour window) you probably can get there in 30 mins.

JFK to Manhattan - 1 hr is accurate but you may wish to route paths alternate to GPS which may add extra highway and miles vs. listening to local FM 101.9 (on the 5s) or 1010AM (on the 1s) to determine if any of the highways you are on have hiccups. You should be fine except for the BQE if it directs you to the Williamsburgh Bridge (FREE) vs. the Midtown Tunnel (TOLL).

Reverse commuting OUT of Manhattan in the morning usually is fine, though by 8:30 or 9am the regular traffic in the city has started to build up. Reverse commuting INTO Manhattan in the evening is a nightmare because you're also often fighting with theatre traffic and because the inbound capacity is cut 50% in the Lincoln tunnel. (The capacity is cut outbound AM too but you don't have the theatre traffic so it's never as bad. May be moot for the Holland tunnel anyway).

I will never take the roads into the city from EWR in the evening (maybe 4-7pm), I'll always take the train. I'll usually take the train out to EWR in the evening.

Reverse commuting OUT of Manhattan in the morning usually is fine, though by 8:30 or 9am the regular traffic in the city has started to build up. Reverse commuting INTO Manhattan in the evening is a nightmare because you're also often fighting with theatre traffic and because the inbound capacity is cut 50% in the Lincoln tunnel. (The capacity is cut outbound AM too but you don't have the theatre traffic so it's never as bad. May be moot for the Holland tunnel anyway).

I will never take the roads into the city from EWR in the evening (maybe 4-7pm), I'll always take the train. I'll usually take the train out to EWR in the evening.

Thanks! This was very helpful.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Since you will be traveling on a Monday, you can also get a one-way rental from Manhattan to EWR with Hertz for $23.96, tax included (and get 1,000 Virgin Atlantic frequent-flyer miles, to boot!) There's a Hertz office on West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th avenues. Use Hertz rate code "MOVEIT" if interested.

If you drive down to the Holland Tunnel and then take US 1-9 to EWR, there will be no tolls, and you would probably use only one gallon of gas for the drive.

One of the short-cuts used by some taxi/car service/local drivers familiar with gridlocks leaving JFK to mid-town is (instead of going out of JFK Expwy to VWE or I-678 North to the Grand Central Parkway/LIE is to to take the Woodheaven Blvd. all the way north (traffic lights, yes, but it's 3 lanes each direction at all times) toward Queens Blvd & then ease back onto the LIE West to the tolled Mid-town Tunnel - for the East Side/Grand Central Terminal, 34th Street/NYU Med. & the Upper East Side. It's not the fastest time-wise but I-678 North is bumper-to-bumper all day long due to long-term & ongoing restrictions with narrower lanes, travel time on that stretch alone is easily 15 to 30 minutes without accidents or poor weather.

It's best to avoid the Belt Parkway westbound in the PM hours, again, long-term & ongoing constructions along the route with narrower lanes, and POT-HOLES, huge ones especially after poor weather & cars slamming their brakes or dodging into other lanes, etc. to avoid denting their axles & rims or getting flat tires - which can be done in 20 to 40 minutes with all is good during regular PM rush hour along the shoreline, the next bottleneck for those who like the scenic VZ Bridge along the way is traffic often come to a near halt by the time you reached the Gowanus/BQE west in South Brooklyn, before going over the "top" to the split for the Battery Tunnel or continuing to the Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridge exit for Lower Manhattan - there is practically no chance these days to make this run in 45 to 60 minutes, from car rental lot to NYU - 90 minutes is about right but with bad weather, broken down motorist or road "incidents" 2 hours would be considered reasonable.

For the morning trip from Tribeca to EWR area, 45 to 60 mintues normally will suffice and yes, Holland Tunnel is the best bet but know how to go north for the Lincoln Tunnel (use the 10th Avenue entrance behind the Postal facilities for the best/fastest approach at any hours of the day/night coming up from the southern part.) Just be careful with some of the signs near the Tunnel during rush hours for things such as Bus only, No Left Turn 6-10 AM, etc. but traffic agents are always out at key intersections to direct for smoother traffic flow.

Lastly, ask the hotel about any parking specials or deals for guests, as it can be rather costly overnight & you won't outsmart local residents for finding a nearby on-street free parking spots.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Since you will be traveling on a Monday, you can also get a one-way rental from Manhattan to EWR with Hertz for $23.96, tax included (and get 1,000 Virgin Atlantic frequent-flyer miles, to boot!) There's a Hertz office on West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th avenues. Use Hertz rate code "MOVEIT" if interested.

If you drive down to the Holland Tunnel and then take US 1-9 to EWR, there will be no tolls, and you would probably use only one gallon of gas for the drive.

Thanks for the tip.. will look it up..