This post is for those who are driving to and staying in New York City but want to save money by parking in New Jersey.
OVERVIEW
So you plan on driving to NYC but are concerned about the high cost of parking. And what about paying for tolls on top of that? You are right to be concerned!
Between bridge or tunnel tolls ($17) and high parking garage prices ($30-$50 or more overnight), the costs start to add up.
In comparison, parking garages in New Jersey can cost as low as $4 overnight if you book in advance and prepay with an app like SPOTHERO.
Although you’ll have to pay for public transportation into Manhattan (between $2.75 and $16), you will still save quite a bit of money by parking in New Jersey.
Potential Savings
If you park at the least expensive lot in New Jersey ($4) plus round-trip public transportation from that station ($24.50), you'll pay a total of $28.50.
If you drive into Manhattan to park, you will pay $16 in tolls (you only pay into NYC, not back to New Jersey).
Then, if you are lucky, you can find a spot in a garage for $34 overnight, that's $50!
By parking in New Jersey, you could save nearly $22!
Time-Saver
Besides saving money, there is also the time it takes to drive all the way into Manhattan.
Depending on where you park and the mode of public transportation you choose, it can take as little as 30 minutes to get from a parking spot in New Jersey to your final destination in NYC.
In comparison, it can take twice as long or more -- especially during rush hours -- via the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel or the George Washington Bridge.
To help you save money and time, we explain below various parking options in New Jersey to help you decide if parking there is a good choice.
NOTE: This post is for those who are driving into Manhattan and the route takes them through New Jersey.
Parking at Newark Liberty International Airport
If you are driving from the west or south of NYC, you will almost certainly be driving past Newark Airport.
Good news! There are affordable parking lots adjacent to the airport, the cheapest being the airport’s long-term economy (P-6) parking lot ($25 for 24 hours).
If you book at least 24 hours in advance the prices are, as of November 2023:
- first 24 hours $25
- over 24 hours, each 24 hours or fraction thereof $25
You'll have to take a short shuttle ride from the lot to the New Jersey Transit station for your transfer to NYC, but it may be worth the small hassle.
There are closer lots but they are slightly more expensive.
It is fairly easy to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan. The trip from the lot to NY Penn Station is 24 minutes with mass transit.
Plus, if you have a lot of luggage, there is plenty of room for your bags on the train and elevators at the station so you don't have to carry your bags up and down stairs.
There are also shuttle buses from the airport to Grand Central Terminal but you would have to travel from the parking lot to the main terminal.
Luckily, there is a free shuttle bus from economy parking to the main terminal.
You can see pricing and book parking directly from the airport’s parking page. You can even see how full the lots are.
One-Way Tickets on NJ Transit (as of November 2023):
- $15.25 - Adults
- $11.25 - child 5-11/Senior/Military/Disabled Individuals
- see the website for schedules and to purchase tickets
Find a pre-reserved discount spot using SpotHero.
Parking at MetroPark Train Station
An even cheaper option is MetroPark Train Station which is close to I-95, I-287, and the Garden State Parkway.
It's a good option for people traveling to NYC from the south.
There are over 3,500 spaces in two garages and a spot costs just $12 a night for up to 21 days.
The lot is conveniently located right next to the train station.
It takes between 37-45 minutes, depending on the time of day, to get to NY Penn Station by train.
Find out more about the MetroPark Station parking garages here.
One-way tickets to NY Penn Station via NJ Transit train (as of November 2023):
- $10.75 - Adults
- $4.90 - Child 5-11/Senior/Military/Disabled Individuals
- see the website for schedules and to purchase tickets
Parking at Other NJ Transit Train Stations
There are a lot of NJ Transit train stations with parking due to the fact that many New Jersey residents commute to NYC from here.
You can pay as little as $4-5 a day if you park at some of these stations, such as Ramsey Route 17 Station in northern New Jersey.
One-way tickets to NY Penn Station via NJ Transit train (as of November 2023):
- $12.25 - Adults
- $5.70 - Child 5-11/Senior/Military/Disabled Individuals
- See the website for schedules and to purchase tickets
NOTE: From Ramsey, you will need to change trains at Secaucus Junction Station. However, there are elevators and frequent connecting trains.
It’s a 50-60 min journey from Ramsey Station to NY Penn Station.
In theory, you can replicate this Ramsey Station example at many NJ Transit Stations but many either have no on-site lot or do not allow overnight parking.
For some stations, there are nearby lots.
Parking at PATH Train Stations
The PATH is New Jersey’s version of the NYC subway and it runs under the Hudson River.
Cities served by the PATH system are Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken.
There are parking lots near all PATH stations and if you book in advance with SPOTHERO, overnight parking can be as low as $16.
The ride to Lower Manhattan on the PATH train will be under 30 minutes.
No matter which PATH station you park at, the ride into Manhattan costs $2.75 one-way.
You can use a NYC subway MetroCard to pay the fare. You may want to read our post on buying a MetroCard.
Find more information from the PATH website.
TIP: If you want to enjoy a view of Lower Manhattan from the water, you can take the NY Waterway Ferry from Hoboken and Jersey City.
Read our post on NYC ferries.
Safety in New Jersey Parking Lots
The less expensive parking lots are those that do not have round-the-clock attendants.
Many parking lots now have contactless access and payment and may not have an attendant at all.
This doesn't mean that your car won't be safe. Many parking lots have security cameras.
When choosing a parking lot, be sure to check what security features the lot has in place.
