Overnight parking options outside of NYC

January 14, 2024 11:58 AM

I'm planning a family trip from Ohio to Massachusetts with a stop over in NYC for a couple nights. We're going to get a hotel in Manhattan, but I don't want to take my car into the city. I'm looking for a place to park overnight, likely in NJ, that (a) is relatively easy to get to, (b) is near a train that can take us into the city, and (c) can be reserved ahead of time for a reasonable price.

I've identified Secaucus Junction as one possibility, but am wondering if there's anywhere else which would be more convenient.

We'll be staying in midtown if that matters, and have been to NYC a few times before so we're fairly comfortable getting around using the subway.

posted by noneuclidean to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

I have used Jersey City as a base for Manhattan trips and it works well - quick ride on the PATH train into the city. I do not know about parking options/prices there though.
posted by Mid at 12:05 PM on January 14

So we know what you’re trying to avoid, what do you mean by “into the city”? Do you mean the island of Manhattan, the five boroughs, or just anywhere that’s really busy? And what days of the week will this be? Parking near suburban commuter trains on a Monday is harder than on a Saturday. In the other hand, finding street parking in the Bronx is easier on a weekday than a Sunday night.
posted by caek at 12:25 PM on January 14

Personally, as an NJ native, I use the Secaucus lot frequently. I usually use it for events like concerts, not overnights, but the lot is well trafficked, decently lit, and easy to access the train station. Plus, trains to and from the city are constantly running through Secaucus, you just need to look for which trains from Penn stop there (on the NJTransit Departures board, anything that has SEC in the name will stop there (picture for reference). Especially if you're staying in Midtown, it's probably a good option. I believe you can reserve a spot using ParkFast for the duration of your trip so you don't have to worry about spot availability. The lot will be busiest during morning rush hour, evening rush hour, and weekend afternoons. If you can avoid that it might help, but it's a really big lot anyway. Look for the 675 Paul Amico Way lot in the ParkFast app or online, it's closest to the station.

If you park in Jersey City, it'll probably be more expensive, and also the traffic in and out of Jersey City is a pain. But if you do choose Jersey City, you'll want to park somewhere near the Journal Square PATH station (not Grove street) since you'd want to use the Journal Sq-> 33rd st. line. But it may not go far enough north for you if you're staying in Midtown anyway.
posted by rachaelfaith at 12:33 PM on January 14

Hoboken looks like a possibility, with a PATH that gets you closer to mid-town.
posted by Mid at 12:38 PM on January 14

Secaucus is the way to go. The NJ Turnpike (I-95) is literally 2 minutes away; Jersey City and Hoboken are both gonna be annoying to get into/out of.
posted by rhymedirective at 1:07 PM on January 14

I agree that Secaucus is the most convenient, but if you opt for Jersey City I can also recommend the Newport South Garage for $35/day. It's a public garage wedged between the Westin Hotel and Newport Centre shopping mall (don't park in the mall garage). There's no need to reserve ahead of time, but if you want to it looks like you can do that here. Walk 5 minutes to Newport Station on the PATH train, which can take you to 33rd St in Manhattan. Access the garage off Washington Blvd next to the Westin driveway entrance.
posted by theory at 1:27 PM on January 14

You can park in Weehawken and take the ferry to Manhattan.
posted by cushie at 1:41 PM on January 14

Secaucus is your best bet, Weehawken/ferry is a good alternative. Driving into JC or Hoboken can be painful.

The Secaucus Junction parking lot cited above is specifically NOT part of the train station. Which is good. Because NJTransit, the commuter rail operator, does not provide multi-day parking at its train stations. The stations that do have parking don't allow overnights. Also beware of the "Park & Ride" locations operated by NJT, which provide bus service into midtown but also are not intended for multi-day stays & may result in towing.

Your guaranteed fallback option is at Newark Liberty International Airport, which has an Airtrain connection to a NJTransit/Amtrak rail station. This would be a very long trip under any circumstances compared to Secaucus or Weehawken.

Good luck! I had the same problem a few months ago... with an RV! ::groan::
posted by brianvan at 7:07 AM on January 15

If you do end up parking at Newark airport, note that there are several bus/shuttle companies running hourly that can drop you off in mid-town (Port Authority, Grand Central) for roughly $20 o/w.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:47 AM on January 15

Secaucus is almost certainly the easiest option, but the ferry from Weehawken is a beautiful ride. The ferry puts you on the 39th Street Pier on the West side of Manhattan and a decent walk from the subway. The ferry company previously had buses that would take you around Manhattan, but I don't know that they still do.

I don't recommend Hoboken or Jersey City because driving in there can be worse than Manhattan (source: I lived in Hoboken for several years).
posted by miscbuff at 11:48 AM on January 15

We have used the North Bergen park and ride. Parking is $10/day, and it includes one bus ride into the city and back - to the Port Authority bus terminal. Additional people are $6.50. It was pretty easy, and you pay for your extra days at the kiosk when you exit. One issue is that the online info from NJ transit is terrible, but this YouTube seems to hit the main points I remember.
posted by Philbo at 9:46 AM on January 19