Submitted by Ok_Director2635 t3_zp1pl8 in newhaven
Does anyone have advice on how to get the Newark airport from New Haven? The flight I am taking is too early to catch the amtrak. Is it too much hassle to take the metro north and a shuttle/bus?
Comments
dr_rambler t1_j0qd74z wrote
I would keep 30 mins between the time my Metro North arrives at Grand Central and the departure of the NJ Transit from Penn. There’s always quite a walk interspersed between the subway rides.
ntvblls t1_j0qe1sa wrote
Absolutely – 30 mins seems about right, possibly even a bit more if you aren't taking the subway during peak hours just in case (the S train especially runs well during commuter hours but is a bit sparser otherwise).
FWIW the S and the 1/2/3 are right next to each other in Times Square station, but yes still plenty of walking otherwise, don't want to cut it too close.
dr_rambler t1_j0qhc32 wrote
That’s great advice—I think the main obstacles are getting to the S from the Metro North platforms, and then getting from the 1-2-3 platforms to the NJ transit platforms. Both are hikes, especially with baggage
ntvblls t1_j0qixf6 wrote
Yes true – if your luggage is stair-friendly, its not too bad, but if you need an elevator it can be difficult. And again, the entire trip is much easier if you already know where you're going. In both GCT and especially Penn, it's easy to follow a few poorly planned signs and get lost in a labyrinth of hallways if you don't already know your way around.
FWIW: From the main terminal in Grand Central, the S platform can be most easily accessed from the southwest hallway (to find south quickly, it's opposite from the train platforms). If you're coming in from the lower level, the S platform is inconveniently located on the opposite side of the station from the escalator that leads up to the market.
Penn OTOH is just a labyrinthine shitshow. I've somehow developed instincts on where to go myself, but the best advice is to just follow signs for NJTransit.
Ecofre-33919 t1_j0qmowh wrote
This is all good advice. I’ve never had luck with the s train late at night. If it were me i’d probably uber to penn station or just walk to the timesquare stations.
Ecofre-33919 t1_j0qdlrs wrote
Take amtrak the day before and stay in hotel. Pick one with an airport shuttle.
Or bring a neck pillow, show up in the airport and attempt to get some zzz’s there.
Or pay for limo service to pick you up. I’d use a limo service reserved in advance, not uber. Call a few companies for a quote. Try Hy’s in west haven or premiere. Google them.
rescuelullaby t1_j0qq22o wrote
Short answer is yes, it's absolutely too much hassle. Two things: last Metro North is 1 am or something, and then doesn't start back up for another few hours. If you budget about 3.5 hours, you may need to take a train the night before anyway to even make your flight. Second, depending on how early your flight is, even if you take Metro North to Grand Central and then walk from there to Penn (15 minutes), the AirTrain to EWR doesn't even run very early in the morning, which would mean you'd need to take an NJ transit train to Newark Penn and then an Uber or bus to EWR (10 minute Uber, 20 minute bus). Source: like an idiot, I booked a 7 AM flight out of EWR—had to leave at 10:30 PM the night before and didn't even get to the airport until about 4:30. It was a nightmare.
flying_unicorn t1_j0r1v7h wrote
I did this recently, after weighing all the options i decided for us the best options were train in the night before, get a a cheap hotel near the airport then get a cab; or use a car service.
we ended up using LuxyRide and having them pick us up at like 330am. we sprung the extra money for an SUV to be more comfortable. Luxy ride had the best prices when we checked and we were happy with how it worked out.
The Shuttle vans weren't running at 330 am, but for 2 people the price with LuxyRide was pretty similar and we got a private car.
superduperdumper t1_j0sduu9 wrote
How much did Luxy cost?
flying_unicorn t1_j0syzbe wrote
low 200s as i recall, maybe 220 or so? I'm pretty sure their website actually has a price quote tool. Airport shuttles ran like 99 per person, and didn't pick you up at your house.
Observant_Neighbor t1_j0qvjku wrote
Car service, uber or drive your car service to EWR.
While I've used public transit in the past, it only takes one small failure in that chain of this train to the next to the next to create a problem with meeting your flight.
I drive or arrange transport via car service or "drive your car" service to the airport. In my town, there are a few retired folks who will drive you down to the airport in your car and pick you up on the way back. My guy is a retired firefighter (retired like 30 years) and does a great job.
roadpupp t1_j0qsycj wrote
Leros point to point limo service
ontheroadtv t1_j0s2m5q wrote
Metro north goes to grand central (various methods walk, cab, bus, subway) to Penn station (New Jersey transit) goes directly to newark stop (make sure it’s not the city stop, it’s the airport stop (ewr)) then air train to any terminal. Amtrak goes from New Haven through penn station to ewr. You have to take air train at the end no matter what, New Jersey transit or Amtrak.
If you have an Amtrak or New Jersey transit ticket air train is free, use the same ticket. If you don’t then you have to buy an air train ticket (it’s been a while since I did this route and it might have changed?)
At any point once your in New York on metro north there are a bunch of different options for getting to Newark. Bus, taxi, shuttle, car service, New Jersey transit. Some factors in what you choose are time of day, cost and connivence, is it snowing or not, is it rush hour or a weekend, all good things to consider. Usually there is never an Amtrak that is anywhere close to the time I need it, and metro north to New Jersey transit is my go to. If it’s nice out and I don’t have a ton of luggage I walk between grand central and penn station, if it’s snowing I take the subway and if I have a lot of luggage I take a cab. The only time this hasn’t worked for me it was a blizzard and I ended up being late to the airport but they had already canceled my flight because of the storm, they shut down the rail lines shortly after that and I spent the night at the airport (weekend before Thanksgiving 2018), took almost 30 hours to get to San Diego. I think about that when I start to miss traveling…
sometimescrafting t1_j0sc9cb wrote
Try the Coach USA Newark express bus (from grand central station), 19 dollars one way or 33 round trip, but I’m not sure of times. There should be a schedule on their website
TwelveOunces t1_j0sohw7 wrote
I just flew out of EWR yesterday and I decided to drive down and use a parking-shuttle company. That said, it really depends on how long you're going to be away. When the cost of parking significantly exceeds a car service (accounting for to and from EWR), then I'd use that. Also, some things to me are just worth it to pay for and not having to deal with the stress/anxiety of public transport + hotel. Personally, all that back and forth is worth a couple of hundred dollars if that's the difference.
buried_lede t1_j1h2snc wrote
Have you already flown out? Because there is a Newark Airport shuttle bus that runs from grand central
Plantpoweredbeeyotch t1_j0q2sl8 wrote
Yes because you have to use metro and a subway and at least 1 bus from what I'm looking at on maps.
ntvblls t1_j0qafib wrote
If you can take Metro North, you should also be able to take other non-Amtrak trains to get there:
​
Metro North (Union Station to Grand Central)
Shuttle (S) train (Grand Central to Times Square)
1/2/3 downtown one stop (Times Square to Penn Station)
NJ Transit (NY Penn to Newark Airport EWR)
Airtrain (EWR Station to Terminal)
​
Whether it's too much hassle is up to you, but I've done this plenty before and find it absolutely fine. That said, I'm a train commuter and constantly take Metro North and the subway, and I used to take NJ Transit all the time, so I'm very familiar with every leg of the journey. It might feel more overwhelming if you're not used to it.