Getting from Newark Airport to Manhattan can seem confusing when you’re not familiar with the New York area. After all, it’s not often you arrive in an entirely different state from your final destination!
This detailed (written-by-a-local) guide will help you decide the best way to get from Newark to Manhattan with all the step-by-step info you need so you can compare all the ways to get from Newark to New York City and choose the one that makes the most sense for you, your travel companions, and budget.
So whether you want the fastest way to get from Newark to New York City or the cheapest way, keep reading! All the details you need are below.
And if not, be sure to leave a comment. We’re happy to help take the stress out of transferring from Newark to Manhattan.
How to Get from Newark Airport to Manhattan
Just for some clarity and context, Newark Airport (EWR) is about 17 miles from Midtown Manhattan. While Laguardia Airport is the closest airport to Manhattan mileage-wise, it doesn’t always translate to quicker transfer times into Manhattan or to your NYC hotel.
Depending on the day and time you arrive and the way you choose to travel from EWR to Manhattan, the trip can take about half an hour or well over an hour.
Choosing the right means of transportation for your situation, travel style, and travel budget can make all the difference between arriving at your hotel frazzled or not.
In the table below, use the quick glance information for each way to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan. Then, for all of the specific details about how to transfer from EWR to NYC, find everything you need to know in the corresponding sections below.
| Transfers from Newark Airport to Manhattan | Quick Glance Information |
|---|---|
| Taxi | A taxi from Newark to Manhattan costs between $60-$80. This does not include tolls, applicable surcharges, or tip. Be sure to only use licensed yellow taxis. |
| Private Car Service | Carmel Limo is a private car service in the NYC area. Transfers from Newark to Manhattan start around $60 and do not include tolls or tip. |
| Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.) | Depending on traffic conditions and demand, prices could be $70 and up, possibly even twice that price for more luxurious cars or during extremely busy times. |
| Shared Airport Shuttle | Go Airlink NYC offers shared shuttle service from Newark Airport for about $40. |
| Express Bus Service | Including surcharges, the Newark Liberty Airport Express Bus to Manhattan costs $21.20 for adults and $8 for children. |
| Train | Using the Newark Airport AirTrain, connect to New Jersey Transit to New York Penn Station. The cost will be $15.75 for a one-way ticket to Midtown and $14 to Lower Manhattan (including the PATH). This cost covers the entire journey from the airport. |
Newark Airport to NYC by Taxi
If it’s your first trip to New York City, a taxi is undoubtedly one of the easiest ways to transfer from Newark Airport into the city. Newark Airport has taxi stands at every terminal and posted signs to show you the way.
You should look for the yellow taxi queues and avoid anyone trying to solicit you for rides to Manhattan. These are unlicensed cars and offer no protection when it comes to overcharging and other scams.
Depending on where you’re going, a taxi from Newark to Manhattan can cost between $60-$80, not including tolls, tips, and other possible surcharges that depend on where you’re going, the time of day (i.e. rush hour), and the size of your luggage. The local taxi commission will also add a surcharge for credit card payments.
Unlike rides from other NYC airports like JFK Airport, there is no flat rate. Your taxi fare will be calculated by the meter and determined by the traffic conditions and where your hotel is in Manhattan. This also determines how long the taxi ride will take, which during many times of the day could be between 45-60 minutes.
So while taxis from Newark to Manhattan offer door-to-door service and are among the easiest ways to get from Newark to Manhattan, they’re also among the most expensive ways to transfer from Newark Airport.
Car Service from Newark Airport to Manhattan
You can also pre-arrange a car service which helps to avoid long lines at the taxi queue. In particular, this could be a good way to go if you’re traveling with a family or group of more than 4 people and need a bigger vehicle.
Trusted car service companies like Carmel Car and Limo Service also quote you a price for getting from Newark to NYC so you know what the cost is before ever stepping into the car. This can be a major plus when compared to being at the mercy of a taxi meter.
Rides typically start at about $60 and go up from there. This price includes airport surcharges but doesn’t include tolls or tip. As with a taxi or a rideshare car, the amount of time it takes to get to your New York City hotel will vary based on the traffic when you arrive.
You’ll get door-to-door service like using the other premium options in this Newark Airport to Manhattan guide. You’ll also know the cost ahead of time and have a driver tracking your flight and waiting for you to arrive.
Uber from Newark to Manhattan
Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft offer service from EWR to Manhattan. And while they’re not subject to a meter like a taxi, prices can wildly fluctuate depending on the time of day, demand, and the type of ride you select.
In fact, prices can range from $70-$75 to twice that amount for the most expensive vehicle type.
If you choose to use a rideshare app to get a ride from Newark to New York City, consider your arrival time. Sunday mornings will be less expensive than needing a ride during peak hours on a weekday.
Once you arrive at Newark Airport, you’ll select your terminal and the door number in the arrivals area outside. Keep in mind, these pick-up points aren’t guaranteed so you still may need to move to another area at the terminal to meet your driver.
As with other private rides, the travel time to reach Manhattan or other parts of New York City will depend largely on traffic. And as convenient as a rideshare might be, if you pre-book and your flight is delayed or you call the car too early only to find out the airline lost your luggage, your driver may consider you a no-show.
A cab from Newark to Manhattan is undoubtedly the most expensive New York airport transfer. If you’re looking to keep costs down, keep reading because one of the options below will be a better fit.
Shared Shuttle from Newark to Manhattan
Go Airlink NYC is an official partner with the New York and New Jersey Port Authorities and has earned a reputation among NYC hotels as the most trusted New York airport shuttle.
An NYC airport shuttle is a cost-friendly and environmentally-friendly way to transfer between EWR and NYC because you’re sharing the ride with other travelers.
Shuttles can be booked in advance and your driver will track your flight and wait should there be any delays. You’ll get door-to-door shuttle service to and from your Manhattan hotel no matter when you arrive because transportation from Newark Airport to Manhattan is available 24/7.
Expect to pay about $40 which includes tax and tolls to go from EWR to Manhattan. Shuttles leave regularly, although you may need to wait for a short time for other passengers. Likewise, the ride could be shorter or longer depending on if you’re one of the first to be dropped off or one of the last.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking to save some money but don’t want the hassle of figuring out the bus or train, the best way to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan is the Go Airlink NYC shuttle.
Pro Tip: Go Airlink Groups & Charters is also great for bigger parties needing an entire SUV or van. Not only can everyone travel together, but the cost can also be split.
Newark Airport to New York City via Express Bus Service
There’s also a Newark Liberty Airport Express Bus available from Newark Airport to 3 different locations in Manhattan. These include:
- Grand Central Station (41st Street between Park & Lexington Avenues)
- Bryant Park (42nd Street & 5th Avenue), and
- Port Authority Bus Terminal (41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Pay careful attention to the bus schedule, though. Some departures are asterisked to indicate they only stop at Port Authority Bus Terminal.
The bus from Newark Airport to NYC is available from all 3 terminals. Whichever terminal you’re in, head outside of the arrivals area. From Terminal A, buses leave Zone 16. Passengers in Terminal B should go to Lane 2 in the outdoor arrival area. While Terminal C passengers will find the express bus at stops 5 & 6.
Buses depart as frequently as every 15-20 minutes, while at other times buses leave every 45 minutes. Service is available from Newark to Manhattan between 5:30 a.m. to 10:50 p.m. every day. The ride could take between 45-60 minutes depending on traffic.
If your hotel is not within walking distance of one of the above drop-off locations, you can access the subway from any of the stops listed above. You can also hail a taxi to get to your final destination.
This cost would be on top of the price for the bus ticket so this option is best for people with hotels in Midtown. A taxi to hotels Uptown or in Lower Manhattan would be a considerable added cost.
Adult tickets for the bus cost $21.20. A child bus ticket costs $8.00 for children up to 16 years old. Seniors and people with disabilities can purchase reduced-priced tickets for $11.85. All prices include the applicable surcharges.
How to Take the Train from Newark Airport to NYC – (Midtown)
The Newark Airport AirTrain combined with New Jersey Transit trains are the most budget-friendly way to travel from Newark Airport to Manhattan.
Not only that, you’ll stay off the roads and avoid traffic (A.K.A. saving your sanity!) which can be a major timesaver. In fact, the ride is roughly 30 minutes to NYC, the fastest option of all the ways to get from Newark to NYC.
The train ride from Newark Airport to Manhattan begins with the AirTrain, which is available from each of the three Newark Airport terminals, A, B, & C.
AirTrain runs 24/7 365 days a year and arrives and departs every 3 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight and approximately every 15 minutes between midnight and 5 a.m. New Jersey Transit operates 21 hours a day with no trains running from Newark Liberty Airport Station to New York City between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. every night.
From your terminal, follow the signs to the AirTrain, stopping at the orange and blue NJ Transit ticket machines at the AirTrain entrance to purchase tickets. The ticket you buy is for your complete journey on both the AirTrain and the NJ Transit train. If you plan to use the train for your return trip, you can also buy a round trip now.
Pro Tip: Save time and download the NJ Transit app to buy your train tickets on the go and avoid the lines at the ticket machines.
You’ll need to purchase a ticket to go to New York Penn Station, NOT Newark Penn Station, for everyone ages 12 and up. The cost of a one-way ticket is $15.75. Seniors, members of the military, people with disabilities, and children ages 5-11 pay just $11.75.
Head up to the AirTrain platform and take the train going to the Newark Liberty International Airport AirTrain station.
The ride is not long, taking anywhere from 7-10 minutes depending on the airport terminal from where you started.
At the Newark Liberty Airport Station, get off the AirTrain and connect with the NJ Transit train going to New York Penn Station. Look for signs and screens directing you to the right platform.
Most mistakes happen here!
- Make sure you get on the train bound for New York Penn Station, not Newark Penn Station. The ride to New York Penn will be about 30 minutes. Newark Penn takes about half that time.
- The train you’re looking for is an NJ Transit train, not an Amtrak train. The specific lines are called the Northeast Corridor and the North Jersey Coast Line.
ProTip: New Jersey Transit trains often run with delays. You may have planned to take a particular train only to realize a train running 20 minutes late has just arrived and is going to New York Penn Station. Take it! The important thing is to end in the right spot regardless of which time train gets you there.
Expect a train conductor to check tickets onboard the NJ Transit train. The train is also likely to make a couple of stops but don’t get off the train until you reach New York Penn Station.
Once you arrive at Penn Station in New York City, access the NYC subway system or get to a taxi line for a cab to your final destination, whether you’re staying in Midtown, Chelsea, or the Upper West Side. Use the signs in the train station to navigate to the subway entrance or above ground to the taxi queue.
How to Get from Newark to Manhattan by Train – (Lower Manhattan)
If you’re staying at a hotel in Lower Manhattan or even somewhere in Brooklyn, Hoboken, or Jersey City, it makes sense to make a slight change to the above train directions.
As above, take the AirTrain to the Newark Liberty Airport Station. But instead of taking a New Jersey Transit train to New York Penn Station, get off at Newark Penn Station.
From here, you can connect to the PATH train, which are underground trains like NYC’s subway lines, only PATH trains run from New Jersey into Lower Manhattan. PATH trains run 24/7 every day but expect slightly less frequent train service overnight.
The PATH train from Newark Penn Station will take you through Jersey City and to the World Trade Center in Manhattan’s Financial District. You can get to your neighborhood hotel on foot or by taxi. Or connect to the subway for faster access to hotels in Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Alternatively, you could switch from the World Trade Center PATH train at Journal Square to the 33rd Street PATH train for access to Newport (part of Jersey City) and points in Greenwich Village.
Finally, in case you’re headed to a hotel in Hoboken, you would switch from the World Trade Center PATH train at Exchange Place to the Hoboken PATH train.
Adults will pay just $11.25 for the AirTrain/New Jersey Transit combo to Newark Penn Station. Children, seniors, and military members will pay just $9.60. The PATH train costs an additional $2.75, for a total one-way to Lower Manhattan for only $14.
Getting from Manhattan to Newark Airport
All of the above transportation options can also get you from NYC to Newark Airport at the end of your trip. It’s worth it to compare one-way and round-trip ticket prices to see if there’s a benefit to buying one over the other.
Yellow taxis from NYC will take passengers to Newark Airport. Some will try to set a flat rate similar to the flat rate price set by NYC for rides to JFK. Don’t accept. They’re legally supposed to use the meter.
Per NYC taxi guidelines, trips to Newark Airport from New York City are metered fares. You’ll have to also pay for the round trip tolls, a $20 surcharge, and tip your driver for good service.
Remember, any transportation relying on the roads is at the mercy of the traffic. Depending on your flight time, be prepared and allow for plenty of extra time so you don’t miss your flight sitting in traffic.
Newark Airport to Manhattan FAQs
You can take a private transfer from Newark Airport, like a taxi, car service, or rideshare. There is a shared airport shuttle, as well as trains and an express bus to Midtown Manhattan.
The easiest option to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan is to take a taxi or pre-book a private transfer with a car service like Carmel Limo. You’ll get door-to-door service from the airport to your New York City hotel.
Depending on what form of transportation you choose to get from Newark to Manhattan, it could cost as little as $14 or upwards of $150 for a one-way trip.
No. There isn’t a direct New York City subway line that goes from Newark Airport to Manhattan.
So, how do you get from Newark Airport to Manhattan?
That all depends on your travel budget and your travel style.
Going from Newark Airport to Manhattan by taxi or private car service comes with its perks, like not having to struggle with heavy luggage on public transportation. But, it’s also the most expensive. Taxis also have a limit to the number of people they can fit which may not work for big families.
Public train transportation from Newark to Manhattan is a great way to cut costs. The train also helps to bypass traffic which could be considerable depending on the time of day you arrive. If I had to choose between the train and the bus from Newark to NYC, I’d go with the train every time. You beat the traffic and, in my experience, the train is more reliable.
The Go Airlink shuttle is a really great compromise for getting from Newark to Manhattan. If you’re not comfortable with the steps for taking the train or your luggage makes this too difficult, you can save yourself the stress and hassle but also not spend the amount of money you would on a taxi or private car. It’s a great way to kick off your New York itinerary and dive into the countless things to do in New York City!
So, what are your questions about getting from Newark Airport to NYC?
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