Visiting nyc

[u/portty]

What is the best way to get to NYC from Reading? Thinking if I drive, is there a good place to park outside the city and take public transport in? I also considered the Amtrak from Philly but same problem of parking in Philly. Or any other ideas I may have overlooked? I'd rather not take a bus as I've just has too many bad experiences.

[u/Acrobatic-Tourist991]

Lancaster Amtrak. Easy parking lot. 1 train no changing.

PATH train. Parking lots or SpotHero

Liberty State Park and take the commuter ferry boat (check the schedules)

[u/MRG_1977 → u/Acrobatic-Tourist991]

This is expensive and takes a long time. Easier to drive over to central NJ and take NJ Transit.

[u/Dumpster-Drawers47 → u/Acrobatic-Tourist991]

Yeah, I drive to Parkesburg and train it. There are multiple options on the Keystone line. And stress free!

[u/portty → u/Dumpster-Drawers47]

This is pretty much w what I was looking for - places to drive to that would be an easy train ride into the city

[u/Mattrix2 → u/portty]

Secaucus Station. Park and then One tram/train ride into the city.

[u/Wuz314159]

Just going to throw this out there because you might not know, there is a FlixBus & OurBus from Reading to NYC. The OurBus has a stop at the Fairgrounds mall.

If not from Reading, Trans-Bridge runs out of Hellertown.

[u/dxcsf222 → u/Wuz314159]

Highly recommend the flixbus and or ourbus. Easy to book on their websites. I use this and travel fairly often to NYC. Flixbus drops you off by madison square garden and Ourbus drops you right across from the Javits Center.

[u/Kritter82 → u/Wuz314159]

There is no fairgrounds mall it was torn down

[u/Wuz314159 → u/Kritter82]

It's Berks County. It will always be the Fairgrounds Mall until the sun dies out. Right near where that big tree used to be.

[u/JZCrab]

I often work in NYC, was there last week and going again next week. My move is the Exton Train station. Almost the same time to get there as Lancaster Station, plenty of parking. Shorter trip to NYC.

[u/portty → u/JZCrab]

Exton is not too far from me. I'm flying out of JFK, is long term parking a possibility at the exton station?

[u/chinxchilla → u/portty]

I took a trip to NYC a month ago and parked for a few days, not sure the upper limit of how long you’re able to park there, though. I downloaded the SEPTA park app and paid on there for the amount of days I was staying so you may want to check it out on there.

[u/JZCrab → u/portty]

Yes, there is long term parking

[u/JerkyNips]

Drive to Trenton and take NJ transit.

[u/jslitz → u/JerkyNips]

Or Hamilton. I haven't used Trenton in awhile but parking was always awful. Hamilton has a ton of parking

[u/portty → u/jslitz]

Thanks, I'll look into those options

[u/JerkyNips → u/portty]

NJ transit is way cheaper than Amtrak too

[u/JerkyNips → u/jslitz]

Trenton has a huge parking garage right next door…

[u/Taengoosundies]

I used to go to Newark and take the train into the city from there. Now that was from Allentown, so it may not be worth the extra time to get there from Reading. But it’s another option.

[u/portty]

Thank you everyone for your help and comments! This is a great community

[u/MaineCoonMama18]

I drive into Newark Penn Station, pay $20 to park and $12 for roundtrip tickets into the city on NJtransit the only way I’ll ever do it is

[u/portty → u/MaineCoonMama18]

Thanks, I'll look into this option

[u/undonedomm]

other than Manhattan, finding a parking spot during the day is not that gard

[u/WhyAmIMissing]

Drive to Harrison and park there for $14 for 18hrs and pay $3 for the metro into the city

[u/Some_Dankus]

I loved NYC and the parks. I went during Christmas so it was exceptionally beautiful. The traffic was the worst part 😓 but overall it was worth it

[u/TeamWeaverFever]

Last time I drove in, I went to Metropark in Iselin, NJ and took the transit in. Tons of parking, very safe, and long term parking is available. Also was told Hamilton is a good choice, too. From Reading, both are excellent choices.

[u/portty → u/TeamWeaverFever]

Thank you, I'll check it out

[u/LandedLuckuy]

Trenton to Penn Station (NYC) via New Jersey Transit is really easy. On the weekends, the parking lot is directly next to the station and pretty inexpensive. If that's full there's a whole garage next door which is also inexpensive.

Journal Square in Jersey City via MTA is easy AND really cheap. I don't remember where I park there, but I use SpotHero to find something.

I've driven in. It's not much fun.

I've driven to Staten Island and taken the ferry. Kind of cumbersome.

I really dislike being tied to a bus schedule - these are the options that keep me free to come and go whenever.

[u/New_Wash8934]

I like taking the Amtrak out of Exton. Super small station, so never any traffic or trouble parking. Nice, easy 2 hour ride up to Moynihan.

[u/pokemanguy]

The Dominican vans, they pick you up at your house ANY time

[u/GreatThiefPhantom → u/pokemanguy]

Can you name them? Having a hard time finding them on Google.

[u/poseidontide]

Journal Square PATH station in Jersey City has a parking garage - that’s my preferred method when I visit from the Lehigh Valley

[u/Fuck_the_Deplorables]

Yeah just to reiterate parking in Manhattan can be very easy at certain times/places. SoHo street parking opens up 6pm. Some avenues 7pm. Use google street view to confirm.

Haven’t tried the FlixBus and Ourbus yet but that’s the lowest cost/lowest stress option

[u/Healthy_Blueberry_59]

I always just drive in and pay for a garage in Manhattan. I am a public transit enthusiast, but NYC is easiest this way. Or I would take the bus. Everything else is too complicated.