If you know anything about New York City, you know that it’s a place full of opportunities. But actually living in the City That Never Sleeps is not for everyone. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to take advantage of all that the city has to offer without having to make it your full-time home. It might seem overwhelming, but commuting to NYC from your Elizabeth, NJ, apartment is actually quite easy, and you have several options to choose from.
Driving
Living outside the city, there’s a good chance you have your own set of wheels. We’re not suggesting that this is the most expeditious option, but at least you can come and go on your own schedule. Particularly during rush hour times, you’ll likely be faced with some heavy traffic and a hefty dose of tolls, so be prepared. That being said, you do have some options. You can drive north along Route 9 or I-95 and then pass through the Holland Tunnel, or you can swing around south and pass through Staten Island along I-278, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. Of course, once you get into the city, you’ll need to find and pay for parking, so that’s something else to consider.
NJ Transit
Departing directly from the heart of Elizabeth (on West Grand Street), this is the quickest, most reliable option that the majority of commuters opt to take advantage of. Depending on the time you depart, commuting to and from the city can take a little as just 30 minutes. Sometimes, however, treks may take up to an hour. (Either way, you know the commute time in advance so, barring any unexpected delays, your schedule is pretty solid.) Regardless of the timing, you can make the journey without the stress of sitting in traffic or being behind the wheel. Instead, you have time to read the paper, listen to music, or just close your eyes and relax. You’ll be dropped off at Port Authority, a perfect starting point for getting pretty much anywhere else in the city.
PATH
If you opt to take the path, you’ll at least have to get yourself up to Newark first. But the benefit to taking this train is that, once you get into the city, there are a handful of dropoff points for you to choose from all over lower Manhattan, from as far south as the World Trade Center to the West Village to even farther north in bustling Herald Square.
As you can see, there’s no reason to panic when thinking about the task of commuting to NYC from your Elizabeth, NJ, apartment. Options abound, so all you have to do is decide which one is best for you.