Traffic from NJ to NYC on a Saturday afternoon?

Question

We have dinner reservations so it's important that we leave early enough not to be late...

I'm driving from south jersey (cherry hill area) to NYC (theater district)...if i want to be in the city by 5 pm, what time do I leave (mapquest says 1 1/2 hours drive time w/o traffic delays etc)

Answer 1

well, there will be lots of traffic on saturday just driving through the tunnels (either holland, or lincoln, both will be congested), and also nyc crosstown traffic will just kill you.



mapquest says 1 1/2 hours? maybe double that.



and don't listen to famousnylover below. you are driving, not taking a bus. buses have a special (empty) bus lane going through lincoln tunnel to get into the bus terminal.

Answer 2

Mapquest is on crack if they think you're getting from Cherry Hill to NYC in an hour and a half! To be there by 5pm, I'd leave Cherry Hill by 2pm at the latest. You have a few different options- I like the ferry idea the best. Drive to Weehawkin and take the ferry from Port Imperial to 34th Street, and take one of the free buses for ferry passengers from there. As someone else said, it's not cheap, but if you're making a Grand Night Out out of this, it really is a pretty and romantic way to go in- and much less stressful than driving in!!

Answer 3

Cherry Hill so your exit 4 off the NJTPK ....Give yourself at least 2 hour window the turnpike can be a mess around 8-A always an accident or something....Tunnel traffic should not be that bad but once you get into Manhatttan unless you know excatly where you are going traffice is always a problem plus parking...give yourself at least a 2 hour window leave no later than 3

Answer 4

I think it would be better if you leave before noon. Last time I took NJT #126 bus from Hoboken to Port Authority via Lincoln Tunnel, it was smooth ride!!

Best Radio Station will be AM Radio, 1010 Wins News Radio. Traffic Report every 10 minutes at 1 minute pass.

During the rush hour, traffic can be heavey.

I experience this on long bus ride on awful longest local #20 bus on weekdays which departed Palisade Store in Rockland County, NY @ 5:20pm. Near the New Jersey Turnpike exit to Lincoln Tunnel, bus driver had to exit highway because of terrible traffic, and then same when it came to bus lane on New Jersey Turnpike exit to Lincoln Tunnel and bus arrived Port Authority around 7:20PM, and I spent about 103 minutes in bus without the Restroom!!

When you get out of Lincoln Tunnel, avoid driving thru Times Sq, Herald Sq, 42nd & 34th Streets.

Also avoid 3rd-2nd-1st Avs near Queensboro Bridge especially during rush hour!!

Best bet will be either 23rd Street.

Answer 5

1010 Wins Traffic

Answer 6

You might want to consider driving towards the Lincoln Tunnel and then going to the ferry to get into the city. Not the cheapest way to get inot the city, but sure is the prettiest.

http://www.nywaterway.com

Enjoy

Answer 7

leave at 2:45pm or 3pm the latest buddy. Keep the am radio on for traffic updates.

Answer 8

probably by 3:30 I would say....I live in Jersey too!

hope I helped

~Megan Nicole~