Travel to NYC, Part 1: How to Get to New York
- Nov 9, 2025
- 7 min read
An Introduction to the City of New York
(practically speaking!)
Welcome to New York City. We'll skip the history of NYC because there are many websites, documentaries, YouTube videos and travel guide books that can that can give you that information. Also, you can visit places like The New York Historical Society, The Museum of the City of New York and The New York Public Library, places that can be on your list to visit (yes, the Library is actually a tourist attraction).
But there are some basic facts that you should know. Facts that New Yorkers are surprised that visitors don't know before they get here. Why does it matter? It helps to. know some information so that you can effectively plan your trip, like where you want to stay, what do you want to visit and how you want to get around.
So, it is interesting to know that Brooklyn was once an independent city, Queens and Nassau Counties used to be one area and the Bronx was part of Westchester County back in the day. By 1898, the City of New York was officially established with 5 boroughs that are also counties of New York State: Manhattan (New York County), Staten Island (Richmond County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens and the Bronx, retaining their borough names as their county names. (Three towns separated to become Nassau County, part of Long Island.)
Locations in Manhattan will have addresses that say New York, NY. Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island addresses will have their borough names as their cities. But Queens addresses use their neighborhood names: Forest Hills, Jamaica, Long Island City, Astoria. If you know an address is in Queens and you can't figure it out, believe it or not, you can actually put Queens, NY and if the zip code is correct, a letter or package will get to its destination. Community residents in Queens are very proud of their neighborhoods and like to use the appropriate name, but the post office will deliver it.
By the way, although all five boroughs make up the City of New York, when locals refer to "the city," they are talking about Manhattan. Even New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, and upstate people call Manhattan "the city." New Yorkers will usually say they're from New York, they may mention the borough, but if you ask, they will proudly tell you.
Many visitors to New York will make their lodging plans before they arrive. As a rule of thumb for travel in general, this is a very good idea, especially since the 2020 pandemic, when travel came to a complete halt for months. After travel resumed, people were on the move more than ever and reservations for everything are not only strongly recommended, for some activities and locations, they are required. And trying to get a decent place to stay at the last minute? Not exactly impossible, but it can be very difficult. There are people who actually jump on a plane, cross their figures and and hope for the best. Although, it is possible to get a hotel room at the last minute, it is best to book one before you arrive, unless you're in stuck in New York unexpectedly (see the last tip if you are).
Your next part of your plan is how to get to New York. And your travel plans may be different depending on your ultimate destination in one of the five boroughs.
Part 1: How to Get to New York
1. Arrive by air:
Three major airports serve the New York City metropolitan area: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), La Guardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). There are also other airports on Long Island and outside of NYC that will pop up when your search. Stick to the major three unless you really know the area.
There are also two regional airports that will bring you within driving distance of the city limits: Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma (Suffolk County, @50 miles [80.46 km] to Queens), New York Stewart International Airport in New Windsor (Orange County, @65 miles [104.6 km] to Bronx). 2. Arrive by rail: Amtrak, the nationwide railway system, will bring you into Pennsylvania Station, known as Penn Station, or Moynihan Train Hall, depending on which end of the train you disembark. The regional railways are the Long Island Railroad (LIRR, coming into Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal), serving Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Metro-North Commuter Railroad (coming into Grand Central Terminal), serving portions of NYC, several upstate counties and southern parts of Connecticut. The PATH regional train serves several communities in New Jersey that are close to NYC, operating from several stations in Manhattan. You can also arrive to New York via New Jersey Transit (Penn Station, for trains and Port Authority for buses).
3. Arrive by bus: Several carriers have service that come into the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal. Known locally as Port Authority, it is located at 8th Avenue and West 42 Street, Manhattan. The George Washington Bridge Bus Station is located uptown at Broadway and West 178 Street, Manhattan. There are also several bus companies that have arrival and departure points throughout the city that The NYC Traveler would not necessarily endorse. However, they are convenient and cheaper. Once you arrive at Port Authority, you will need to figure out how to get to your lodging.
4. Arrive by car:
Technically, Interstates 80, 87 and 95 (I-80, I-87, I-95) will get you into the City of New York. If you are coming from the south, follow the signs for the New Jersey Turnpike, once you come out of Delaware (toll road). Choose one of several exits to get you into the city: take Exit 13 for Staten Island, Brooklyn and continue on the Belt Parkway to Queens which turns into the Southern State Parkway for Long Island. For Manhattan, take exit 14C for the Holland Tunnel, which will bring you into lower Manhattan or exit 16E for the Lincoln Tunnel, which will bring you into midtown Manhattan. The Bronx is a bit trickier, consult your map app, GPS or specific location for the best directions. You will come through I-95, locally known as the Cross Bronx Expressway. This is the route that will lead you into the city if you're coming from the New England area. And if you are coming from northern parts of New York State, I-87 or I-80 will get you here.
5. If you have a car, the first thing you should decide is where to park it. Decide this before you even decide to drive to New York. Like many cities, parking can be expensive and complicated, sometimes even impossible. Read the signs very carefully if you try to park on the street, particularly in Manhattan. But, all boroughs have their areas that are difficult (downtown Brooklyn is just as bad, for example). Call your lodging and clarify about parking a car. There may be a garage or valet parking (probably for a massive fee). Also, midtown Manhattan may have a congestion pricing toll (yes, as soon as you have already paid a bridge or tunnel toll!).
Speaking of tolls, the bulk, if not all, of New York State is on a cashless system, including New York City. This includes tolls parking tickets and red light tickets. If you have an toll tag from another system or state, check to see if it is compatible. Most of the states that run through I-95, I-90, I-80, I-87 and I-81 are compatible with each other.
If you do not have a toll tag, you will be billed by mail. Similarly, if you get a parking or red light ticket, you will also get a notice in the mail. For all three, you can pay online or by sending in a check or money order.
New York City's metered parking is now on an app, Park NYC. Unlike the old days when you could continually feed a meter and hope the parking violations people would not notice, once your time is up, the app will not let you renew parking at the same numbered zone. You will have to move your car. If you don't, you may get a ticket, or worse, towed.
Parking garages are definitely an option and some might take your car for the length of your stay. The problem is pricing. It is best to contact the garage closest to your hotel in advance or to ask the hotel directly for suggestions.
If you are visiting family or friends, ask them for suggestions about parking your car. Some areas of the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and The Bronx) are very residential and have parking available on the street, without alternate side of the street parking, meters, bus stops, or other no parking/standing/stopping zones, especially on the side streets.
Alternate side of the street parking is when you cannot park on one side of the street for two-three hours (usually) so that the street cleaner can come through. You have to move your car at the start of the no parking time and then you can park again at the end. Where do you go in the meantime? That may be a good time to visit somewhere.
The NYC Traveler for Your Trip: if you want to stay in Manhattan and you have an option to park your car in one of the outer boroughs, do that and take public transportation into the city. Your nerves (and your wallet) will thank you.
The NYC Traveler for arriving to NYC by car: Don't! But if you must, call your hotel, lodging or family host about where to park the car. Garages may be expensive, but they will be safer than trying your luck on the street.
If you are stuck in New York unexpectedly and you have a car, if it is possible, head up or down I-95 and find a hotel off the New Jersey Turnpike (if you are traveling I-95 south), past the Bronx if you're traveling on I-87 North, or in Connecticut if you are traveling on I-95 North. You won't have to worry about parking the car. Happy Travels!
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