Newark Liberty is in New Jersey, about 16 miles from Midtown. By road, every ride into Manhattan crosses the Hudson through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel, so the tunnels decide how long it takes: 30 to 50 minutes without heavy traffic, 60 to 90 minutes at rush hour.
The train avoids the tunnels, but takes two changes before you reach your door. Here is how the options compare.
At a glance
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTrain + NJ Transit | $17.25 to New York Penn Station, AirTrain included | About 30 min on the train, plus the AirTrain | Light luggage, going near Penn Station |
| Taxi from the airport stand | Set fares by zone, from $60, plus fees, tolls and tip | 30 to 90 min | No booking |
| Uber or Lyft | Set by the app, changes with demand | 30 to 90 min, plus the wait for a car | Riders who already use the apps |
| Private car (RoolDrive) | Flat $140 Luxury Sedan, $180 Luxury SUV, tolls included | 30 to 90 min | Luggage, families, late arrivals, business |
Fares and times for other services are approximate, as of October 2026, from the official pages listed under Sources; they change, so check before you travel. RoolDrive prices are our own.
The AirTrain and NJ Transit
Take the AirTrain from your terminal to the Newark Liberty International Airport train station, then an NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station, about 30 minutes. An adult ticket to New York costs $17.25, and the AirTrain fee is included in it.
On its own, the AirTrain costs $8.75 each way. The Port Authority is replacing it, and warns there may be temporary disruptions during construction, with shuttle buses instead. Check the NJ Transit and airport alerts before you fly.
The catch: two changes with your bags, a busy Penn Station, and a subway or taxi from there if you are not staying nearby.
A taxi from the airport
A dispatcher at the taxi stand outside each terminal puts you in a cab. Fares to Manhattan are set by the Port Authority by zone: $60 to Battery Park–West 13th Street, $65 to West 14th–50th Streets, $70 to West 51st–96th Streets, $75 to West 97th–185th Streets and $80 above that.
Those fares don’t include tolls, the tip, the MTA congestion pricing toll or other fees, which the airport puts at $6.75 to $15.75 depending on time and destination. It also lists a $2.00 airport access fee, $5.00 for Manhattan’s East Side between Battery Park and 145th Street, $1 per bag, and a $10 surcharge to New York State at rush hour (weekdays 6–10 am and 3–8 pm, weekends noon–9 pm).
Going the other way, a New York yellow taxi to Newark charges the meter plus a $20.00 Newark surcharge, and you pay the tolls both ways, including the driver’s return.
Uber and Lyft
Rideshare apps pick up at Newark, and the app shows you where to meet your driver. The price is set by the app when you request the ride and can be higher when demand is high.
Going to Jersey City or Hoboken
You don’t need the tunnels at all: Jersey City and Hoboken are about 20 minutes from the airport. A private car from Newark to downtown Jersey City is about $98 in a Luxury Sedan and to Hoboken about $97 (estimates; your exact price is shown before you pay).
Which one should you choose?
- Travelling light and staying near Penn Station: the AirTrain and NJ Transit.
- You want a car without booking: the taxi stand, at the set zone fare.
- Bags, children, a late flight or a meeting to get to: a private car booked ahead, at a price that doesn’t change with tunnel traffic.
Newark to Manhattan with RoolDrive
A private chauffeur from Newark Airport to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat $140 in a Luxury Sedan or $180 in a Luxury SUV, tolls included, whatever the traffic in the tunnels. From Manhattan to Newark it is a flat $150 or $180.
Add your flight number when you book: your chauffeur follows your flight, and waiting is free for the first 60 minutes after you land, which covers most customs lines. You can change or cancel for free up to 1 hour before pickup.
What you get
Every RoolDrive ride comes with things a train, a taxi or a rideshare app doesn’t promise:
- Complimentary bottled water
- Free Wi-Fi and a phone charger
- A clean, professionally detailed car
- A professional chauffeur in a suit
- Help with your bags
- A professional chauffeur and a private Sedan or SUV, door to door
- All bridge and tunnel tolls
- Flight tracking: add your flight number and your chauffeur follows delays and early arrivals
- 60 minutes of free waiting after your flight lands, for baggage claim and customs
- Complimentary water, Wi-Fi, a phone charger and help with your bags
- Your chauffeur’s name, vehicle and plate in the app, and a direct line to call or message them
- Free changes and cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup, with a full refund for card payments
All prices and what’s included: Newark car service. Full details in our Terms of service.
Questions
What is the cheapest way from Newark Airport to Manhattan?
The AirTrain and an NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station: $17.25 for an adult, AirTrain included (as of October 2026).
Is the AirTrain included in the NJ Transit ticket?
Yes. With an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket you don’t pay the separate AirTrain fee, which is $8.75 each way on its own.
How long does it take to drive from Newark to Midtown?
About 30 to 50 minutes without heavy traffic, and up to 90 minutes when the tunnels are busy.
How much is a private car from Newark to Manhattan?
With RoolDrive, a flat $140 in a Luxury Sedan or $180 in a Luxury SUV to anywhere in Manhattan, tolls included.
Do you drive to Jersey City and Hoboken?
Yes. Enter your address when you book and you see the exact price before you pay.
