Avis Car Hire
New Jersey

If your trip is mostly Manhattan sightseeing, a car often creates extra hassle because of traffic, tolls and expensive parking. A hire car makes the most sense when you’ll be travelling around New Jersey, doing day trips, or staying in suburbs where public transport isn’t convenient. For most NYC-only itineraries, hiring a car from EWR is usually unnecessary.

Driving into Manhattan typically means heavy congestion near tunnel approaches, cashless tolls and difficult parking, which can cost more than the hire itself. Many travellers find it easier to wait to hire until they’re leaving the city for a road trip. For a Manhattan-based stay, hiring a car from EWR is usually optional at best.

Hiring makes the most sense when EWR is your arrival point but your real destination is outside Manhattan—like parts of New Jersey, suburban areas, or multi-stop trips where rail would be slow or expensive. It’s also helpful if you’re carrying lots of luggage or travelling with family. For beyond-the-city itineraries, hiring a car from EWR is beneficial.

It can be straightforward if you set your navigation before leaving and double-check you’re taking the correct exit towards major corridors like I‑78, NJ‑21 or the NJ Turnpike. Airport roads have quick lane splits, so wrong turns can add time. With basic prep, driving out of EWR is manageable and hiring a car is practical for onward travel.

Weekday late morning through mid‑afternoon tends to be smoother, with less tunnel congestion and typically shorter counter queues. Rush periods often cluster around morning and evening commutes, and congestion can spike near tunnel routes into NYC. For a calmer start, hiring is more beneficial if you can depart EWR outside peak hours.

Traffic commonly gets heavy during commuter windows like 6–10 a.m. and 3–8 p.m., and it can be especially frustrating if you’re aiming for NYC crossings. Even short distances can take much longer during those times. If you’ll be driving during rush hour, hiring a car is still useful for regional trips but less convenient for city-only plans.

Many visitors find it challenging due to aggressive city driving, frequent one-way streets and choke points near major crossings like the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel approaches. Add in cashless tolling and limited parking, and the trip can feel high-effort. For NYC driving specifically, hiring from EWR is usually not worth it.

Tolling in the NYC/NJ area is commonly cashless and can include tunnels and major roads, so you won’t always see a traditional booth to pay. The easiest experience is assuming tolls will happen and planning your route accordingly rather than trying to avoid every toll crossing. If toll costs bother you, hiring a car is less attractive for NYC-heavy trips.

Parking is generally easier than Manhattan, with off-street lots and garages available, but prices can add up for multi-day stays. You’ll still need to read signs carefully for on-street rules and hours. If you’re staying in Newark and doing day trips, hiring a car is often beneficial.

Street parking is limited and heavily regulated, and garages can be expensive and fill up—especially in busy areas. A compact car helps, but it doesn’t solve the cost and time of finding a space. If Manhattan is your main base, hiring a car from EWR is usually unnecessary.

A compact or small mid-size car is typically easier for tight turns, one-way streets, narrow garages and overall parking stress. Larger SUVs can feel cumbersome and may limit your parking options. For NYC-focused driving, a smaller car makes hiring more tolerable, but it’s still often optional.

A mid-size saloon or small SUV works well for motorways, suburban driving and day trips without the parking headaches of a large vehicle. Bigger vehicles can be nice for luggage, but they’re not necessary for most NJ routes. For exploring beyond the city, hiring from EWR is beneficial.

Newark has solid public transport coverage for getting around the city itself, so a car can be more trouble than help for short local errands. A hire becomes useful if you’ll be leaving Newark for beaches, suburbs or multi-stop days. For Newark-only stays, hiring a car is usually optional.

Airport pick-ups often have a larger vehicle selection and can be more convenient if you’re starting a road trip immediately after landing. Manhattan pick-ups can avoid the headache of bringing a car into the city before you need it. If you’ll stay in NYC first, hiring later is usually the better choice.

EWR is a major hub, and queues can build during holidays, flight disruptions and busy windows like Friday evening. Plan extra time for baggage reclaim plus the transfer to the hire centre so you’re not rushed. If timing is tight, hiring is still beneficial for road trips, but plan a buffer.

Arriving during weekday late morning or mid‑afternoon often helps, while holidays and Friday evenings tend to be busier. Giving yourself a little flexibility after landing can reduce stress and improve the pick-up experience. If you can time it well, hiring a car from EWR becomes more worthwhile.

Yes—driving is often the simplest way to reach shore towns and move between beaches and boardwalk areas on your own schedule. Public transport can be slower and less direct depending on your destination. For a Jersey Shore itinerary, hiring a car at EWR is beneficial.

A car makes it far easier to handle multi-stop plans and reach areas that aren’t close to train stations, especially if you’re carrying beach gear or luggage. The trade-off is dealing with metro-area traffic and tolls on the way out. For Long Island/Hamptons access, hiring is generally beneficial.

Yes, you can head directly to major roads like I‑78 and the NJ Turnpike, and route around NYC depending on your destination. This is often the least stressful way to use an EWR hire car. For non-Manhattan road trips, hiring a car from EWR is beneficial.

It can be a strong starting point because it’s a major airport with good motorway access for trips through New Jersey and beyond. The main drawback is the possibility of congestion near the metro area at peak times. For longer drives starting right after landing, hiring from EWR is beneficial.

Expect busy slip roads, fast lane changes and heavy traffic patterns that can shift quickly, especially during commuter windows. Setting navigation before you exit the facility helps prevent missed turns. For confident drivers planning regional travel, hiring is beneficial.

Yes—NYC adds dense traffic, aggressive driving, one-way streets and tougher parking compared with most Newark/NJ areas. Many travellers find NJ driving more straightforward once they’re away from tunnel approaches. If you’ll mostly drive in NJ, hiring from EWR is beneficial.

NYC streets are commonly around 25 mph unless posted otherwise, while nearby motorways often move faster but can be heavily congested. The bigger issue is traffic flow, not top speed. If you’re mainly doing city driving, hiring is usually unnecessary.

A car can make those trips more direct, especially if you’re travelling with gear or multiple people, but parking and traffic can still be challenging. If those destinations are core to your plan, the convenience can outweigh the hassle. For outer-borough day trips, hiring is optional but often helpful.

Yes—suburban errands and multi-stop visits are typically much easier with a car than relying on trains, buses and rideshares. You’ll also have flexibility for dinner plans and timing changes. For suburban NJ visits, hiring a car from EWR is beneficial.

For Newark and Manhattan trips, public transport can cover a lot, and skipping the car avoids parking and toll costs. Once your plans include beaches, suburbs or multiple destinations in a day, public transport can become slow and inconvenient. For city-only trips, hiring is usually unnecessary.

It’s easier if you plan ahead and pin a convenient station for your last day, since searching at the last minute near an airport can be stressful. Budget a little extra time for refuelling before you enter the airport road system. With basic planning, hiring is practical and beneficial for road-trip itineraries.

Fuel is often more expensive in NYC than surrounding areas, and there are fewer stations in Manhattan, so refuelling there can be inconvenient. Many travellers prefer to fill up outside the city. If you’ll be mostly in NYC, hiring is usually unnecessary.

New Jersey stations are commonly full-service, which can be simpler if you’re not used to pumping fuel or you’re in a rush. It also helps to fill up before heading into areas with fewer stations. For NJ-focused driving, hiring is beneficial.

Snow and ice can make braking distances longer and slip roads more slippery, and metro traffic makes mistakes harder to recover from. If you’re not comfortable driving in winter conditions, consider avoiding a hire car for city-heavy trips. For winter visits focused on NYC, hiring is usually unnecessary.

Yes, a car gives you flexibility to shift plans, change destinations or leave earlier if conditions worsen—especially for NJ day trips. The downside is driving can be slower and more stressful in rain or snow. For flexible regional plans, hiring is beneficial.

EWR is a major airport and some hire operations run around the clock, which can make late arrivals less stressful than locations with early closing times. Still, allow time for transfers and possible waits depending on flight disruptions. For late-night onward travel, hiring from EWR is generally beneficial.

Build in a buffer for traffic on the way back plus the steps after drop-off, since airports add time even when returns are smooth. Peak travel periods can slow down the return area and terminal transfer. If your flight timing is tight, hiring is still beneficial for road trips, but only if you plan the return carefully.

GPS can get confusing inside the airport road network, so following overhead signs for “Rental Car Return” is often more reliable once you’re close. Missing a lane can force long loops around the airport complex. With signage-first navigation, hiring a car is practical for travellers who plan ahead.

If you land during an evening peak, a short delay can sometimes reduce congestion on the main corridors and tunnel approaches. That can make your first drive calmer and faster. For peak-time arrivals, hiring is still beneficial for road trips, but delaying departure can improve the experience.

A car can simplify door-to-door logistics, reduce transfers and make it easier to carry pushchairs and bags—especially if you’re staying outside Manhattan. If you’re staying in Manhattan, parking and traffic can erase those benefits quickly. For families staying in NJ or doing day trips, hiring is beneficial.

Yes, multi-stop days around New Jersey or the metro area are usually far easier with a car than chaining trains, buses and rideshares. The key is planning around rush-hour windows to avoid losing hours in traffic. For multi-stop itineraries, hiring from EWR is beneficial.

A saloon is typically easier for parking and city driving, while a small SUV can be more comfortable for longer motorway trips and extra luggage. For NYC-heavy driving, smaller is usually better; for NJ road trips, either works well. For most travellers, hiring is beneficial if you choose a vehicle size that matches your route.

If your plan involves Manhattan or dense NYC neighbourhoods, you’ll likely find the driving and parking frustrating. A better strategy is skipping the car until you’re ready to leave the city for a road trip. For NYC-avoidant drivers, hiring from EWR is usually unnecessary unless you’re heading straight out of the metro area.

If you’re using EWR as a launch point for New Jersey day trips, the Jersey Shore or longer drives, a hire car gives you the most value and flexibility. If you’re staying mainly in Manhattan, the costs and stress usually outweigh the benefits. In short: hiring from EWR is beneficial for regional travel and usually unnecessary for NYC-only stays.