Budget Car Hire
New Jersey

No—most Manhattan trips from EWR are easier without a car because you can use the AirTrain to connect to NJ Transit/Amtrak into NYC Penn Station, or take a bus or taxi. Driving into Manhattan usually adds congestion and expensive parking. For a Manhattan-focused trip, hiring a car from EWR is generally unnecessary.

If your plans are mostly Manhattan sightseeing, public transport and walking are typically quicker and less stressful than driving and parking. A hire car becomes more useful if you’re leaving the city for day trips or visiting places not well served by rail. For most NYC-only holidays, hiring a car at EWR is 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.

EWR has a free AirTrain that connects the terminals with airport facilities, including the car hire areas, so you usually don’t need to walk between terminals or arrange separate transport. Following AirTrain signage is typically the simplest way to reach the hire cars. For getting from the terminal to the hire area, using AirTrain makes hiring a car convenient.

Common alternatives include AirTrain to NJ Transit/Amtrak for NYC Penn Station, express bus services towards Manhattan/Port Authority, and taxis or rideshares. These options avoid the hassle of city driving and parking. For Manhattan stays, skipping the hire car is usually the smarter choice.

EWR is about 15 miles (24 km) south-west of Midtown Manhattan, but drive time can vary a lot with traffic. Even a short distance can feel long if you hit congestion approaching the city. For Midtown trips, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

A taxi ride is often quoted at around 35 minutes, but real-world drive times can be longer during busy periods. If you plan to drive, assume delays are likely near Manhattan. For most travellers going straight to Manhattan, a hire car is not the best option.

Times Square streets are known for congestion, and pick-ups/drop-offs can be tricky in heavy traffic. Even once you arrive, parking is typically paid and can be restrictive, which adds time and cost. For a Times Square stay, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

If you’re staying in the Times Square area, you can reach many places by underground, walking, and taxis/rideshares, and you’ll likely pay for parking without easy in-and-out. It’s often easier to pick up a car only on the day you leave the city for a road trip. For a Times Square-centred trip, keeping a hire car the whole time is usually not worth it.

Many NYC neighbourhoods are very walkable, and public transport is often the fastest way to move around the city. A car can slow you down once you factor in traffic and parking. For exploring NYC itself, hiring a car from EWR is generally unnecessary.

For many trips in Manhattan, the underground plus walking is typically faster than driving because it avoids street congestion. Cars can be useful for specific outer-area trips, but they rarely beat public transport for typical tourist routes. For most NYC sightseeing, hiring a car is optional and often unnecessary.

Rush hours are commonly cited as weekdays 7–9 a.m. and 5–7 p.m., and those windows also tend to coincide with heavier overall commuting patterns. If you can, travel outside those peaks to reduce delays. If your main plan is NYC touring during busy hours, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

Midtown, especially around Times Square, is known for heavy congestion, which can make driving slow and stressful. You’ll also need a parking plan, which adds cost and complexity. For Midtown-focused stays, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

Parking options commonly include paid valet or self-park and are typically charged in 24-hour blocks, often without in-and-out privileges. That means quick errands can still cost you a full day of parking. For Times Square stays, hiring a car is usually optional and often not worth it.

No in-and-out privileges means you’ll pay even if you only drive once or twice, and you may hesitate to use the car because re-parking costs money. That can turn a hire into an expensive parked asset. In that scenario, hiring a car is usually unnecessary unless you’re taking major day trips.

If you’re heading straight into Manhattan, it’s often easier to enter by train/bus/taxi and only hire a car on the day you leave the city. This avoids paying for parking while you’re mostly walking and using the underground. For Manhattan-first itineraries, waiting to hire is usually the better choice.

If you’re staying outside Manhattan, a car can be helpful for point-to-point trips and late-night returns, especially where public transport is less direct. But you’ll still want to avoid driving into the most congested areas when possible. For stays outside Manhattan, hiring a car can be beneficial.

You can take the free AirTrain from the terminal to the airport rail station and connect to NJ Transit or Amtrak towards NYC Penn Station. This route avoids Manhattan driving and parking. If you’re primarily going to Manhattan, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

If you have heavy luggage, a taxi/rideshare or private transfer can handle the door-to-door trip without adding the responsibilities of parking a hire car in the city. Hiring a car just for the transfer often creates extra hassle once you arrive. For a city transfer only, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

A car can be helpful for families if you plan to do multi-stop days outside Manhattan or want easier luggage and gear handling. But if you’ll mostly be in Manhattan, the underground and walking often beat driving and paid parking. For family trips centred on Manhattan, hiring a car is optional; for regional trips, it’s beneficial.

EWR connects via rail options (AirTrain to NJ Transit/Amtrak) that can reach major cities like Philadelphia without driving. If your main goal is city-to-city travel by train, a car may add cost and parking headaches. For a Philly-by-rail plan, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

If your itinerary is built around cities served well by rail from the EWR connection—like NYC Penn Station and other rail hubs—trains can be simpler than driving and parking in dense city centres. A car becomes more valuable if you’re also visiting suburbs or stops between rail lines. For rail-friendly multi-city trips, hiring a car is optional; for off-rail stops, it’s beneficial.

Yes—NYC is highly walkable and the underground is often the fastest way to move between neighbourhoods, with taxis/rideshares filling gaps. That combination usually beats driving for typical tourist plans. For NYC sightseeing, hiring a car from EWR is generally unnecessary.

Walking and the underground are commonly the most efficient, and taxis/rideshares help for late nights or specific point-to-point trips. Using a contactless payment option like OMNY can make rides simple. For getting around NYC, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

Rush hours are often weekdays 7–9 a.m. and 5–7 p.m., when trains can be packed. Even then, driving in Manhattan can still be slow due to street congestion and parking constraints. For most visitors, hiring a car to avoid rush hour is usually unnecessary.

Late at night, taxis and rideshares often fill the gaps when you don’t want to navigate public transport, especially after a long day. A hire car can add parking and "don’t drink and drive" concerns if nightlife is central to your trip. For late-night flexibility in NYC, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

If you’re landing and heading out of the metro area the same day, picking up at EWR can be efficient because you can transition from flight to motorway travel quickly. Using the free AirTrain to reach the hire area can streamline the pick-up process. For an immediate road trip, hiring a car at EWR is beneficial.

A smaller car is typically easier to handle in tight city traffic and parking garages than a larger vehicle. Oversized vehicles can cost more to park and be harder to manoeuvre in congested areas. If you plan to drive into Manhattan at all, a compact car is usually the most practical choice.

Bigger vehicles can be a headache on congested streets and may face higher parking costs, especially in busy areas like Times Square. Unless you truly need the space for people and luggage, smaller tends to be easier. For a Times Square stay, a bigger hire car is usually unnecessary.

It’s realistic, but paid parking—often in 24-hour blocks without in-and-out—can make that one day trip expensive. Many travellers find it cheaper and easier to hire the car only for the day they leave the city. For a single day trip, hiring a car for the entire stay is usually unnecessary.

Yes—many travellers enter NYC by rail or bus and then hire a car specifically for outside-the-city days to avoid the worst traffic and parking. This approach keeps your city days simple and your road-trip days flexible. For mixed itineraries, hiring a car only for out-of-city days is usually the best option.

Those activities are typically well served by walking, the underground, and short taxi rides, while driving adds congestion and parking costs. You’ll likely spend more time dealing with the car than enjoying the city. For Midtown-focused plans, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

Yes—being near hubs like Penn Station, Grand Central, and Port Authority usually makes it easy to get around without driving. That strong public transport access reduces the value of having a car sitting in a garage. In that scenario, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

The Javits Center is just over a mile from the Times Square area and is commonly reached by a short cab ride or the underground. Driving yourself often means dealing with traffic and then finding paid parking near a busy venue. For that specific trip, hiring a car is unnecessary.

The area is frequently congested, which can slow arrivals and make kerbside pick-ups tricky. Even getting to a parking garage can take longer than expected during busy periods. For staying and touring around Times Square, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

Spring and autumn are popular because the weather is pleasant and crowds can be lower than peak times, which makes walking and public transport even more comfortable. Since those seasons favour exploring on foot, a car often adds little benefit in Manhattan. For spring/autumn NYC trips, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

Winter can mean icy pavements, but NYC mobility still usually works well with public transport and short rides, and driving adds stress with traffic and parking. Good footwear often solves the biggest winter challenge for visitors more than a car does. For winter NYC stays, hiring a car is usually optional and often unnecessary.

Summer can make hot underground stations uncomfortable, but driving still comes with congestion and parking costs that don’t disappear in warm weather. Many visitors mix public transport with taxis/rideshares for comfort instead of driving themselves. For summer NYC sightseeing, hiring a car is usually unnecessary.

NYC has widespread bike-share options like Citi Bike, which can replace many short trips without needing a car. Since cycling pairs well with walking and public transport, a hire car often becomes redundant in Manhattan. For a bike-friendly NYC plan, hiring a car is generally unnecessary.

If you’re spending most of your time in Manhattan, skip the car and use rail, the underground, and walking; if you’re heading beyond the city or doing multiple off-transport stops, hire a car for that portion of the trip. This keeps costs and stress down while preserving flexibility when you need it. For Manhattan-only trips it’s unnecessary, and for regional travel it’s beneficial.