We are planning on driving from California to New York for the christmas season?

Question

Where do you recommend we stay NY or NJ. (five of us).
Has anyone done the trip. How long did it take, stopping only for food and sleep?Would it be better leaving car at hotel?

Answer 1

While some of the folks here are a bit scartistic, the QUESTION is, why not fly? The cost of driving 6000 miles, food, motels, gas, and wear on the car is significiant and not that much less than flying. Also, you do not want a car in NYC and you do not want to park in New York City, expecially at the xmas season. To stay in New Jersey you would have the complication treveling to and from the City each day. In addition to cost of parking traffic in Manhattan during December is rediculous.

The time driving? while when I was young and dumb I did it with one stop for sleep and all night drives, with 5 people, stopping for their needs, even if you do 750 miles a day, its a 4 day trip. Its winter and there is always the posibility of snowstoms in the midwest, so sharpen your pencil and consider flying.

Any more questions- just Ask

Answer 2

what a bunch of weenies
Your entire route selection is going to be based on where the snow is falling and quite honestly that decision may need to be made only a very short time before you leave
You also have to know that to do a trip like this in the times I'll be giving you willrequire that you drive from drive from 6:00 am to midnight AND since this is winter driving about half will be in darkness

In summer this trip is doable in 72-84 hours in winter add another 20-24 . I personally have done it in 56 but that's a tale for another day-suffice it to say that that trip was chemically aided.
I don't know if your starting point is NOCAL or SOCAL
If you're starting from SOCAL use I-40 40 miles either side of Flagstaff is snow country and chains can be required and occasionally the interstate is closed. so have plan B ready
Assuming it doesn't snow you can make the 800 miles from LA to Albuquerque in a day
next day ABQ to Little Rock 900 miles and 17 hours
Next day Little Rock To Charlottesville Va via I-40 and I-81 another 900 miles and 18 hours
last day 350 miles into NYC
from NOCAL 1-80 East to Gren River wyoming 900 miles from SFO
next day Green River to Des Moines another 900 mil
next day to williamsport Pa another 900 miles or so
and then into nyc another 200 miles or so
when you get near Chicago you need to chck the weather because lake effect snow is real and you may have to go
down to I-70 to avoid it.
If you have to do the Northern route be aware of the fact that you could literally die from exposure unless all the people in your group are prepared to spenda night or two sleeping in the vehicle
Usually what happens is that the weather turns to crap , you're between nowhere and nowhere else,
a couple of semis get sideways and turn over therby blocking the road and guess what you aint going anywhere for a long time
This actually happened to me once about 20 years ago except that it was on Van Wyck by the Flushing Meadow and i was ready for it.
As far as where to stay is concerned
Go online and check with all the major hotel chains that have locations within 40 miles of tiimes square
try this www.metrotravelguide .com
if you can get a place in jersey around newark airport or south you canpark your car in longterm and take the train to the city or since you have five people you can drive over to Staten Island , park the car at the ferry dock and take the boat to manhattan

Answer 3

It will certainly easier and less stressful to leave the car at the hotel, The mass transit in NYC and from NJ to NYC is great. As for hotels just do a yahoo search for hotels in NYC and you'll get lots to compare. It will be somewhat cheaper to stay in NJ but then you have the time commuting--though you can make that part of the fun by commuting by ferry---very good view from the boats. If you want to do that get a hotel convenient to the ferry terminals. Check out www.nywaterway.com to see where the ferrys go. Hope you have a great trip.

Answer 4

DRIVE! Are you serious? Why would you? Are you feeling you will save money? Is that why you want to do a 3,000 mile drive with I can only assume children? With 5 people depending on how many adults and even with kids you might end up having to get 2 rooms and they aren't confirmed that you will have 2 rooms with one another. New York and New Jersey are two different worlds you can't really compare them with each other.

Have fun, but I would HIGHLY say FLY!!!! The time you would need to take off in order to drive you could use that instead to pay for flights. Unless you WANT to drive which I'm unsure why...then don't do it!

Answer 5

Live in NYC...It is cheaper to stay in NJ rather than NY during Christmas time although you can't beat NYC in the Christmas season its quite an experience...I would recomend flying though...unless your hotel gaurantees you a parking spot....a parking garage during the X-mas season can end up costing you more than your hotel room.

Answer 6

Fly! Don't drive. You'll have more time at your destination and with fuel prices the way they are...
Also, if you book early enough you may get the advantage of lower priced air fares as winter is low season (except right around the holidays) in cold country. Don't forget to take a scarf. This is assuming you leave home same time flying as you would driving. That said, get this: I'm no T.A., so check it out .

Answer 7

It's cheaper to stay in NJ and take buss in to NYC. Only downer is you have to carry anything you bought.

Try Super 8 Times Square. See links below

Answer 8

The only reason to DRIVE across the US is to SEE the US. With the price of fuel, the price of three-four nights on the road each way & the cost of storing a car in NYC my guess is that you will not be saving much.

Answer 9

Call 1-800-NYC-Guide/1-800-692-4843...They give you a free guide with price of hotels and raitings and coupons attractions to see and such. They also give bus routes so you can pick which hotel to stay in. They tell you just about everything you need to know, it is like a survival guide. You wont regret that!

Answer 10

%. a brilliant number of heat clothing, lots of layers - sweaters, sweatshirts, a heavy jacket, a headband, hat, gloves, or perhaps a pair of trainers. that is already freezing. Even people who stay right here all 12 months long can locate the winters thoroughly insufferable. i don't be attentive to what the climate or temperature is like in England, nevertheless.