Safest and easiest route driving from JFK to New Jersey?

Question

I am flying in to JFK and need to get to New Jersey. If you look at the map or ask your GPS the suggested route is Belt Parkway, over the Verrazano Bridge then west to Interstate 95. However I'm told that you pass through some shady neighbourhoods and if you are not familiar with the route it is best to cross into Manhattan and pick up the 95 further North. Time of travel would be mid-week and around 4pm. Any advice ?

I'm heading to southern New Jersey. I have to get on the 95 and head south.
Belt Parkway seems the shortest.

Answer 1

Do not go thru Manhattan, anybody that suggests that you do so has no idea what the hell they are talking about.
Don't worry about the shady neighborhoods of Brooklyn
Use the Belt Parkway West -
It's a 2 lane exit right getting on the Verrazano Bridge from the Belt.
Use the upper deck bc the view is better
Keep right bc you will have to pay a toll -It will say something like "Cash only "
Have $9.00 in cash available for the toll
If you hit traffic on the VZ bridge it will be as you get on the bridge proper and the source will be from the SB -BQE
It will also be comprised of a lot of trucks
It will be slow going across Staten Island
If you're going to Southern New Jersey use 440 SOUTH !!! over Outerbridge Crossing
It's both faster and cheaper than using the Goethals Br.

Answer 2

No matter how you get there you will be going through some questionable areas. But if you are on free ways the whole time this will not be a concern to you. Only if you were to leave the freeway and go into the streets and start trouble would you have problems. Anyway, you can be just about anywhere in NYC during the day - just mind your own business and treat everyone with courtesy. It is only after dark that there can be some problems.

There is no magic best way to get to New Jersey from JFK. Geographically, this is a small area. However it is very densely packed and there are a lot of traffic problems at any one time. You need to evaluate the situation as it is at that point in time.

So here is my advice.

1) Get your self a good map and plan a few ways to get to New Jersey. You already have one worked out. Maybe plan a way over the George Washington Bridge and then either the Holland or Lincoln tunnel.

2) Listen to the traffic radio stations. They give up to the minute traffic reports every 10 minutes. 880 am on every minute ending in 8 and 1010 am on every minute ending in 1. Find out which ways are clear and which are blocked.

3) If you don't have an e-z pass, have plenty of cash on hand for the tolls.

You should be good to go if you do all this.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Safest and easiest route driving from JFK to New Jersey?
I am flying in to JFK and need to get to New Jersey. If you look at the map or ask your GPS the suggested route is Belt Parkway, over the Verrazano Bridge then west to Interstate 95. However I'm told that you pass through some shady neighbourhoods and if you are not familiar with the route it...

Answer 4

Impossible to tell you the best route without knowing where you're going -- New Jersey is large!

If you want to end up in far northern Jersey, Palisades area, etc., then *geographically* it makes sense to take the George Washington Bridge rather than starting out southward into Staten Island....but what you're proposing is to drive into Manhattan around *4:30-5 pm on a weekday*, and that just doesn't sound intelligent.

Answer 5

Drive To Jfk Airport

Answer 6

eww, thats brutal, right in the heart of rush hour.

Leaving JFK, if you can get to the Grand Central Parkway and take that to the Long Island Expressway (head west), you will lead right into the mid-town tunnel and then manhattan. From there, take 34th street or whatever to Lincoln tunnel.

Also, leaving JFK, look for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (head towards queens). Follow that until you exits for Manhattan Bridge. Take Manhattan Bridge through Manhattan to the Holland Tunnel.

Also, leaving JFK, take the Van Wyck parkway to the Grand Central Parkway to the Tri-Boro Bridge into Manhattan. Once in Manhattan, take the FDR Drive uptown (becomes Harlem River Drive eventually) until you see signs for the George Washington Bridge. Follow until on bridge.


all these are alternates to get to NJ.

Answer 7

The Belt Parkway is isolated from the neighborhoods; it is an actual highway not a city road. At about 4pm traffic going from JFK in the direction of NJ would probably be less since everyone from Manhattan will be going the opposite way.

Answer 8

You're on highways the entire time and the drive is fine. Going to South Jersey, the Belt to Verrazano to NJ Turnpike South makes the most sense.

Answer 9

any city driving busy all the time , follow GPS directions , just drive as you would Thur any city alert and with traffic don't get off main rt if you happen to get lost pull into a busy service station on the main hwy don't go wandering around same as you would anywhere you travel !! A Taxi will cost you big lol stay with your plan and follow Rt directions you must have planned you trip and know your destination already !!

Answer 10

Belt parkway is best no shady neighborhoods. It is a beautiful drive. Hope it is off hours. Parts of the belt are two lanes. After 4 p.m. is great.