Newark Airport to Manhattan: Train, Bus, Taxi Costs and Times

The fastest and most predictable way to get from Newark Airport to Manhattan is the AirTrain plus an NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station: about 30 minutes on the train and $17.25 for an adult, with the AirTrain fee already included. If you'd rather not handle stairs and transfers with bags, the Newark Airport Express bus runs to Midtown for $23.50, and a taxi to Manhattan costs a set $60 to $80 before tolls and surcharges.

Newark Airport to Manhattan at a glance

Option	Goes to	Time (per the operator)	One-way cost
AirTrain + NJ Transit	New York Penn Station (Midtown)	About 30 min on the train	$17.25 adult, AirTrain included
AirTrain + NJ Transit + PATH	33rd Street or World Trade Center	About 40-45 min	$11.75
Newark Airport Express bus	Grand Central, Bryant Park, Port Authority Bus Terminal	About 50 min	$23.50 ($39.50 round trip)
Taxi	Anywhere in Manhattan	Depends on traffic	$60-$80 set fare, plus extras
Uber or Lyft	Anywhere	Depends on traffic	Check the app

Times and fares come from the Port Authority's Newark Airport site and NJ Transit. Fares change, so check the official pages before you go.

Heads-up: AirTrain construction through November 13, 2026

The Port Authority is building a $3.5 billion replacement for AirTrain Newark, expected to open in 2030. While it's built, the AirTrain does not serve the Newark Airport Train Station on weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. The current posted outage runs from July 27 to November 13, 2026.

During those hours:

Leaving the airport: ride the AirTrain to P4 Station, then switch to the shuttle bus (no charge) to the train station.
Arriving by train: take the shuttle bus straight to your terminal.
Finding it: look for red-banner signs that say "AirTrain Construction Partial Outage," or ask an airport customer service rep in a red uniform.
Allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes.

AirTrain runs normally on weekends and outside those weekday hours, and service between Terminals A, B and C, rental cars, P3 and P4 isn't affected. Two more station projects are underway: new fare gates are being installed in early-to-mid November 2026 (finishing on or about November 12), and the down escalator to Tracks 4 and 5 is out of service through the end of November. Elevators and the up escalator still work. Check the airport's alerts page before you fly, since dates can shift.

Option 1: AirTrain + NJ Transit to Penn Station (best for most people)

This is the route most travelers should take to Midtown.

Follow signs to the AirTrain from your terminal. From the Airport Train Station, the AirTrain takes about 7 minutes to Terminal C, 11 minutes to Terminal B and 20 minutes to Terminal A, so factor that in on the way back.
At the Newark Airport Train Station, board an NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line train toward New York.
Get off at New York Penn Station, about 30 minutes later.

Cost: $17.25 for an adult. The $8.75 AirTrain fee is built into your NJ Transit ticket, so you don't buy it separately. Children 5-11 ride at half price, and up to three kids 4 and under ride at no charge with a paying adult. On weekends and holidays, up to two kids 5-11 ride at no charge with a fare-paying adult.

How to pay: buy your ticket in the NJ Transit mobile app or at the ticket machines in the station before you board. Buying on the train adds a $5.00 surcharge.

Good to know:

Amtrak also stops at the Newark Airport station. An Amtrak ticket also covers the AirTrain fee, but fares vary, so compare prices on Amtrak's site.
If you're only riding the AirTrain to the station (say, to meet a ride), the AirTrain fare is $8.75. You can pay by tapping a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Rides on the AirTrain between terminals, parking, rental cars and hotel shuttles have no charge.

Option 2: NJ Transit + PATH to Lower Manhattan

If you're headed downtown, you can connect to the PATH train instead of going all the way to Penn Station. The airport lists two routes, each for $11.75 total:

To World Trade Center: about 45 minutes, using NJ Transit plus PATH (or NJ Transit plus the NYC subway).
To 33rd Street: about 40 minutes, using NJ Transit plus PATH.

PATH needs its own fare; it isn't covered by the NJ Transit ticket. This route takes more transfers, so it works best if you're traveling light and know where you're going.

Option 3: Newark Airport Express bus

The Newark Airport Express (run by Coach USA) stops at every terminal and goes to three Midtown stops:

Grand Central Terminal: 41st Street between Park and Lexington Avenues
Bryant Park: 42nd Street and 5th Avenue
Port Authority Bus Terminal: 41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues

The trip takes about 50 minutes, and fares are $23.50 one way or $39.50 round trip. Discounts for seniors and riders with disabilities are offered, along with multi-trip packages. The bus costs more than the train, but you skip the AirTrain and station stairs and get dropped closer to the East Side. Traffic can stretch the ride, so leave extra time when heading back to the airport.

Option 4: Taxi from Newark Airport

Taxis from Newark to Manhattan charge set fares by zone, set by the Port Authority:

Manhattan destination	Fare
Zone 1: Battery to W 13th St.	$60
Zone 2: W 14th St. to W 50th St.	$65
Zone 3: W 51st St. to W 96th St.	$70
Zone 4: W 97th St. to W 185th St.	$75
Above W 185th St.	$80

Not included in those fares:

$2.00 airport access fee on all trips
$10 rush-hour surcharge for trips into New York (weekdays 6-10 a.m. and 3-8 p.m.; weekends noon-9 p.m.)
$5.00 East Side surcharge for destinations between Battery Park and 145th Street
Tolls and MTA congestion pricing (the airport lists congestion pricing at $6.75-$15.75 depending on time and destination)
$1 per bag, including carry-ons
Tip

Seniors get 10% off. Use only official taxi stands; the Port Authority Welcome Center on Level 1 of each terminal can point you there. Get a receipt from the taxi dispatcher, show it to the driver, and take it back. One fare covers up to four passengers (five in a minivan) going to the same place.

Going the other way: a yellow cab from Manhattan to Newark uses the standard meter plus a $20.00 Newark surcharge, and you also pay tolls, including the driver's return tolls, according to the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission.

Option 5: Uber, Lyft and car services

Uber and Lyft are allowed to pick up at the airport's official pickup areas. Prices change with demand, so check current fares in the app. Rideshares pay the same tolls and congestion charges as everyone else, which can add up for a Manhattan trip.

Which option should you pick?

Going to Penn Station or Midtown West: AirTrain + NJ Transit. It's the fastest and doesn't depend on traffic.
Going to Grand Central or the East Side with luggage: Newark Airport Express bus.
Going to Lower Manhattan: NJ Transit + PATH to World Trade Center.
Group of three or four with bags, or arriving late at night: a taxi's set fare split several ways can make sense.
Arriving on a weekday morning before November 13, 2026: expect the AirTrain-to-shuttle-bus transfer and allow extra time.

Tips to make the trip easier

Buy train tickets in advance in the NJ Transit app to avoid the on-board surcharge and the line at the machines during the fare gate work.
Make sure your train says New York. Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains serve both the airport station and New York Penn Station.
Leave the airport earlier on the way back. Allow time for the AirTrain ride from the station to Terminal A, which takes about 20 minutes on its own.
Driving yourself? See our Newark Airport parking guide. Flying out of JFK instead? Compare options in our JFK to Manhattan guide.
Still booking? Check current fares with the flight search box on this page.

Prices and rules change. Always confirm with the Port Authority's Newark Airport website and NJ Transit before you travel.