The best way to get from Albany to NYC?
The Megabus wasn't an option the last time we did the math on this.
To New York City and back is a pretty common trip for people in the Capital Region. So... what's the fastest way? What's the cheapest? What's the best?
We ran the numbers almost two years ago -- but things change. So we did the math again, this time with even more detail.
The full breakdown after the jump.
All calculations are for one person traveling. Cost is roundtrip. Travel time is one way. Ranges reflect differences in schedules and peak/off-peak pricing. More fine print below.
| Amtrak | $72-$102 | 2:30 |
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The Amtrak train is our favorite way to travel to NYC and back. The train drops you off at Penn Station right in midtown Manhattan. It's not cheap, but it's easy and almost... relaxing. (Well, it is if it's running on time.) Add on another $5-$8 if you park at Rensselaer station. |
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| Megabus | $20-$48 | 2:45 |
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The Megabus wasn't an option two years ago, but we're glad it is now. This may very well be the best way to get to NYC from Albany. If you book ahead time, it can be very cheap (round trip fares starting at $20 are a reasonable expectation -- but sometimes Megabus has special fares as low as $1 each way). And bonus: the buses have wi-fi (that kind of/sort of/usually works). Add on another $5 if you park at the pick up point at the Rensselaer train station parking lot. |
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| Drive | $59.35 | 2:30-3:20 |
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There are a lot variables for driving. We used the route through NJ and into Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel. That's 155 miles. Cost includes gas (30 mpg at $2.90/gal) and tolls. Then there's parking. You can get it for as cheap as $10/day (which is what we figured) if you plan ahead. Of course, it can be much more expensive. And there's traffic, which can tack on a lot of extra time. But, if you have a bunch of people and don't mind driving, this could be the way to go. |
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| Drive/MetroNorth | $52.92 - $62.42 | 3-3:13 |
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Driving to the MetroNorth station in Poughkeepsie is a popular option for people who don't want to drive all the way into the city because of parking or traffic hassles. Bonus: MetroNorth drops you off in beautiful Grand Central Station. For just one person, this option can be cheaper than driving all the way. Our cost calculation includes gas, tolls, parking at the train station, and train fare. The hitch: if you don't arrive just ahead of the train, you have to wait. |
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| Drive/NJ Transit | $52.23 - $55.48 | 2:46-3:19 |
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Anecdotally, this option seems to be less popular/known compared to MetroNorth. But it can be cheaper and easier. NJ Transit's station in Ramsey, NJ is very easy to get to -- it's literally right next to Rt 17. And it's a nice station with plenty of parking. Our cost calculation includes gas, tolls, parking at the train station, and train fare. Like MetroNorth, there's the schedule hitch: if you don't arrive just ahead of the train, you have to wait. And there's an extra connection on this route -- you have to switch trains in Secaucus. |
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| Adirondack Trailways/Greyhound | $58 | 2:45-3:30 |
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Taking the Adirondack Trailways/Greyhound bus is not glamorous, though it is relatively cheap. But if you're going to take a bus, the Megabus might be a better option. |
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| Dragon Deluxe Bus | $50 | 3:30 |
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Or, as it's sometimes called, The Chinatown Bus. It's pretty cheap. That's probably the one thing going for it. But, again, if you're going to take the bus, the Megabus might be a better option. The pick up point is at 128 Central Ave in Albany. |
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| Fly | $194.50 - $210 | 3-3:30 |
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The last time we ran these numbers, this seemed like an absurd option. And now... it still seems crazy -- but not quite as crazy. Perhaps because of competition from Southwest, prices on flights from ALB to LGA or JFK appear to have gone down (if you book a month in advance). It's still not cheap. And it's not really all that fast when you take into account showing up to the airport early and then getting from the airports to Manhattan. Our cost calculation included air fare (US Airways to LGA, Delta to JFK), parking at ALB, and ground transportation in NYC (SuperShuttle from LGA, shuttle to subway from JFK). Our time calculation included arriving at the airport one hour early, plus another hour for ground transportation in NYC. |
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The fine print: We did these calculations based on a one-person, one-day, round trip from Albany to Manhattan (either Penn Station or Grand Central) on a Wednesday. All prices are from the web sites of the respective transit modes -- except for air fare, which we got from Kayak. All riding times are from the respective transit schedules. All driving distances and times are from Google Maps. All tolls are from either NY Thruway or NJ Turnpike sites. Yep, we did use the EZ-Pass rates. We figured the hypothetical car got 30 mpg (which you should be able to get in a Civic, Camry, Focus or something similar on the highway). Based on the current average gasoline price from AlbanyGasPrices.com, we used $2.90/gal.
Trains run early. They run late. Sometimes there's traffic. And prices can change. Your mileage -- in every sense -- will almost certainly vary.
The Bottom Line
Amtrak can be the fastest (and easiest). Megabus is often the cheapest. The drive/train option is also often a good option. Unless you're traveling with more than two people, driving all the way is probably not worth it.
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Comments
Megabus is definitely the best, the Albany - NYC buses are never very crowded, and plus they have electrical outlets at every seat and free WiFi.
... said Tim on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:00 AM | link
i travel by bus and train quite frequently- at least once a month over the past four years. I used to hate taking Greyhound and would usually suck it up and pay the higher costs needed to take Amtrak, but they've gotten much better in the past month or two. They've finally got wifi (which the train still doesn't), outlets, and nice seats (we'll see how long those last).
... said bill m on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:10 AM | link
I live in eastern Rensselaer County and it's a quiet, easy, and lovely drive with no tolls to Wassaic where I catch Metro North.
... said Jenny on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:16 AM | link
I enjoy the comfort of the train, but have come to prefer the timeliness of the bus. Ever since my Amtrak train was so late it got coupled to the next train (and I had paid $10 extra to take the earlier train), I've been taking Greyhound. Never been more than 10 minutes late. But I will definately try Megabus next time.
... said meierrain on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:26 AM | link
The biggest problem I've had with any of the buses is that you have to plan your schedule around the limited arrival and departure schedule. For instance, if the last bus leaves NYC in the early evening, you can forget going to a Sunday show. I prefer metro north which runs on a reliable schedule late into the evening even on weekends...and weekend parking in poughkeepsie is free.
... said Red on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:37 AM | link
Ah, there are several more, albeit crazy options.
1) Taxi - Pretty much every week as I drive the Taconic to/from my silly job in Ct, I see at least one NYC yellow cab north of Dutchess cty. Someone is doing it.
2) Limo - There used to be a nice airport limo from Albany to the NY airports. Dunno if it still exists, but it was only a $10-$20 premium over the Greyound/Trailways price. Was great if you were flying out of NYC.
3) Air charter. - Definitely the way to fly. The flight leaves when you get to the airport. No muss, no fuss, just great service that drops you off at Teterborogh Airport for a short limo ride into town. Cost - About a grand.
... said komradebob on Jan 19, 2010 at 11:28 AM | link
Dragon Deluxe? They changed the name from Double Happiness?! For shame!
I've taken the chinatown bus, it was cold. That's my only complaint.
... said Glenna on Jan 19, 2010 at 12:16 PM | link
Excellent roundup. I wrote up directions for getting from Albany to JFK (via Penn Station) since people ask about that a lot and I've fine-tuned my own routine. (I also talked about Megabus/Amtrak, but just added a link to this far more useful page.)
... said Ellsass on Jan 19, 2010 at 12:20 PM | link
Can you do it by Bicycle? Has anyone done this? Talk about a leisurely ride...
... said Corey McQ on Jan 19, 2010 at 1:24 PM | link
I was going to comment with what Red above posted. We usually park on the weekend so it's free, and leave around 8 or 9--there is usually a train around that time that we can catch. It's kind of a pain to drive, but if you go with 2 or 3 people and split gas and the driving it goes pretty fast.
Last time we also tried getting on the metro north at Hawthorne. We followed the GPS and it took us over a bridge (Throggs Neck I think, but I always mix it up with the Tappan Zee because I hate driving), but you can take the Taconic to get there as well. Ends up not making a huge difference in gas, and chops about 20 minutes-half hour off the train ride.
The only problem now is that every time we plan a visit to the city, it snows, and we don't go. Ohh, dear.
... said kater on Jan 19, 2010 at 1:37 PM | link
I take the amtrak at least twice a month and find it a pleasant ride. I took the Megabus once and, although cheaper, decided never to take it again. The seating is very uncomfortable. I am 5'6" and there was very little leg room. Also, I felt like I was sitting on top of the girl, who was average sized, next to me. Thus, while the bus may have free wi-fi, it's difficult to even take out your laptop and position it in a way that is functional. Also, it drops you off at a random location in Manhattan (I think it was somewhere around 28th and 7th).
As far as driving goes (which I have done a number of times), I prefer to take 87S to the Palisades Pkwy, which brings you right to the GW Bridge.
... said patty on Jan 19, 2010 at 2:14 PM | link
Also, there are two competing chinatown buses- you named one and posted the address to another. The bus company on Central Ave is AABus/ Double Happyness [sic- I'm convinced they got their name from a Will Smith movie poster]. I think Double Happyness is a little nicer- I'll never forget the one time I took the Dragon and it pulled onto 34th street with smoke pouring out of the engine, and the driver rushed everybody off and away from the bus.
Finally, it is possible for Amtrak to reach prices much higher than that- if you wait long enough on a busy travel day, they can top $90 one way.
... said bill m on Jan 19, 2010 at 2:26 PM | link
Beware the free parking at MetroNorth in Poughkeepsie. We had the gasoline siphoned from our car and a tire slashed. No gas and a flat tire when we returned late on a weekend. When we asked MetroNorth about security in the parking garage, they said it was responsibility of the city. When we called Poughkeepsie police, they said it was the responsibility of MetroNorth. In short, there's no security, and Poughkeepsie vandals must know this quite well. Anyone with similar stories?
... said Jack R on Jan 19, 2010 at 3:00 PM | link
I second what Patty says about the megabus: While it's cheap (if you book in advance) the seats are pretty tight (I'm also 5'6" and found the leg room lacking) and good luck using your laptop (no fold-down trays like airplanes). The pickup point in NYC for the megabus is also basically a side street next to Penn Station- no real cover if it's raining/snowing; however you can't beat the price.
Honestly haven't tried any of the other routes but I know that driving in/around NYC is a big pain in the ass with all the traffic.
... said theredballoon on Jan 19, 2010 at 4:16 PM | link
I was doing the cost-benefit analysis myself on this recently. If you have Triple A, you can save a few dollars off the train fare with a few days' prior booking. Our one-way fares dropped from $59 to $44 each with AAA.
... said Karen on Jan 19, 2010 at 5:18 PM | link
You forgot to factor in the 2 hours of airport nonsense on each end. And the underpants scan. How about a 2 day bike ride?
... said Lucy on Jan 20, 2010 at 1:08 PM | link
@Jack R - I used to live in Poughkeepsie, and myself and others have left our cars at the train station for up to a week without a parking permit, and never got ticketed. So I can attest, there doesn't even seem to be people giving out parking tickets. At Croton-Harmon however, my car was only paid for up to midnight on a weekday, and I got a ticket at 1:00 AM.
My preferred methods are Megabus and MetroNorth. Megabus advertised a deal for free tickets recently, so a few weekends ago my wife and I went to NYC FOR FREE (plus a 50 cent processing fee). I don't think you can beat that, no matter what you think of the buses.
For a more scenic ride with flexible schedules, I drive down the Taconic to Cold Spring. It's a cute town with a little Metro-North stop. With more than one person in the car, the farther you drive in the car, the cheaper overall it is, as those multiple train tickets decrease in cost farther down south. That way you can incorporate some place you would never visit into your trip. There are other towns on the Hudson Line that are fun to visit for a train stop: Beacon, Tarrytown...
I do the same thing to visit Boston. I'll pick a tiny town to pick up the train. Shirley, MA's train stop, for example, has a gravel lot with room for maybe a dozen cars. But I'll stop because this is starting to sound crazy.
... said Ryan on Jan 20, 2010 at 5:25 PM | link
This is a great list! I really need to try Megabus at some point. I used to take the Poughkeepsie MetroNorth train, but I've just been driving for the last few years. Street parking in NYC isn't bad at all if you have reasonable expectations. No, you aren't going to able to park next to Times Square... but you can easily park somewhere (for free) uptown near a 1/2/3 subway stop that will get you pretty much anywhere.
For people driving: Like patty mentioned above, 87S to the Palisades Parkway is soooo much nicer and faster than going through the Lincoln Tunnel. Well, maybe not faster if you're planning on going aaaall the way down the West Side Highway. Also, if you're looking for a scenic route with way fewer tolls, try the Taconic Parkway.
One last thing! If someone is able to get from Albany to Manhattan by plane in 3.5 hours, I will pay for their trip (offer void in NY). Seriously, its gotta be more like 6 hours total, including check in, security, cab/subway from JFK.... Unless you're David Patterson, it ain't happenin ;)
... said Paul on Jan 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM | link
I've been asked to chime in on this, considering that I've been averaging about one weekend a month in the city. (I'm sorry, Albany, but you're still not *the* city.)
If I'm going to be down for any extended period of time (more than overnight) my initial reaction is to check Megabus and book ASAP. I've done the round trip for the $2.50 minimum price, and although having to be on a bus at 6:30 on a Sunday morning isn't this college student's idea of convenience, my overwhelming desire to shell out as little as possible went with it. You can always sleep on the bus. (The WiFi is a really nice perk, as well -- when it works.)
If I'm heading down overnight for a concert or something, though, I'll drive. I've tried the Metro-North strategy out of Poughkeepsie, and unless it's a weekend, it's really not convenient to have to find parking and make sure you catch the one train that leaves every hour, especially given that the trip from the Thruway to the Mid-Hudson Bridge is a total unknown in terms of time depending on who you're stuck behind. While this used to be my go-to option, I've set my sights further downstate.
While the NJ Transit option is appealing, the one thing that's important to note is that parking isn't actually free. You all may have been able to get away with it, but when I was looking into this option, parking is only allowed for town residents with valid passes. I didn't even see a paid parking option that lasted longer than 20 minutes at most stops along the state line, so that cut that option out for me.
One option worth consideration as well is driving to Hoboken and taking the PATH train over. Train fares are still cheaper than the MTA base fare, although overnight parking in the closest lot will set you back about $20. You at least get peace of mind with that option, although the same could be argued with parking in Manhattan. Once you factor in Hudson crossing tolls and the steeper price of parking there, it's not quite as nice as this.
Today, though, I've had enough experience driving around Manhattan and Brooklyn that I've found a few parts of town where I can leave my car in a relatively safe area with free on-street overnight parking, and the convenience and price of that can't be beaten for me. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where I park specifically (it's south of Midtown) because then you're going to come take the few remaining spots away from me, and I can't have that.
There's a special bonus of not having to pay any tolls if you take the Cross Bronx to the Taconic on the way out and wind around Chatham once you're back up here, although the expense then becomes travel time and the risk of a hefty ticket from the ever-present Taconic speed traps. Worth the risk in foliage season, though.
Hope this helped a little!
... said Pete on Jan 21, 2010 at 3:55 PM | link
***Need Help***
Need to get from NYC to Albany before 9am - any ideas?
... said Emer on Mar 23, 2011 at 1:38 PM | link
@Emer: Amtrak's 625am train from Albany gets in at 845am. There's also a 5am-ish train.
... said AddiesDad on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:43 PM | link