Six options run from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to New York City: the AirTrain plus NJ Transit train at $17.25, the Newark Airport Express bus at $23.50, the PATH-plus-bus budget route, a taxi on the meter plus a $20 Newark surcharge, rideshare, or a private car service. For most solo travelers the train wins: about 30 minutes to New York Penn Station, with the AirTrain included in the one $17.25 ticket.
Written by Emily Davis · Fact-checked by Alex Freeman, Editor-in-Chief · Last verified November 2026
The train: AirTrain plus NJ Transit, $17.25
Ride the AirTrain from your terminal to Newark Liberty International Airport Station, then take any NJ Transit Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line train to New York Penn Station. One adult ticket costs $17.25 and covers both the AirTrain and the train — do not buy a separate AirTrain ticket. The train itself takes about 30 minutes, and the whole trip runs about 35 to 40 minutes door to door. Trains run roughly every 15 to 30 minutes during the day, from about 5 AM to about 1 AM, so red-eye arrivals need a backup plan. Children aged 5 to 11 travel at half price, and up to three children aged 4 and under ride free with a paying adult. One caution for 2026: from September 14, 2026, shuttle buses replace the AirTrain between the station and the terminals from 5 AM to 3 PM on most weekdays while the monorail is rebuilt, so allow extra time on a weekday morning. If you are weighing the airports, see the largest airport in New York and the transportation options available at Kennedy Airport before you choose where to land.
- One $17.25 adult ticket covers the AirTrain and the NJ Transit train
- About 30 minutes on the train, about 35 to 40 minutes door to door
- Trains roughly every 15 to 30 minutes, from about 5 AM to about 1 AM
- AirTrain alone costs $8.75 each way if you hold no rail ticket
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The bus: Newark Airport Express, $23.50
The Newark Airport Express, run by Coach USA, is the one-seat option with no transfers: board outside your terminal, stow your bags underneath, and ride straight to Midtown. It stops at three Manhattan points — Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park, and Grand Central — for $23.50 one-way or $39.50 round-trip. Buses run roughly every 15 to 30 minutes and the ride takes about 50 minutes in normal traffic, stretching to 90 minutes at rush hour through the Lincoln Tunnel. To compare the bus with the train on the same corridor, see how to book a bus service to Newark Airport and how long it takes to travel from EWR to Manhattan using ground transportation.
The budget route: PATH plus the 62 bus
The cheapest way to leave EWR on public transit is the long way round: the PATH train from Newark Penn Station runs 24 hours a day, and a single ride costs $3.25, paid with a TAPP card or a contactless card, phone, or watch — MetroCard and SmartLink stopped working at PATH gates on September 1, 2026. From Newark Penn Station, NJ Transit’s 62 bus runs to the airport terminals. Check the current 62 bus fare in the NJ Transit app before you travel, because the bus fare was not verified for this page. The trade is time for money: two transfers and a local bus against the direct train. For the reverse direction, see the best way to get from Manhattan to Newark Airport and how to book transportation from Newark Airport to NYC.
Taxi, rideshare, and private car service
A yellow taxi from EWR to Manhattan runs on the meter — there is no flat fare the way JFK has its $70 flat rate. The meter plus a $20 Newark surcharge, plus tolls in both directions, because you pay the driver’s return tolls, plus tip, typically lands at $95 to $120 all-in. A $0.50 MTA surcharge also applies to trips ending in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam. Rideshare prices move with demand and surge at peak arrivals, so check the app price before you commit. A private car is the fixed-price answer: JetBlack publishes a $90 sedan rate from EWR to Midtown, with the all-in total confirmed in writing before you book, and an Economy Sedan at $45 an hour with a 3-hour minimum for hourly hire. A child seat costs about $35 per seat, confirmed at booking, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles are provided on request. For the car-service end of the trip, see what a car pick-up service is, and for the onward leg to the other airports, see the best way to travel from Newark Airport to LaGuardia Airport. Budget-minded travelers should also compare the budget options for JFK to Manhattan and the LaGuardia Airport transfer page before deciding which airport to fly into. If your trip starts in Philadelphia instead, see the transportation options available for Philadelphia International Airport pickup.
Which option fits your arrival
Take the train if you travel light and land near Penn Station — $17.25 and about 30 minutes is hard to beat. Take the Express bus if your hotel sits near Port Authority, Bryant Park, or Grand Central and you want one seat with no stairs. Take the PATH-plus-bus route only if every dollar counts and you have time to spare. Take a taxi or a car if you land between about 1 AM and 5 AM when the NJ Transit trains stop, if you have heavy luggage, or if you are a group of six or more, where one $90 fixed car price beats six $17.25 train tickets ($103.50). Book the car before you fly: how to book transportation from Newark Airport to Manhattan covers the steps, and dispatch runs 24/7 at +1-646-214-4828.
Questions travelers ask
What is the cheapest way to get from EWR Airport to Manhattan?
The cheapest public-transit route is the PATH train at $3.25 to Newark Penn Station, then NJ Transit’s 62 bus to the terminals, but it takes the longest and needs two transfers. The cheapest direct option is the AirTrain plus NJ Transit train at $17.25, about 30 minutes to New York Penn Station.
How much is the train from EWR Airport to Manhattan?
One adult ticket costs $17.25 and covers both the AirTrain from your terminal to Newark Liberty International Airport Station and the NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station. The train takes about 30 minutes, and the whole trip runs about 35 to 40 minutes door to door. The AirTrain alone costs $8.75 each way if you hold no rail ticket.
How much is the Newark Airport Express bus?
The Newark Airport Express, run by Coach USA, costs $23.50 one-way or $39.50 round-trip. It runs from all EWR terminals to three Midtown Manhattan stops, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park, and Grand Central, roughly every 15 to 30 minutes, and the ride takes about 50 minutes in normal traffic.
How much is a taxi from EWR Airport to Manhattan?
There is no flat fare. A yellow taxi runs on the meter plus a $20 Newark surcharge, plus tolls in both directions, because you pay the driver’s return tolls, plus tip, typically $95 to $120 all-in. A $0.50 MTA surcharge also applies to trips ending in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam.
Does the PATH train go to Newark Airport?
No, not directly. The PATH Newark to World Trade Center line ends at Newark Penn Station, and from there NJ Transit’s 62 bus runs to the airport terminals. The AirTrain connects the terminals only to Newark Liberty International Airport Station, where NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop. A single PATH ride costs $3.25, paid with a TAPP card or a contactless card, phone, or watch.
Sources
- NJ Transit Newark Airport to New York Penn Station fare — NJ Transit airport page, fare table effective July 1, 2026, checked October 19, 2026, accessed November 10, 2026: $17.25 adult one-way, AirTrain included; AirTrain alone $8.75; about 30 minutes on the train; children 5 to 11 half price, up to three children 4 and under free with a paying adult
- AirTrain Newark construction shuttle buses — Port Authority advisory via Abbi Loves NYC, September 2026, accessed November 10, 2026 (shuttle buses replace AirTrain between Newark Airport Station and the terminals 5 AM to 3 PM on most weekdays from September 14, 2026)
- Newark Airport Express bus fare and stops — Port Authority public transportation page, checked October 19, 2026, accessed November 10, 2026: $23.50 one-way, $39.50 round-trip; Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park, Grand Central; about 50 minutes
- PATH fare and payment — Port Authority May 2026 fare notice, accessed November 10, 2026: $3.25 per ride; TAPP card or contactless payment only from September 1, 2026; reduced fare $1.60; runs 24 hours a day
- NYC taxi fare to Newark Airport — NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Taxi Fare page, read August and September 2026, accessed November 10, 2026 (standard meter plus $20.00 Newark surcharge, plus tolls to and from EWR including the driver’s return tolls, plus tip; no flat fare; $0.50 MTA State Surcharge for trips ending in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam)
- NJ Transit train hours — Blade travel guide, published October 26, 2026, updated November 1, 2026, accessed November 10, 2026 (NJ Transit trains run from about 5 AM to 1 AM)
- JetBlack Transportation — owner-confirmed service facts and owner-published Newark rate page (Economy Sedan $45 an hour with a 3-hour minimum, $90 sedan EWR to Midtown, child seats about $35 per seat for a fee, wheelchair-accessible vehicles provided, 24/7 dispatch at +1-646-214-4828), confirmed 2026-10-26, accessed November 10, 2026
JetBlack Transportation · 34 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001 · +1-646-214-4828 · Prices verified November 2026 and subject to change — confirm your fixed quote in writing before you travel
