Airports
Car Service or NJ Transit to Newark Airport? An Honest Comparison
When the train to Newark Airport station makes sense, when a car is faster, and what the trip really involves from different parts of New Jersey and New York.
By the Black Car Service Limo dispatch team · Updated · 6 min read
Key takeaways
- Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains stop at Newark Airport station, where the AirTrain runs to Terminals A, B, and C.
- If you live near a Northeast Corridor station and travel light, the train can be a good option outside the early morning.
- From Bergen, Passaic, Morris, and most of Essex County, rail means at least one transfer before the airport train.
- With luggage, children, a group, or a flight before 7 a.m., a car door to terminal is usually faster and far less stressful.
How the rail connection works
Newark Airport station sits on the Northeast Corridor between Newark Penn Station and Elizabeth. NJ Transit Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains stop there, along with some Amtrak trains. From the platform you take the AirTrain to your terminal; a ticket to the airport station includes the AirTrain access fee.
The AirTrain has had occasional outages over the years, with shuttle buses substituting — worth checking before a tight connection.
Train vs car by where you live
What the rail trip involves from different areas, compared with the typical drive:
| Area (example) | Rail to Newark Airport station | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey NEC towns (Metuchen) | One train on the Northeast Corridor, then the AirTrain | 25–40 min |
| Hudson waterfront (Hoboken) | PATH to Newark Penn or NJ Transit to Secaucus, then a Northeast Corridor train and the AirTrain | 15–35 min |
| Bergen County (Hackensack) | Pascack Valley Line to Secaucus, a Northeast Corridor train, then the AirTrain | 25–45 min |
| Essex County (Montclair) | Montclair-Boonton Line (Midtown Direct) to Secaucus, a Northeast Corridor train, then the AirTrain | 25–35 min |
| Morris County (Morristown) | Morris & Essex Line (Midtown Direct) to Secaucus, a Northeast Corridor train, then the AirTrain | 25–45 min |
| The Shore (Red Bank) | North Jersey Coast Line to Newark Airport station, then the AirTrain | 40 min – 1 hr 5 min |
When the train makes sense
Traveling alone with a carry-on, from a Northeast Corridor or Coast Line town, on a midday flight: the train is hard to beat on cost, and the trip is predictable. It also avoids the terminal curb at peak times.
When a car makes more sense
A pre-booked car usually wins when any of these apply:
- Your flight leaves before about 7 a.m., when trains are infrequent.
- You have checked bags, children, a car seat, or mobility needs.
- Your town has no station on the Northeast Corridor or Coast Line, so rail means a transfer.
- You are traveling as a group — per-person, a shared SUV or Sprinter van narrows the price gap considerably.
- You are arriving late at night and want someone waiting in baggage claim.