<p>Okay, I read, just today something related to this but no matter how I search I can't find it so I'm starting another thread, please understand...</p>
<p>I am looking at driving D to visit some of the "out-lying" schools in NY state but do NOT want to drive in NYC. For those of you in the know, where could we park our car and catch a train into NYC?</p>
<p>She is looking at Cornell, Syracuse, Ithaca.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>you could drive into Poughkeepsie (1.5 hrs) or further and take the Metro train into Grand Central. Use your search engine for Metro train schedule, they are cheap and run constantly</p>
<p>It's actually Metro-North that shortnsweet must be referring to. That is part of the MTA system. Cheap, well I don't know...LOL</p>
<p>Here is the link
<a href="http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/index.html</a></p>
<p>The Metro-north has 3 lines: Harlem, Hudson and New Haven... so check them all. I think Poughkeepsie is Harlem line (?) </p>
<p>You can check to see if Amtrak has anything in upstate NY going into Penn Station. </p>
<p>Believersmom, I'm not clear where you are coming FROM, on your way to Cornell, SU and Ithaca and why NYC is part of the equation at all. </p>
<p>Pougheepsie (where Vassaar is) is north of NYC.</p>
<p>If you are driving to Syracuse and Ithaca (Cornell and Ithaca College), then driving downstate to NYC, you could drive south on route 81 to Scranton, PA, to Rt. 380 to Route 80 in NJ. Then you can drive to Weehawken, NJ and park your car and take the ferry. It's a pretty easy drive from Syracuse 4 hours if traffic is good and you don't have to drive in NYC because you take the ferry across and back, leaving your car in NJ. And then you can use the busses connected to the ferry system in Manhatten, or use the subway or taxis to get around. <a href="http://www.nywaterway.com%5B/url%5D">www.nywaterway.com</a> has info. This works for a day trip to NYC (I don't know if you can park overnight). We have stayed in NJ on several occasions then just use the ferry each day to get into NYC. Great hotel is Fairfield Executive Inn (BestWestern) in Fairfield, NJ. Not expensive, nice, clean hotel with good sized rooms and includes a great breakfast buffet each day (hot and cold foods and lots of them!) Hope this helps.</p>
<p>nydancemom,</p>
<p>You have many options, but it helps to know where you are ultimately starting for/returning to. I used to live in the Poughkeepsie area and now live in CT. Amtrack (not cheap) is a consideration. I believe they even have an Albany, NY train. From Poughkeepsie, it is about 1hour and a half to Grand Central in NYC. If you want a shorter train ride you can drive to White Plains and take an express train (Metro North) which will be about 45 minutes or less. There are many hotels right in the Westchester area where you can stay and leave your car for free. In either case make sure you contact the local town hall and find out where the non-residential commuter parking lot is. If you park in the wrong lot, you will get ticketed.
There are many options from all over New Jersey as well as Long Island and CT.</p>
<p>Another idea is to contact the upstate colleges and find out what their NY city students do. I guarantee they will know of local bus companies that go into the NY area. They will definitely be able to help you--many of their students come from downstate.</p>
<p>Thank you all, this helps a lot. We live in the midwest, NYC would be for fun and leisure. Driving would be because it would be a huge visit trip not just NY state.</p>
<p>One other thought:</p>
<p>Because the price of gas is so high, it might be wise to check cheap airfares to LaGuardia Airport from Syracuse. Did you know that there was a White Plains airport? The airport code is HPN. From there, you can stay overnight around there and take a train into NY. There is also an airport in Newburgh New York (Stewart) with links to NYC.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Sadly I expect that jet fuel will skyrocket as well...
:(</p>
<p>There is always hitch hiking. [kidding]</p>
<p>Beliversmom: Please give more specific details of the journey you want to make and when. As someone who lives in the NYC suburbs, I might then be better able to give more info.</p>
<p>I wish I could but this is far in the future, we are just in the initial stages of planning and gathering some general information. As we get closer [maybe sometime in the spring] I'll post again or pm you.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the offer.</p>
<p>There is also Amtrak service from Poughkeepsie to New York City--but not very frequent. A motel in the Westchester area is a good idea.</p>