How to manage NYC visit

[Annekem]

Wondering how to handle an extended trip up the East Coast to include a visit to NYC after parking our MH somewhere in the suburbs and using public transportation. Is this done? Do private campgrounds (or other places) offer a safe place to park for a couple of days which would be near the subway so we could visit Manhattan?

Thanks for your suggestions.

[merrykalia]

We have been 4 times and stayed in a hotel the first time. Teeny tiny little room that was exhorbitant in price.

The next 3 times, we stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park and Marina in Jersey City. From there, you walk 2 blocks and catch the PATH train into either Times Square or the World Trade Center. It takes less than 15 minutes, so you have m ore time in the city to wander or sight see.

It will cost you about $100 a night unless it is a holiday and then it will be more, but it is a safe neighborhood, the drive in is not bad at all with traffic and you are overlooking the Statue of Liberty.

We have always been thoroughly satisfied with the RV Park, but it IS NOT CAMPING! It is a big gravel lot with water/electric. If you are wanting a "camping experience", this is not the place to go/be. It is the closest and the easiest in/out of the city.

There is a water taxi port there in the marina, but it is pricey. I think it's $20 each way, per person. It's only about 50 yards from any site in the park. It will take you to Wall Street and is packed in the early morning and late evening with the financial crowd, who park in a lot adjacent to the RV Park.

[Beachbourbon]

X2 Liberty Harbor RV

We were just here last week, so some updates...the sites are very tight and grounds dumpy, but still worth it for proximity. Here I am in siteB3.

It is FIVE blocks to the PATH Grove st station. You will go to the WTC station which is now called “The oculus”. It looks and feels like you are in a giant dinosaur rib cage, but it is really a shopping mall you walk through to get to the NY subway lines. You will do a lot of walking! The actual NY subway runs every 3 minutes and is very efficient, but the subway stations are so old they look like they could be in a Charles Dickens novel. The R train takes you to Central Park, Times Square, rock ctr, Empire State bldg, Trump tower, Washington square, Greenwich, etc...

The PATH is $5 and runs every 3 minutes, The ferry is $7 and two blocks, but not every 3 minutes. The Empire State Building is $40 but now only goes to the 86th floor.

Also, prepare to be financially violated repeatedly by New Jersey toll trolls.

[timetogo11]

Liberty Harbor RV is the only practical NJ option if you are going to stay in your RV. The views of the city across the river at night are spectacular. I work 5 miles from this area. To stay any where outside the Metro area will complicate the commute significantly. Both PATH and ferry are good services.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by timetogo11

Liberty Harbor RV is the only practical NJ option if you are going to stay in your RV. The views of the city across the river at night are spectacular. I work 5 miles from this area. To stay any where outside the Metro area will complicate the commute significantly. Both PATH and ferry are good services.

Welcome to the forum from Central Florida.

[Steve Beede]

We spent 4 months last year touring the US & Canada. We had booked at KOA Newburg thinking it was close to NYC. When we realized it was 40 mi away, our search brought us to Liberty Island. On one hand, it's just a parking lot at the Marina with power. On the other hand, it's right next to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and a 5 minute water taxi to the NYC Financial District and 911 Memorial. Or yes, you can take PATH anywhere.

Our only concern was missing the turn and somehow finding ourselves and our rig heading for the Tunnel and NYC. That didn't happen. Be aware of your turn points. Great location at a great price.

[formerFR]

you can choose to park your rig in Netcong, NJ, or even up at Croton's Point on the Hudson, but either of those are going to give you quite a drive into the metro area...

Liberty Harbor is just the only 'real' option if you want to be within public transportation, quickly and easily, into the downtown area, and also not have to drive your own vehicle to somewhere in the area, or even into town, like we did.

[Steve W indy]

Don't know if this works for you but here's an idea. We were attending an event in the Mid Hudson valley and wanted to see more of NY. We were more interested in Montauk and Sag Harbor. I tried the state parks but they didn't accept dogs. So i looked at Suffolk County parks. We decided to stay at Smith Point. Now that's a little far from Manhattan. But there are other parks. I think there is one near Ronkonkoma where you can take the train into NY.

The way to do this is to purchase a Green Key card which effectively makes you a Suffolk County resident. Smith point seemed safe. Make sure you have your car and trailer registration in hand. Suffolk county isn't necessarily safe (not all of it, the Hamptons are), so be a aware. The parks are stiff on trailer reg's to keep out stolen trailers et al. Smith Point is nice.

You'll have to plot the suffolk county parks on a map manually, but there may be some good options nearer the city. I don't remember it being crazy expensive and the Green Key give you resident rates (and some fishing and other priveleges).

[camaraderie]

Liberty Harbor is the best place for quick in and out to the city without a doubt... if you don't need a real campground with ameneties. Upstate NY around Newburgh there is a KOA that runs sightseeing trips to the City daily and a full featured campground to come home to. All depends what ya want to do.

[upflying]

I would probably Uber or Lyft from the RV park into NYC.

[Beachbourbon]

Originally Posted by upflying

I would probably Uber or Lyft from the RV park into NYC.

After experiencing the time it takes and the cost, you may change your mind

[mrmichael]

Crazy thought but another option. We stayed in a campground near Bayville NJ ( Jersey Shore) and went to NJ Transit station in Toms River NJ. Caught an express bus to Port Authority station in NY ( one almost every hour). Senior fare was cheap for round trip ticket and bus ride was an hour each way. No stress and had a great time. PM me for any other details ( long time Jersey shore resident)

[rockfordroo]

Stay away from Liberty Harbor if it's any kind of holiday. See post 13 here for my experience on Puerto Rico Day, 2001:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...s-53462-2.html

[Xflyhighx]

Look up Croton On Hudson. It’s a county park that is about 1/2 mile to the metro train station. You have trains at that point that go to many places that you would like to see. The camp ground is nice with full hookups. Big rig friendly. My 41’ cedar creek champagne has no issues. The down side is 30 amp service and not sat friendly. The best part is like 40.00 per night and also weekly rates.

[OutOfTheTent]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

X2 Liberty Harbor RV
The actual NY subway runs every 3 minutes and is very efficient, but the subway stations are so old they look like they could be in a Charles Dickens novel.

New Yorker here. Take that "every 3 minutes" with a large grain of salt, or perhaps even the whole salt shaker. Many stations are still vintage, especially on the R, but there are also many beautiful, updated stations, and even new ones, on the 2nd Ave line (Q), that was just completed a few years ago.

[okie dokie]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheTent

New Yorker here. Take that "every 3 minutes" with a large grain of salt, or perhaps even the whole salt shaker. Many stations are still vintage, especially on the R, but there are also many beautiful, updated stations, and even new ones, on the 2nd Ave line (Q), that was just completed a few years ago.

Outofthetent
Since you have first hand knowledge of the area.
What are the pros and cons of staying at Liberty Harbor versus Croton-on-Hudson? Any suggestions to ease our visit will be appreciated. Our first trip to the area would like to stay 14 days or better.
41’ 5vr

[NO3putt]

We stayed at Croton on Hudson and took train into New York. Was easy and took about 45 minutes to get to Grand Central station.

[OutOfTheTent]

Originally Posted by okie dokie

Outofthetent
Since you have first hand knowledge of the area.
What are the pros and cons of staying at Liberty Harbor versus Croton-on-Hudson? Any suggestions to ease our visit will be appreciated. Our first trip to the area would like to stay 14 days or better.
41’ 5vr

Your transportation in and out of the city will be a lot easier from Liberty Harbor. If your primary objective is to do the city, then that's your best bet. I'm not personally familiar with Metro North, which serves Croton-on-Hudson, but looking at the schedule I found, it looks like it's an hour from there to Grand Central.

Good luck, and please let us know what you decided and how your trip went.

[ADOR]

Plus 1 on Liberty Harbor. We stayed there for 4 nights few years back. Electric and water hook-up only. I brought my own portable grey tank with wheels to empty the RV grey tank. Very close to the ferry station.

[okie dokie]

Thanks so much for the tips!
We are in the planning stages for our spring trip. The first time we have visited the North East. Want to explore NYC, DC, Boston. We are on a 6 month schedule so we will wing a lot of stops.

Public Transportation will be a challenge for me. We generally park on the outskirts of cities and drive in. Not so realistic in NYC. I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t overcome.

So much to see and do. Not sure 6 months is enough