Newark Airport to Times Square: How Far It Is and How to Get There (2026)

Newark Airport to Times Square is about 15 to 17 miles by road. Late at night the drive takes 30 to 40 minutes. At rush hour it can take 90. The cheapest way is the AirTrain plus an NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station, then a short walk or subway ride. That costs $17.25 and takes about an hour from the terminal.

Our office books rides out of Newark every day, so we know the terminals, where cars can pick you up and how tunnel traffic changes this trip. This guide is for first-time visitors heading to a Broadway show, business travelers going to Midtown offices, and families landing with luggage and car seats.

How Far Is Newark Airport from Times Square?

Newark Airport is about 15 to 17 miles from Times Square by road, depending on the route. Most drivers take the New Jersey Turnpike to the Lincoln Tunnel, which comes out on the west side of Midtown, a few blocks from Times Square. When the Lincoln Tunnel backs up, some drivers use the Holland Tunnel and drive up the West Side.

Newark Liberty International Airport goes by the code EWR, which you’ll see on your boarding pass and in ride apps. EWR has three terminals, A, B and C, linked by the AirTrain. The trip from EWR to Times Square is the same from each one, but where you get picked up is not. Taxis wait outside arrivals at every terminal, Uber and Lyft use marked pickup areas, and the Uber Shuttle leaves only from Terminals B and C. With a private car, your chauffeur picks you up at your own terminal.

Traffic sets the drive time:

Watch the names. Newark Airport and the city of Newark are two different places, and Newark Penn Station is a New Jersey stop on the same train line, one stop past the airport. If you take the train, make sure your ticket says New York Penn Station.

Newark Airport to Times Square Options at a Glance

Train from Newark Airport to Times Square

The train is the cheapest way from Newark Airport to Times Square, and it takes the most steps.

AirTrain plus NJ Transit to Penn Station

1. Follow the AirTrain signs in your terminal and ride to the Newark Liberty International Airport station.
2. Buy an NJ Transit ticket to New York Penn Station. An adult ticket is $17.25, and the AirTrain fee is already included. You can buy it in the NJ Transit app or at the machines.
3. Board any train headed to New York Penn Station. The ride takes about 30 minutes.

Penn Station to Times Square

Times Square is about 8 blocks north of Penn Station. You can walk it in 15 minutes, or take the 1, 2 or 3 subway one stop to Times Square-42nd Street. With heavy bags, Penn Station’s stairs and crowds make either choice harder. NJ Transit trains stop below street level, so you carry your bags up escalators or stairs to reach the street or the subway. Too many bags for Penn Station? See your price for a private car.

Is There a Subway from Newark Airport?

No. The New York City subway does not reach Newark Airport. You need the AirTrain and an NJ Transit train first. You can switch to the subway at Penn Station.

Newark Airport Express Bus to Times Square

The Newark Airport Express is a Coach USA bus that goes from the terminals to three stops in Midtown: Port Authority Bus Terminal (41st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), Bryant Park (42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) and Grand Central (41st Street between Park and Lexington Avenues). Port Authority is the closest stop to Times Square, about a five-minute walk.

A one-way ticket is $23.50, or $39.50 round trip. The ride takes about 50 minutes without heavy traffic. Check the current schedule before you fly, especially for a late-night arrival.

Shared Shuttles from Newark to Times Square

Uber offers a shared Uber Shuttle from Newark, with pickups at Terminals B and C. Its Times Square route stops in the Theater District and at Times Square (46th Street and 7th Avenue, in front of the Disney Store). You book a seat in the Uber app, and the price shows there. It costs less than a private ride. In return, you share the van, leave on a set schedule and sit through other riders’ stops.

Gotham Ride does not offer shared shuttles. Every ride is private, for your group only.

Taxi from Newark Airport to Times Square

Newark taxis charge flat fares by zone. Times Square sits in Zone 2 (West 14th Street to West 50th Street), where the base fare is $65. Extras go on top:

• $2 airport access fee on every trip
• $10 rush-hour surcharge, weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 8 p.m., and weekends noon to 9 p.m.
• Tolls, Manhattan congestion pricing and other fees, which the airport puts at $6.75 to $15.75 depending on the time and where you’re going
• $1 per bag, carry-ons included
• Tip

Add it up and a taxi to Times Square usually comes to about $85 to $115. Land on a weekday between 3 and 8 p.m. and the $10 rush-hour charge applies, right when Lincoln Tunnel traffic is at its worst. Get in line at the taxi stand outside arrivals and take your receipt from the attendant. The full fee list is on the Newark Airport taxi page.

Uber and Lyft from Newark Airport to Times Square

Uber lists the average Newark to Times Square trip at about $80 and 50 minutes. When several flights land at once, or it rains, surge pricing can push your fare past $100.

Uber and Lyft drivers pick you up in marked areas, not at the arrivals door, so expect a walk with your bags. Lyft prices are close to Uber’s.

Private Car Service from Newark Airport to Times Square

With a private car, you book ahead and get one price for the whole ride. We lock that price when you book, so traffic, rain and busy hours don’t change it. Tolls, the Manhattan congestion fee and the chauffeur’s tip are all included.

Every ride from Newark includes:

• Real-time flight tracking, so your chauffeur adjusts to an early or late landing
• 60 minutes of complimentary wait time on airport arrivals, on domestic and international flights alike
• Meet and greet inside the terminal, complimentary on most vehicles
• Complimentary child seats and boosters. Give us each child’s age and weight at booking and the seat is installed before the car reaches you.
• Wi-Fi and bottled water in every vehicle
• Drop-off at your hotel door, or the closest spot a car can stop, since parts of Times Square are closed to cars

Flying in with young children? Our car service with car seats costs nothing extra. We install rear-facing infant seats, convertible seats or boosters, matched to each child’s age and weight. A sedan fits one seat, and an SUV, Escalade or Sprinter fits two. Need a third seat, or bringing your own? Call or text the office and we’ll set it up. Airport taxis don’t come with car seats, which is why so many parents book ahead. Our guide to New York car seat rules explains the law.

Pick the vehicle that fits your group from our vehicle fleet:

• Business Class Sedan: up to 3 passengers and 2 bags
• Business SUV: up to 6 passengers and 5 bags
• Cadillac Escalade Premium: up to 6 passengers and 6 bags
• Business Sprinter Van: up to 14 passengers and 15 bags, a good fit for families traveling together and corporate teams.

Traveling with 7 to 14 people? Our Sprinter van service keeps your whole group in one vehicle with room for 15 bags, so nobody waits at the curb for a second car. Airport groups, corporate teams and wedding parties book it most. Leather seats come standard. Book a few days ahead when you can, because Sprinters fill up first.

For a special night out, we can also arrange a stretch limousine.

We’ve been driving New York travelers since 2010. For more on airport pickups, see our page on car service from Newark Airport.

Newark Airport to Midtown Manhattan

If you’re staying elsewhere in Midtown, the same options work. Hotels and offices on the West Side, from Hudson Yards to the Theater District, are the quickest to reach from the Lincoln Tunnel. East Side addresses near Grand Central or Park Avenue add crosstown traffic at busy times. Taxis also add a $5 surcharge for East Side drop-offs. Times Square itself is busiest before Broadway curtains at 7 and 8 p.m., when the side streets from 44th to 47th Street fill with show traffic. If you land late in the afternoon with show tickets, leave extra time to check in first. Going farther downtown or uptown? Our Newark Airport to Manhattan guide covers the rest of the island.

Which Option Fits Your Trip?

• First-time visitor with one carry-on: the train is cheap and easy if you’re comfortable with a transfer at Penn Station.
• Business traveler: a private car. You can take calls on the way, the price is set ahead of time, and the receipt is ready for your expense report.
• Family with kids and luggage: a private car with car seats installed before you land, so you skip hauling strollers through Penn Station.
• Group of 5 or more: one SUV or Sprinter van keeps everyone together and fits all the bags, with no second taxi to find.
• Late-night arrival: a private car or taxi. Trains and buses come less often late at night, and a chauffeur who tracks your flight will still be there if you land late.

Times Square to Newark Airport: Going Back

The trip back is the same distance, but evening traffic to the Lincoln Tunnel is heavy, especially on weekdays from 3 to 8 p.m. For a domestic flight at rush hour, plan to leave Times Square about 3 hours before departure. For an international flight, leave a little earlier.

The train works in reverse: walk or take the subway to New York Penn Station, then ride NJ Transit to the Newark Airport station and the AirTrain to your terminal. With a private car, your chauffeur picks you up at your hotel and waits up to 15 minutes at no charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a trip from another airport? See our LaGuardia to Times Square guide or the JFK vs LaGuardia vs Newark comparison. Ready to go? See your price and book online, or call or text (212) 763-7722. Need just a ride one way? See our one-way rides.