Edison to Manhattan to JFK driving and Parking ideas (Newark: how much, house)

[NJ_Newbie]

I need to pick up four of my friends coming from England for a two-month trip. I am planning to drive my brother's minivan to bring them home with their luggage.

My plan is to drive to work (Manhattan Downtown) in the morning around 6am from Edison, NJ -- Park somewhere within 20 mins from Downtown Manhattan -- take the train to work -- leave work around 3pm and get to my vehicle -- drive to JFK.

Given this itinerary, please provide suggestions for parking. Should I park near Newark Penn Station or go all the way to some place near Holland Tunnel to park?

Thanks in advance for your responses!!

[SafetyDude]

My fiancee always does this drive from Princeton to JFK. we drive on the staten island expwy and belt pkwy to go to JFK.

You could park somewhere in Brooklyn or a bit south towards South Brooklyn which should be an easy train to Manhattan and also easy drive to JFK.

Someone who knows Staten Island/Brooklyn would be able to better guide you.

[NJ_Newbie]

anybody ....who can give some ideas..

thanks in advance..

[BobKovacs]

Why would you want to park in NJ and have to head back to get your car, then cross Manhattan to get to the Belt Parkway during the start of rush hour? Is there a garage near your office in Manhattan that you can park in? Most of the garages have earlybird rates, so it may cost you $35-40 for the day, but it's still better than heading backwards to NJ to get the car.

As a side note, the Belt Parkway will be pretty heavy if you hit it after 4 pm, so leaving directly from your office at 3 will save you alot of time and aggravation- even if it means sitting at the airport for a while waiting for the flight to arrive.

[NJ_Newbie]

Thanks Bob, for your response.

-How is the commute from Middlesex county to Manhattan in the morning?

-How much is the toll to get to Manhattan?

I don't mind a few additional bucks, as long as my vehicle is parked in a safe garage.

Based on Bob's response, I may decide to leave home at 630am, drive to Manhattan in the morning, park there, and drive to the airport at 3pm.

Thanks in advance.

[BobKovacs]

If you're heading in from Middlesex County, I'd leave the house at 5:30- if you do that, you'll cruise right up the Turnpike, across the extension and through the Holland Tunnel, getting to your office by around 6:30. Leaving at 6:30, you're likely to spend 20-30 minutes crawling along the Turnpike extension and through the tunnel, and may not get to the office until after 8:00. I believe the tunnel tolls recently were raised to $8.00.

[NJ_Newbie]

I will heed your advice and leave home at 5:30 and try and get to office in Manhattan by around 6:30.
I will research on parking garages in Manhattan nearby my office.

Thanks again....