Newark Airport to Red Roof, Seacaucus

This post is for a friend coming in for the Sky Art Kite Festival in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ on Memorial Day Weekend, 2017.

EWR (Newark, NJ) is a large, international, airport. The good news is that access roads within the airport are arranged in a circle. All roads in the circle converge in to two main roads to leave the airport.

Big picture: The objective is to get out of the airport, on to I-78 East, then on to I-95 (NJT) North.

Short version, in the beginning, follow the signs for "NY via TURNPIKE". These will be rights or lefts depending which road is used to get out of the airport. The two roads run right next to each other, and pretty much go to the same place, but do different things to get there.

Before you have even left the vicinity of the airport, the signs will change...The sign below is at the west edge of the airport. Follow "East 78, 95, NJT - Holland Tunnel - New York City"

If you have been on the Arrivals/Departures (right) road out of the airport, you will be greeted with the sign below before you get to the first Big Road (I-78).

If you have wiggled, and wriggled, and held your breath and crossed your fingers, you have made it to I-78 East towards to Holland Tunnel. Don't blink, and you will be approaching a Toll Booth. Notice the EZ-Pass sign in the pic below.

Beyond the Toll Booth, the road splits in to 3. You will need to be in the middle of the road, to choose the middle of 3 possible options.

Below is a pic of the Toll as you approach it. Notice that there is no sign over the booth farthest to the right. That booth either has a person, or a device that will offer a Toll Ticket when you stop. If it was me, I would opt for the lane that the black car is using, screen left below.

The Purple over White signs are EZ-Pass Only signs with two yellow flashing lights. Do not use these unless your vehicle is EZ-Pass equipped.

Just past the Toll Booth, you will need to bear right, then keep left, for I-95, New Jersey Turnpike, North. See sign below: You want 95 North - NJ Turnpike North.

TMI: If you miss this turn, and stay left on I-78 East, no worries! Just stay on it and get off on Exit 14B. Go through the Toll Booth, turn left, and it runs straight in to the Park. But I am guessing that you want to go to the hotel...

So, before I rudely interrupted (SQUIRREL!!!) we were getting on to the NJ Turnpike North. Um,we ain't there yet. It is a couple of miles yet until we are actually on the Big Road. Below is a little 'local color' to let you know you are heading the right way. Notice that there are 3 separate multi-lane roadways going north...

When you pass the sign below, it is for the other road. Yours is coming up...

Just when you thought it was safe.... I hate this crap, don't you? Here we are, strangers in a strange land, on a strange road, and at a fork in the road, we are offered 2 options, and we don't want either one...

Short version: Keep right for George Washington Bridge. Don't worry. I don't even let the people who don't like me use the GW Bridge. [shudder]

If you get to a point where you see the beautiful visage below, you are doing everything right.

The other interstate over there on the right is the Express version of I-95 that goes to New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel. If you are over here and not over there, life is good. Just keep doing what you are doing until Exit 16W. For whatever it mi9ght be worth, the toll rates should be printed on the Toll Ticket, I think it will be $2.15, but someone could check the ticket to be sure...

Exit 16W looks like this:

The Exit bends around and comes to a Toll Booth.

Choose a lane with a green light and NOT an EZ-Pass only. Hand them your ticket and the toll should be $2.15. Once clear of the toll, keep to the right for Rte 3 East.