Washington Deluxe runs buses two to three times a day in each direction for less than half the price of Greyhound ($20 one way, $35 round trip). Buses depart from 1015 15th St. NW and 441 New Jersey Ave. NW and stop at 303 W. 34th St. near Penn Station and several places in Brooklyn. Walk-ons welcome but those with confirmation numbers get priority. Details: 866-BUS-NYDC, www.washny.com.
For Chinatown to Chinatown service, Dragon Express leaves from 610 I St. NW and arrives at 88 E. Broadway (four blocks from the East Broadway stop on the F train). Purchase tickets ($20 one way, $35 round trip) at www.ivymedia.com/washingtondc; show your confirmation printout at the office and you'll get an assigned seat number.
TRAIN: On Amtrak, the Acela Express high-speed train covers the distance from Washington's Union Station to New York's Penn Station in 2 1/2 hours; one-way fares are $157 for business class. The three-hour trip on the Metroliner starts at $128 one way in business class. Fares for regional service (about 31/2 hours in less-cushy cars) start at $72 one way. Info: 800-872-7245, www.amtrak .com.
CAR: It takes about 41/2 hours to cover the 238 miles from the Beltway to New York. Tolls run almost $20 each way, not including whatever crossing you use into Manhattan; E-ZPass can save up to 75 cents per toll. Hotel parking is at least $20 a day, while garages and lots run $30 and up. Consider parking in northern New Jersey and taking a train or ferry to Manhattan:
D Trains from Metropark. New Jersey Transit's Metropark station is convenient to the New Jersey Turnpike and has ample parking. Follow the turnpike north to Exit 11 (Garden State Parkway north). Drive about two miles to Exit 131A for Metropark (located in Iselin).
Follow the signs to the parking lots; it's $6 for every 24 hours. From there, take a New Jersey Transit train into New York (30 to 50 minutes, $6.70 one way during peak hours, $10.25 off-peak round trip). Warning: There's a $5 surcharge for purchasing tickets onboard if platform vending machines or ticket offices are available. Amtrak also stops at Metropark, but it's more expensive. Details: parking, 732-906-1661; New Jersey Transit, 800-626-RIDE, www.njtransit.com.
D Trains from Hoboken . Light-rail PATH trains operate from Hoboken -- the last exit in New Jersey before the Lincoln Tunnel -- to 33rd Street in Manhattan; commute time is less than 15 minutes and costs $1.50 each way. Trains run seven days a week. Parking available. See directions to Hoboken below. Details: 800-234-PATH, www.panynj.gov /path/index.html.
D Ferry service. NY Waterway operates ferries from Hoboken and Weehawken, N.J., to many points in Manhattan. The ferries from Port Imperial in Weehawken and the 13th Street Pier in Hoboken take less than 10 minutes to go to midtown Manhattan (West 38th Street) and cost $5 each way; Weehawken to Pier 11 at Wall Street takes 15 minutes and costs $7 each way (weekday service only). Limited metered parking available; lots are $8 per day. Free shuttle bus connections to other points in Manhattan are available. Details: 800-533-3779, www.nywaterway.com.
Directions to Hoboken: Take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 16-E. Follow signs to the Lincoln Tunnel but exit at Weehawken. Stay to the right of the ramp and follow Boulevard East. Take a left on 14th Street. Take a right on Washington Street and follow to the end. Take a left on Observer Highway. Drive one block and make a left, then right onto Hudson Place. For the ferries, after making a left on 14th Street, go through three lights and turn right on Constitution Court. The ferry terminal is about one block on the left.
Directions to Weehawken: Take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 16-E. Follow signs to exit at Weehawken. Stay to the right of the ramp and continue through the traffic light and bear right. At the traffic light (Baldwin Avenue) near the Lincoln Tunnel, take a left. Proceed over train tracks and make an immediate left. Follow the road to ferry terminal.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has comprehensive airport, bus, train and ferry info on its Web site, www.panynj.gov. Or call 212-435-7000.
-- Anne McDonough
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