Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Here's how to get from the Washington area to New York.

PLANE: Many carriers offer service from the D.C. area airports to Newark, LaGuardia and JFK, starting at about $103 round trip, with restrictions. Here's how to get into town:

* From JFK (718-244-4444, http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/kennedy.html). Taxi fare for the 15-mile, 40- to 60-minute trip to Manhattan costs $45 plus tolls (about $4) and tip. (From Manhattan to the airport, the cost is metered fare plus tolls/tip.) For $5 the AirTrain JFK takes you to the Long Island Rail Road and the E and J/Z subway at Jamaica station or the A subway at the Howard Beach station, from which it's a 60- to 75-minute ride to midtown. MetroCard, the electronic fare card used for subways and buses, is $2 per ride and available at the airport and subway stations. Info: 718-330-1234, http://www.mta.info/nyct.

New York Airport Service Express Bus (718-875-8200, http://www.nyairportservice.com) runs between JFK and Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority and Penn Station; the 50- to 70-minute ride is $15 one way, $27 round trip. SuperShuttle (800-451-0455, http://www.supershuttle.com) leaves every 15 to 20 minutes and is $17-$19 one way. Airlink shared-ride van (877-599-8200, http://www.airlinknyc.com) is $17 to midtown.

* From LaGuardia (718-533-3400 or 800-247-7433, http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/laguardia.html. Taxi fare for the eight-mile, 30- to 45-minute trip costs $24-$28, plus tolls ($4.50) and tip.

SuperShuttle charges $15-$17 to Manhattan. For the 40- to 60-minute ride, New York Airport Service Express Bus charges $12 one way, $21 round trip between LaGuardia and Grand Central, Port Authority and Penn Station.

Airlink shared van is $15 to midtown.

* From Newark (973-961-6000, http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/newarkliberty.html. Taxi fare for the 16-mile, 45- to 60-minute trip is $69-$75 plus $15 surcharge and tolls (about $10) and tip.

The Olympia Newark Liberty Airport Express (877-863-9275, http://www.coachusa.com/olympia) goes to Grand Central Station and Port Authority; the trip takes 45 to 60 minutes and is $14 one way, $23 round trip. SuperShuttle charges $17-$19 to Manhattan.

AirTrain Newark ($5.50) leaves from the gate level and connects to a station where you can access trains to New York's Penn Station (one way on Jersey Transit is $14 and takes 30 minutes; one way on Amtrak is $28 and takes 23 minutes). Info: 800-626-7433, http://www.njtransit.com; 800-872-7245, http://www.amtrak.com.

Airlink shared van is $15 to midtown.

Another option: From Newark's Penn Station, hop a PATH train ($1.50) for the 35-minute ride to 33rd Street in Manhattan via Jersey City. Info: 800-234-7284, http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/path/html, or www.njtransit.com.

BUS: Greyhound (800-231-2222, http://www.greyhound.com) runs to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal (Eighth Avenue and 41st Street) from terminals in the District (1005 First St. NE), Springfield (Franconia-Springfield Metro station), Triangle (18518 Jefferson Davis Hwy.), Woodbridge (Amtrak/Virginia Railway Express station), Silver Spring (8100 Fenton St.), New Carrollton (Amtrak/Metro station), Annapolis (308 Chinquapin Round Rd.) and Frederick (MARC station). The ride takes about 4 1/2 hours. Fares are $37 one way, $69 round trip; $20 one-way tickets available with advance purchase online only.

Peter Pan Bus Lines (800-343-9999, http://www.peterpanbus.com) shares terminals with Greyhound in the District, Silver Spring and New Carrollton. Fares are $37 one way, $69 round trip.

Other companies offer service to New York City's Chinatown and midtown on the West Side. Schedules, locations and tickets can be booked athttp://www.gotobus.com(no phone) for $20 to $25 one way/$35 to $40 round trip, plus a $1 surcharge. Washington Deluxe (866-287-6932, http://www.washny.com) and Vamoose (877-393-2828, http://www.vamoosebus.com) also can be booked on their own sites for no fee.

TRAIN: Amtrak's Acela Express high-speed train goes from Union Station to New York's Penn Station in 2 hours 45 minutes; one-way fares are $123 to $199, plus add $87 each way for first class. Fares for regional service (about 3 1/2 hours in less-cushy cars) range from $67 to $128 one way. Up to two children per paying adult ride for half-fare, except for Acela on weekdays. Info: 800-872-7245, http://www.amtrak.com.

CAR: It takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive the 238 miles from the Beltway to New York. Consider parking in New Jersey and taking a New Jersey Transit or PATH train or a ferry into town.

* Trains from Hoboken. PATH trains operate daily from Hoboken to several stops in Manhattan for $1.50 each way; commute time to West 33rd Street is 14 minutes. Paid parking available nearby. Details: 800-234-7284, http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/path/html.

* Trains from Metropark. The Metropark station is convenient to the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway and offers parking for $5 daily. New Jersey Transit trains along the Northeast Corridor line go directly into Manhattan; the train to Penn Station is $7.25 one way. Amtrak also stops at Metropark en route to Manhattan; from $25 one way.

* Trains from other New Jersey spots. Parking and train service are available at other stops on the Northeast Corridor line. Info: 800-626-7433, http://www.njtransit.com.

* Boats from New Jersey ports. NY Waterway operates ferries from Belford, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken and other ports to points in Manhattan (seehttp://www.nywaterway.com/ferry/map). Fares start at $6 each way. Metered parking and private lots are available in Hoboken; at Weehawken's Port Imperial parking lot, rates are $7 to $9 daily. Free shuttle buses connect to points in Manhattan. Info: 800-533-3779, http://www.nywaterway.com.

* New York Water Taxi has weekday commuter routes and, until Oct. 15, hop-on/hop-off service to travel around town; fares start at $5. Info: 212-742-1969, http://www.nywatertaxi.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 212-435-7000, http://www.panynj.gov.

-- Sue Kovach Shuman