Best route to Liberty Harbor RV park

jfkmk wrote:

kevinbti wrote:
You may want to consider an ez pass Its good in OH PA Ny makes life a lot easier when pulling a trailer

Using EZ-Pass may seem like a good idea on the surface, but isn't foolproof! We crossed the Deleware River from NJ into PA pulling our 17' TT. I use EZ-Pass all the time and didn't think it would be an issue until I got my EZ-Pass statement and discovered they charged me $10 more than their fee schedule said they would charge. If you look at the Deleware bridge commission website, they recommend removing your EZ-Pass, putting it in the bag that prevents it from being used, paying cash and getting a receipt! Now that doesn't sound too EZ to me! It took me 4 months and at least half a dozen calls to get my 10 buck back because my EZ-Pass is with the Port Authority instead of the DRTBC.

Not to steal this thread from its topic - we had this same problem crossing the Delaware River from NJ to PA on 78. We were hit with a big charge on the EZ-Pass there on one trip. We protested it and they would not correct it. On our next trip we put the EZ-pass in the mylar bag that is supposed to block it from being read. We paid the dollar toll to the toll taker, got a receipt, and drove on. When we got our EZ-Pass statement we were also charged the dollar on the EZ-Pass - the bag does not do a good job in blocking the pass. It is now four months later and we are still in the process of getting the buck back. It is just a buck but what the DRTBC does is just not right.

Lumpty's route is better than the one I suggested because it is a little shorter and avoids a good bit of the congestion. My route has fewer turns. We always leave Liberty Harbor by the Grand Ave route. Another thing we like about Liberty Harbor is riding our bikes to Liberty State Park and the Jersey City waterfront.

I'm a north Jersey local, and posted this up over the summer responding to a similar question:

There is some construction getting finished up the last few miles of I-78 from the Garden State Parkway to just before the NJ Turnpike Entrance Toll Plaza, so make sure to bear left for the Express lanes that split off at about MP 48. From there, straight through onto the Newark Bay Extension of the Turnpike, then get off that at the 2nd exit after the Exit Plaza, IIRC this is signed for "Montgomery Street-Grand Street". After the ramp drops down to grade, you go another block parallel to the Turnpike until there is a u-turn to head back a few blocks to Grand Street, make a left there to head east towards the Hudson River, passing Jersey City Medical Center on the right, then after about 3 more blocks make a right on Marin Blvd., which basically ends at the campground/marina entrance. (the other directions saying take the Turnpike extension all the way towards the Holland drop you right in at all the toll Plaza mayhem, and then a double back south on Marin Blvd.

Either weekends or weekdays between 9:30am and 3pm would be the best times to deal with 78, and that applies all the way from Allentown/Bethlehem, PA to Jersey City.

And it's been pretty well vetted on here before, but the area of Jersey City Liberty Harbor is located might be the highest demographic real estate you've ever camped in. There is a condo high-rise right next door where the units sell for $400,000 to $2,000,000. This is yuppie heaven, and probably close to small town safe.

There is a light rail station in front of that building that will take you easily to the waterfront, and either the PATH subway train or a Ferry to Manhattan.

Go to Google Maps with satellite view turned on and all this shows very well, including how to get into the area and the kind of neighborhood it is.

Question about Croton Park for anyone who knows: how late at night do the trains run? Can you get back from Manhattan after going a play or opera?

As to Liberty Harbor (at least when I was there) there is all-night service subway from Manhattan to Jersey City, and light rail from the subway station to Liberty Harbor until 2am.

Another vote for Croton Park. 50 min train ride down the Hudson River right from the, I believe, County Park to Grand Central Station.

Best time to arrive would be a Sunday morning. Traffic is lightest then. Avoid rush hour Monday to Friday. Perhaps the campground can give you advice on best time to arrive.

From I-80 you can either take Rt 33 south to I-78 in Pennsylvania or stay on I-80 into New Jersey, take I-287 south to Rt. 24 east to I-78. But again, don't drive through New Jersey before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the worst of the traffic.

An alternative is Croton Point Park.

Easy to get to.

An hour north of Grand Central Station.

Low price compared to Liberty Harbor.

Rail station is just outside of the park.

There is only one street going in to the campground...however it sounds like you guys were on a different street than I was.........:?

Getting to Liberty Harbor is not bad at all. yes there are park cars and traffic but nothing to fear. I have had far worse access issues at rural CG's.

We stayed at Liberty Harbor last Independence Day week and had no problem getting in and turning onto Marin Blvd pulling a 35' TT. There were lots and lots of larger rigs that were in the parking lot.

Yes, take I-78 and pay the tolls. They are HIGH!! I think it was about $40 for us - pickup truck pulling a dual wheel 35' trailer. Our neighbor, who had a large 40' DP, pulling a Jeep Cherokee was in the neighborhood of $100. He was livid about the costs.

I don't like NYC, but the DH and DDs LOVE it. Liberty Harbor is by far the easiest and closest place to stay. It's expensive for what it is - a large gravel parking lot with water and electric, but you can be in downtown NYC in about 15 minutes from the park. The water taxi does leave from the harbor, but it is expensive - I believe $7.50/person each way. It's $2.50 into the city per person on the PATH train which takes you to the World Trade Center (WTC) or Times Square (33rd St). Once you are there, you will not have to move your tow vehicle....we walked to the subway, walked to restaurants, etc. It was great.