New York City - Any suggestions?

Barn Owl · February 19, 2011, 07:24:02 PM

For many reasons I don't like going to cities (expensive, and difficult to park a bus near public transportation). My family is doing some arm twisting to visit NYC, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island etc. I have no idea where to even start, what to see, where to park, where to camp, what to avoid, etc. No toad, bus only, so that complicates things a bit. Six children and a tight budget most likely will mean no Broadway shows or anything that one thinks of when you visit NYC. Hopefully you all are getting the idea. Niagara falls will also be in the loop. Fuel prices are getting worrisome. Any help will with this will be greatly appreciated!

thejumpsuitman · February 19, 2011, 07:32:04 PM

I accidentally got stuck in NYC last year with my Dad's motorhome. It was a nightmare! You cannot drive on any of the parkways because of low clearance. I didn't know this and found myself on one because I was lost and was following the GPS. To avoid a low overpass, I had to cross 4 lanes of traffic in about 100 feet on a Friday at 6:00 pm. with a toad! It was probably the scariest driving experience of my life. It also cost $36 just to cross the G. Washington bridge! If you take your bus to NYC you are braver than me! I would NEVER do that again.

How did we accidentally go to NYC? We were headed to New England and my wife was driving. My nephew programmed the GPS and which routed us straight up 95. Everyone who knew better was napping.

Good luck if you go for it.

Marc

Barn Owl · February 19, 2011, 07:53:06 PM

QuoteIf you take your bus to NYC you are braver than me!

I don't think I am going into NYC with the bus, but I want to be close enough to get public transportation into the city.

desi arnaz · February 19, 2011, 08:07:15 PM

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?encType=1&where1=11+Luis+Munoz+Marin+Blvd%2c+Jersey+City%2c+NJ+07302&FORM=MIRE&qpvt=11+Luis+Munoz+Marin+Blvd.+Jersey+City%2c+NJ+07302#JnE9LjExK0x1aXMrTXVub3orTWFyaW4rQmx2ZCUyYytKZXJzZXkrQ2l0eSUyYytOSiswNzMwMiU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj00MC42MTY5NDQ1Nzg5MTk1JTdlLTczLjk5NjgxNTY0Nzc2OTclN2U0MC41ODM4NTY0MTY4Nzc1JTdlLTc0LjAzNjU1NTI1NjUzNDQ=

this place is spitting distance to Ellis island and the statue of liberty and across the river from the former world trade site $55 bucks a night

buswarrior · February 19, 2011, 08:07:30 PM

There's another thread here right now about a campground in Jersey City, you're all set!

oh fooey.

What are you doing driving a large vehicle with an auto GPS? This is exactly one of those few times where it really matters. Use the trucking software.

And what about the signs at every entrance to the parkway saying stay off?

Some nice pics of an H3 45 Prevost buried into a 10 foot overhead on the parkway someplace a few years ago, driven by a stupid countryman of mine. The bridge comes at the passengers at about tummy height...

For some counter point, this Canadian busnut LOVES New York City.

Drive like the devil and no one notices.

Survival of the fittest. They can smell your fear.

The garbage trucks clear the way, cuz, they aren't stopping for the outstretched mirrors on a BMW.

And the coach fits in their broken wake.

If the coach can fit, and you can make it, what fun!

Otherwise, back out and try some other way.

How close to stock does your coach appear? Take the rig into town and boldly go where few busnuts dare to tread.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/buslayoverloc.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/charterbus.shtml#offstreet

Getting to be so few places that one may actually use one's skills for more than a brief minute or two...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

buswarrior · February 19, 2011, 08:16:57 PM

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=19065.0;topicseen

This thread for the campground

happy coaching!
buswarrior

thejumpsuitman · February 20, 2011, 04:54:23 AM

Quote from: buswarrior on February 19, 2011, 08:07:30 PM
There's another thread here right now about a campground in Jersey City, you're all set!

oh fooey.

What are you doing driving a large vehicle with an auto GPS? This is exactly one of those few times where it really matters. Use the trucking software.

And what about the signs at every entrance to the parkway saying stay off?

Some nice pics of an H3 45 Prevost buried into a 10 foot overhead on the parkway someplace a few years ago, driven by a stupid countryman of mine. The bridge comes at the passengers at about tummy height...

For some counter point, this Canadian busnut LOVES New York City.

Drive like the devil and no one notices.

Survival of the fittest. They can smell your fear.

The garbage trucks clear the way, cuz, they aren't stopping for the outstretched mirrors on a BMW.

And the coach fits in their broken wake.

If the coach can fit, and you can make it, what fun!

Otherwise, back out and try some other way.

How close to stock does your coach appear? Take the rig into town and boldly go where few busnuts dare to tread.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/buslayoverloc.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/charterbus.shtml#offstreet

Getting to be so few places that one may actually use one's skills for more than a brief minute or two...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

7 of us in the motorhome and nobody saw any sign. Not saying it wasn't there, but none of us saw it. It took a lady waving us down to find out. My wife was driving and we still don't know how she got off I-95. Had to switch with her on the parkway because she was getting scared. Yes, auto GPS. Didn't know any better back then.

Sorry, driving a 34' motorhome with a 19' trailer in NYC at rush hour on Friday is survival of the stupid, not the fittest. you can keep it. But I guess my skills were sufficient because we got through it.

brando4905 · February 20, 2011, 05:23:55 AM

I've found myself sitting in the GW bridge area traffic more times than I want to remember, and every time I get through it I always say I'll never take that route again. Almost always now I take 287 around and back to 95 to New England. I think it's about 45 miles more, but way quicker than the 2 or 3 hours I've spent trying to take 95 through the edge of town, and 95 is in ROUGH shape in this area.

We have a truckers gps, keeps me off the parkways and UNDER the overpasses, but it still tries to take me through the city on 95. This past summer we were heading up to NE and decided to try 95 one more time, big mistake, and the gps was set to avoid traffic. We found ourselves under the interstate in the Bronx dodging concrete pillars! No fun, i'll take 287 always from now on.

Couple of years ago we did take the kids into the city, but we parked in Patterson and rode in on a bus that still had all of it's seats!

busnut104 · February 20, 2011, 06:05:49 AM

Years back I drove truck into NYC, is all I can say is that I hope that I never have to go there again, My wife and son took a bus trip in a few years back and wanted me to go. The answer was no thanks. I think the best thing that could happen there is that it would brake off and float out to sea and sink. Of course I would remove most of the people first, but that does exclude the gangs and drug dealers, and the mob. Then again I guess there is already a enough pollution in the sea.

travelingfools · February 20, 2011, 06:44:30 AM

when are you going to be in the Niagara Falls area ?

neverlearn · February 20, 2011, 08:28:23 AM

My Parents live on Long Island and I took my MC5 to visit once. It was a good trip. I paid attention to the signs which required some ad-hoc modification to my carefully planned routing. For me, I was able to park in my Parents driveway and use one of their cars for local driving. If you have a toad, or don't mind renting a car I would recommend a campground surrounding NYC. If don't mind doing it, I highly recommend leaving the car behind and use public transportation in NYC. I do know that a few of the beaches on Long Island have RV slips (My Dad likes to camp a Nickerson beach for a few weeks during the summer). I don't have any info on campgrounds in NJ or north of NYC in NY.

Len Silva · February 20, 2011, 08:52:18 AM

Check out RV Park Reviews http://www.rvparkreviews.com/search.php

Van · February 20, 2011, 09:52:54 AM

http://blog.rv.net/2009/05/video-rv-camping-in-new-york-city/

Ednj · February 20, 2011, 07:56:10 PM

Just go to liberty state park in New Jersey = http://www.libertystatepark.org/ exit 14B off the NJ turnpike (95).
Take the ferry into the city and to the statue and to Ellis Island.
I'm pretty sure they have camping right there in liberty marina $5.00 a day.

http://www.newjerseycamper.com/14528.html
Area Campgrounds
Liberty Harbor Marina
11 Marin Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ

Barn Owl · February 20, 2011, 08:22:07 PM

Quotewhen are you going to be in the Niagara Falls area ?

No exact date set at this time but sometime possibly in July.

QuoteI'm pretty sure they have camping right there in liberty marina $5.00 a day.

If that is true, it is the last place on earth that offers camping that cheep, and near NYC is even more amazing. I haven't had time to check it out but I will. Thanks

Lots of good stuff and ideas I never would have thought about are popping up. This is the stuff I need. Keep the ideas, comments, and links coming. Thanks everyone!