Getting from the theater district to Newark Airport

[Kitsune]

I have an upcoming weekend trip to New York to see the Scarlet Pimpernel concert. I'm doing most of my stay at Pod 51, and have a 9 AM flight out of Newark on Tuesday the 19th.

One option would be to check out of Pod 51 on Monday the 18th, store my bags somewhere, catch the Newark Airport Express after The Scarlet Pimpernel gets out (likely 10:30 PM-ish), and then book a hotel near Newark airport. However, the last time I did this I remember that the location of the Newark Airport Express at Penn was NOT clearly labeled, and we ended up wandering around a sketchy area late at night.

My other option would be to stay one more night at Pod 51 (which is currently cheap), and take the 5 AM Northeast Corridor train out of Penn Station towards Newark Airport. That would get me there around 6 AM, three hours before my flight. 

I'm leaning towards the second option, but am I missing anything, seasoned travelers/New Yorkers?

[adam.peterson44]

The Newark Airport Express bus doesn't leave from Penn Station - hence why there wouldn't be any signs around Penn station for it.  It leaves from the Port Authority.  More specifically, it leaves from 41st St. between 8th and 9th avenues, closer to 8th (from the curb by the north side of the street).    Either the Newark Airport Express bus or the NJ Transit train from Penn Station should be fine for traveling there in the morning and arriving by 6am.  The former is closer to 51st st, so should take less time to walk to the bus stop from your hotel, and you wouldn't have to do the transfer that is needed to go from the NJT train to the airport monorail train, so it's a bit easier and faster in that way as well. 

[Wick3]

I've taken the Newark Airport express bus several times and I don't think it ever stopped at Penn station (its stops in Manhattan are Port Authority, 42nd & 6th Av Bryant Park, and Grand Central.)

If I were you I'd take the second option. Don't be afraid to take Newark Airport express bus at Port Authority (the stop going to EWR airport is on 41st street and 8th avenue (NW corner).

[Kitsune]

Yes, you're right, it's obviously Port Authority, and I was just remembering wrong. (If you can't tell, the last time I took the Newark Airport Express was two years ago!!!)

I think I'm going to just stay another night at Pod 51 then. It'll be a really early morning, but I'd rather do that than figure out how to get to Newark late at night.

[RWPrincess]

I agree about taking the bus instead of the train. They usually go right up to the terminal rather than needing to change from one train to another. If you do decide to take the train anyway, definitely do NJ Transit instead of Amtrak. You'll have more options and it will likely be cheaper.

[JBC3]

[herewegoabc]

I don't think that affects the Newark Airport Express. I took it pretty early a couple of weeks ago.

[Robbie2]

Kitsune said: "Yes, you're right, it's obviously Port Authority, and I was just remembering wrong. (If you can't tell, the last time I took the Newark Airport Express was two years ago!!!)

I think I'm going to just stay another night at Pod 51 then. It'll be a really early morning, but I'd rather do that than figure out how to get to Newark late at night."

 

Smart idea and traffic that time leaving the city is not bad at all. It should take you 30 -45 minutes but you never know pending weather, traffic-accident...you should have more than enough time to hang before your early morning flight but that's the busiest time at  ewr!

[JBC3]