Should I Rent a Car in New York City? Planning Your Vacation
First-time visitors may envision the bustling streets with bumper-to-bumper cars and wonder whether they should rent a car in New York City. It can be hard to decide when thinking about what you’d like to see. How far apart are Liberty State Park and Times Square?
Or, maybe you’re there for a specific event. Do you need a car in New York City to explore beyond Comic Con?
New York City Infrastructure
New York City is particularly adept at making it easy to move through the city without a car. The streets follow an east-west, north-south grid with odd and even-numbered buildings in dedicated directions. Subway stations and maps are color-coded, and every building’s address is designed to help you orient your location.
Fall and winter can be cold and rainy while summers are hot and humid. You’ll find that sidewalks are accessible in winter, so bundle up, pack a pair of boots and an umbrella, and then go adventuring with confidence, no matter the weather.
Comparing Vacation Transportation Options in New York City
New York City’s walkability score is 88 out of 100, making it the second most walkable city in the U.S. This walkability score means that, depending on what you want to see, most of your errands and excursions can be tackled on foot with less than a 30-minute walk.
There is an excellent transit system and some bike access to help you get around.
New York City’s transit score is 89. You’ll find transportation options for every need. Access points and routes are frequent and consistent with common needs.
Many of these have accessibility options as well.
New York City is among the top 10 worst cities in the United States to drive in. In many places, the traffic can become so congested that pedestrians beat drivers to their destination. According to research from TomTom.com, it takes an average of 24 minutes to travel six miles in the state of New York.
New York City also has toll roads to navigate and parking concerns. If you rent a car for a vacation in New York City, be sure you know how to deal with these ahead of time.
Bottom Line: Should You Rent a Car in New York City?
Is renting a car a good idea in New York City? It’s possible to go without, but a rental gives you plenty of flexibility to go wherever you want on your schedule. For limited uses, you might consider a rideshare option instead of a longer rental.
Here are other things to take into consideration.
- The general health of your party
- Large groups or young children
- The distance between things you want to see and do
- Your transportation budget
- Your comfort with crowds and unknown situations
- The amount of time you have
If renting a car in New York City is best for you, book a reservation today and explore your options at one of our NYC locations.