For all the reasons that Hoboken + Jersey City are amazing, it can be overwhelming living in places of such abundance. Here at Team HG, we believe the key to city life is working smarter, not harder. Over the years, we’ve discovered little tricks of the trade that have become local lifesavers: which weekly specials to take advantage of, which roads to avoid at which times, and how to navigate the grocery store like a pro. We’d never keep a secret, so we asked our editors: what’s a Hoboken or Jersey City hack you live by? Keep reading to see our answers.
Staying in town on holiday weekends.
“It’s not a hack perse, but spending holiday weekends IN town (instead of escaping) is elite. You get to enjoy reservations at any hard-to-secure restaurant you like most of the time, and parking spots abound. It’s also super relaxing, and even more fun with fewer crowds.” — Jen Tripucka, Founder
The rewards programs at local coffee shops.
“If you are someone that goes out to coffee frequently (guilty), sign up for the rewards programs! Almost every local coffee shop has one and you literally just have to put in your phone number. It requires minimal effort and there isn’t a better way to start your day than with a surprise free treat.” — Danielle Farina, Social Media Manager
Read More: Best Date Night Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City? HG Editors Share Their Faves
Weekday specials at local nail salons.
“I LOVE a weekday nail salon special. There are so many good ones in Hoboken and getting a mid-week mani/pedi feels like an extra special treat.” — Joelle Hernandez, Contributor + Volunteer Coordinator
The secret running hill near Trader Joe’s.
“As a fairly new outdoor runner training for the NYC Marathon, I haven’t found too many great hills in Hoboken to practice on. My hack is to run the hill next to Trader Joes several times. There is a super safe pedestrian lane with fellow runners and walkers.” — Jordan Hernandez, Contributor + Volunteer Coordinator
Taking the backroads.
“Whenever I come into Hoboken, I never take 495 to Park Avenue. I always take the backroads. I am a JFK Boulevard kind of girl, which cuts down Paterson Plank Road by Washington Park in the Heights. It’s usually much easier that way but I’ll always ask Waze before driving in.” — Danielle Lynch, Freelance Writer
Ordering takeout directly from restaurants.
“Ordering direct when I order takeout. It’s always cheaper and IF the restaurant misses something or there’s a mistake, I feel so much better calling the restaurant versus submitting a ticket to Uber Eats and getting my money back while probably making the restaurant lose money. I know ordering directly is better for the restaurant community, from the mouths of business owners!” — Nicole Gittleman, Contributor
Weekday morning grocery shopping.
“Grocery shopping on weekday mornings after dropping off the kids at school is the best. Stores are usually quiet and not too busy, which makes shopping a breeze!” — Elena Gergis, Freelance Writer
“If I’m not at Trader Joe’s before 10AM on Saturday or Sunday it’s best to wait for a weekday. Not only will you have to wait to park if you drive, but the lines inside and the crowds are a no-go for me – plus due to high demand they are often out of what I need so I find it best to wait until Monday, or even Tuesday.” – Heather Rafanello, Contributor
See More: 8 Christmas-Themed Activities in New Jersey
Traveling near the waterfront.
“My favorite Jersey City hack has to be traveling everywhere on the waterfront. It’s a scenic view, and you get to avoid the crowds on the street.” — Via Rutkowski, Editorial Assistant
“I’m a runner, so being able to run along the boardwalk — you get the city views, you get less crowds, there’s no cars, no traffic. Maybe less excuses to stop [and take a break], but it still makes for a really good run.” — Erin Lanahan, Freelance Writer
Cinnamon rolls at The Hive’s Jersey City location.
“I feel like I’m giving away my secrets, but my favorite local hack is that the lines for cinnamon rolls are a lot shorter at The Hive in Jersey City than they are in Hoboken.” — Risha Jagadish, Freelance Writer
Hoboken PATH Closing for 25 Days: Alternative Travel Options During the Closure
On October 31st, 2024, Hoboken residents received the news that Hoboken’s PATH station, located at 1 Hudson Place, will close to complete critical track and switch upgrades. The station rehabilitation work is a part of the two-year PATH Forward program. Closures will take place from late evening on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through early morning on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 — leaving some commuters in a tough position to find other travel options. But not to worry — we’ve rounded up a list of travel alternatives to help locals plan ahead and make the most of the impending PATH closure. Read on for a list of alternative travel tips commuters can take advantage of during the 2025 Hoboken PATH closure.
Travel Alternatives During the Closure
If there’s one thing we know about Hoboken residents, it’s that we’re savvy and adaptable. And while we may not love these changes, there are plenty of travel alternatives we can take advantage of during the PATH closure. Travel alternatives will include expanded + discounted ferry service, frequent shuttle buses to other PATH stations, and supplemental PATH, light rail, and NJ TRANSIT bus service between Hoboken and Manhattan. PANYNJ noted that customers still may experience crowding and lines, and encouraged travelers to consider making alternative arrangements around work hours and locations if possible. All alternative travel options will also be ADA-accessible.
Read More: How Hoboken’s Lackawanna Train Station Changed Transportation Around the World
Cross-Honored Ferry Service
If you’ve never taken the ferry from Hoboken to NYC, consider a Hudson River-style commute. The positive: traveling by ferry is much more peaceful than a crowded PATH train.
The following alternatives will be available during the planned closure:
- Additional peak period service departing every 10 minutes from the PATH/NJ TRANSIT station terminal, with service to Manhattan’s Brookfield Place/Battery Park City terminal and Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Expanded NY Waterway crosstown bus service from Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Extended operating hours until 10PM on weekdays and 12AM on weekends at both Hoboken terminals.
- Additional weekend route, providing service to Midtown/West 39th Street from both Hoboken terminals.
- Reduced fares of $3.
Here's the weekday and weekend ferry schedule from 14th Street in Hoboken to Midtown/W39th Street.
Here's the weekday and ferry schedule from 14th Street in Hoboken to Brookfield Place/Battery Park City.
Here's the weekday and weekend ferry schedule from Hoboken/NJ Transit Terminal to Brookfield Place/Battery Park City.
Here's the weekday ferry schedule from 14th Street in Hoboken to Manhattan Pier 11/Wall Street.
Here's the weekday ferry schedule from Hoboken/NJ Transit Terminal to Manhattan Pier 11/Wall Street.
Note that while Hoboken locals were under the impression that both the PATH/NJ TRANSIT station terminal and the 14th Street Ferry Terminal would run every 10 minutes to accommodate for the closure, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher notified residents via email on January 30th that there are not as many additional ferries on the schedule as previously stated. Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher has assured Hobokenites that she will be at the station over the next few days “answering questions, monitoring the situation, and continuing to push for better service,” as per her email.
Free PATH Shuttle Bus Service
PANYNJ will be providing a FREE (yes, free) PATH shuttle bus service to connect Hoboken riders to continuing PATH service. The buses will drop residents off at the Newport and Exchange Place stations in Jersey City.
NJ TRANSIT Bus Service
The 126 NJ TRANSIT bus travels between Hoboken/Jersey City and NYC, and is another option for locals looking for alternative travel routes. The full schedule for each stop can be found here.
Light Rail
The Light Rail is an affordable way to travel through Hoboken and Jersey City with ease — plus, you don’t have to go underground, underwater, or get stuck in traffic. Another alternative travel option for Hoboken residents can be taking the Light Rail from their favorite Hoboken station (2nd Street, 9th Street/Congress Street, or Hoboken Terminal) and getting dropped off at one of the following PATH Stations in Jersey City.
- Pavonia/Newport/Harsimus Cove stops to take a short walk to the Newport PATH Station to get to 33rd Street in Manhattan
- Harborside Financial Center/Essex Street/Exchange Place stops to take a short walk to the Exchange Place PATH to get to the World Trade Center or the Paulus Hook Ferry
- Jersey Avenue/Marin Boulevard stops to walk to the Grove Street PATH Station to get to 33rd Street in Manhattan
Ride-Share Services
One of the greatest hacks for NJ to NYC travel is scheduling a ride-share service in advance. Scheduling the night before or even hours prior can save riders tens of dollars. The price is locked in and the drivers are already aware of your destination, so no last-minute cancellations when your driver finds out you’re heading to NYC (we’ve all been there).
Pro tip: Don’t forget to schedule your return trip too!
- Uber allows app users to schedule rides up to 90 days in advance. Riders can also cancel the reservation up to one hour before pick-up.
- Lyft allows app users to schedule rides up to 30 days in advance. Riders can cancel reservations up to one hour before pick-up. As of April 9th, 2024 Lyft rolled out an “On-time Pick Up Promise” for scheduled rides. Riders will be compensated in Lyft credits if your rider is late or doesn’t show up.
- Revel is a Brooklyn-based ride-share service powered by electric cars that travels between NJ and NYC. App users can schedule a ride up to seven days in advance and can be canceled up to 20 minutes before pick-up time. Note that Revel does not have as many drivers as Uber and Lyft so availability might be limited.
Drive
While we may be stating the obvious here, residents with cars can also drive directly into NYC to avoid multiple layers of commuting. While driving into the city comes with its own headaches, we’ve created a list of secret entrances and exits from NYC to Hoboken to make braving the city traffic a little less stressful. Read more here.
Keep in mind that the New Jersey-bound tube of the Holland Tunnel closes frequently from 11PM to 5:30AM — which will continue through the end of 2025 due to ongoing repairs related to Super Storm Sandy. More details on the repairs and closure can be found here.
More About The Closure
The PANYNJ announced via a press release on Thursday, October 31st that the Hoboken PATH station will be closed from 11:59PM on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through 5AM on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, as part of the agency’s two-year, $430 million PATH Forward program that will see the rehabilitation of four major stations: Hoboken, Grove Street, Newport, and Exchange Place.
During the closure, the Port Authority will carry out critical safety repairs and improvements across several elements of the 116-year-old system. The full station closure enables the PANYNJ to complete track and station work on an expedited basis that would otherwise necessitate severe schedule reductions and service suspensions repetitively over a prolonged period.
- Replacement of Hoboken Interlocking + tracks: PATH will replace in-station tracks and the Hoboken Interlocking, the intricate system of tracks and switches that allows all service from two tunnels to access three tracks at the Hoboken station. The press release noted that without the continuous 25-day outage, this work by itself would require four complete weekend shutdowns due to the scale and location of the interlocking, and an additional 50 consecutive days of significantly reduced service levels in and out of Hoboken due to the reduction in station track capacity required to maintain safe operations during the construction.
- Track repair + maintenance work: PATH will repair 4,500 linear feet of track in the two tunnels leading into the station. The continuous 25-day outage prevents a full year of weekend service reductions that would otherwise be required to complete the work.
- Restoration of passenger infrastructure: PATH will replace the concrete walking surfaces in public areas throughout the station and replace four staircases between the station’s mezzanine and platform levels. Performing the most disruptive work during the outage will reduce a 28-weekend timeline of disruption to customers (selective closures, rerouting of passengers, etc.) at Hoboken. The Port Authority coordinated the rehabilitation with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission.
The PANYNJ noted that outside consultants and experts identified the full station closure as the best option to simultaneously complete the three projects, and planned the closure for a time of year that traditionally sees lower daily ridership levels.
See More: The Best Commuter Towns in Bergen County, New Jersey
To stay up to date, riders are strongly encouraged to use the RidePATH app, visit the project site specific to the Hoboken closure, visit the PATH Forward website for information on the overall PATH Forward program, sign up for alerts, and follow PATH on social media.
More details about the upcoming Hoboken PATH closure can be found in our article here, and on the City of Hoboken's website here.
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