Getting stuck on the 495 exit of Weehawken to Hoboken is something that newbies experience — and insiders know all too well. What we are about to share will certainly change how commuters get in and out of Hoboken, or if you’re headed out of town for a holiday weekend. Traffic keeps getting worse year after year it seems, but we’re sharing some insider information on getting in and out of the Mile Square. Knowing these back roads will definitely make traveling in and out of Hoboken (and possibly Jersey City/Weehawken) much easier, especially during high-traffic times. Read on to learn about secret ways in and out of Hoboken to help cut down on your drive.
Disclaimer: These streets are always subject to unpredictable traffic and are not guaranteed to be a smooth ride in or out. Don’t come for us, this is a public service announcement!
Getting to Hoboken from New Jersey/Route 3
Take 30th Street Off of 495
Route 495 might seem to be a daunting road to take into Hoboken but there is a relatively easy way to maneuver the traffic here, once you get past the 495 backup getting on, that is. Instead of continuing on 495 and getting caught in helix traffic, get off where the signage says Kennedy Boulevard and continue up the hill (don’t turn right onto the actual Kennedy Boulevard, though!).
Take 30th Street through the lights and onto Hackensack Plank Road, which is another road (but warning: leaving Hoboken and heading onto this road has a residents-only restriction on certain days). After moving downhill, the intersection of 19th Street and Willow Avenue near Hoboken will be on the left.
Read More: Hoboken Street Parking Explained
Take Gregory Avenue
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Sometimes, the JFK Boulevard exit is not accessible or backed up. If this is the case, fear not: navigating through 495 and beyond is still doable without the headache of tunnel traffic. First things first, stay in the middle or left lane on 495. It may seem terrifying, because those two lanes quickly lead into the Lincoln Tunnel, but they are the fastest lanes. Most people who aren’t familiar with the area stay in the right lane, which moves slowly.
After getting off at the Hoboken exit, move to the right lane and take Gregory Avenue to Hackensack Plank Road. It is one of the best-kept secrets of getting into Hoboken, as this road diverts away from the congestion of the Lincoln Tunnel entrance by driving in from the back, leading to the intersection of 19th Street and Willow Avenue.
HG Insider Tip: Gregory Avenue is incredibly narrow so be careful with turns and cars parked.
Route 3 Backed Up? Take 1-9/Tonnelle
For those coming from Route 3 into Hoboken, 495 is usually congested due to the major bridge repair construction and rush hour traffic as the main NYC entryway near the north of Hoboken/Weehawken. Bypass the merging traffic of 495 by exiting on Route 3 and getting onto Route 1-9, also known as Tonnelle Avenue, depending on the direction of travel.
Taking this highway will alleviate traffic congestion and will lead to the southwest end of Hoboken.
Here’s how to do it: Once on 1-9, take the Secaucus Road exit all the way up to Paterson Plank Road. This will eventually lead drivers through The Heights, giving the option of making a left onto the South Wing Viaduct, leading to 14th Street, or a right to continue on Paterson Plank Road, which will lead into the southwest end of Hoboken.
Take River Road/Port Imperial Boulevard
Photo Credit: Google Maps
If entering Hoboken from the north (think: Edgewater, Bergen County areas, 95, etc), River Road/Port Imperial Boulevard will lead into Hoboken during off-peak hours — before 7:30AM, between 10AM, and 2PM, as well as after rush hour.
River Road cuts through many major towns and takes commuters along the Hudson River into Hoboken. River Road, which turns into Port Imperial Boulevard and then into Waterfront Terrace, will eventually lead to 19th Street in Hoboken. There are an abundance of lights, so it can be a bit slow, but it’s definitely the more scenic route.
From Jersey City via New York x Ravine Avenue
Photo Credit: Google Maps
If coming from Jersey City Heights into Hoboken, New York Avenue is a great little passageway that allows drivers to avoid the hectic traffic of the one-way streets in The Heights. It may seem scary to pass through this curvy, hilly road, but it saves a ton of time. It is right off Palisade Avenue and can be a bit confusing. Look for the overpass that looks like a road going nowhere, which is Ravine Avenue. It will lead down and around a windy road that turns into Observer Highway.
Take The Shippen Street Route to Hackensack Plank Road
There’s a (rumored) haunted staircase that is another quick way to get to and from Hoboken — most likely if you’re walking or biking (though cars can drive through as well).
At the end of one of the windiest roads in Weehawken, you can find The Shippen Steps, located at Shippen Street in Weehawken near Union City, with an unusually steep set of stairs that takes you down the Palisades Cliffs and onto Hackensack Plank Road. Please note: You’ll still have to walk in a bit of a congested area and cross the bridge into Hoboken, but it’s a nice quick drive that gets you off the beaten path — plus a bit of history, to boot.
More Walking or Biking to + From Hoboken
Take the Steps or the 9th Street Elevator
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Another way of getting from Hoboken to The Heights or reverse, if on foot, is taking the 100 steps in downtown Hoboken, or the elevator in the westernmost part of Hoboken.
One set of steps is located at Paterson Avenue x Franklin Street in the Heights, and spits you out near the Sky Club area of Hoboken.
The elevator can be found right behind Jackson Street between 8th and 9th Street. Both provide easy access to Jersey City Heights without even stepping foot into a car, train, or bus.
HG Insider Tip: On Sundays in the spring/summer/fall, the Riverview Farmers Market is in full swing, and not too far away.
See More: 11 Amtrak Train Trips via Newark Under 4 Hours
Instead of Taking The Light Rail into Jersey City, Use the Hudson River Walkway
Photo Credit: Google Maps
If a quick escape into Jersey City is on the agenda, look no further than the Hudson River. There is a great little passageway between Downtown Hoboken and Newport, Jersey City and is easily accessible on foot or bike. The walk has stunning views of downtown Manhattan.
In order to access this walkway, go to the Light Rail Station at the Lackawanna Train Station in Hoboken beyond the New Jersey Transit Trains and continue walking on that path along the water. It will eventually lead to Newport.
These are just a few of the best and quickest ways of getting into and out of Hoboken — besides the normal routes.
Remember that many of these streets are the hidden back roads of our cities and are subject to traffic, accidents, and construction, but they are definitely better than the well-known major roads at times.
