Transportation Overview
Getting around Essex County
Essex County is one of New Jersey's most transit-connected counties, with Newark serving as a major rail, bus, light rail, PATH, airport, and highway hub. The county also includes busy commuter corridors through Montclair, Bloomfield, the Caldwells, West Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn, and Fairfield.
The original NJTGO transportation page listed Community Coach, NJ TRANSIT buses, DeCamp Bus Lines, Lakeland Bus, NJ TRANSIT rail, the Montclair-Boonton Line, PATH service, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Essex County Airport. Those resources are preserved here, with current-travel notes added for older listings.
Newark Penn Station
Major rail and PATH gateway for Newark, New York, Jersey City, and regional travel.
Montclair Corridor
Montclair-Boonton Line and bus connections serve Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, and Newark.
Airport Access
Newark Liberty handles commercial air travel; Essex County Airport supports general aviation in Fairfield.
Western Essex
Fairfield, Roseland, Livingston, West Caldwell, and the Caldwells rely heavily on road and bus corridors.
Bus Service
Bus and commuter service
NJ TRANSIT Bus Service
NJ TRANSIT provides the main public bus network for Newark, the Oranges, Bloomfield, Belleville, Montclair, West Orange, Irvington, Livingston, Millburn, South Orange, and other Essex County communities. Use current NJ TRANSIT schedules, MyBus, and alerts before traveling.
Customer service: 973-275-5555
Community Coach / Coach USA
The original NJTGO page included Community Coach for Essex County-to-New York travel. Coach USA continues to list Community Coach as a New Jersey/New York transportation and charter option; riders should verify active stops and schedules before planning a commute.
Operator schedules and ticketing may change.
DeCamp Bus Lines
The original page listed DeCamp routes from Nutley, West Caldwell, Bloomfield/Kearny, West Orange, Roseland, Orange, Harrison, and Wall Street service. Because commuter bus service has changed significantly, this is preserved as a legacy NJTGO listing with a verify-before-travel note.
Use current NJ TRANSIT and operator schedules for active replacements.
Lakeland Bus Service
The original page listed Lakeland Bus service with a Fairfield stop near Hollywood Avenue and Route 46 for New York-bound service. Riders should confirm the current pickup location, fare, and schedule directly with the operator.
Original phone listing: 973-366-0600
Rail Service
NJ TRANSIT rail, PATH, and Newark Light Rail
NJ TRANSIT Rail
Essex County rail travel is anchored by NJ TRANSIT stations on lines serving Newark, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, East Orange, Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills, and nearby commuter corridors.
Montclair-Boonton Line
The original page specifically referenced the Montclair-Boonton Line. It remains an important rail option for Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, and Newark connections.
Morris & Essex Lines
For western and southern Essex communities, the Morris & Essex rail corridor is a key connection toward Newark, Hoboken, and New York-area travel.
PATH Service
PATH service connects Newark Penn Station with Jersey City and Manhattan. It is especially useful for travelers heading to Lower Manhattan or connecting through Newark Penn Station.
Newark Light Rail
Newark Light Rail helps connect Newark neighborhoods, Branch Brook Park, Newark Penn Station, and nearby transit hubs.
Airports
Essex County airport connections
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport is the major commercial airport serving Essex County and the wider New York/New Jersey region. The original page lists Newark Liberty at 1 Brewster Road in Newark.
Original phone listing: 973-961-6000
Essex County Airport
Essex County Airport, also known by its airport identifier CDW, is located in Fairfield and serves general aviation, flight training, aircraft services, and business aviation needs.
31 Wright Way, Fairfield, NJ 07004
Roads & Corridors
Major road travel corridors
Garden State Parkway
Important north-south highway access for Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington, Newark, and nearby towns.
I-280
Major east-west route connecting Newark, Harrison, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Roseland, and I-80.
I-78 / Newark Airport corridor
Critical highway route for Newark, Newark Liberty International Airport, and access toward Union County and New York crossings.
Route 3 / Route 46
Useful for Belleville, Nutley, Bloomfield, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and western Essex travel.
Route 10 / Eisenhower Parkway
Major commercial corridor through Livingston, East Hanover area connections, and western Essex destinations.
Local downtown corridors
Bloomfield Avenue, South Orange Avenue, Central Avenue, Broad Street, and McCarter Highway are key local travel routes.
Visitor Tips
Planning transportation in Essex County
Check schedules before leaving
For trains and buses, check real-time schedules, alerts, parking information, and station access before traveling, especially during peak commuter periods.
Use transit for Newark events
For Prudential Center, NJPAC, Newark Museum of Art, and Newark Penn Station destinations, transit can be easier than driving and parking.
Airport trips need extra time
Newark Liberty is close to Essex County, but traffic on I-78, Route 21, the Turnpike, and local Newark streets can vary widely.
Western towns are more car-dependent
Fairfield, Roseland, the Caldwells, Livingston, and parts of West Orange often require more driving or bus planning than towns along train and PATH corridors.
Essex County Towns
Town transportation links
Use these town pages to connect the county transportation guide with local NJTGO town coverage.