Take the train if you can. The Metro-North railroad runs on two lines in Westchester, both of which travel from north to south. The Hudson line runs along the Hudson River on the western side of Westchester, while the Harlem line runs through the central/eastern portion of the county. The trains run often, usually more than three times an hour during peak travel times—although this can depend on the station you are leaving from. Both train lines arrive at Grand Central Station, which is on East 42nd Street in Manhattan.
Consult a map. If you decide to drive, take a look at a map of Manhattan to determine where your destination is. If you’re going to the west side of Manhattan, take the Saw Mill River Parkway, which turns into the Henry Hudson Parkway (and then turns into the West Side Highway).
Try the Triborough Bridge. If you’re driving to the east side of Manhattan, consider taking I-95 South to the Triborough Bridge. The Triborough connects the Bronx (which is attached to the lower portion of Westchester), Queens and Manhattan, and can be a quick way to get from borough to borough to borough—hence its name. The Triborough will lead you to the FDR Drive, which runs alongside the west side of Manhattan.
Do your best to travel during off-peak times. The roads and trains are most congested from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Mondays through Friday. Naturally, the congestion gets worse the closer you get to Manhattan, so plan accordingly and leave yourself plenty of time if you must travel during these times.
Utilize your cross streets, and don’t be afraid to “take the Park,” which is driving the roads in Central Park. Thee cross-streets through the park are 65th, 79th, 85th and 97th streets.
