Fort Lee may have the best commuting position in Bergen County. The George Washington Bridge is in its backyard, the Lincoln Tunnel is a straight shot south, and the Gold Coast ferry landings sit minutes down River Road. The question here is not how to get to Manhattan. It is which of your many options fits your office best.

1. One-Seat Bus to the Port Authority in Midtown

Fort Lee's standout is direct Midtown service. NJ Transit Routes 156, 158, and 159 all run from Fort Lee into Manhattan through the Lincoln Tunnel and end at the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street. The 156 runs Englewood Cliffs to Fort Lee to New York. The 158 is the full-service Gold Coast line, Fort Lee to Edgewater to New York, threading the waterfront. The 159 runs Fort Lee to New York.

That is three one-seat options into the heart of Midtown with no transfer. Plan on roughly 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic and which stop you board. For most Fort Lee commuters working in Midtown, this is the default. Check live times on njtransit.com.

2. NJ Transit Route 171 to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station

For uptown, Fort Lee has the bridge in its backyard. NJ Transit Route 171 runs the Paterson to New York line across the George Washington Bridge to the GWB Bus Station in Washington Heights. From Fort Lee, that crossing is short, often about 15 minutes outside of rush hour.

Use this when your office is uptown, or when you want to grab the A train downtown without riding all the way into Midtown first. The GWB station is the hinge between Fort Lee and the Manhattan subway.

3. The A Train From the GWB Station for Downtown and the Financial District

The George Washington Bridge Bus Station connects by an indoor pedestrian tunnel to the 175th Street A train. From there, the A runs express down Eighth Avenue to Columbus Circle, 42nd Street, 34th Street at Penn Station, West 4th Street, and on to Fulton Street, Chambers Street, and the World Trade Center.

That gives Fort Lee a clean no-car route to Lower Manhattan. Cross to the GWB station, walk the tunnel, and ride the A to Fulton Street in roughly 30 to 35 minutes. For anyone working in the Financial District, this competes with the ferry.

4. NY Waterway Ferry From the Edgewater Landings to Midtown

Fort Lee does not have its own ferry slip, but the NY Waterway landings in neighboring Edgewater sit just down River Road, minutes from Fort Lee's southern edge. From there, the ferry crosses the Hudson to Midtown at West 39th Street. Free connecting shuttle buses link the Manhattan slips to the surrounding blocks.

This is the calmest commute on the list. No bridge traffic, no tunnel backup, no subway crush. It costs more than the bus, and it adds a short drive or local bus to reach the dock. For a lot of Fort Lee commuters, the trade is worth it. Confirm schedules on nywaterway.com.

5. NY Waterway Ferry to the Financial District

For downtown workers, the ferry is Fort Lee's quiet advantage. NY Waterway runs from the Gold Coast terminals, the Edgewater landings and Port Imperial in Weehawken, to downtown at Brookfield Place and Pier 11 at Wall Street. The 158 and 159R buses connect Fort Lee to the Port Imperial terminal, and joint bus-ferry tickets are available on routes 156R, 158, and 159R.

If your office is in the Financial District, this skips Midtown entirely. You arrive a short walk from Wall Street with the Hudson behind you instead of a tunnel in front of you.

6. Drive Over the George Washington Bridge

Few towns are closer to a Manhattan crossing than Fort Lee. The George Washington Bridge is right there. Off-peak, you can be on the West Side Highway or the Harlem River Drive in about 20 minutes. The bridge feeds the Henry Hudson Parkway and West Side Highway for the west side, and the Harlem River Drive and FDR for the east side.

The caveats are the usual ones. Rush hour fills the approaches, and Manhattan parking is expensive. Driving makes sense for off-peak trips and days you need the car. For a fixed schedule, transit usually wins.

7. Drive Through the Lincoln Tunnel or Park-and-Ride

If Midtown is your destination and you would rather drive part of the way, the Lincoln Tunnel is the other option, reached by Route 4 to Route 495. Or split the difference. Drive to a ferry landing or a bus stop with parking, then ride the rest. You skip the Manhattan parking bill and the worst of the congestion.

This drive-to-transit approach is the practical middle for one-car households. Keep the car close to home and let the bus, ferry, or subway carry the hard part.

Which Route Fits You

Match the route to your destination. Working in Midtown? Take a one-seat 156, 158, or 159 bus to the Port Authority, or the Edgewater ferry to West 39th Street. Working uptown? Cross to the GWB station on the 171. Working downtown in the Financial District? Ride the ferry to Brookfield Place or Wall Street, or take the A train from the GWB station to Fulton Street. Fort Lee gives you more first-choice options than almost any town in Bergen County. Use them.

Plan the Move, Not Just the Commute

Commute time is not just a daily annoyance. It shapes what a home is worth and how you live in it. My work with homeowners in Fort Lee and across the George Washington Bridge corridor is built on three connected steps, because where you live and how you get to work are the same decision.

New to the area? Start with whether Fort Lee is a good place to live, a look at Fort Lee's unique charm, and how commute time affects home value and lifestyle in Northern NJ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to commute from Fort Lee to Midtown Manhattan?

The fastest option is usually a one-seat NJ Transit bus, Route 156, 158, or 159, through the Lincoln Tunnel to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, roughly 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. The NY Waterway ferry from the Edgewater landings to West 39th Street is a strong alternative.

Can you get to the Financial District from Fort Lee without driving?

Yes. Take the NY Waterway ferry from the Edgewater landings to Brookfield Place or Pier 11 at Wall Street, or ride a bus to the George Washington Bridge station and the A train to Fulton Street. Joint bus-ferry tickets are available on routes 156R, 158, and 159R.

Does Fort Lee have a ferry to New York City?

Fort Lee does not have its own terminal, but the NY Waterway Edgewater landings on River Road are minutes away, and the 156, 158, and 159 buses connect to the Port Imperial terminal in Weehawken. Both run to Midtown and downtown.