| This. I live in Queens and it's not hard to get to Penn Station, but it's also not hard for me to get to LaGuardia, either. I can get to LaGuardia in a little less time than it takes to get to Penn Station, especially if I don't go during peak rush hour. I have TSA Pre-check, so I typically don't have to deal with 1 hour+ security lines. When I head to DC, I take the train simply because it's more comfortable, the trip is typically more consistent, and I don't have to worry about bringing "bad" items like a normal sized tube of toothpaste. When I visit the DC suburbs and exurbs, as I have family and friends there, flying and particularly driving tend to ultimately come out ahead in terms of convenience and time. Worth noting that more people live in Queens than Manhattan or Fairfax County, Virginia than DC. Manhattan is definitely the center of the NY metro area, and virtually all business is conducted there, but that is much less true for DC. The DC suburbs actually have a ton of jobs. It's an imperfect analogy, but the DC area is perhaps closer to the Bay Area in terms of having multiple employment centers. Maybe more extreme. |
Hmm, I guess a lot of this comes down to where you're going, where you're coming from, and what you're planning to do.
My friends live in Brooklyn and Manhattan. They pay high rent prices by they sold their cars (100% car free). So if I visit NYC, I have to figure out transportation on my own to meet them at whatever location. (Broadway, or various talk-shows like Colbert etc. etc.), which are typically on Manhattan proper.
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I'll say this: from the perspective of Wash DC -> NYC, I have the choice of either Planes or Trains. The Trains run along-side the Airports (in fact, there are more Train stops). Trains seem like the more convenient option.
From your perspective: NYC -> Wash DC, I think the airport makes more sense. There's less to do in Wash DC than NYC. Union Station is cool and all, but most of what to do in the area is in the suburbs, which inevitably means you need a car. If you're getting a car, might as well land at an airport.
The Wash DC -> NYC trip however is accomplished without ever renting a car, and just staying on the subway lines to get wherever you need.