To RV NYC? That is the Question

We recently spent a few days in New York City driving our 2014 Airstream Interstate Sprinter van. Many people may wonder, should you RV NYC? While this is very situational question with many different answers, we said yes to RV NYC!  We had an amazing time in the city and fell in love with it.  Having been to NYC a couple of times before, I was a little apprehensive about how our Class B RV would get around once we got into the city.  NYC is known for the bumper to bumper grind, ruthless taxi cab drivers and saturated streets with its millions of inhabitants. Well, it turned out to be just fine, and was actually kinda fun cruising around in old “Jackie Boy” (our vans nickname).  We will be covering a few areas that may be helpful for others who may be considering driving their RV in NYC.

Tunnels and Bridges

There are many different ways to get to and from Manhattan.  Each of the boroughs Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens offer bridges and tunnels.  We are going to cover only on the tunnels and bridges that enter into Manhattan from New Jersey.

There are two tunnels and one bridge that offer entrance and exit to and from NYC.  Rates range depending on vehicle, from $15 to $126+.  The toll is charged while entering Manhattan, but there is no fee when leaving Manhattan on the three options below.  Click here for full current rates.

• Lincoln Tunnel – This 13 lane triple tunnel connects midtown Manhattan and Weehawken, NJ.
• Holland Tunnel – This 9 lane tunnel connects lower Manhattan and Jersey City.
• George Washington Bridge – This 22 lane (12 upper and 10 lower) is the busiest bridge in the world, connecting northern Manhattan and Fort Lee, NJ.  RVs and trucks must use the upper level on this bridge.

There is an extensive list of hazardous materials that is regulated within the tunnels.   See pages 5, 13, 33-34 for propane regulations that might be pertinent to your RV or Trailer.  My interpretation of this book from page 13, class 2 division 2.1 (propane) are allowed under the Materials of Trade in limited quantities.  Limited quantities are defined as not over 220 pounds in a cylinder. Reading this book is similar to reading tax code so please read it yourself for a better understanding of the information.  If you find your RV having components that classify as hazardous then the upper lanes on the George Washington Bridge will be a good alternative to the tunnels. This is usually where all the commercial vehicles enter.

In addition to the hazardous material regulations, there are also size regulations that are outlined in the Green Book, see pages 15-18 for detail.

NYC Rules & Regulations

Upon entering NYC there are signs clearly stating the following city-wide rules, unless other signs specify otherwise:

• 25 mph speed limit
• No turn on red

Other rules that are good to know:

• There are multiple street cleaning schedules.  Check street signs for details.
• Don’t block the box
• 15 feet from hydrants both sides

Refer to the New York City Department of Transportation website for additional information on traffic advisories, construction projects, parking rates/schedules/regulations, and other updates.

Driving your RV in NYC

We had no issues driving our Airstream Interstate around the city.  We were able to maneuver around just fine without getting ourselves into any sticky situations.  There are plenty of distractions and obstacles to keep a driver on her toes in NYC.  Pedestrians, bicyclists, buses, taxi’s, horse carriages, Instagramers chasing money shots, cute puppies getting carried across the road, gyro stands, you get the idea.  Like any other city, as long as you are attentive and paying 100% attention to your driving you will be just fine driving a Class B rig in The Big Apple.

The only restrictions we faced were some low clearance bridges that we saw that connected Central Park West to Central Park East.  We spotted signs warning of clearance as low as 9′ 1″, while our van comes in at roughly 9’8″.  These extremely low bridges were mostly in the center of the park.  The bridges on the lower and and the upper end were tall enough for us to clear, or the other option is driving around the park which is what we did.  Pay attention to signs that mark “no commercial/truck route”.  This is a good indicator of low height clearance or weight limits that may also affect a Class B RV.

The biggest challenge for us while driving was simply the less than ideal road conditions, mostly being cringe worthy potholes and unsightly sewer cap dips.  These bumps and dips in the road get magnified when you are in a 15,000 lb vehicle.  We have to take them extremely slow (painstakingly slow for the vehicles stuck behind us, especially NYC drivers who are in a hurry ).  While the recent installation of our SumoSprings helps tremendously, we still need to be cautious while taking bumps and turns.  Driving at night was also a little stressful because I could not see the potholes ahead of time to maneuver my best route.

Parking your Class B RV

Parking options in NYC include both paid and free.  There are an abundance of metered spaces on the streets, parking lots, and even free spaces (non-metered) on the streets.  Also note that metered spaces are free on Sundays.  You will need to read the signs on each street to determine street parking eligibility.  Learn about common parking signs and even view actual street signs using this interactive map using these online tools.

You can find free all day parking and overnight parking spots within the city.  Just be on the lookout and pay close attention to signs, especially the street cleaning schedules that make it difficult during the weekdays to park for extended periods of time (M-F only).  Here are the two locations that we found and had success parking at:

• Central Park West – After you continue past the metered spots on this road you will immediately hit free parking.  The free areas are from W 62nd St upward to W 110th St.  The more you drive upward the better your chances are to get lucky and nab a spot.
• W 15^th St & 8^th Ave in the Chelsea Neighborhood.  This road is roughly a 1/4 mile from Chelsea Market.  This is a great location to come to and from neighboring areas to take a quick break in your rig when you need some rest or refreshing.  We did park overnight and sleep here.  There was some occasional loud noise on the street till midnight that woke us up but nothing to too crazy.  The worst of it was around 11 pm when someone was blasting music on their boombox at an extreme volume for about an hour.  It was odd, but could be a lot worse!

Should you take your RV to NYC?

If you are considering driving your class B RV into NYC but are on the fence, we say, GO FOR IT!  If you are comfortable with city driving in general, just do it.  Take advantage of the benefits a Class B has to offer! Find some good street parking and the comforts of your home right in the heart of the city.  Would we recommend a Class B+, C, or A?  No.  No, we wouldn’t.  B is where it’s at!