Where to Stay in Newark
Your guide to the best areas and accommodation types
Newark spreads across seven distinct districts, each carved by its own past and present rhythm. Downtown stacks glass towers beside restored bank buildings around Military Park, while Ironbound pulses with Portuguese bakeries and late-night fado bars. University Heights wraps NJIT and Rutgers in student dorms and renovated brownstones. Forest Hill delivers wide porches and leafy streets first laid out for 1920s factory owners. Budget travelers aim for North Ward and its family-run motels along McCarter Highway. A mid-range double still costs half what you'd pay in Manhattan, closer to Philadelphia levels. Hostels are thin on the ground. Motels and business hotels fill the void.
Budget
Motel rooms along McCarter Highway and budget chains near the airport
Mid-Range
Business hotels and converted brownstones with breakfast included
Luxury
Full-service hotels with skyline views and club lounges
Where to Stay in Newark
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for every visitor.
Our Top Picks
The highest-rated hotel in each price range, selected from all neighborhoods.
Top Pick — Downtown Newark
Wi-Fi in public areas
Downtown Newark
Check prices on Trip.com →
Top Pick — Downtown Newark
Mid Range
Lovely 2 bedroom/ Near EWR/ Free Parking
Wi-Fi in public areas
Downtown Newark
Check prices on Trip.com →
Top Pick — Downtown Newark
"This hotel is the best option if you have an early flight at EWR. The location i…"
Golf course
Spa
Gym
Public parking
Downtown Newark
Check prices on Trip.com →
Best Areas to Stay
Each neighborhood has its own character. Find the one that matches your travel style.
Hotel recommendations verified
Downtown Newark
Mid-range
Military Park's elm shade, art-deco towers, and the county courthouse steps frame the city's business core. PATH trains to Manhattan rumble underfoot; glass-fronted coffee shops open at dawn for commuters. Evenings bring after-work crowds to Halsey Street restaurants and Prudential Center events.
- ✓ Two-minute walk to Newark Penn Station and 24-minute PATH to Manhattan
- ✓ Most restaurants within five blocks
- ✓ Prudential Center and NJPAC on walking distance
- ✓ Well-lit streets with regular police patrols
- ✗ Street parking garages charge overnight fees
- ✗ Weekend foot traffic drops sharply after 8pm
Recommended places to stay in Downtown Newark
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Lovely 2 bedroom/ Near EWR/ Free Parking
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"This hotel is the best option if you have an early flight at EWR. The location i…"
Golf course
Spa
Gym
Public parking
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"This was a layover hotel for us and it did the trick. It is only about 15 minute…"
Gym
Private parking
Car rentals
Conference room
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Ironbound
Mid-range
Portuguese flags hang above Ferry Street's narrow storefronts. Grilled sardine smoke drifts from open doorways. Bakeries sell warm pasteis de nata at dawn. Weekend nights spill onto sidewalks with live music and soccer broadcasts from corner bars.
- ✓ Walk to 200+ restaurants within six blocks
- ✓ 24-hour bakeries and grocery stores
- ✓ Annual Portuguese festival closes the street for parades
- ✓ Safe to walk at 2am with crowds still out
- ✗ Can be noisy until 3am on weekends
- ✗ Limited hotel choice, mostly converted row houses
Recommended places to stay in Ironbound
Budget
Crystal Room
"This was the best travel experience of all my trips. When I arrived at night, it…"
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Robert Treat Hotel
"Got a memorable stay here for my concert!"
Gym
Private parking
Priority airport pick-up
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"It is surrounded by highways, so it is extremely difficult to get there by car.…"
Gym
Public parking
Airport pick-up
Bar
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"Very convenient for connections. Free shuttle every 30 minutes, 24/7 and good r…"
Gym
Private parking
EV charging station
Airport pick-up
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"Bedside USB ports are down. The other parts are good. The room is spacious as we…"
Indoor swimming pool
Gym
Public parking
EV charging station
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
University Heights
Budget
Rutgers red-brick dormitories and NJIT's glass labs climb the hill above downtown. Students fill MLK Boulevard coffee shops between classes. Weekend farmers markets spread under plane trees in front of the campus library.
- ✓ Guest parking permits valid for 48 hours
- ✓ NJ Transit bus 1 and 44 stop at every corner
- ✓ Campus security patrol until 2am
- ✓ Cheaper eats and groceries than downtown
- ✗ Student parties Thursday through Saturday nights
- ✗ Limited hotel stock, primarily brownstone B&Bs
Recommended places to stay in University Heights
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"This is a clean and comfortable hotel, handy for short stays near Newark Airport…"
Indoor swimming pool
Spa
Gym
Private parking
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Tryp by Wyndham Newark Downtown
"I stayed at TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown on a Tuesday night and overall had a…"
Gym
Private parking
EV charging station
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Courtyard Newark Downtown
"Went to devils game hotel is well located for games walking distance large"
Gym
Public parking
Bar
Restaurant
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Hampton Inn by Hilton Newark Airport
"The Hampton Inn Newark Airport is a conveniently located hotel just 10 minutes f…"
Gym
Private parking
EV charging station
Priority airport pick-up
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Forest Hill
Luxury
Elm-lined streets and stone mansions built for 1920s beer barons sit above Branch Brook Park. Tudor and Colonial homes have been carved into quiet apartments. Birdsong replaces traffic noise. The park's cherry blossoms draw photographers each April.
- ✓ On-site driveways for every property
- ✓ Five-minute walk to the park's cherry-blossom esplanade
- ✓ Historic district with original stained-glass windows
- ✓ Less than 10 minutes to Newark Penn by rideshare
- ✗ No direct train. Need rideshare or bus to downtown
- ✗ Few restaurants, mostly take-out and diners
Recommended places to stay in Forest Hill
Mid Range
DoubleTree by Hilton Newark Penn Station
"Good location. Enterprise is here. Next to Penn station. But not safe around. St…"
Gym
Private parking
Airport shuttle pick-up
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
"Everything was very clean. The bed was very comfortable and huge. We enjo"
Golf course
Gym
Public parking
Luggage storage
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Open space lux studio 20 mins to NYC
Basketball court
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Home2 Suites by Hilton Newark Airport
"Stayed here after a late night flight into EWR. The hotel had a free shuttle tha…"
Gym
Public parking
Luggage storage
Restaurant
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Comfort Suites Newark - Harrison
"It was transferred from Airbnb to this hotel. The facilities of the hotel are in…"
Private parking
Gym
Wake-up call
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
North Ward
Budget
McCarter Highway strings together family-owned motels and diners serving 3am disco fries. Latino bakeries scent the air with guava pastries. The hospital district hums with 24-hour pharmacies and shuttle vans.
- ✓ Free motel parking and easy I-95 on-ramps
- ✓ 15-minute drive to Newark Airport at 5am
- ✓ 24-hour diners and Latin bakeries within two blocks
- ✓ Single-story rooms good for heavy luggage
- ✗ Traffic noise from McCarter Highway all night
- ✗ Limited public transit after 11pm
Recommended places to stay in North Ward
Mid Range
Best Western Plus Newark Airport West
"Great location being close to the airport and also close to Newark Penn station.…"
Public parking
Gym
Luggage storage
Wake-up call
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Newark Airport
"OK, business trips can live, the environment is general, breakfast is general, t…"
Private parking
Wake-up call
Wi-Fi in public areas
Taxi booking service
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Mid Range
Motel Casa Downtown Guest House
"The hotel is quiet and hygienic, that is, the surrounding public security is gen…"
Parking
Airport pick-up
Airport drop-off
Wi-Fi in public areas
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Airport Area
Mid-range
The monorail glides between terminals and parking decks under humming runway lights. Hotels cluster around the rental-car center, linked by free shuttles that loop every 10 minutes. Jets roar overhead at dawn; 24-hour delis cater to stranded travelers.
- ✓ Walk to terminals via covered bridge at Marriott and Hampton
- ✓ Shuttles run 24/7 and take under 5 minutes
- ✓ Sound-proofed rooms tested against 747 take-offs
- ✓ Concierge desks open all night for rebooking
- ✗ Nothing to do outside the terminals
- ✗ Rates spike during weather delays
Recommended places to stay in Airport Area
✓ Verified
Check prices on Trip.com →
Find Hotels in Newark
Compare prices and book your perfect stay
Search HotelsPrices via Trip.com. We may earn a commission from bookings.
Accommodation Types
From budget-friendly hostels to luxury hotels, here's what's available.
Hotels
Mid-range to luxury
Most cluster downtown near Penn Station or around the airport. Business-grade brands dominate, with a handful of boutique conversions in 1920s bank buildings.
Best for: Travelers wanting consistent service, loyalty points, and airport or train links
Marriott members get free Wi-Fi; Hilton Gold unlocks lounge breakfast at the Hampton Airport
Motels
Budget
Single-story strips line McCarter Highway and Route 1. Expect dated decor, free parking, and 24-hour diner access.
Best for: Road trippers, late arrivals, and tight budgets
Call direct after 9pm, desk clerks often quote last-minute walk-in rates lower than online
Short-Term Rentals
Mid-range
Converted brownstones in Forest Hill and Ironbound row houses offer full kitchens and driveways. Hosts cater to visiting families.
Best for: Stays longer than three nights, families, or travelers with cars
Search listings within 0.5 miles of Branch Brook Park for cherry-blossom season. Book six weeks ahead
Booking Tips
Insider advice to help you find the best accommodation.
Downtown sells out first, airport rarely does
Reserve downtown hotels six weeks ahead for any Prudential Center concert. Airport rooms open up same-day even during blizzards.
Cherry-blossom weekend triples Forest Hill prices
April's Branch Brook Park bloom draws 10,000 visitors. Forest Hill Airbnbs jump to Manhattan-level rates. Book by December for the best selection.
When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability.
High Season
Reserve 4-6 weeks ahead for May-June graduation weeks and September-October New York overflow; Prudential Center events trigger last-minute sellouts.
Shoulder Season
March-April and November offer mild weather and 30% lower rates. Two weeks ahead is plenty.
Low Season
January-February brings snow discounts; walk-ins work at airport hotels and North Ward motels.
Two weeks covers most situations. Graduation weeks need six weeks, cherry-blossom needs twelve.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information.
Check-in / Check-out
Standard 15:00 check-in, 11:00 check-out. Airport hotels store luggage for red-eye arrivals.
Tipping
$2-5 per night for housekeeping, $1-2 per bag for shuttle drivers, 18% standard at airport restaurants.
Payment
Cards accepted everywhere. Motels may hold $100 incidental deposits on debit cards.
Safety
Downtown and Ironbound stay lively after dark thanks to steady foot traffic, so you can walk without worry. University Heights remains calm until about 1am, then the sidewalks thin out. In the North Ward, the motels sit under bright neon. But still lock your car and park under the lights.
After You Book: Activities in Newark
Once your accommodation is sorted, explore these activities
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Newark.
See All Newark Tours on Viator