Best Outlets in New York: Jersey Gardens and Woodbury
There are two main outlet shopping malls close to New York: The Mills at Jersey Gardens and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
The Mills at Jersey Gardens Outlet
It’s an indoor shopping with all the massive brands we all know and want! You can find great deals. Especially if you go during the Holiday Discount Weekends (in President’s Day weekend, Labor Day, etc) because you’ll find big discounts on the already reduced items and it’s all great clothing! It’s not made for “outlets” only. You’ll find the same clothing that you saw a few months ago at the non-outlet stores! Check this post if you wanna know when are the big holiday sales.
Jersey Gardens is very convenient and I prefer to go to this one because it’s the closest outlet mall from Manhattan and it has the perfect size. It’s smaller than the Woodbury Common Premium Outlet, with 2 floors and all the brands you need. It’s easy to walk through.
You should consider that it will take you an entire day, so if you come to NYC for only a few days, then it’ll be better for you to go shopping in Manhattan. Except if you go early in the morning (arriving there at 10am) to some specific brands and that’s it.
SOME OF THE BRANDS YOU’LL FIND HERE:
Abercrombie – Adidas – Armani Exchange – Banana Republic – Calvin Klen – Carter’s
Guess – G by Guess – Disney Outlet – Gap Outlet – Michael Kors – Nike – Old Navy – Reebok
Saks – Samsonite – Steve Madden – Tommy Hilfiger – Victoria’s Secret -UGG – U.S. Polo – etc!
Check the store directory here.
Tip: Make sure to bring a Carry-On to carry all your shopping bags easily. You can also buy one there at Burlington, where you’ll find cheap luggage 😉
HOW LONG IS FROM MANHATTAN TO JERSEY GARDENS OUTLET?
45 min to an hour from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Times Square to the Mall’s entrance.
HOW TO GO FROM MANHATTAN
From Port Authority Bus Terminal (located in 42nd Street and 8th Avenue) you have to take the bus 111 or 115 (any of those 2). They go directly from the bus terminal in Manhattan to the main entrance of Jersey Gardens outlet. It’s like an “express bus” because they don’t do stops in between (except maybe for one quick stop and that’s it).
If you want to rent a car, go to the end of this blog under “New Yorker Tip to Rent a Car”.
HOW TO GET BUS TICKETS?
When you arrive at Port Authority ask at the information center in what Gate are the Busses 111 and 115. You can purchase the tickets at the ticket machines located there. You have to select round trip ticket, and the destination you are going is: Elizabeth, NJ (New Jersey) where the mall is located.
HOW MUCH IS THE TRIP?
The bus from Manhattan to Elizabeth, NJ roundtrip is $14
When coming back from Jersey Gardens to Manhattan by bus: try to avoid taking the bus when the shopping closes, because sometimes there’s a big line waiting for the bus. Try to leave an hour before closing time.
LOCATION
Elizabeth, New Jersey. Website
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
This is an outdoor shopping, so if it’s raining or very cold it won’t be the best option. Each brand has its own separate store, like little houses.
You’ll find massive brands as well as high-end / luxury brands. You’ll get great deals, but considering the prices of a high-end brand, it could end up being out of your budget. It will be very cheap for a Fendi bag that is regularly $2400 and you might get it for half of the price, but it can still be expensive for you.
Keep in mind that you’ll be walking a lot to go from one store to another since each brand has its own “house”. If you’re planning to go to the same stores that you can also find at Jersey Gardens, I’d recommend going to Jersey Gardens.
YOU’LL FIND LUXURY BRANDS LIKE:
Burberry, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Versace, etc.
AND MORE AFFORDABLE BRANDS LIKE:
Adidas, Aeropostale, Banana Republic, Carter’s, Disney Outlet, Gap, Guess, Nike, Reebok
Check the store directory here.
Tip: make sure to bring an empty luggage to the mall, to carry all your shopping bags easily.
HOW LONG IS FROM MANHATTAN TO WOODBURY OUTLET?
By car is around an hour/hour and a half.
HOW TO GO FROM MANHATTAN
You can rent a car or purchase a bus ticket (read below).
HOW MUCH IS THE TRIP
There are some shuttles that charge you around $42 each person. I highly recommend you to go to Jersey Gardens that is much easier to get there and you have amazing deals too. Except if you wanna shop at the luxury brands, that you don’t have in Jersey Gardens.
Citi Sights Bus: $30 Online Price ($42 at Gate). Click here for more info.
Gray Line Bus: $42 at Gate. Click here for more info.
LOCATION
Woodbury, New York. Website
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New Yorker Tips for Shopping at Outlets
BE THERE EARLY:
Arriving there at 10am.
TRY TO GO BEFORE THE WEEKEND:
It’ll be less crowded. If you go on the famous Big Holiday Discount Weekends, Monday won’t be a great option because there won’t be much left.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS ARE COVERED:
Go to all the brands you want to go first. It’s very tempting and you may want to shop in all the stores when you are there, but you won’t have the time for all of them!
TRY TO AVOID FOREVER 21 and H&M AT THE OUTLETS:
Forever and H&M are very cheap also in Manhattan! Take advantage of all the other brands that aren’t very affordable in Manhattan. If you have the time at the end of the day, then go.
RENTING A CAR:
Avis and Hertz are good companies to rent cars and they have lots of locations. Renting in Manhattan is much more expensive than renting a car in Hoboken, New Jersey, that’s only a stop from Manhattan. It can cost half of the price or a bigger difference! If you drop off the car the following morning, keep in mind that is very hard to park in Manhattan and Parking is expensive, plus the tolls you have to pay (the entry to Manhattan is the most expensive toll, around $14).
You might be interested in: The Best Places to Shop in Manhattan.
@NewYorkerTips
