Carteret Speedway is a race track in New Jersey. The track is located in the town of Carteret, which is 16 miles away from New York City. The facility is open all year round and has been around for more than 80 years. It is considered a legendary track and one of the most popular racing venues in North America. If you are a fan of horse racing, then you’ve probably heard of the track. Let’s have a look at whether or not you can get there by public transportation.
From New York City
If you are traveling from New York City, the best way to get to Carteret Speedway is to take the New Jersey Transit train. The train will drop you off at the Newark station, from where you can continue your trip by car or bus. The ride to Carteret is about an hour. There is frequent service on weekdays and less so on weekends, but almost all trains stop at the station, so you won’t miss a ride.
From New York City to Carteret by train, it’s about an hour. Depending on which way you are coming from, it may be a little longer. To give you an idea of how busy the train station is during the week, the New Jersey Monthly magazine reported that on an average weekday, there are around 60 trains stopping at the station. On a less busy day, there may be as few as 20 trains stopping there. On a Sunday, you may have to wait up to an hour for a train. Weekend ridership is usually less than what you’d get on a weekday, so there may be less than 20 trains stopping there on a Saturday and fewer than 10 on a Sunday.
By Air
If you are traveling by air, the closest airport to Carteret is Newark International Airport. From there, you can take a taxi or bus to the track. There is also a direct bus route that runs between the airport and the track. The downside to air travel is that it’s usually more expensive and less convenient than other options. However, if you aren’t comfortable with using public transportation, then you could rent a car to get there. Most of the major car rental companies have a branch near the airport, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a vehicle.
One of the most popular ways for visitors to travel to New Jersey is by boat. There is a dock in North Wildwood, just a few minutes from the boardwalk and Beachcomber Mall. From there, you can take a short bus ride or walk to the main line railway station in Brigantine. You can board the train for as far as New York City. The advantage of a boat trip is that you can stop off at several locations along the way. You can also walk along the boardwalk in Wildwood, which is just a few minutes away from the dock.
Getting to Carteret is much more convenient by boat than it is by car or public transportation. The downside is that there aren’t many details available on whether or not the lake will be frozen this year, so you might have to find out the hard way.
By Road
The most direct route from New York City to Carteret is to take the New Jersey Turnpike East. The road will take you past several exits that will put you right in the middle of the state, with plenty of opportunities to rest your eyes and take a break from the rapid pace of life in the largest city in America. If you are taking the turnpike, you can check online to see if there are any traffic jams or road closures near your exit. There should be no major issues if you take the correct route. You will have to be careful not to get in any accidents, though. The speed limit on the turnpike is 70 mph, so be careful not to break the law by traveling any faster than that. There is also an option to take I-287 North to US-50 East. You will get off New Jersey vernacularly known as the “Meat Hook” when you take the 287. You will cross into Pennsylvania, but will have to pay attention to what exits you take and when you take them. You will avoid the worst of the traffic jams by taking this alternate route. You can bypass the New York City limits by taking this route, but there will be more than enough traffic to justify driving directly into the city.
Traveling to Other Tracks
It’s quite easy to get to other New Jersey horse tracks. The most convenient way is to take US-1 or the Garden State Parkway South. Both of these roads will take you right past the entrances to the other tracks. The downside is that US-1 and the Garden State Parkway become quite congested during the week, so if you want to see the races, then you may have to resort to traveling on the weekend. It’s also quite easy to get to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey. The downside there is that there isn’t much else apart from horse races, so if you aren’t into horse racing, then this option may not be for you. Another track that you can visit is Freehold Raceway. This is a smaller track, tucked away in a corner of New Jersey. It gets its name from the fact that all of the track’s parking lots are free. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to you. The advantage of Freehold Raceway is that even those who aren’t into horse racing can have fun at the track. Children especially enjoy the free rides that are given away on the weekends. There aren’t any restaurants or shops at the track, but there is a convenience store and a bar, so you may have somewhere to eat and drink if you get bored of just watching the horses race. It’s quite easy to get to Monmouth Park. Just take the Garden State Parkway North or the New Jersey Turnpike West, and you’ll be there in no time. The downside to these two options is the same as the two previous ones. Getting to Freehold Raceway or Monmouth Park is quite easy, but getting anywhere else in New Jersey to see a race is quite difficult. People traveling to Freehold Raceway or Monmouth Park often have to take a bus or drive into the city to get a view of the action. If you live in New Jersey and want to travel to a track, then these options aren’t for you, as the roads will become crowded especially during the week. You’ll have to resort to taking the train or a bus on the weekend to get to a race at another track.
Visiting Carteret
There are several ways to spend a night or two at Carteret. You can always stay at the racetrack and take in a racing carnival with all the other diehard fans. If that’s not your style, you can always opt to stay in one of the nearby hotels and eat dinner there. For those who are driving, there is an option to stay at a campground in Cape May or Mayberry Campgrounds in Pine Beach. The downside to those who stay at the racetrack is that it can get crowded. There are also rooms available at the Hilton Garden Inn, located just across from the track. Another fan-favorite option is to stay at one of the nearby motels and catch a movie. There aren’t a lot of options for those who stay at the campgrounds or the hotel, as there isn’t much there besides the racetrack and hotel. If you want to get a good look at the track, then you’ll have to bring your own tents and sleep in them. This won’t make for a very comfortable night’s sleep, but at least you’ll get a good view of the racing and the lights will keep you warm. If you stay at a campground or a motel, then there will be plenty of other campers and campersites available for you to stay at. This will make for a much more sociable night or day out.