The Holland Tunnel vs Lincoln Tunnel debate is one of the first decisions every driver makes when heading into New York City from New Jersey — and most people just pick one out of habit without ever knowing if it’s actually the right choice for where they’re going.
The answer is simple once you know it: the two tunnels drop you in completely different parts of Manhattan, and choosing the wrong one can add 20-40 minutes to your trip before you even find parking. Here’s exactly which one to take, when, and why.
The One-Line Answer
Going to Lower Manhattan, SoHo, Tribeca, or the Financial District? Take the Holland Tunnel. Going to Midtown, Times Square, MSG, Broadway, or the Theater District? Take the Lincoln Tunnel. It is that simple.
Where Each Tunnel Drops You
| Tunnel | Manhattan Exit | Best For | Worst For |
| Holland Tunnel | Canal Street, Lower Manhattan | Tribeca, SoHo, Financial District, Lower East Side | Midtown — long drive north through city traffic |
| Lincoln Tunnel | 38th Street, Midtown | Times Square, MSG, Broadway, Theater District, Penn Station | Lower Manhattan — long drive south through city traffic |
This is the entire decision. Where does your tunnel drop you, and how far is that from where you are going? Everything else — wait times, tolls, congestion pricing — is secondary to getting yourself to the right starting point in Manhattan.
The Holland Tunnel: What You Need to Know
The Holland Tunnel connects Jersey City, New Jersey to Canal Street in Lower Manhattan. It opened in 1927 and runs under the Hudson River between the two boroughs.
Holland Tunnel Fast Facts
| Detail | Info |
| Manhattan exit | Canal Street at Varick Street |
| Best neighborhoods | Tribeca, SoHo, Financial District, Chinatown, Lower East Side |
| Drive to Midtown after exit | 20-40 minutes in traffic |
| Toll (E-ZPass) | Included in congestion pricing zone entry |
| Tunnel crossing credit | Up to $3 credit applied to congestion pricing toll |
| Peak congestion | Weekday mornings into NYC, evenings out |
When to Take the Holland Tunnel
• Your destination is below 23rd Street
• You are heading to the Financial District, Wall Street, or the World Trade Center area
• You are going to Tribeca, SoHo, or the West Village
• You are heading to Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge
• You are going to a weekend brunch or dinner in Lower Manhattan
When NOT to Take the Holland Tunnel
• Your destination is in Midtown — you will crawl north through the city for 20-40 minutes
• You are going to MSG, Times Square, or the Theater District
• You are trying to get to the Upper East Side or Upper West Side
• It is a weekday morning and you need to be anywhere above 14th Street quickly
Holland Tunnel Parking After You Exit
Canal Street drops you into one of the more manageable parking zones in Manhattan. The neighborhoods immediately around the tunnel exit — Tribeca, SoHo, Hudson Square — have garages that are significantly cheaper than Midtown. Pre-book through SpotHero before you leave.
If you are heading further into Lower Manhattan, the Financial District has good garage options near the World Trade Center and Fulton Street.
The Lincoln Tunnel: What You Need to Know
The Lincoln Tunnel connects Weehawken, New Jersey to 38th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It is the busiest vehicle tunnel in the world by traffic volume and the most convenient entry point for the most common visitor destinations in the city.
Lincoln Tunnel Fast Facts
| Detail | Info |
| Manhattan exit | 38th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues |
| Best neighborhoods | Midtown, Times Square, MSG, Broadway, Penn Station, Hudson Yards |
| Drive to Lower Manhattan after exit | 25-40 minutes in traffic |
| Toll (E-ZPass) | Included in congestion pricing zone entry |
| Tunnel crossing credit | Up to $3 credit applied to congestion pricing toll |
| Peak congestion | Weekday mornings into NYC, evenings out — NJ approach backs up significantly |
When to Take the Lincoln Tunnel
• Your destination is in Midtown — 34th to 59th Street
• You are going to Madison Square Garden for a game or concert —
• You are going to a Broadway show in the Theater District —
• You are heading to Times Square, Penn Station, or Hudson Yards
• You are taking NJ Transit in and want to connect at Penn Station
• You are parking in Midtown and walking to your destination
When NOT to Take the Lincoln Tunnel
• Your destination is below Canal Street — you will fight Midtown traffic going south
• You are going to the Financial District or Brooklyn
• It is a weekday rush hour and you are not in a hurry — the NJ approach on Route 3 can back up for miles
Lincoln Tunnel Parking After You Exit
The 38th Street exit drops you directly into the Theater District and Midtown West parking zone — which means you are also dropping into the most expensive parking in the city. Pre-booking is essential. Check SpotHero and ParkWhiz before you leave New Jersey.
For the full breakdown on Midtown parking options near the Lincoln Tunnel exit — [link to anchor parking post].
Congestion Pricing: Both Tunnels Are in the Zone
Both the Holland Tunnel and Lincoln Tunnel enter Manhattan below 60th Street, which means both are subject to New York City’s congestion pricing toll. As of 2025, the base toll for passenger vehicles is $9.00 during peak hours for E-ZPass holders.
The tunnel crossing credit: If you enter the congestion pricing zone via either the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel, you are eligible for an automatic crossing credit of up to $3 for passenger cars, applied directly to your congestion pricing toll. This partially offsets the tunnel toll you already paid. It applies automatically with E-ZPass.
The congestion charge is once per day regardless of how many times you cross the zone boundary. For the full breakdown on congestion pricing — [link to driving into Manhattan post].
Wait Times: Which Tunnel Is Faster?
This changes constantly based on time of day, day of week, and events in the city. A few general patterns:
| Time | Holland Tunnel | Lincoln Tunnel |
| Weekday morning (7-10am) into NYC | Moderate — backs up at Canal St exit | Heavy — NJ approach on Rte 3 backs up badly |
| Weekday evening (4-7pm) out of NYC | Heavy — Canal St approach jams | Very heavy — most used tunnel outbound |
| Weekend daytime | Lighter — less commuter traffic | Moderate — visitor traffic to Midtown |
| Weekend evening | Moderate | Heavier — post-show and post-game traffic |
| Early morning (before 7am) | Light | Light |
The honest answer: neither tunnel is reliably faster than the other. The Lincoln Tunnel carries more daily traffic but has three tubes. The Holland Tunnel has two tubes. Use Waze in real time to check approach wait times before you commit to a route — it shows tunnel delays accurately.
The George Washington Bridge: The Third Option
If your destination is above 96th Street — the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Harlem, or the Bronx — neither tunnel is the right choice. The George Washington Bridge enters Manhattan at 178th Street and is the fastest route for upper Manhattan destinations.
The GWB also does not enter the congestion pricing zone directly — though if you drive south of 60th Street after crossing, the zone applies.
Quick Decision Guide: Which to Take
| Your Destination | Take This |
| Financial District / Wall Street | Holland Tunnel |
| Tribeca / SoHo / West Village | Holland Tunnel |
| Lower East Side / Chinatown | Holland Tunnel |
| Chelsea / Flatiron (23rd-34th St) | Either — Holland slightly better |
| Madison Square Garden | Lincoln Tunnel — [link to MSG parking] |
| Times Square / Theater District | Lincoln Tunnel — [link to Broadway parking] |
| Midtown (34th-59th St) | Lincoln Tunnel |
| Central Park area | Lincoln Tunnel — [link to Central Park parking] |
| Upper West / Upper East Side | Lincoln Tunnel or GWB |
| Washington Heights / Bronx | George Washington Bridge |
| Brooklyn (via Manhattan) | Holland Tunnel |
Before You Pick Your Tunnel — Book Your Parking
The tunnel decision and the parking decision go together. Know where you are parking before you choose your tunnel — because your garage location determines which tunnel gets you there fastest.
Use SpotHero or ParkWhiz to find and reserve your garage before you leave home. Enter your destination, pick your garage, and then choose the tunnel that drops you closest to it.
For everything you need to know about parking once you get through the tunnel — costs, garages, signs, apps, and how to fight a ticket — start with our complete guide to parking in New York City.
And if you are heading to a specific destination, we have dedicated parking guides for: Central Park , Madison Square Garden ,and Broadway and the Theater District.
Tunnel wait times, toll rates, and congestion pricing rules change. Always check current conditions on Waze and verify toll rates at mta.info before your trip.