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How early should I get to EWR?

Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ · Checked Oct 14, 2026

The short answer

The airport does not publish a set arrival time. Delta and JetBlue (EWR page) both recommend arriving 2 hours before departure.

Delta recommends arriving at least 3 hours before international departures.

Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.

Source: jetblue.com

Security lines at EWR

Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.

TSA PreCheck: CLEAR's EWR page places the Terminal C CLEAR lane overlooking the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. We could not confirm PreCheck details for Terminals A and B on the airport site.

CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).

Touchless ID: Delta lists EWR for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at security, but not for dedicated Touchless ID bag drop. Southwest's list does not include EWR. We could not confirm United's Touchless ID at EWR.

Terminals and checkpoints

Terminal A

United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada

Terminal A Departures checkpointCLEARCLEAR+ is on the departures level, to the right of the security checkpoint entrance. Hours are Sun-Fri 4:30am-8:00pm and Sat 4:30am-7:00pm. JetBlue lists the EWR TSA checkpoint as open 24 hours.
  • Gates 1-7 are 3-6 min from security, 8-28 are 2-10 min, and 29-34 are 3-6 min
  • The AirTrain does not stop directly at Terminal A. From the AirTrain it is about a 15-minute walk on a covered path, or a 5-minute shuttle.
  • An airside shuttle to Terminal C (United) leaves from between gates A28 and A29, after security
  • Terminal A was designed for about 13 million passengers a year but handled about 18 million in 2024. An expansion was approved in September 2026, with construction starting in 2027.

Terminal B

Alaska Airlines, Lufthansa, Frontier Airlines, SAS

Terminal B securityCLEARCLEAR is available for passengers flying from gates B40-B49. Hours are Sun-Fri 4:30am-7:30pm and Sat 4:30am-6:00pm.
  • Terminal B hosts over 25 international and domestic airlines. The ones listed here are those named by the airport.
  • Airport lists a 2-4 minute walk from security to all Terminal B gates
  • JetBlue international arrivals use Terminal B

Terminal C

United Airlines

Terminal C security, Level 3PreCheckCLEARCLEAR+ is on Level 3 at Door 2, overlooking the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. CLEAR+ hours are 4:30am-8:00pm.
  • Gates 70-74 are 1-3 min from security, 75-123 are 4-7 min, and 125-139 are 7-10 min
  • United passengers can check in and drop bags at either Terminal C or Terminal A
  • An airside shuttle to Terminal A is near gate C71
  • For-hire vehicle (Uber/Lyft) pickups have permanently moved to Level 3 of the Terminal C garage, reached by the pedestrian bridge

Between terminals: There is no walkway between terminals after security. A continuous airside shuttle links Terminals A and C after TSA screening. The free AirTrain connects Terminals B and C, parking and the Airport Train Station before security, but it does not stop directly at Terminal A.

Terminals are not connected after security. Go to the right terminal the first time.

Getting to EWR

Rideshare and taxi: Drop-off is in front of each terminal. Pickups: Terminal A on the Arrivals level, directly across the street from the terminal. Terminal B on the Arrivals-level frontage. Terminal C on Level 3 of the Terminal C garage.

Transit: NJ Transit (Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line) and Amtrak stop at Newark Liberty Airport Station, which links to the terminals by AirTrain ($8.75 each way). NJ Transit to Midtown Manhattan takes about 30 minutes. Through Nov 20, 2026, AirTrain service to and from the Airport Train Station is suspended on weekdays from 5am to 3pm, with shuttle buses running instead. The Newark Airport Express bus serves Grand Central, Bryant Park and Port Authority Bus Terminal in about 50 minutes ($23.50 one way).

Driving and parking: Curbs are for active drop-off and pickup only. The free Cell Phone Lot is next to the P4 Daily Parking garage, under five minutes from all terminals. Through Nov 6, 2026, access to P4 from southbound Brewster Road and the I-78 entrance from Brewster Road near P4 are detoured. The Port Authority urges pre-booking parking at least 3 hours ahead to avoid a peak drive-up surcharge.

Construction and changes in 2026

  • AirTrain Newark replacement work: through Nov 20, 2026, AirTrain service to and from the Airport Train Station (NJ Transit/Amtrak) is suspended on weekdays from 5am to 3pm. Shuttle buses replace it, and AirTrain service between terminals is not affected.
  • Runway 4L-22R is under a $121 million rehabilitation, with periodic nightly weekday closures. The airport advises checking with your airline for delays.
  • The FAA's hourly flight cap at Newark (72 arrivals and departures per hour) runs through Oct 24, 2026
  • Through Nov 6, 2026, access to P4 Daily Parking from southbound Brewster Road and the I-78 entrance from Brewster Road are detoured
  • On the nights of Oct 14 and 15, 2026 (10pm-5am), two lanes of the main airport entrance before the ramp to Terminal B/C parking are closed
  • Terminal C for-hire vehicle pickups have permanently moved from the curb to Level 3 of the Terminal C garage

Checking a bag

Delta (no EWR-specific exception): bags must be checked at least 45 minutes before domestic departures, international check-in closes 1 hour before, and you must be at the gate 15 minutes before departure. JetBlue at EWR: check-in and bags 45 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before international. United's EWR cutoffs could not be verified.

EWR tips first-timers miss

  • If you are flying from Terminal A by train, the AirTrain does not stop at Terminal A. Allow about 15 minutes to walk the covered path, or take the 5-minute shuttle.
  • Until Nov 20, 2026, the AirTrain to the NJ Transit/Amtrak station is replaced by shuttle buses on weekdays from 5am to 3pm. Allow extra time on weekday mornings.
  • United flies from both Terminal C and Terminal A, and an airside shuttle links the two after security, so check your departure terminal
  • At Terminal B, CLEAR is only for passengers flying from gates B40-B49

Leaving for EWR?

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Questions travelers ask

How early should I get to Newark airport?

The airport does not publish a set time. JetBlue and Delta recommend 2 hours before domestic flights, and Delta recommends 3 hours for international. Allow extra time if you arrive by train on a weekday morning, because AirTrain shuttle buses replace trains to the rail station from 5am to 3pm through Nov 20, 2026.

Does the AirTrain go to Newark Terminal A?

Not directly. From the AirTrain, Terminal A is about a 15-minute walk on a covered path or a 5-minute shuttle ride.

Can I walk between terminals at Newark after security?

No. A continuous airside shuttle links Terminals A and C after screening, but there is no airside link to Terminal B. You reach Terminal B by the landside AirTrain.

Sources

Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

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