Unraveling the mystery of Newark Airport’s new ‘Lot 151′

I just took a mini-vacation, and was shopping around for airport parking options. As I have written about previously, I strongly prefer to park on airport property rather than in a local off-airport lot — it is usually cheaper, faster, and more convenient.

As you may know, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey — which operates the airport — offers several parking options at a variety of price points. Ranging from $25 a day at the P6 Economy lot, to $38 a day at the P4 Daily garage, to $44 a day at the Short-Term Terminal lots. (Note: Those are the current prebooking rates.)

Imagine my surprise when I discovered a brand new option on the airport web site. For a parking lot I have never heard of before.

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The Mystery

Lot 151. It just oozes mystery and intrigue. Maybe it's because the name is so close to "Area 51". Maybe because 151, among other things, shares its name with a popular high-proof rum.

An updated EWR parking map shows Lot 151 is situated on the northern edge of airport property, at the corner of Brewster Rd. and Conrad Rd.

According to the Newark Airport parking booking site: "Available for a limited time! Safe and official. Free shuttle-bus service direct to terminals; travel time 10 minutes depending on the terminal. One bus stop closer to terminals than P6 Economy, also lowest price."

The fine print indicates that a human staff member will be on-site to verify a prepaid booking, and allow access to and exit from the lot. The price seems to be equal to the discounted prepaid rate for the nearby P6 Economy lot — $25 a day.

But here is the most curious part — that is all the information available about Lot 151. There is no other mention of "Lot 151" on the Port Authority web site. Nor anywhere on the internet — a Google search returns very few relevant, useful entries. (Other than a recommendation from one Redditor who apparently parked there in 2022.)

So is this parking lot real? Will there be an actual attendant there? With frequent shuttle service to EWR's terminals?

What to Know About Lot 151

Yes, Lot 151 is real.

The infrastructure is temporary. The attendant booth is on wheels. Cones replace painted lines to mark parking aisles. Entry/exit gates are not permanent.

It is clearly an ad hoc overflow parking lot, intended for use only during very busy travel periods. There must be an attendant on-duty 24/7, to check reservations and (presumably) offer an extra layer of lot security.

Approaching the lot, there are some signs pointing there. But you really need to know exactly where you're going, and/or follow signed to "North Area" and "Building 151" to find it.

Transportation to and from the airport terminals is available. But travelers have to cross the busy Brewster Road to catch a shuttle bus. Also, the same buses that service the P6 Economy lot a half-mile away — which may be totally full before even reaching Lot 151.

Prepaid online bookings are available from Saturday, November 18, 2023 to Wednesday, November 29, 2023 — coinciding with the busy Thanksgiving travel weeks. (I suspect those dates will be extended through the Christmas holiday season too, if needed.)

The Bottom Line

Mystery solved — Lot 151 is a relatively new and temporary parking option at Newark Airport. I'm not sure it is a good option for the average airport traveler, except as a last resort. (If literally every other affordable option is taken.)

Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Check out Dan's weather blog or follow him on Facebook for your latest weather forecast updates.