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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Half a day is enough: walk Main Street, see the Hartley Dodge Memorial and catch a train back to New York or Morristown. One night only if visiting Drew University or a friend.
Madison is a small college town in Morris County, New Jersey, 45 minutes by train from New York City. Its walkable downtown has a historic train station, a few shops and restaurants, and the Hartley Dodge Memorial building. Most visitors pass through on a day trip from New York or Morristown.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Madison, New Jersey
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (humid), Dec–Feb (cold)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Sandwich or lunch plate | $10–16 |
| Dinner entrée | $15–30 |
| Beer (pint) | $6–9 |
| NJ Transit one-way to New York | $12–15 (check) |
| Taxi from Madison to Morristown | $15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EWR · Newark Liberty International Airport
- About 30 min by car or NJ Transit train via Newark Penn Station
Typical fares
- NJ Transit Madison → New York (one way)
- about $12–15, 45 min (check)
- Taxi Madison → Morristown
- $15–20
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Downtown is walkable. NJ Transit trains connect Madison to New York (Hoboken or Penn Station) and Morristown. A car is not needed for the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Hartley Dodge Memorial
- Drew University
- Historic train station
- Main Street shops and restaurants
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morristown | NJ Transit train, about 10 min | About 20 min |
| New York City | NJ Transit train to Hoboken or Penn Station, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Washington, Morris County, New Jersey | Car, about 15 min | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Downtown / Main Street
- Walkable to the train station and restaurants; limited hotel options.
- Near Drew University
- Quiet residential area; a 10–15 min walk to downtown.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?how much is it |
| Where is the train station? | Where is the train station?where is the train station |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?can I pay by card |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Last NJ Transit train to New York departs around midnight; check the schedule.
- Parking is limited downtown; use the train station lot or street parking.
- Many restaurants close by 9–10 pm on weeknights.
Madison is a safe suburban town. The main risk is jaywalking on Main Street; trains run through the centre, so stay behind the yellow line at the station.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Madison yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hartley Dodge Memorial
- Drew University
- Historic train station
- Main Street shops and restaurants
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Madison Borough official website: www.rosenet.org/
- Wikivoyage: Madison (New Jersey), revision 4226482 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4226482
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
MadisonMadison, New Jersey
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is the primary language; no special phrases needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/madison-new-jersey). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.