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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Short Hills
One day is enough: take the 45‑min train from NYC, walk downtown, visit South Mountain and the Mall, then head back.
Short Hills is a small, walkable suburb of Newark, NJ, about 20 mi from Manhattan. Its main draws are the upscale Mall, South Mountain Reservation, and the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum. A day trip from New York covers the highlights; overnight stays are unnecessary unless you prefer luxury hotel amenities.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0 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 $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ 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 at a café | $3–5 |
| Sandwich or salad | $8–12 |
| Mall food court meal | $10–15 |
| Taxi (5 mi) | $20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EWR · Newark Liberty International Airport
- ≈20 min drive
- LGA · LaGuardia Airport (NY)
- ≈50 min drive
Typical fares
- Short Hills ↔ NYC train
- ≈ $15 round‑trip (check schedule)
- Bus Short Hills ↔ Penn Station
- $5 one‑way (check)
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
Walk (≈1½ h across town) or bike; NJ Transit train from NYC Penn Station 45 min; hourly bus $5 (~1 h); car rental for nearby malls.
See and do
Known for
- The Mall at Short Hills
- South Mountain Reservation
- Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
- Downtown Millburn
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | NJ Transit train from Short Hills to New York Penn Station, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Hilton Short Hills
- Across from the Mall; good for a comfortable night if desired
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the train station? | Where is the train station? |
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
- Train schedules vary on weekends; check NJ Transit times.
- Bus fare $5 is approximate; confirm on NJ Transit site.
- Parking at the Mall can be pricey; allow extra time.
Short Hills is a safe suburban area; typical U.S. caution applies – keep valuables secure in public places.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Short Hills yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Mall at Short Hills
- South Mountain Reservation
- Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
- Downtown Millburn
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Short Hills: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Short Hills, revision 5313302 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5313302
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Short Hills
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
US citizens: 911 for emergencies; nearest consulate in New York City.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/short-hills). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.