Hotels in Plainfield

Plainfield sits in Union County, New Jersey, a commuter city of Victorian and Queen Anne homes that once made it a genteel suburb of choice before mid-century decline hollowed out its downtown. It's had a slow, real comeback: the historic districts around Van Vleck House and Gardens are worth a wander, and NJ Transit trains put Manhattan under an hour away, which is the actual reason most visitors end up here.

This isn't a destination in its own right — there's little in the way of dining or nightlife to hold you, and the city center still shows its rougher patches after dark. It works as a cheaper, quieter base than Newark or Jersey City for travelers who just need a bed and a train platform. Stay near the downtown train station so the New York commute stays simple and you're not dependent on a car.