Are they rolling out the new jetpacks in time for the parade? Rent several of them and make the quick leap to the suburbs afterward.
Where in south New Jersey are you going; that is, how close to the Northeast Corridor? Would it be feasible to take most of the trip by train? Take a train to the parade, then afterwards leave from Penn Station (right near Macy’s as already stated) on an Amtrak or NJT Northeast Corridor train to the nearest station to your destination, having someone there pick you up in their car.
Couldn’t you go down into the subway to the mezzanine level then come up on the other side of the street? I haven’t been in NYC much, but I’ve used that trick here in Chicago for parades in State or Dearborn Street.
Park at the Weehawken ferry, take the ferry to 42nd and the river, take the (free)bus to mid town, and reverse your route on the way back.
I second this - a car in Manhattan is a horror even at the best of times. During a holiday parade - no way!
Plan B when you arrive in Jersey this afternoon, give an update on the plan you used and results!
Here’s what we did. On the advice of a friend from work, we parked the car near the 4th Avenue station of the F train, took the F in to the parade and out again. It all worked out fine. Avoided the crowds, moved very fast. Then got on the Brooklyn Queens Expwy to Staten Island.
The only problem was that Staten Island was very slow, lost about an hour there. The other plan we considered was to park at a parking lot near the Holland Tunnel. Maybe we’ll try that next year.