- Smoking area at Newark Airport means designated pre-security lounges only.
- Three smoking lounges in Terminals A, B, C — all pre-security, open 24/7.
- Exit security and re-enter if needed; budget 60 minutes for round trip.
- ✅ Best for: Smokers with a 2+ hour layover who can exit security.
- ❌ Not ideal for: Tight connections or those unwilling to leave security.
If you're a smoker connecting through Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), you already know the anxiety of finding a legal place to light up between flights. Unlike airports such as Las Vegas McCarran or Denver International, Newark has strictly regulated smoking areas that change with terminal renovations.
As of 2026, EWR offers three designated smoking lounges located in the public areas before security, but not a single smoking option inside the secure boarding areas. This guide covers where to find them, how to use them, and what to do if you're stuck in a long layover without one.
1. Where Are the Smoking Areas at Newark Airport?
Let's get straight to the point: Newark Airport has three official smoking areas, all located in the public areas (pre-security) of each terminal. None are inside the secure boarding gates.
Here's the breakdown by terminal:
| Terminal | Location | Type | Open 24/7? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Near baggage claim, far end of arrivals hall | Enclosed smoking lounge | Yes |
| B | Adjacent to Terminal B parking garage elevator banks | Open-air designated spot | Yes |
| C | Outside near Uber/Lyft pickup zone, lower level | Sheltered outdoor area | Yes |
All three locations are clearly marked with signs reading "Designated Smoking Area" and are typically staffed or monitored. Despite being called "lounges" in Terminal A, these are minimal spaces with bench seating and ashtrays — no air conditioning or amenities.
Important note for connecting passengers: If you're staying inside security, you cannot access any smoking area without exiting the secure zone and re-clearing security. That process can take 30–60 minutes on busy days (TSA average wait times at EWR are 18 minutes for standard lanes, 8 for PreCheck). Plan accordingly — or consider alternatives.
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (which operates EWR), the airport has not permitted smoking inside secure areas since 2012, following federal regulations. Several lawsuits by passenger advocacy groups have failed to reinstate indoor smoking lounges.
Pro Tip
If you have a long layover (3+ hours), the best move is to exit the secure area, use the smoking lounge in Terminal A (the most comfortable with benches and shade), then re-clear security. This only makes sense if you have no checked bags and enough time. Budget 60 minutes for the full round trip.
2. What Are the Rules & Penalties for Smoking at Newark?
Smoking at Newark Airport outside of designated areas carries stiff penalties. According to the Port Authority, violators face fines starting at $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for repeat violations within the same calendar year.
Specific prohibitions include:
- Smoking in any restroom, stairwell, hallway, or retail space
- Using e-cigarettes or vaping devices anywhere except designated smoking areas
- Leaving a smoking area to smoke on any pedestrian walkway, bridge, or curb
- Smoking in any rental car shuttle bus or hotel courtesy vehicle
New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-13) prohibits smoking in all enclosed public buildings and workplaces, and airports are explicitly included. EWR security personnel and Port Authority Police actively patrol and issue citations. In 2025, over 1,700 fines were issued at EWR for smoking violations, per Port Authority records.
For international travelers: If you're traveling from a country where indoor smoking is common (e.g., Japan, Germany), be aware that cigarette lighters and matches are allowed in carry-on luggage per TSA rules (one pack of strike-anywhere matches, one butane lighter). However, you cannot smoke in any part of the terminal, including the gate areas or jet bridges.
Regarding vaping: The same rules apply to e-cigarettes and vape pens. You cannot vape anywhere inside the terminal, including bathrooms or corridors. Many travelers mistakenly think vaping is exempt — it is not. TSA agents and airport police are trained to flag vaping anywhere on airport property.
Pro Tip
If you're a heavy smoker facing a 2+ hour layover, consider packing nicotine gum or lozenges (available at most airport newsstands, including Hudson News in all terminals). They cost around $8–12 and can save you from a $250 fine — not to mention the stress of exiting and re-entering security.
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3. Alternatives to Smoking: What Should You Do During a Layover?
If you can't access the smoking lounges (or don't have time to exit security), you still have several better options than enduring nicotine cravings for hours.
What alternatives work best at EWR?
- Nicotine replacement therapy: Gum, lozenges, or patches are sold at all terminal newsstands (Hudson News, WHSmith). A 10-piece pack of 2mg nicotine gum costs about $12. For a smoother experience, try 4mg if you're a heavy smoker (more than 10 cigarettes/day).
- Walk through the SkyBridges: EWR's three terminals are connected by internal walkways (SkyBridge between Terminals A & C is the longest, about 15 minutes one way). Walking helps with stress and uses up time.
- Visit an airport lounge: Many airport lounges (Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal B, United Clubs in Terminal C, British Airways Lounge in Terminal B) do not have smoking areas but provide comfortable seating and WiFi. Wait times for free admission are typically an hour during peak hours (10am–2pm).
- Take a power nap: Minute Suites in Terminal B (near Gate 32) charge $42/hour for soundproofed napping pods with reclining chairs. Sleeping helps reset nicotine cravings naturally.
What about the parking garages? Some travelers try smoking in the parking garages. This is prohibited — all Port Authority-owned garages are smoke-free. Fines apply there as well.
For really long layovers (6+ hours): Consider leaving the airport entirely. EWR is connected to NYC via NJ Transit trains (14 minutes to Penn Station) and Amtrak. You can pop out for a smoke break in Newark's Ironbound district (10-minute train ride), grab a meal, and return. Just allow 90 minutes total for round trip and re-checking security.
Pro Tip
If you're a heavy smoker traveling internationally, consider buying a nicotine inhaler (Rx-only in the US, but available OTC in many other countries). These mimic the hand-to-mouth habit more closely than gum and work better for some people during long flights and airport transitions.
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4. What About Vaping, E-Cigarettes & Other Alternatives at EWR?
The short answer: vaping is treated exactly like smoking at Newark Airport. The same designated smoking areas are the only places you can vape. You cannot vape anywhere inside the terminal, including bathrooms, corridors, or gate areas.
Why this matters: Many vapers assume e-cigarettes are exempt because they produce vapor, not smoke. That's incorrect. Port Authority policy explicitly bans "use of any tobacco product or electronic nicotine delivery device" in all public areas. TSA agents have been trained to identify vape pens and can issue citations.
What about vape shops? There are no dedicated vape shops inside EWR terminals. The only places selling vaping products are airport newsstands (Hudson News, WHSmith). They typically carry disposable e-cigarettes (like JUUL or Puff Bar) for around $15–25. They do not carry refillable vape pens or e-liquids.
For travelers carrying vape gear: TSA rules permit vape pens and e-liquids in carry-on bags only — not in checked luggage. The batteries must be protected from short circuits (tape terminals, use a battery case). E-liquids over 3.4 oz (100 ml) cannot be in carry-on, but larger bottles can be packed in checked bags as long as no batteries are included.
Legal status of marijuana at EWR: While New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, you cannot smoke or vape marijuana anywhere at the airport, including designated smoking areas. Airport rules explicitly prohibit all smoking except of tobacco products. Possession of marijuana in carry-on luggage is also prohibited per TSA rules (though TSA currently defers to local law enforcement for small amounts). However, is it worth the risk? Absolutely not.
Pro Tip
If you carry a vape pen through security, ensure the battery is accessible (not buried in a bag) because TSA may ask to inspect it. Also, avoid using it on the plane — even in the bathroom. Federal law bans vaping on all commercial flights, and violators face fines up to $2,500 (per DOT).
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There are no smoking areas inside the secure boarding areas of any terminal at EWR. All three designated smoking areas are located in the public (pre-security) areas. If you need to smoke, you must exit the secure zone, use the smoking lounge, and re-clear security, which adds 30–60 minutes to your itinerary.
The Terminal A smoking lounge is located near the baggage claim area, at the far end of the arrivals hall. It's an enclosed room with bench seating and ashtrays, open 24/7. Signage reads 'Designated Smoking Area.' It is the most comfortable of the three EWR smoking areas, with shade and basic seating.
No. Vaping is treated the same as smoking at EWR. You may only use e-cigarettes or vapes inside the three designated outdoor smoking lounges located pre-security. Vaping anywhere else in the terminal, including restrooms or corridors, can result in a $250 fine.
No. All Port Authority-operated parking garages at EWR are completely smoke-free. Smoking in a parking garage carries the same fine as inside the terminal — $250. The only smoking areas are the three designated lounges near baggage claim areas in Terminals A, B, and C.
Yes. TSA permits one pack of strike-anywhere matches and one butane lighter in your carry-on bag. However, you are not allowed to use them anywhere in the terminal except the designated smoking areas. Matches and lighters are not allowed in checked luggage.
🔭 Explore More Topics
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (2026) — EWR Smoking Policy
- TSA (2026) — What Can I Bring? Lighters & Matches
- New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) — N.J.S.A. 2C:33-13
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — Prohibition on Smoking On Aircraft
Related topics: smoking area at newark airport, Newark Airport smoking lounge, EWR smoking policy, vaping at Newark Airport, smoking rules airports
