Open your guidebooks and note the following:
Rt. 94 into Vernon, NJ is a narrow 2 lane speedway with steep banks, no shoulder, and reckless Jersey drivers. Believe me, Road = painful death.
INSTEAD:
Follow the railroad tracks into town (located 100 yards before Rt.94 crossing for NOBOs). It’s faster, safer, and more scenic. Turn left at the Trackside Cafe, make a right, and you’ll end up by the Wendy’s and Dunkin Donuts. It’s a small town, so if you get lost, you’re an idiot.
Scarecrow
This is good advice and I think it can be a hard hitch depending on what time of the day you reach Rt 94. This is all the more reason if you cannot find a ride. Like scarecrow said, Rt 94 is a very busy highway and can be very dangerous walking with such a narrow shoulder.
Tribes
I came off the trail,took a left and got icecream at that garden store, then hitched into Vernon. It only took me about 20 minutes to catch a ride. Once in Vernon, now thats where the danger comes in. Those people really bolt around in that little town,
Virginian
We got a hitch immediately from that garden/ice cream/veggie store (great place too!)…but I can see where you wouldn’t want to walk that road. One of the best groceries on the trail.
mmm. Dunkin Donuts. 
Bluebearee
If you hiked from either GA or ME to Vernon NJ and still can’t hitch a ride into town, then you need to hang up your boots. If you talk to 1000 hikers, every single one has had great, good, ok, bad, worse or words can’t say enough hitches. Open your book and write this inside the cover. "Over the corse of 2172 miles, from time to time this book will be incorrect and on occasion you will have to resort to good ol fashion common sense.
Karma
GA-ME 03
Karma
Vernon was the first (and only) place I hitched by myself. I came over the stile and thought “Huh, no place for cars to pull over.” So I shortened my hiking poles and walked a bit to the left, so that anyone stopping could pull into the hikers lot. The first car stopped, but stopped right there in the road. It was a lady with her young daughter. “Do you pick up many hiker?” I asked. “No, you’re the first one.” Two firsts in one! She knew exactly where to take me though, so she was familiar with AT hikers. Hitching out in the morning took a little bit longer, but I was picked up by a lady who said she always picks up hikers when she sees them.
I didn’t even leave the church hostel when I was there. I’d just spent 3 days in motels while my brothers and dad visited me, and I had plenty of food since I wasn’t planning on going to the hostel until I changed my mind in the afternoon. Turns out, I was picked up by Hotdog’s family the next afternoon and spent 3 or 4 more nights in a hotel on Greenwood Lake (Lake Greenwood???). Yep, that backpacking thing was rough for those days…
Wench
As a former long time resident of Warwick, NY (10 minutes from Vernon, NJ) heres another tip for your Trail Guide.
If you are in need of some new boots or trail runners, instead of hitching east into Vernon, hitch West into New Milford, NY. It’s about 3 miles west of the trail on the state line.
Sneakers to Boots is a great store on the left hand side of the road. The owner Ralph is a great guy. Tell him Jeffrey Hunter sent you, and that I said he’d take good care of you.
The New Milford Deli is also right there. You can get yourself one of those famous NY “sangwiches” there. There is a great Vet there too. Jocky Hollow Veterinarian. George Pincham took care of my animals for years.
If you want to stay on the trail a little further, you can cross Route 94, and hike to the next road crossing. AT that road crossing you can walk downhill (steep) about 1.5 miles to Sneakers to Boots. This road would be a tough hitch. It is a tertiary road woth little traffic, but there is a BEAUTIFUL old farm between the trailhead and HWY 94 that has been purchased by the State of NJ. If you’re a photographer, you might want to duck off the trail and walk .3 or .4 west (left) to take a few photos of the old farm. There’s an old-timey sawmill sitting in a field, and as of last year, it was just rusting and getting overgrown. It would make for some nice photos.
Wench, it’s Greenwood Lake.
Little Bear
GA-ME 2000
Jeffrey Hunter
That’s a horrible road to walk down. Just hitch, it’s not a difficult ride to get.
The person that mentioned town being a danger knows what they’re talking about. Apparently, the drivers don’t adhere to crosswalks at all…I had to jump out of the way of a car on the way to BK.
bearbait
Good folk, and if you do take the time to walk up to the little farmers market thingy with the Ice Cream, a hitch is far easier into town. DOnt for get to bring your bug spray though if you are there in mid spring/early summer, as the MOskeeters are BRUTAL through that area…the ‘scenic’ resivor and bridge walk…well…run for your life around that little square half mile or so of trail, as it is a breeding ground of hungry ass mean and unkillable biters…you have been warned.!:boy
Another thing…definatley follow the rules at the hostel…it was close to being shut down this year because of an incident that occured…as most of you know, it is all about respect.
Lion King
I got a great ride there. Two cars come around the turn, the third one is a cop car. I pull the thumb in turn around and walk. He stops, opens the door and says “Get in”. I think “Oh shit, I’m busted for hitching”. He drives me to the hostel, I get out, he leaves without another word.
Blue Jay