The Long Island Railroad, or LIRR, is the busiest commuter railroad in the United States, according to longisland.com. Commuters fight for parking spots every morning and by 7 A.M., almost every parking spot has been claimed.

Anyone can take a train, but not everyone has a pleasant and worry- or confusion-free experience. Not everyone has the opportunity to sit during the potential two-hour ride to Penn Station, either. Here are some tips to make your commute on the LIRR the best experience possible.

1. Show up early.

As stated above, commuter parking lots fill up quickly. Chances are, the only parking spots left are almost a mile away from the train and if you still have to buy a ticket, you'll probably miss your train if you cut it too close. Show up at least a half hour early.

2. If there's a ticket window, use it.

A lot of times, the lines at the automated ticket machines are super long and waiting in them can cause you to miss your train. If the station has a ticket window, use it. Daily commuters probably won't because using the window is more of a "tourist move," so embrace it and get your ticket faster than everyone else.

3. That said, buy your ticket before you get on the train.

A one way ticket to Penn Station can be anywhere from $13 to $17 depending on the time of day, but that price increases by at least $6 if you choose to buy your ticket on the actual train. Plus you can only use cash to buy it on board.

4. Know if you're traveling on or off peak.

On-peak: traveling to NYC between 6 A.M. and 10 A.M. or departing NYC terminals between 4 P.M. and 8 P.M. Everything else is off-peak, including all day Saturday and Sunday. If you aren't sure, just buy an on-peak ticket. If you buy an off-peak ticket and it's on-peak, they'll make you pay an extra $3 cash on the train.

5. Try to get a train without transfers.

Transfers on the LIRR usually happen at Jamaica station, which is not only huge and can be confusing, but it's also a little sketchy at night. Try not to transfer, especially in Jamaica.

6. Don't sit in the seats that face each other.

If you're one of the first stops on the LIRR, it can be tempting to sit in the seats in blocks of four or six that face each other so you can put your feet up. However, once you get four or five stops deep, the train will get more crowded and people will most definitely ask if they can sit in the seat your feet are in. Then you'll be stuck knocking knees with a stranger

7. Don't talk on your phone on any train earlier than 10 A.M.

Commuting sucks. Most people that commute are at work longer than they're at their own home. Most of the time, especially on the 5, 6 or 7 A.M. trains, people use the train ride to catch up on sleep. Don't be that person on the phone disturbing the silence.

8. Don't sleep on the train unless you know you can wake up before your stop.

Yesterday I saw a man run toward closing doors in the train holding station at Penn because he'd been asleep and didn't realize we'd reached the final destination. He didn't make it out of the doors. Usually after a train's last stop, the doors close and they go into holding or all the way back the way they came. Don't get stuck on the train.

9. Don't plan to do work on the train.

Unless you have work to do that doesn't involve Wi-Fi, don't plan to do much other than stare out the window. The LIRR doesn't have Wi-Fi, and LTE or 3G is very spotty in certain areas. I highly recommend bringing a book.

10. Don't bring luggage that can't easily be stored overhead.

This goes back to the "don't sit in the seats facing each other" rule. Putting large luggage on the seat next to you may seem like an easy solution, but someone will ask you to move it. Aisles have to remain clear, so your only option is to stow it or stand in the back for the whole ride.

11. Bring your electronics charged.

Outlets on the LIRR are far and few between. Make sure to bring your phone/laptop/kindle fully charged.

12. Bring food if necessary.

Most trains have a food cart, but not on the LIRR. Try to grab coffee or a bagel or whatever you need before you get on the train.

13. Grab a beer from the beer cart.

Around 5 P.M., the LIRR has a beer cart in the basement of Penn on the train platforms. Take advantage!

14. Expect running -- a lot of running.

Sprinting to the LIRR could be an Olympic sport. Men with briefcases and women in heels sprint unashamed in Penn Station toward trains returning to Long Island. This isn't as common around 2 P.M., but this can be seen on most trains after 5 P.M. If you don't sprint, you don't get a seat.

15. Don't sit in the bathroom car.

Certain cars on the LIRR have a bathroom car, which at first, may seem convenient to sit near. However, you'll be stuck listening to the sliding door open and close during the entire train ride and it can be very annoying.

16. Be wary of the retro cars.

Every once in awhile, your normal, modern LIRR train will be replaced with what looks like a relic of the '70s. The floors are wooden, the seats are blue and red and the lights flicker constantly. It may be fine, but it still freaks me out every time.

But above all, enjoy the ride! The train can be a very relaxing experience and it's not the worst transportation to use for commuting. Following these tips will help make the ride even nicer and make you seem like a well-versed commuter and not just another inexperienced tourist.