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Directions to Rutgers University
Located in central New Jersey at the heart of the bustling Eastern Seaboard, Rutgers University–New Brunswick is within easy reach of several major highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Route 1, and Route 287.
From New Jersey Turnpike | From Garden State Parkway |
From Route 1 | From Route 287 | Via Public Transit |
From the New Jersey Turnpike (North or South)
Turn off at Exit 9, bear right after the toll booths and follow signs for "Route 18 North–New Brunswick." Stay to the left to continue on Route 18 North.
To the College Avenue Campus
Proceed along Route 18 North and stay in the Route 18 North–Piscataway lane. Take the "George Street–Rutgers University–College Avenue Campus" exit (approximately 2.6 miles from the Turnpike).
At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp, bear right on George Street to head toward the Student Activities Center and Alexander Library, or turn left on George Street to head toward the Zimmerli Art Museum, Old Queens, and downtown New Brunswick.
To the Cook and Douglass campuses
Proceed on Route 18 North, pass the intersection with Paulus Boulevard, and bear right to access the local lanes marked "New Brunswick Exits George Street–Route 172–Cook/Douglass."
Immediately get in the left lane and make a left at the traffic light. Pass over Route 18, go through the next traffic light; then, following signs to George Street, stay in the right lane as you enter the roundabout. Bear right in the roundabout onto George Street.
At the next traffic light (Nichol Avenue), you are in the heart of the Douglass Campus; the Douglass Student Center is on the left side of the intersection.
For the Cook Campus, turn left at the traffic light onto Nichol Avenue and follow the signs to the campus.
To the Busch and Livingston campuses
Proceed along Route 18 North and bear left to access the express lanes marked "Route 18 North–Piscataway."
Cross the Raritan River (approximately 3.7 miles from the Turnpike).
For the Busch Campus, take the second exit, marked "Campus Road–Rutgers Stadium."
For the Livingston Campus, take the third exit, marked "Metlars Lane, Livingston Campus, Rutgers RAC." Make a right onto Avenue E at the traffic light.
From the Garden State Parkway
Southbound (from northern points)
Turn off at Exit 129 for the New Jersey Turnpike and head south.
Follow the "From the New Jersey Turnpike" directions to the individual campuses.
Northbound (from southern points)
Turn off at Exit 105 and follow signs for Route 18 North.
After approximately 24 miles, you will pass the entrance for the New Jersey Turnpike.
From Route 1
To the College Avenue, Busch, and Livingston campuses
From the North or South
Turn off at the exit marked "Route 18 North–New Brunswick." Follow the campus directions in the "From the New Jersey Turnpike" section.
Proceed past the turn for Route 18 to the College Farm Road exit. Bear right at the exit and make a right at the yield sign onto College Farm Road and follow signs for the campuses.
Proceed past DeVry/Ross University buildings and take the next exit from the right lane. The exit is not labeled. Follow the signs to Route 1 South and make a right at the first traffic light. Proceed under the highway and make a right at the traffic light.
Proceed past the Bristol-Myers Squibb sign. At the stop sign, make a left onto College Farm Road. There is a Rutgers-Cook-Douglass sign alerting you to the turn at this intersection.
From Route 287 (North or South)
(Coming into New Jersey from the west on I-78 or I-80, take 287 South.)
Turn off at Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park."
Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park.
Proceed 3.5 miles down River Road and exit right onto Route 18 South after the traffic light at Landing Lane. Cross the Raritan River on the John Lynch Memorial Bridge.
Stay in the right lane and take the first exit, "George Street–Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Route 27."
At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp, proceed straight onto George Street toward Old Queens, the Zimmerli Art Museum, and downtown New Brunswick or turn right onto Huntington Street, then turn left at the first traffic light onto College Avenue for the College Avenue Student Center.
Follow signs for Commercial Avenue and stay right when Route 18 splits. Make a right at the Commercial Avenue exit. Yield to traffic and then merge onto Commercial Avenue. Move to the left lane and make a left at the second traffic light onto George Street.
At the first traffic light (Nichol Avenue), you will be on the Douglass Campus, with the Douglass Student Center at that intersection.
For the Cook Campus, make a right onto Nichol Avenue and follow signs to that campus.
To Busch and Livingston campuses
After the traffic light at Landing Lane, continue straight on River Road passing under the Route 18 overpass. Make the next left onto Route 18 North.
For the Busch Campus, take the first exit, marked "Campus Road–Rutgers Stadium."
For the Livingston Campus, take the second exit, marked "Metlars Lane, Livingston Campus, Rutgers RAC." Make a right onto Avenue E at the traffic light.
Driving in the Garden State for the First Time?
Here are a few things you need to know:
The Jersey left: In many busy or congested intersections, you can't make a direct left turn. Instead, you "go right to turn left." That is, you take a jughandle that will loop around on a ramp and then take you to the left. It's called a jughandle because that's what it looks like.
At the pump: You can sit back and relax at New Jersey gas stations. It's the only state where gas station attendants fill your tank for you. You'll still pay less with cash than a credit card. And don't forget to fill up before you leave. New Jersey prices are usually lower than those of neighboring states.
Traffic circles: Don't panic, proceed slowly. Traffic in the circle usually has the right of way. Follow signs. Even if you have to go around more than once to get your bearings, you'll still get to your destination.
New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor line provides New Brunswick with both local and express service between Penn Station in New York and Newark and Trenton, New Jersey. (For information, 1-973-275-5555).
SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) provides service at Trenton and to and from Philadelphia. (For information, 215-580-7800).
Amtrak provides limited direct service to New Brunswick, however, connections can easily be made via New Jersey Transit trains to principal Amtrak stations at MetroPark, New York, and Trenton. (For information, 1-800-USA-RAIL).
New Jersey Transit Bus Routes (For information 1-973-275-5555):
810 New Brunswick-Woodbridge - Service between New Brunswick (Somerset Street and George Street near the New Brunswick Train Station) and Woodbridge (Woodbridge Center).
811 New Brunswick-South River - Service between New Brunswick (St. Peter's Hospital) and South River (Jackson between Wilson/Raritan). This route also has a stop at Somerset Street and George Street near the New Brunswick Train Station.
814 New Brunswick-Edison - Service between North Brunswick (Fashion Plaza Mall) and Edison (Middlesex County College) with a stop at Somerset Street and George Street near the New Brunswick Train Station.
815 New Brunswick-Woodbridge - Service between New Brunswick (Somerset Street and George Street near the New Brunswick Train Station) and Woodbridge (Woodbridge Center) with a stop in New Brunswick at Burnet Street and Tunison Road.
818 New Brunswick-East Brunswick-Old Bridge - Service between New Brunswick (Somerset Street and George Street near the New Brunswick Train Station) and Old Bridge (Civic Center). This route also has a stop in New Brunswick at Burnet Street and Tunison Road.
Visitors can park in Lot 48 on the Busch Campus, across from the Visitor Center, at no cost and without a permit from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Visitors who want to park in other areas of the university must purchase a permit, which can be obtained in advance at a cost of $5 a day. There is ample visitor parking on campus.
Other parking lots are conveniently located for those holding a Rutgers parking permit.
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