Rutgers Commute: Piscataway To New Brunswick

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. The university offers a campus bus and shuttle service to students on all five campuses. The Rutgers University—New Brunswick Campus Buses use ADA-accessible buses on multiple routes across the campus, providing a safe and reliable service. The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) at Rutgers also provides a comprehensive transit system that serves all destinations on the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses. Rutgers–New Brunswick is also easily accessible by public transportation, including the New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor line, which provides local and express service between Penn Station in New York, Penn Station in Newark, and Trenton, New Jersey.

Driving directions from Piscataway to Rutgers New Brunswick

From the New Jersey Turnpike (North or South)

If you are driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, take Exit 9 and bear right after the toll booths. Follow the signs for "Route 18 North–New Brunswick." Stay in the left lane to continue on Route 18 North.

To the College Avenue Campus

Continue on Route 18 North and stay in the lane marked "Route 18 North–Piscataway." Take the exit for "George Street–Rutgers University–College Avenue Campus." This exit is approximately 2.6 miles from the Turnpike.

At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp, turn right onto George Street if you are heading towards the Student Activities Center and Alexander Library. If you are going towards the Zimmerli Art Museum, Old Queens, and downtown New Brunswick, turn left onto George Street.

To the Cook and Douglass campuses

Continue on Route 18 North and pass the intersection with Paulus Boulevard. Bear right to access the local lanes marked "New Brunswick Exits George Street–Route 172–Cook/Douglass." Get into the left lane and make a left at the traffic light. Pass through the next traffic light, and then follow the signs to George Street, staying in the right lane as you enter the roundabout. Exit the roundabout by turning right onto George Street.

At the next traffic light, which is at Nichol Avenue, you will be in the heart of the Douglass Campus. The Douglass Student Center will be on your left. For the Cook Campus, turn left at the traffic light onto Nichol Avenue and follow the signs.

To the Busch and Livingston campuses

Continue on Route 18 North and bear left to access the express lanes marked "Route 18 North–Piscataway." Cross the Raritan River, which is 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." Turn right onto Avenue E at the traffic light.

From the Garden State Parkway

Southbound (from northern points)

Take Exit 129 to get on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound. Then, follow the directions from the New Jersey Turnpike to your desired campus.

Northbound (from southern points)

Take Exit 105 and follow the signs for Route 18 North. After about 24 miles, you will pass the entrance for the New Jersey Turnpike. From there, follow the directions from the New Jersey Turnpike to your specific campus.

To the College Avenue, Busch, and Livingston campuses

Take the exit marked "Route 18 North–New Brunswick" from either the North or South. Then, follow the campus directions as outlined in the "From the New Jersey Turnpike" section.

To the Cook and Douglass campuses

Southbound (from northern points)

Proceed past the turn for Route 18 to the College Farm Road exit. Bear right at the exit and then turn right at the yield sign onto College Farm Road. Follow the signs to the campuses.

Northbound (from southern points)

Pass the DeVry/Ross University buildings and take the next exit from the right lane (it is not labeled). Follow the signs to Route 1 South and turn right at the first traffic light. Go under the highway and make a right at the next traffic light.

Pass the Bristol-Myers Squibb sign and make a left onto College Farm Road at the stop sign. There should be a Rutgers-Cook-Douglass sign indicating this turn.

From Route 287 (North or South)

Take Exit 9, "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park," if you are coming into New Jersey from the west on I-78 or I-80. Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park.

To the College Avenue Campus

Continue on River Road for about 3.5 miles and exit 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, proceed straight onto George Street toward Old Queens, the Zimmerli Art Museum, and downtown New Brunswick. If you would like to go to the College Avenue Student Center, turn right onto Huntington Street, and then turn left at the next traffic light onto College Avenue.

To the Cook and Douglass campuses

Again, proceed for about 3.5 miles on River Road and exit onto Route 18 South after the traffic light at Landing Lane. Cross the Raritan River on the John Lynch Memorial Bridge.

Follow the signs for Commercial Avenue and stay to the right when Route 18 splits. Take the Commercial Avenue exit and yield to traffic before merging. Move to the left lane and turn left at the second traffic light onto George Street.

At the first traffic light, which is at Nichol Avenue, you will be on the Douglass Campus. The Douglass Student Center is at this intersection. For the Cook Campus, turn right onto Nichol Avenue and follow the signs.

To Busch and Livingston campuses

After the traffic light at Landing Lane, continue straight on River Road, passing under the Route 18 overpass. Make a 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." Turn right onto Avenue E at the traffic light.

Public transport options from Piscataway to Rutgers New Brunswick

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. The university offers campus bus and shuttle services to students on all five campuses.

If you're travelling from Piscataway, New Jersey, you can use public transportation to get to Rutgers New Brunswick. Here are some options:

By Bus

The Rutgers University–New Brunswick Campus Buses provide safe and reliable service to the Rutgers community with multiple ADA-accessible bus routes across the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses. You can find bus route information, descriptions, and schedules on the Rutgers University website or mobile application. You can also track your bus in real time using the PassioGo app or by visiting rutgers.passiogo.com. The buses are free of charge and do not require an ID during normal operating hours.

By Train

NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line provides rail transportation to New Brunswick from New York Penn Station, Newark, and the Trenton Transit Center. You can find schedules and fares on the NJ Transit website.

Other Public Transportation Options

• SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) provides rail transportation between Philadelphia and the Trenton Transit Center.
• Amtrak provides limited direct service to New Brunswick, but connections can be made via New Jersey Transit trains to principal Amtrak stations at MetroPark, New York, and Trenton.

Rutgers New Brunswick campus bus and shuttle service

Rutgers University—New Brunswick offers a campus bus and shuttle service to students on all five campuses. The Rutgers University—New Brunswick Campus Buses use ADA-accessible buses on multiple routes across the campus, providing safe and reliable service to the Rutgers University community. Accessible bus service is available to all members of the Rutgers University community.

The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) at Rutgers provides a comprehensive transit system that serves all destinations on the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses. All campus buses are equipped to handle individuals with mobility impairments and have low entrance steps and/or mechanical platforms for wheelchair accessibility.

The Knight Mover provides transportation within or between all of the Rutgers University-New Brunswick & Piscataway Campuses after the Intercampus Transit System ceases to operate for the night. This service is only open to Rutgers University-affiliated persons (Faculty, Staff, Students) and requires a valid university ID to board the bus. You cannot reserve a Knight Mover pickup time in advance. You have to be ready and available for immediate/prompt pickup at the time that you call in your request.

You can use the Rutgers University mobile application to check Campus Bus times. You can also use the PassioGo app to track your campus bus in real time.

Bicycle and scooter rental programs at Rutgers New Brunswick

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. The university also offers campus bus and shuttle services to students on all five campuses. These buses are ADA-accessible, providing a safe and reliable service to the Rutgers community. The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) at Rutgers provides a comprehensive transit system that serves all destinations on the New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses.

Now, let's focus on bicycle and scooter rental programs at Rutgers New Brunswick.

Bicycle Rental Program

RUDOTS manages and operates the on-campus bicycle rental program, which provides students at Rutgers University New Brunswick with access to bicycles for transportation and recreational purposes. The program promotes sustainable transportation options, encourages physical activity, and contributes to a greener campus community.

To participate, students must register and pay a rental fee of $50 per semester before obtaining their bike. The reservation can be made online at https://bikes.ipo.rutgers.edu/, and once confirmed, the bike can be picked up from 6 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

RUDOTS has also created BikeRU Campus Bicycle Maps for Livingston, Cook, Douglass, Busch, and College Avenue Campuses, which show shared-use paths, bicycle lanes, bicycle-friendly roadways, and bicycle parking, among other features.

Scooter Rental Program

Scooters are available on the New Brunswick and Newark campuses through independent companies that provide scooter-sharing programs. These programs are operated at the user's own risk, and any questions or issues must be addressed directly to the companies, as they are independent of Rutgers University.

For more information on both the bicycle and scooter rental programs, students can visit DOTSHelp.rutgers.edu.

Parking tips for commuters to Rutgers New Brunswick

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is easily accessible from Piscataway, New Jersey, and there are several transport options available. Here are some parking tips for commuters travelling from Piscataway to Rutgers New Brunswick by car:

Parking Permits

Buy a parking permit in mid-August to allow you to park in your assigned lot on one of the five campuses. Permits can be purchased at rudots.rutgers.edu, and multiple cars can be registered to a single permit.

Assigned Lots

Your day pass only permits you to park in one specific lot on your assigned campus. Check the rudots.rutgers.edu website to see which lots are assigned to your permit's zone and to find out which additional lots you can park in after 6 pm. Parking in a lot that is not assigned to you risks getting you a ticket, which can lead to late fees and holds on class registration.

Overnight Parking

There are a limited number of lots that allow overnight parking from 2 am to 8 am on each campus. Check the parking website (rudots.rutgers.edu) to see the lots available for each campus.

Traffic and Weather

Always check for traffic alerts, road closures, and weather conditions before you leave. Keep in mind that bad weather can make your commute longer.

Alternative Transport Options

If you don't want to drive, there are other ways to get to Rutgers New Brunswick from Piscataway. Rutgers University–New Brunswick offers a campus bus and shuttle service to students on all five campuses. There is also a bike rental program available at central locations throughout the New Brunswick Campus. Additionally, scooters are available to students on the New Brunswick campus.

Frequently asked questions