Rutgers New Brunswick: Which Turnpike Exit?

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is located in central New Jersey and is easily accessible from several major highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Route 1, and Route 287. When travelling via the New Jersey Turnpike (North or South), drivers are instructed to take Exit 9 and follow signs for Route 18 North–New Brunswick. Similarly, when travelling via the Garden State Parkway, Exit 105 leads to Route 18 North towards New Brunswick. For those travelling via Route 287 (North or South), Exit 9 leads to River Road, from where drivers can access Route 18 and subsequently, New Brunswick.

Directions from the New Jersey Turnpike

To get to Rutgers University–New Brunswick from the New Jersey Turnpike (North or South), take Exit 9 and bear right after the toll booths. Follow the signs for "Route 18 North–New Brunswick". Stay to the left to continue on Route 18 North.

To the College Avenue Campus

Stay in the Route 18 North–Piscataway lane on Route 18 North. 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. To head toward the Zimmerli Art Museum, Old Queens, and downtown New Brunswick, turn left on George Street.

To the Cook and Douglass campuses

Proceed 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 in the left lane immediately and make a left turn at the traffic light. Pass over Route 18, go through the next traffic light, and then follow the signs to George Street. Stay in the right lane as you enter the roundabout and then bear right onto George Street.

At the next traffic light (Nichol Avenue), you will be in the heart of the Douglass Campus; the Douglass Student Center will be 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.

Directions 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 the signs for Route 18 North. After approximately 24 miles, you will pass the entrance for the New Jersey Turnpike. Follow the "From the New Jersey Turnpike" directions to the individual campuses.

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.

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 make a right at the yield sign onto College Farm Road and follow the signs for the campuses.

Northbound (from southern points): Proceed past DeVry/Ross University buildings and take the next exit from the right lane. The exit is not labelled. 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 1

Turn off Route 1 at the exit marked "Route 18 North–New Brunswick." Follow the directions from Route 18 North in the New Jersey Turnpike instructions above.

From Route 287 (North or South)

Turn off at Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park." Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park. Make a right onto Route 18 South (exit after the traffic light at Landing Lane). Cross the Raritan River on the John Lynch Memorial Bridge. Continue on Route 18 South. Follow the signs for the New Brunswick exits, and make a right at the Commercial Avenue exit. Proceed to the second light, and make a left onto George Street. At the next light, make a right turn onto Nichol Avenue. Follow the local directions from Nichol Avenue as above.

Directions from Interstate 287

If you're coming into New Jersey from the west on I-78 or I-80, take 287 South. To get to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, take Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park." Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park.

To get to the College Avenue Campus, 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.

To get to the Cook and Douglass campuses, 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. 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 the signs to the campus.

To get to the 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.

Directions from Route 1

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is located in central New Jersey and is easily accessible from several major highways, including Route 1.

To get to Rutgers University–New Brunswick from Route 1, take the exit marked "Route 18 North–New Brunswick." After exiting, follow the directions from Route 18 North as outlined below.

Stay to the right for the "Local New Brunswick" exits. Take the exit marked "George Street–Rutgers University" (approximately 2.4 to 2.6 miles from Route 1). At the top of the exit ramp, turn left onto George Street.

To get to the College Avenue Campus, proceed straight onto George Street toward Old Queens, the Zimmerli Art Museum, the Student Activities Center, and Alexander Library. You can also turn right onto Huntington Street, then turn left at the first traffic light onto College Avenue for the College Avenue Student Center.

To get to the Cook and Douglass campuses, proceed on Route 18 North, passing 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 immediately and make a left at the traffic light. Pass over Route 18 and go through the next traffic light. Following signs to George Street, stay in the right lane as you enter the roundabout, then bear right onto George Street. At the next traffic light (Nichol Avenue), you will be in the heart of the Douglass Campus, with the Douglass Student Center on your left.

For the Cook Campus, turn left at the traffic light onto Nichol Avenue and follow the signs to the campus.

To get 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 Route 1).

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.

Directions from Route 287

Coming into New Jersey from the west on I-78 or I-80, take 287 South.

To get to the College Avenue Campus, take Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park". Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park. Go 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.

To get to the Cook and Douglass campuses, take Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park". Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park. Go 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. 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 the signs to that campus.

To get to the Busch and Livingston campuses, take Exit 9 "River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park". Proceed east on River Road toward Highland Park. 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.

If you are coming from the Rutgers Preparatory School campus, take Exit 10 (New Brunswick, Route 527, Easton Avenue exit). The campus is one mile from Exit 10 on your left. Make a U-turn on Demott Lane, which is just past the school.

Frequently asked questions