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A Guide for International Graduate Students 2009-2010
5. GETTING TO PRINCETON
Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey, approximately 50 miles southwest of New York City, 35 miles southwest of Newark, NJ and 45 miles northeast of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By plane Although it is possible to reach Princeton from all of the nearby airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Philadelphia), we recommend arrival at Newark Airport. It is expensive and time consuming to travel from JFK, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia to Princeton. If you arrive at JFK, LaGuardia or Philadelphia, you should consult the following web pages for information on transportation to Princeton: For shuttle van service from JFK: www.goairporter.com For connecting train service from Philadelphia: www.septa.com For connecting train service from all airports: www.njtransit.com For bus transportation from JFK and LaGuardia through Manhattan to NJ: www.panynj.gov
1. From Newark Airport Arrival at Newark International Airport is the most convenient for travel to Princeton University. To get from the airport to Princeton you may use:
Olympic Airporter is a seven-day-a-week shuttle van service (shared ride). You may make an advance reservation for the shuttle service or make a reservation on arrival at the airport. If you do not make an advance reservation, upon arrival at Newark Airport, you should go to the baggage claim area in the Arrivals area of the terminal. Claim your baggage and locate the Ground Transportation Counter. Go to the Counter and make your reservation on Airporter with the agent at the Counter. If the Counter is closed, dial 22 from the Ground Transportation self-service telephones to be connected directly with Airporter. An Airporter Representative will take your reservation on a space-available basis. The one-way cost from Newark to Princeton is around $23 per person. The trip takes about 1½ to 2 hours. The Airporter shuttle service runs from 7:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Sunday - Friday. A reduced schedule is in effect on Saturday. Airporter shuttle vans have various drop-off locations between Newark Airport and Princeton, NJ. Most students arriving in Princeton by Airporter shuttle van should request to be dropped off at the Nassau Inn in Palmer Square just off Nassau Street. Palmer Square is in the center of town and opposite the main entrance to Princeton University. The only campus drop off locations is Baker Rink, but since there are no taxis on campus, Nassau Inn may be more convenient. Shuttle vans also drop passengers off at various local hotels. See Local Accommodations. Graduate students who have made arrangements to live at the Graduate College or in town should locate the taxi stand in front of the University gate across Nassau Street from Palmer Square. The average in-town fare or fare to the Graduate College is approximately $10-15 (plus tip) depending on the amount of luggage you have and how late it is. The trip to the Graduate College takes approximately 10 minutes. If there is no taxi waiting, students can use the taxi telephone box or a public telephone. For more information, please read A Note on Taxis. If you will be traveling with a lot of luggage, particularly during peak travel hours, the Airporter is probably the best travel option to get to Princeton. Please note: The Airporter does pick up from JFK airport, but the trip is longer (2 ½ to 3 hours) and more expensive (around $45 one way) than from Newark Airport.
AirTrain is an automated monorail train link from Newark Airport to the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Rail Line that connects points from New York City to Princeton and beyond. Passengers arriving at Newark International Airport can take AirTrain Newark directly from the arrivals terminal to the Rail Link station and then connect with NJ Transit for rail travel to Princeton. Ticket vending machines for New Jersey Transit are available at AirTrain Newark stations located in the airport passenger terminals. The one-way cost to Princeton Junction is around $14. You may want to purchase a ticket through to Princeton which will cost your around $15.50. Please note that it is best to purchase tickets at vending machines prior to boarding the train. If you purchase a ticket on board, you will be assessed an additional $5 surcharge. Also, conductors on board the train will not accept bills over $20. The trip is about 5 to 15 minutes from the airport terminal to the NJ Transit Newark Airport Station. At this station, you will transfer to a NJ Transit (not Amtrak) train bound for Trenton. You will ride this train for about 45 minutes to Princeton Junction. To get to Princeton University campus from Princeton Junction, you may take a connecting train (NJ Transit’s Dinky) which is about a 5-minute ride. Dinky service is limited late at night and on weekends. There are also taxi cabs available at Princeton Junction train station. For more information, please see A Note on Taxis. If you will be traveling with a lot of luggage, especially during peak travel hours when space on the train is limited, the AirTrain may not be the best travel option to Princeton. By train Princeton is accessible by train from either New York Penn Station or Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. Because our experience is that most students traveling by train travel through Penn Station, we limit our directions to Princeton through Penn Station. If you arrive at 30th Street Station, you should consult the following web pages for information on transportation to Princeton:
1. From New York Penn Station, West 33rd Street Take any New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor Line going to TRENTON stopping at PRINCETON JUNCTION or Amtrak train stopping at Princeton Junction. Many Amtrak trains do not stop at Princeton Junction, so read the schedule carefully. You should purchase tickets in Penn Station (at vending machines or at a ticket counter) prior to boarding the train to avoid a $5 surcharge in addition to the ticket price. Also, conductors on board the train will not accept bills over $20. A ticket on NJ Transit from Penn Station to Princeton Junction is around $11.50. You may want to purchase a ticket through to Princeton which will cost you around $12. Amtrak costs between $30- $40. Caution: Visitors often confuse New York Penn Station (New York City) with Newark Penn Station in New Jersey. 2. From Princeton Junction to Princeton – The Dinky To get to Princeton University campus, you may take a connecting train (NJ Transit’s Dinky) which is approximately a 5-minute ride. Dinky service is limited late at night and on weekends. (The last Dinky to Princeton leaves Princeton Junction at around 1 am.) The Dinky arrives in Princeton at the Alexander Road Station, located on the edge of the University campus. The one-way cost from Princeton Junction to Princeton is around $2. (If you purchase your ticket at Penn Station through to Princeton, the total cost is around $13). Please note: most NJ Transit trains to Princeton Junction are timed to coincide with Dinky shuttles to Princeton station. This is not true of Amtrak trains to Princeton Junction. If you will be traveling with a lot of luggage, especially during peak hours when space on the train is limited, you may want to consider taking a taxi from Princeton Junction to Princeton. Although it is only a 10-15 minute walk from the Princeton train station to the Housing Office and the Graduate College, those with considerable luggage may wish to take a taxi. If there is no taxi waiting at the Dinky station, use a public telephone to call one of the taxi numbers. A Note on Taxis From Princeton Junction you may also take a taxi to Princeton. Taxis are usually waiting at the train station. However, if you arrive in off-peak hours, you may need to phone for a taxi: Princeton Taxi Cab Companies
Taxi fare from Princeton Junction to Princeton is approximately $15 (plus tip). If you take a taxi, be certain to verify your pick up location and agree to a cost for the trip first!
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© The Trustees of Princeton University Last modified 02/27/07 Web questions and comments: voelcker@princeton.edu |