Princeton University
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Princeton University - Transportation - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Transportation

Quick Stats

Best Ways to Get Around Town Because Princeton is so small, it is fastest to walk around town. If going to a particularly distant point, such as the Engineering Quad or one of the student parking lots, a bike is recommended.
Best Ways to Get to the Airport
  • How to Get There: NJ Transit offers a shuttle train, known locally as the “Dinky,” between campus (across from McCarter Theatre) and Princeton Junction. At Princeton Junction, you may transfer to N.J. Transit’s Northeast Corridor line northbound. Debark the train at New York Penn Station and take the A or E subway to the airport. The total cost is around $12 each way. There are also shuttle buses that run between New York Penn Station and JFK for about $15 each way. Alternatively, for a few more dollars, you can pick up the Airporter at Dillon Gym for aournd $40 each way with only a transfer at Newark Airport. A cab ride to the airport costs $125 per car, plus tolls, parking, and gratuity
  • How to Get There: Take the Dinky Northeast Corridor line northbound. Debark the train at New York Penn Station and take New York Airport Service Express Bus or SuperShuttle to LaGuardia. The total cost is around $20 (New York Airport Service Express Bus) or around $25 (SuperShuttle).A cab ride to the airport costs around $130 per car, plus tolls, parking, and gratuity
  • How to Get There: Take the Dinky Northeast Corridor line northbound. Debark the train at Newark Liberty International Airport and transfer to the AirTrain monorail. Alternatively, for a few more dollars, you can pick up the Airporter at Dillon Gym for around $20 each way. A cab ride to the airport costs $80 per car, plus tolls, parking, and gratuity.
  • How to Get There: Take the Dinky Northeast Corridor line southbound, which will end in two stops at Trenton station. Transfer to the SEPTA R7 train to Philadelphia 30th Street Station. Take SEPTA R1 train from 30th Street to the airport. Alternatively, take the Dinky to Princeton Junction and take an Amtrak to Philadelphia 30th Street Station before picking up the SEPTA R1 train. The total cost is about $18. A cab ride to the airport costs $83 per car, plus parking, and gratuity.

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

When Princeton students venture off campus, they can get almost anywhere by bus, air, or train. For a weekend in Boston, for example, students can choose between taking New Jersey Transit to New York City and then taking one of the popular Chinatown buses, flying on a shuttle between one of the Manhattan airports and Logan Airport, and taking Amtrak straight to Boston. A weekend in Washington yields just as many options. For everyday errands, the New Jersey Transit bus system links Princeton to several area malls and super centers.

Princeton’s public transportation is very accessible, but it is somewhat inconvenient for students. The train connecting Princeton and Princeton Junction runs only once an hour through most of the day and stops running for several hours during the night, which puts huge constraints on nights out in New York City. There are plenty of airport options, which allows students to comparison-shop for airline tickets home and for vacations. Several mechanical problems on the rail system have created unfortunate delays, but that can be expected on almost any system.

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Princeton Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Transportation at Princeton University

Ldallett

'12

Political Science and Government

N/A

None Needed

We have the Dinky, or a small railway station that takes you from campus to NJ Transit, which takes you to Trenton, New York, or wherever else one might want to go in New Jersey. Off-campus housing is practically nonexistent; in fact I don't know anyone who lives off campus except one guy who got kicked out of the dorms for throwing too many loud parties. Princeton students don't go off campus much; everything is on campus so I can't really speak for public transportation.

Aug 14, 2011

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Transportation at Princeton University

Spartacus

'13

4.2
A-

Man About Town

The dinky, the local Princeton train, found on campus, ferries students to Princeton Junction. From there they have access to both New York and New Jersey and Newark Airport. Cabs and Princeton will reduce your wallet to a paperweight. The buses however are cheap and afford access to many shopping areas around campus.

Feb 09, 2010

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Transportation at Princeton University

ptonorange

'20

4.2
A-

Dinky

Princeton University has it's own train station called the Dinky. The Dinky runs every 15-20 minutes and takes you to Princeton Junction where you can catch a train to pretty much about anywhere, but students mainly use it to get to New York or Philadelphia.

Dec 20, 2009

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the cost of the following transit options

Rate the convenience of the following transit options

Rate the convenience of long-distance transportation to travel between home and school

How convenient is the campus-provided transportation?

How necessary is it to have a car on campus?

How easy is it to get around town?

Campus ShuttleWhat's This?

Dial-a-Ride

(from campus dial 8-3134)

Monday–Sunday, 10:40 p.m.–2 a.m.,

Campus Shuttle

(Tiger Tram and Blue Line Monday–Friday, 5 a.m.–9 p.m., Green Line, Monday–Friday 7:35 a.m.–11:30 p.m.)

Public TransitWhat's This?

Trains

The Dinky, a two-car shuttle train run by New Jersey Transit, connects Princeton and Princeton Junction. The Dinky station is located across University Place from McCarter Theatre and is adjacent to the WaWa.

New Jersey Transit

The 606 route runs from the Princeton Shopping Center on North Harrison Street, along Nassau Street, then south on U.S. 206 to downtown Trenton and its eastern suburbs. Stops include the Lawrenceville School, Rider University, the New Jersey State Capitol, New Jersey State Library, and New Jersey State Museum, and many Mercer County government offices. This bus line also connects in downtown Trenton to most other bus lines in the county. Fare to Rider University is around $1.75 each way; to downtown Trenton it is around $2.10 each way, exact amount required. Transfers are an additional 55 cents. Approximate time to downtown Trenton is 30–35 minutes.

New Jersey Transit

The 605 route runs between the Princeton Shopping Center on N. Harrison Street and the major malls (including Quaker Bridge) on Route 1. Fare is around $1.25 (drivers do not make change). To go from campus to the Princeton Shopping Center, wait in front of Nassau Hall or at the bus stop next to the Dinky Station. The fare is the same.

Nearest AirportWhat's This?

Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark Airport is 40 miles and approximately 45 minutes driving time from Princeton.

(973) 961-6000

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia International Airport is 55 miles and about an hour driving time from Princeton.

(215) 937-6937

JFK International Airport

JFK is primarily a Manhattan airport and is not as accessible as Newark Airport.

(718) 244-4444

LaGuardia International Airport

LaGuardia is primarily a Manhattan airport and is not as accessible as Newark Airport.

(718) 533-3400

Nearest Passenger BusWhat's This?

Greyhound

Buy a ticket to Princeton at the Suburban Transit ticket counter; A round-trip ticket is $21.

41st St. & 8th Ave., New York

(212) 564-8484

Nearest Passenger TrainWhat's This?

Amtrak

The Amtrak Train Station is in Princeton Junction, which is accessible by N.J. Transit’s Princeton Dinky shuttle.

2 Wallace Rd., Princeton Junction

(800) 872-7245

www.amtrak.com

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