New Brunswick

Get in

By train

• Amtrak serves New Brunswick station. It offers an express train that is slightly faster; however, the cost of a ticket (>$27) is greater than the cost of an NJ Transit train ($14.00) For those traveling from Baltimore and other points south, the Amtrak is a good option, and some travelers from as close as Philadelphia may also choose Amtrak in order to have a one-train trip and avoid having to change from the Philadelphia-area SEPTA trains to NJ Transit in Trenton.
• New Jersey Transit - Northeast Corridor line. Service between New Brunswick station and New York City's Penn Station can be between 30 and 70 minutes, depending on the time of day and whether the train is running on the local or express route (both run at different times throughout the day). Local service is available to other New Jersey Transit stations such as Newark Penn Station, Newark Airport, and Trenton (as such, New Brunswick is also an easy trip from Philadelphia via transfer from SEPTA). If you come in late at night, you might wind up having to walk through a few cars and disembark at the low platform. If the trains strike the occasional fool who mistakenly walks onto the tracks, trains can be delayed by several minutes. New Brunswick boasts two stations, one at the center of the city on Albany Street (Route 27) and one near the North Brunswick border along Jersey Avenue (Route 91).

By bus

• New Jersey Transit buses have several stops in New Brunswick, one of which happens to be on Route 27. However, the major New Jersey Transit bus hub is centered upon the New Brunswick train station (at its northern end) and along George Street (which is essentially the centerpiece of New Brunswick's downtown area).
• Suburban Transit stops in front of the train station, and comes from both Princeton and New York. The main Suburban Transit bus depot is also in New Brunswick, and is next to the New Brunswick White Castle restaurant. (Yes, Harold and Kumar fans, there is a White Castle in this town.) It is further down the bus route from New York City than the train station is, but only a couple of minutes further.
• Megabus stops in downtown New Brunswick and comes from New York.

By car

New Brunswick can be accessed by Interstate 287 Exit 10 (Easton Ave, New Brunswick), Exit 9 off of NJ Turnpike/I-95, U.S. Route 1, NJ Route 18, Livingston Ave, and Route 27 by way of Highland Park, across the Raritan River.

By foot or bicycle

From Highland Park, several of the bridges across the Raritan River are open to pedestrians and cyclists. The river is rather broad but easily walkable for healthy individuals. One can also come in from the south by way of Millstone (New Jersey) from East Brunswick or up Ryders Lane in East Brunswick, or by walking down the sidewalks of Easton Avenue from the west. (Note: Approaches from the south and west can get pretty hilly.)

Get around

Buses (and bicycles) are the most effective means of traversing throughout New Brunswick. NJ Transit travels throughout the city. Rutgers University has buses that travel all around the campus, and you don't have to be a student to utilize them. Taxis are also prevalent (but relatively expensive), and the size of the town is such that walking is not out of the question.

Driving is also possible but parking is difficult to find in the downtown area and expensive. Most on-street parking in the downtown area is 2-hour only Monday-Friday, and parking garages tend to run about $1.50-$2 per hour. On-street regulations are suspended on the weekend but most spots are taken by residents. Some garages, such as the Lower Church Street garage, are free on Saturdays if you park before 5PM.

Traffic gets unbelievably stuck up after football games and Rutgersfest, with cars and buses often coming to a standstill on Route 18 and in neighboring Piscataway, as well as in downtown New Brunswick. So give yourself extra time on those occasions. Route 18 may also become jammed between the hours of 4 and 6PM, due to rush hour traffic.

Stay safe

The Rutgers College campus is generally safe for visitors and students. The Rutgers University Police or RUPD is a very noticeable presence in the city. If you have trouble, approach one of the officers (made clear by their red uniforms) and they'll be more than happy to help you. However, like most college cities, New Brunswick has its share of social problems. Homeless beggars hang out on George Street and near Rutgers bus stops, and will ask for money. Accept it as a by-product of a college town, which attracts visitors and money. However, the homeless are not aggressive and will leave you alone if you say "no." The most common crime is theft. Keep your belongings close to you, especially wallets, phones, and iPods.

Some neighborhoods are dodgy and unsafe at night. Don't wander around alone at night, especially beyond Samson Street and frat row. Certain streets near Rockoff Hall should also be avoided late at night. Muggings do occur, mostly after midnight, and both males and females should travel in a group to stay safe.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, drunken behavior is rampant. If aggressively confronted in a bar or on the streets, walk away.

Go next

• New York City is easily accessible by train. NJ Transit trains to New York Penn Station take 1 hour.
• Philadelphia is also easily accessible by train. A train ride will take about an hour to an hour and a half.
• Princeton is not very far away and is a very pleasant small college town, although truth be told, it's more likely that a Princetonian will be found in New Brunswick than the other way around.