Getting Around Princeton University: Your Ultimate Guide to Public Transportation
So you’re heading to Princeton! Whether you’re a new student trying to figure out the campus, a faculty member commuting, or just visiting for the day, one of the first things you’ll wonder is how to get around. Honestly, navigating a new place can be a headache, but here’s the good news: Princeton University & the surrounding town have a surprisingly robust & often FREE public transportation network.
For real, you can get almost anywhere you need to go without ever getting behind the wheel of your own car. It’s a pretty sweet setup that not only saves you money but is also way better for the environment. From the university’s own fleet of electric buses to regional trains that can whisk you away to New York City or Philadelphia, you’ve got options.
In this guide, I'm going to break it all down for you—the insider scoop on every bus, train, & shuttle you need to know about. We'll cover the free campus transit, local buses that connect the wider community, & even how to get to major cities. Let's get into it.
TigerTransit: Your Free Ride Around Campus & Town
First up is the star of the show: TigerTransit. This is Princeton University's very own bus service, & it is AMAZING. The best part? It's completely free for everyone—students, staff, & the general public. You don't need an ID or a ticket; you just hop on.
The university has a fleet of 17 all-electric buses, which is pretty cool if you're into sustainability. They're working towards being net-zero in carbon emissions by 2046, & this is a huge part of that effort. These buses are clean, quiet, & run frequently, making them the most convenient way to move around the sprawling campus & even into the local Princeton community.
Where Does TigerTransit Go?
The routes are designed to be super practical. They connect most of the major academic buildings, administrative offices, student housing facilities, & the commuter parking lots. So, if you live in graduate housing or have to park your car on the outskirts of campus, TigerTransit is your lifeline. The routes also extend to nearby destinations like the Princeton Shopping Center & Forrestal Village, so you can easily run errands or grab a bite to eat.
Routes & Schedules
TigerTransit operates on a few different schedules, so it’s good to know the basics:
- Weekdays: From roughly 7 am to 10 pm, you'll find frequent service on several routes designed to get people to & from classes & offices.
- Weekends & Nights: Service continues all weekend & daily from 10 pm to 3 am, ensuring you can get back to your dorm or apartment safely after a late-night study session or social event.
- TigerTransit at Dawn: On the Saturday & Sunday before Fall & Spring breaks, they offer additional early morning service to help students get to their travel connections.
How to Track the Buses: The TripShot App
This is a game-changer. You don't have to stand at a bus stop wondering when the next ride will show up. The university uses the TripShot mobile app. You can download it for your phone, & it gives you real-time GPS tracking of all the buses. You can see exactly where your bus is, get arrival time estimates, & plan your trip. You can also access it from a web browser if you don't want to download the app. Seriously, download this app on your first day.
Beyond the Campus: Local & Regional Bus Services
While TigerTransit is fantastic for getting around the immediate campus area, sometimes you need to venture a bit further. That’s where NJ TRANSIT & other commercial bus lines come in.
Princeton Muni Transit
Similar to TigerTransit, the town of Princeton also runs a free municipal bus service, often called the Princeton Muni Bus. This service is also open to the entire community & helps fill in the gaps. Its route consists of two loops, a northern one & a southern one, that both start & end at the Princeton Shopping Center. It's another great, free option for getting around town & connects with both NJ TRANSIT & TigerTransit at various stops. You can also track this bus using the same TripShot app.
NJ TRANSIT: Connecting Mercer County
NJ TRANSIT is the statewide public transportation corporation, & it operates a couple of key bus routes that run through Princeton. These are your standard public buses, so you'll have to pay a fare, but they open up a much wider area.
- Route 605: This is a popular route for students & residents alike. It connects Princeton to major shopping centers like the Quaker Bridge Mall, Mercer Mall, & Nassau Park. It also stops at the Princeton Station, Market Fair, & the Montgomery Shop-Rite. It's perfect for a weekend shopping trip or if you work at one of these commercial hubs.
- Route 606: This route is your connection to other parts of Mercer County. It travels to places like Rider University, Hamilton Marketplace, & downtown Trenton, where you can connect to the River LINE light rail.
You can buy tickets & get schedules & alerts through the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App, which is another must-have for your phone.
Coach USA: Your Direct Line to NYC
Living in Princeton puts you in a sweet spot between two major metropolitan areas. If you're looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway to New York City, Coach USA (also known as Suburban Transit) is your best bet. The Route 100 bus offers daily service from Nassau Street, right near Firestone Library, directly to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. It's convenient, relatively affordable, & saves you the stress of driving & parking in the city.
Hitting the Rails: The "Dinky" & Connections to the Northeast Corridor
For travel beyond the immediate region, trains are the way to go. Princeton is well-connected to the Northeast's extensive rail network.
The Princeton Branch ("The Dinky")
The heart of Princeton's rail service is the Princeton Branch, affectionately known as "the Dinky." It’s a small shuttle train that runs between Princeton Station on Alexander Street (right on the edge of campus) & the larger Princeton Junction Station. The ride itself is only about five minutes long, but it’s a crucial link.
Princeton Junction: Your Gateway to Major Cities
Once you arrive at Princeton Junction, the entire Northeast Corridor opens up to you. From here, you can catch:
- NJ TRANSIT: Hop on a Northeast Corridor Line train to get to New York City (Penn Station) in about an hour or Trenton in about 15 minutes.
- Amtrak: For longer distances, Amtrak trains stop at Princeton Junction, offering service to destinations like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., & Boston.
- SEPTA: If you're heading to Philadelphia, you can take NJ TRANSIT to Trenton & then connect to SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) regional rail, which will take you right into the city.
This train access makes Princeton an incredibly convenient home base, whether you're a student from another state or a professor who needs to travel for conferences.
What About When Public Transit Isn't Enough?
Look, as great as the public transportation system is, there are always times when it might not fit your schedule or destination. Maybe you have a late-night flight, are carrying a ton of groceries, or need to get to a location not serviced by a bus or train.
This is where ride-sharing services like Lyft come in handy. In fact, the university even has a Lyft Pass program that offers subsidized rides for specific transportation needs, which is a pretty great perk.
The Parking Predicament & A Smart Solution
Now, let's talk about cars. While Princeton does an admirable job of making a car-free lifestyle possible, some people still need or want to drive. Maybe you commute from a town without good transit links, or you just need the flexibility of having your own vehicle. The biggest challenge? PARKING.
Campus parking permits can be expensive & hard to come by, & street parking in Princeton is notoriously difficult. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be a major source of stress. But here's an insider tip: Prked.
Turns out, you can find convenient & affordable parking solutions right in the driveways & garages of local homeowners. Prked is a platform that connects people who need parking with residents who have extra space. So instead of circling the block for the tenth time looking for a spot, you could have a reserved space waiting for you just a short walk from campus. It’s a brilliant way to solve the parking puzzle, especially for commuters or students who only need to bring their car to campus occasionally.
And hey, on a related note, if you’re a student struggling with limited dorm space or need a place to stash your stuff over the summer, Prked also helps people find affordable storage in someone's garage, attic, or basement. It's a much more flexible & often cheaper alternative to traditional self-storage units.
Putting It All Together: A Few Final Tips
- Get the Apps: Seriously, download TripShot & the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App right away. They will make your life so much easier.
- Bikes are Welcome: You can take your bike on TigerTransit & NJ TRANSIT buses & trains, which is great for covering that "last mile" from the stop to your final destination. Just make sure to check the rules first.
- Explore: Don't be afraid to try a new route! The public transit system is your ticket to exploring everything the Princeton area has to offer, from malls & movie theaters to neighboring towns & big cities.
- Plan Ahead: Especially for regional travel on NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak, check schedules & buy tickets in advance to get the best fares & avoid any travel-day stress.
Hope this was helpful! Getting the hang of a new transportation system can feel a little overwhelming at first, but Princeton's setup is one of the most user-friendly you'll find. Enjoy the ride! Let me know what you think.
