Navigating Gainesville: Your Ultimate Guide to UF Public Transportation
Hey everyone, if you're a student at the University of Florida, or even just thinking about coming here, you've probably wondered about getting around. Gainesville is a pretty spread-out city, & the UF campus itself is HUGE. So, how do you get from your dorm on one side of campus to your class on the other? Or from your off-campus apartment to the library for a late-night study session? The answer, for a lot of us, is public transportation.
Honestly, figuring out the bus system, parking, & all the other ways to get around can feel like a class in itself. But don't worry, I'm here to break it all down for you. We'll go through the main bus system, the new campus shuttles, what to do on game days, & even what your options are if you're not a fan of buses. By the end of this, you'll be navigating Gainesville like a pro.
The Heart of Gainesville Transit: The RTS Bus System
First things first, let's talk about the Regional Transit System, or as everyone calls it, RTS. This is the public bus system for all of Gainesville, but it's especially vital for UF students.
Here's the BEST part: as a UF student, you ride for free. Yep, you read that right. Your tuition includes a transportation fee, so all you have to do is show your Gator 1 ID to the driver & you can ride any RTS bus, anywhere in the city, anytime they're running. This is a lifesaver, especially when you're on a student budget. The same goes for faculty & staff, by the way.
The RTS network is pretty extensive, with dozens of routes that cover the entire campus & reach out into most of the neighborhoods where students live. Buses generally run from early in the morning until late at night, with frequencies varying by route & time of day. During peak hours, you might see a bus every 10-15 minutes, while in the evenings or on weekends, it might be more like every 30-60 minutes.
Big Changes for Fall 2025: What You NEED to Know
Now, here's something you absolutely need to be aware of if you're a returning student or new to UF this year. The RTS system has undergone some MAJOR changes for the Summer B & Fall 2025 semesters. This has been a big topic of conversation, & frankly, a bit of a contentious issue.
For years, UF has had a partnership with the City of Gainesville to fund the RTS. Recently, there were proposals for UF to significantly cut its funding, which would have led to massive service reductions. After a lot of back-&-forth, a new agreement was reached that runs through mid-2027. While this is good news because it prevented the worst-case scenario, it still resulted in some significant adjustments to the bus routes.
The main goal of these changes was to make the system more efficient & to focus on the routes with the highest ridership. This means that several routes that used to cover similar areas have been combined. For example, the new Route 1 is a combination of the old Route 1 & Route 46, & the new Route 20 combines the old Route 20 & 21. Some routes have been eliminated altogether, with their service areas absorbed by other routes. For instance, Route 16 was merged into Route 17, & Route 34 was absorbed by Route 12.
What does this mean for you? Well, your old reliable bus route might have a new number, a different schedule, or a slightly altered path. It's SUPER important that you check the latest RTS maps & schedules before you head out. Don't just assume your bus will show up where it always has.
The good news is that many of the new, combined routes are expected to have more frequent service, especially during peak times. Also, UF has standardized the hours for the off-campus student commuter routes (like 1, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 33, 37, & 38). They'll now run from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays, & 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays.
Your Best Friend for Riding the Bus: The GNV RideRTS App
With all these changes, the GNV RideRTS app is more essential than ever. You can download it for free on your phone, & it gives you live bus tracking, so you can see exactly where your bus is in real-time. This is a game-changer, especially when it's scorching hot or raining & you don't want to wait outside any longer than you have to. The app also has all the latest route maps, schedules, & a trip planner to help you figure out the best way to get where you're going.
The New Kid on Campus: The Campus Connector
One of the biggest new developments in UF transportation is the Campus Connector. This is a shuttle system that's separate from RTS & is specifically designed to get people around campus. It officially started in Summer B 2025 & is meant to provide more direct & frequent service to key campus locations.
The Campus Connector has two main routes: the Westside Circulator & the Eastside Circulator.
- The Westside Circulator hits spots like the Cultural Plaza, Southwest Rec, the dorms in the Keys & Springs area, the HUB, Turlington Plaza, the Reitz Union, & UF Health.
- The Eastside Circulator covers the Vet Med area, UF Health, Gator Corner Dining, the HUB, Turlington Plaza, Broward Dining, Norman Hall, Sorority Row, & the Rawlings & Yulee dorm areas.
Like the RTS buses, the Campus Connector is free to ride with your Gator 1 ID. It runs from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The frequency is pretty good, with shuttles arriving every 10-12 minutes during the busiest parts of the day (9:15 AM to 3:45 PM) & every 15-18 minutes during the morning & evening.
These shuttles have effectively replaced some of the old on-campus RTS routes, like the 122 & 127. The idea is to have a dedicated, reliable system for getting around campus, freeing up the RTS buses to focus on connecting the campus to the rest of Gainesville.
Game Day Mayhem: Enter the Gator Aider
If you've never been to a Gator football game, let me tell you, it's an experience. The entire city transforms, & getting to the stadium can be a nightmare. Parking anywhere near the stadium is nearly impossible unless you have a ton of money or a special pass.
This is where the Gator Aider comes in. The Gator Aider is a special shuttle service that runs on game days. You can park your car at one of several designated park-&-ride locations around Gainesville, like Celebration Pointe or the Oaks Mall, & then hop on a shuttle that takes you right to the stadium.
There is a fee for the Gator Aider, typically around $10 for a single game, or you can buy a season pass. The shuttles start running about three hours before kickoff & continue for about an hour after the game ends. Honestly, it's worth every penny to avoid the stress & hassle of trying to find parking on a game day.
Life Beyond the Bus: Other Ways to Get Around
I get it, buses aren't for everyone. Maybe you need a more flexible schedule, or you just prefer other modes of transport. The good news is, there are plenty of other options at UF.
Biking: The Quintessential College Experience
Gainesville is a pretty bike-friendly city, & the UF campus has a ton of bike lanes & bike racks. Biking is a fantastic way to get to class, get some exercise, & save money on gas. It's often faster than waiting for a bus, especially for shorter trips across campus.
A few tips for bikers: always wear a helmet, use lights at night (it's required!), & get a good, sturdy lock. Bike theft can be an issue, so it's a good idea to register your bike with the UF Police Department.
Scooters & Micromobility
You'll see them everywhere: electric scooters. They've become an incredibly popular way to zip around campus. UF has a micromobility program with partner companies that provide e-scooters for rent through their apps. They can be a quick & convenient option, but remember to be safe, follow traffic laws, & don't ride them on the sidewalks.
Carpooling & Car-Sharing
If you have a car, you might consider carpooling. UF's Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS) actually encourages it & sometimes offers incentives like preferred parking. If you don't have a car but occasionally need one for a grocery run or a trip out of town, you can use a car-sharing service like Zipcar. UF has Zipcars stationed around campus that you can rent by the hour or the day.
SNAP & Safe Rides
Your safety is the top priority, especially at night. Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol, or SNAP, is a free, on-demand van service for students that operates from 6:30 PM to 3:00 AM. If you're studying late at the library or a friend's place & don't feel comfortable walking home, you can call SNAP & they'll come pick you up.
UF has also partnered with Lyft to offer "UF Safe Rides." Through this program, students can get a certain number of discounted Lyft rides each month for use during late-night hours within a specific campus-area zone.
The Elephant in the Room: Parking on Campus
Ah, parking. It's the bane of many a UF student's existence. Let's be real, parking on campus is tough. There are a limited number of spots, & a LOT of people who want them.
To park in most lots on campus during the day, you'll need a parking permit, which UF now issues virtually through your license plate. The cost of a student permit for an entire year is around $160, or you can buy them by the semester, month, or even week. The type of permit you can get depends on how many credit hours you have & whether you live on or off campus.
Even with a permit, finding a spot is not guaranteed, especially during peak class times. Many students who drive to campus end up having to park in the large park-&-ride lots on the edge of campus & then take a bus or a Campus Connector to their final destination.
Here's the thing, if you live in an apartment complex with a direct bus route to campus, it's often much easier & less stressful to just take the bus. You'll save money on the permit, gas, & the headache of circling a parking garage for 20 minutes.
However, for some students, especially those who work off-campus or have other commitments, having a car is necessary. If you find yourself in a situation where you need a parking spot near campus but can't get a permit or your apartment complex has limited parking, you might want to look into other options. This is where a service like Prked can be a real lifesaver. Prked connects people who have extra parking spaces, like a driveway or a spot in a private garage, with drivers who need a place to park. You could potentially find a homeowner near campus who is renting out their driveway, giving you a consistent & convenient place to park without the daily battle for a spot in a UF garage. It’s a pretty cool way to solve the parking puzzle.
A Note on Storage
While we're talking about space, let's touch on another common student problem: storage. Dorm rooms & student apartments are not known for their spaciousness. If you're moving to Gainesville from out of state, or you need a place to keep your stuff over the summer, you might find yourself in a storage crunch. Traditional storage units can be expensive & located far from campus.
This is another area where thinking outside the box can help. A service like Prked isn't just for cars. It also helps people find affordable & convenient storage solutions by connecting them with homeowners who have extra space to rent out, like an empty garage, attic, basement, or even a closet. So, if you need a place to stash your extra furniture or your winter clothes, you might be able to find a spot in a house right near your apartment, which is way more convenient than driving to a storage facility on the outskirts of town.
The Takeaway
Getting around the University of Florida & Gainesville takes a little bit of planning, but you have SO many options. The RTS bus system, despite the recent changes, is still a fantastic, free resource for students. The new Campus Connector is making it even easier to get around the sprawling campus. & for those times when a bus won't cut it, you've got biking, scooters, car-sharing, & ride-sharing services.
My advice? Take some time to explore the RTS website & the GNV RideRTS app. Figure out which routes are most convenient for you. And don't be afraid to try different modes of transportation to see what works best for your schedule & lifestyle. The transportation system here is a huge part of student life, & once you get the hang of it, it really opens up the campus & the city for you.
Hope this was helpful & makes your transition to or back to UF a little bit smoother. Let me know what you think
