Commuting from Westfield to Rutgers New Brunswick (Trenton, Livingston: college, living)

[univ0681]

Hi,

Can people chime in on tips RE: commuting by car from Westfield to New Brunswick?

Google maps gives me three options/suggested routes:
1. Take the Garden State Pkway S and then US-1 S (18.1 mi, approx 31 mins)
2. Take the US-1 S (19.9 mi, approx 38 mins)
3. Take NJ-27 S (17 mi, approx 39 mins)

What would you recommend? Any info on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

[univ0681]

As a minor PS, I should add I am out of state, and thus clueless on traffic routes, patterns, toll roads, etc in NJ.

Thanks in advance!

[captne76]

I would suggest the GSP (Parkway) to US1. That section of the GSP is toll free and US 1 has a few lights on it but should be 3 lanes each way, so not too bad.

[captne76]

On the other hand it would be good to familiarize with the back roads as alternatives for various reasons. They are slightly shorter but involve driving slower through local towns.

[Whoelsebutcharles]

Originally Posted by captne76

I would suggest the GSP (Parkway) to US1. That section of the GSP is toll free and US 1 has a few lights on it but should be 3 lanes each way, so not too bad.

I second this. I'm in North Brunswick and from the Parkway I get off at exit 130, merge onto Rt 1 south and my exit is Milltown Rd North. For Rutgers you take 1 down to Rt 18 north and depending what campus you're on you can get too from Rt 18. Better than wasting your money on the Turnpike.

[dsmgvr4]

It also depends on what time of day. Easiest would be like you said: GSP South, Rt 1 South, Rt 18 South into Rutgers exits.

If you are going prime time like 7:30am, I would do GSP, Rt1 south but exit around the CR514 area to take back roads to Rutgers. Rt 18 can be a crawl that time of day.

[RUNYYfan]

What campus are you looking to get to?

College Avenue, Downtown New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass, Busch, or Livingston? It would be helpful to know the building or at least the general part of the campus because there are certain roads that are quicker than others.

[nj185]

If you can find a good secondary road route to Hoes Lane in Piscataway - [like South ave to Terrill Road to 7th St etc] - you are good to go for any campus off Hoes Lane/Rt 18. Don't know what the traffic is like during prime-time though, except that part of 18, which is usually "ok" to right B4 route 1 .

[univ0681]

Thanks many for the very useful information above. The campus in question is Cook/Douglass (near where the Art History Building is)

[stressedCollegeGirl89]

Originally Posted by univ0681

Thanks many for the very useful information above. The campus in question is Cook/Douglass (near where the Art History Building is)

Take GSP South to Ext 130. Bear right on the exit to Rt. 1 South(Trenton).

Take Rt. 1 South to 18. Bear right on the exit to Rt. 18 North(New Brunswick). Stay in the right lanes, since you will need to take the LOCAL exits. Once the road divides between local and Piscataway exits. Bear left and take the first local exit (Rt. 172). Once your on 172, go straight and bear right at the small circle. Once you're at the light, (on the corner of Nichol & Georges Rd) you will see the Art History building on your right hand side. However, you might need to park in the Cook/Douglass parking deck (if you're a commuter).

Do you have a parking permit? You will need one to park in the parking deck. To get a parking permit, you will have to go to the Rutgers Public Safety Bldg. (on the corner of Georges Rd. and Commercial Ave.)

Directions to the Cook/Douglass parking :

Turn left at the light onto Nichol Ave. Make the first left onto Lipman Dr. Once on Lipman Dr. make the first immediate left and follow the small road to the C/D parking deck (it is the tall parking deck structure).