NYC to Princeton University: take a bus or NJ Transit?

September 14, 2013 7:08 AM

I am looking to travel to from NYC to Princeton on a Thursday - early afternoon. I am trying to decide between the two options. Both are priced about the same, and the slight time difference in trips does not matter much to me, as I will not be pressed for time. Both Penn Station and Port Authority are about equally easy for me to get to. I will carry one suitcase and a backpack. Has anyone had experience taking either a bus (e.g., Suburban Transit) or the NJ Transit train to Princeton Junction and transferring to the Dinky? Is one option much better than the other? I suppose my criteria for "better" include: more pleasant, easier to navigate the stations/terminals, and with a drop off closer to campus. Thanks!
posted by quixotictic to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (10 answers total)

The NJ Transit line is a nice ride on some good commuter trains. You should be able to stow your luggage overhead with no problems. I've never particularly liked taking buses in and out of NYC, especially for that length of time.

Currently, there is a service adjustment for the Princeton Dinky - they are temporarily running buses from Princeton Junction to Princeton University. Apparently there's an advocacy campaign going on around the changes in the Dinky service. A couple hundred extra feet shouldn't be a big deal, though; Princeton's a very nice town to walk around in general.
posted by graymouser at 7:25 AM on September 14, 2013

Take the train. That ride is pretty nice... buses can really be hit or miss depending on your driver, traffic, and so on.
posted by thirdletter at 7:32 AM on September 14, 2013

I took that suburban transit bus all the time growing up just outside Princeton. It's not luxurious or anything, but it gets you from point a to point b. At the time of day you're leaving, you'd almost certainly get a seat to yourself. Ticketing in Port Authority can be a little confusing (iirc there are two different suburban transit ticket booths but only one sells the ticket you need), but finding the departure point isn't hard. There are no dedicated luggage racks, because this bus is almost entirely based around the needs of central nj to midtown commuters. Drop-off point is along Nassau Street (the main road of downtown Princeton), on the edge of campus.

The train has a much more straightforward ticketing system, the transfer to the dinky (Princeton train) is easy, and there's more room for bags. Drop off is directly on campus, though the bus may still get you closer depending where on campus you're going. Also, check and make sure that your njtransit arrival won't leave you waiting too long for the dinky.

Train is probably the way to go, unless the bus schedule is significantly better for you.
posted by ActionPopulated at 7:35 AM on September 14, 2013

I would definitely take the train. So much nicer than potentially sitting around in traffic, and as bad as Penn Station is, I think Port Authority is some level of Dante's hell.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:37 AM on September 14, 2013

The train is more comfortable and more reliable, but getting from Princeton Station to campus requires an uphill walk which just got longer now that they've moved the station 400 feet south.

The bus requires no transfers and drops you off at Palmer Square (on Nassau Street), but it can get stuck in traffic on the turnpike for no apparent reason.

The train is preferable, in my opinion.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 7:37 AM on September 14, 2013

Yep, another vote for the train, if nothing else to avoid Port Authority but also because that train ride is a nice one and has fewer variables.
posted by dayintoday at 8:06 AM on September 14, 2013

I always take the train; super-easy to connect to the Dinky and a nice ride.
posted by mlle valentine at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2013

I took the train from NY to Princeton and back during my first visits to both NY and NJ. Very easy. Also, the Dinky has very comfy seats.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:22 AM on September 14, 2013

Response by poster: Train it is! Thanks for the detailed responses!
posted by quixotictic at 11:59 AM on September 14, 2013

I lived in Princeton for seven years and went to New York all the time, as did my friends, and I never heard of anybody taking the bus. Train + Dinky.
posted by escabeche at 7:25 PM on September 14, 2013