LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is roughly 50 miles by road. It is a trip students, parents, and visiting academics make constantly, and it is worth planning properly: the driving route, the transit chain, and the realistic times are all different enough that picking the wrong option can cost you an hour. This guide gives the real route, the real times, and the real prices, with nothing invented.
The driving route
By car, the route runs from LaGuardia via the Grand Central Parkway to the Triboro (RFK) Bridge approach and Interstate 278 west, across the Goethals Bridge into New Jersey, then south on the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) to Exit 9 for New Brunswick. With clear roads the drive takes about 1 hour 15 minutes; in weekday traffic, allow 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. Rutgers is spread across campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway — College Avenue, Busch, Livingston, and Cook/Douglass — so give the exact campus building at booking: the last few miles differ by campus, and a driver heading to “Rutgers” with no building will have to call you to clarify.
The transit chain, step by step
There is no direct train or bus from LaGuardia to Rutgers, but the chain is straightforward and costs far less than a car. Take the free Q70 bus from LaGuardia to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, then the subway to New York Penn Station for $3.00. From Penn Station, take a NJ Transit Northeast Corridor train to New Brunswick station: the train itself takes roughly 50 to 60 minutes, and the one-way fare is roughly $15 — check the current fare before you travel, as NJ Transit fares change. All told, the transit trip takes about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes door to door, including connections. From New Brunswick station, Rutgers campuses are a short bus or taxi ride away; the university runs campus buses between its New Brunswick and Piscataway sites.
By private car, honestly priced
JetBlack does not sell a fixed LaGuardia to Rutgers fare, and any page that quotes one as a published flat rate should be questioned. A private car for this trip is quoted per trip in writing before dispatch, based on the vehicle class and the time of day: economy sedan from $45 per hour with a 3-hour minimum, economy SUV $72, luxury SUV $80, economy van $120 with a 4-hour minimum, standard Sprinter $130 with a 4-hour minimum, and stretch limousine $144 with a 4-hour minimum. Rates exclude tolls, the suggested 20% gratuity, and governmental fees, which are shown separately on the written quote. Child seats are about $35 per seat, confirmed at booking, and are never free. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available on request. Cancellation on a confirmed reservation is $31 in total: a $25 fee plus $5 in fees plus a $1 technology fee.
Which option should you choose?
- Travelling light, with time to spare, and watching the budget: the Q70, subway, and NJ Transit chain is the honest cheapest option.
- Arriving late, carrying heavy luggage, travelling with children, or heading to a campus building far from the station: a private car, door to door, is worth the price.
- A group of 5 or more: a van or Sprinter keeps everyone together and is usually cheaper per person than separate transit-plus-taxi legs.
- Always confirm the total in writing, the wait-time rules, and the exact campus building before the car is dispatched.
What to confirm when you book
- The exact Rutgers campus and building, not just “Rutgers.”
- Your flight number and arrival time, so the driver tracks the flight.
- How many passengers, how much luggage, and how many child seats at about $35 per seat.
- The written total, including tolls, gratuity, and fees as separate lines.
Book your ride: Book online or call +1-646-214-4828. JetBlack Transportation, 34 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001. Dispatch is available 24/7, and there is no surge pricing.
Related JetBlack pages: Reservations, The JetBlack Fleet and hourly rates, Child seats car service in NYC, Wheelchair-accessible vehicles in NYC, Best way to travel from JFK to Manhattan, Affordable flat rate taxi to JFK.
