CS@CU Directions

Navigating the Campus
By Vehicle: [Car] [Bus] [Train] [Subway]
From Airports: [JFK] [La Guardia] [Newark]

Navigating the Campus

Campus Location: The Department of Computer Science is split between the Computer Science Building (itself located in the Mudd Engineering Building) and the Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research (CEPSR). Here are a number of campus maps: ASCII Map, Large Postscript, Large GIF
Department office: The department office is at the entrance to the Computer Science Building, itself located in the lobby of the 4th floor of the Mudd Engineering Building. There are doors to Mudd on the 1st floor at 500 West 120th Street (corner with Amsterdam Avenue). The doors on the inside of the campus are on the 4th floor. Enter through the main entrance to the campus at Broadway and 116th Street, walk along College Walk and turn left up the steps. At the top of the steps is a large building with a dome; Low Library. Take the walkway to the right of Low Library, and the Mudd building is at the end of this walk. Upon entering Mudd, turn right and then right again. This is the entrance to Computer Science.
Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research (CEPSR): is the (modern looking) building just left (or West) of Mudd. Instead of entering the Mudd, turn left and walk up the ramp to CEPSR. The Computer Science Department is located on the 6th and 7th floors.

Directions from John F. Kennedy Airport

Taxis: (Yellow Cabs) are available outside every terminal. Ask for Columbia University, and instruct the driver to take the Triborough Bridge to Manhattan. If your destination is the department, ask for 500 West 120th Street, (at the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 120th Street). The taxi fare is price fixed for Manhattan at $45, not including the ($4 with EZPass, $4.50 cash) toll for the Triborough bridge, which will not appear on the meter. The standard rate to tip in New York is 15% and does not apply to the toll.
Car Service: Most terminals have a ground transportation desk which will be able to provide you with a list of Car Service companies. A good cheap option is Carmel (Tel. 1-800-9-CARMEL, or 666-6666 when in Manhattan). Check their web site for current rates. The Triborough bridge toll of $4 is not included in their posted rates. Call from the terminal and they should have a car there within 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, for an extra fee you can arrange for the driver to meet you at baggage reclaim.
New York Airport Service: Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes between 7:00am and 9:30pm, stopping ouside each terminal in turn. The fare is $13 each way. This bus service stops twice in Manhattan, at Park Avenue and 41st Street, and at the Port Authority. Bus Terminal on 8th Avenue and 42nd Street. At Park Avenue, the options are a taxi (about $10) or the westbound #104 bus on 42nd Street. At Port Authority either take a taxi ($10) or the subway ($2.00).
Air Train + Subway: This is the cheapest way to get into the city. First take the Air Train to get to Howard Beach station. Then take the "A" train into Manhattan, and at the 59th street station, switch to the 1/9 train uptown. The Columbia stop is at 116th street and Broadway.

Directions from La Guardia Airport

Taxis: (Yellow Cabs) are available outside every terminal. Ask for Columbia University, and instruct the driver to take the Triborough Bridge to Manhattan. If your destination is the department, ask for 500 West 120th Street, (at the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 120th Street). The taxi fare should be approximately $25 including the ($4 with EZPass, $4.50 cash) toll for the bridge, which will not appear on the meter. The standard rate to tip in New York is 15% and does not apply to the toll.
Car Service: Most terminals have a ground transportation Ask which will be able to provide you with a list of Car Service companies. A good cheap option is Carmel (Tel. 1-800-9-CARMEL, or 666-6666 when in Manhattan). Check their web site for current rates. The Triborough bridge toll of $4 is not included in their posted rates. Call from the terminal and they should have a car there within 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, for an extra fee you can arrange for the driver to meet you at baggage reclaim.
Super Shuttle: Rates range from $13 to $22. From any location in Manhattan. Call 212 BLUE-VAN (212-258-3826). They ask that you give them 1 day's advance notice.
New York Airport Service: Buses run about every half hour Grand Central Station at 42nd street and Park Avenue. The fare is $10 for a one way trip. You can then either take a taxi ($10) or the westbound #104 bus on 42nd Street ($2.00).
The M60 Bus: runs directy from the airport to Columbia Campus. For more information, see the bus section of this page.

Directions from Newark Airport

New Jersey Transit: AirTrain connects from all terminals to NJ Transit, which will take you to the Port Authority. The fare is $11.50 each way. At Port Authority, find a taxi cab, take the subway, or catch the M104 bus at the northeast corner of 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue.
Car Service: All terminals have a ground transportation desk which will be able to provide you with a list of Car Service companies. A good cheap option is Carmel (Tel. 1-800-9-CARMEL, or 666-6666 when in Manhattan). Check their web site for current rates. The Triborough bridge toll of $4 is not included in their posted rates. Ask for Columbia University, at 116th and Broadway, Manhattan, or if you are coming directly to the department, ask for 120th and Amsterdam, Manhattan.

Reaching the Campus by Car

Henry Hudson to Campus: Columbia is best reached by taking the 95/96th Street exit of the Henry Hudson Parkway (West Side Highway). Use the 95th Street off ramp and then immediately turn left onto Riverside Drive. Proceed north to 116th Street. A right turn at 116th Street leads you to the main campus entrance.
From the New York Thruway: Exit onto the Cross Bronx Expressway in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Bear right as you approach the bridge and then take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south.
From the New England Thruway (I-95): This becomes the Cross Bronx Expressway, so proceed as for the New York State Throughway, directly above.
From the east: Take the Grand Central Parkway or Long Island Expressway west to the Cross Island Parkway north. Cross over the Throgs Neck Bridge to the Cross Bronx Expressway in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Proceed as for the New York Throughway above.
From the south and west: Take the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge. As soon as you cross the bridge, immediately exit onto the Henry Hudson Parkway south.
Parking: A list of off-street parking is provided here. We make no guarantees as to the correctness of the prices listed.

Reaching the Campus by Bus

Exact fare of $1.50 is required, payable using coins. Bus drivers cannot accept bills. Transfers to connecting buses are free, and are usually time stamped to the closest hour. New magnetic stripe MetroCards are also available.

M4: Runs along broadway, across 110th Street, down Fifth avenue, and back up Madison Avenue. Schedule (PDF, 87K)
M5: Runs along Riverside drive north of 72nd Street, then across to broadway and down into Midtown. Schedule (PDF, 84K)
M11: North of 110th, this takes Amsterdam Avenue. South of 110th the downtown M11 uses Columbus Avenue, and the uptown uses Amsterdam. Schedule (PDF, 82K)
M60: This may be caught outside the main gates at Broadway and 116th. It goes up to 120th, across to Amsterdam, up to and along 125th to the Triborough Bridge, then over into Queens and La Guardia Airport. Schedule (PDF, 82K)
M104: Runs along Broadway, and then east along 42nd to the U.N. The uptown runs along 42nd, up 8th, and then up Broadway. Schedule (PDF, 82K)

Reaching the Campus by Train

From New Jersey, you can reach Columbia University by train, by taking NJ Transit to 33rd Street and then following the directions for reaching the campus by subway using the 1 or 9 lines.

Reaching the Campus by Subway

The closest subway station to Columbia University is the 116th and Broadway (Columbia University) stop of the IRT 1/9 train. A subway map(61K) showing the Columbia region is available.

Directions to the Columbia University Department of Computer Science