Back

Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

Visiting Campus

As you set out for 

It is said that Ithaca is "centrally isolated," but there are actually many convenient ways to get to our Ithaca campus.

Use the following resources to map out your travel. For additional information, visitors may contact the Office of Visitor Relations at (607) 254-4636 (INFO) and Office of Transportations at (607) 255-4600 Monday through Friday. TCAT public transit bus routes run throughout campus and are available for $1.50 per ride, cash only.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences main administrative building, Roberts Hall, is located at 215 Garden Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14853.

For timely information about university operating status changes, road closures and other emergency information, please visit our Campus Alerts page.

Virtual Tours

Travel Options & Directions

Air Travel to Cornell University

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) is serviced by DeltaUnited, and American Airlines. It is a 10-minute drive to campus and downtown areas.

Taxi & Car Services

The Ithaca taxi companies operate under the same ownership, Ithaca Dispatch, (888) 321-1149.

  • Cayuga Taxi (607) 277-TAXI
  • University Taxi (607) 277-7777

Both Uber and Lyft services are available in Ithaca.

Other Regional Airports

Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Syracuse, NY

Elmira Corning Regional Airport, Horseheads, NY

Greater Binghamton Airport, Binghamton, NY

Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester, NY

Metro New York City Airports

John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, NY

  • Distance from Cornell: 246 miles
  • Estimated driving time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
  • Driving directions: From JFK to Cornell

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, NY

Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ

Bus and Train Travel to Cornell University
Bus Lines with Service to Ithaca

The Ithaca bus terminal is located in downtown Ithaca on Green Street in front of the Urban Outfitters.

  • Campus-to-Campus Bus Service: Express transportation between the Ithaca and New York City campuses of Cornell University. The coaches offer comfortable single and double seating for up to 32 passengers. Ample work-room, internet service, a well-stocked galley, and other much-requested amenities make the trip enjoyable and productive. Phone: (607) 254-TRIP Web: transportation [at] cornell.edu (transportation[at]cornell[dot]edu)

  • OurBus: OurBus is a low-cost option with service between Ithaca and New York City as well as numerous other locations. The service uses available vehicles from existing charter bus services, so departure and arrival times are more varied. Arrivals and departures are at the Ithaca Bus Terminal located at 131 E. Green Street.
  • Shortline Bus: Regional service within New York State, Long Island, and New Jersey, and into New York City at economical fares, with stops on the Cornell campus and downtown; extra routes occasionally added during Cornell and Ithaca College academic breaks. (800) 631-8405
  • Swarthout Coaches: Economical but intermittent service to New York City, coordinated with school break schedules. Phone: (800) 772-7267, (607) 257-2660
  • Greyhound Bus Lines: (800) 229-9424
Bus Service within Ithaca
  • Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) buses service Ithaca and the surrounding areas. Routes 14, 20 and 21 connect campus with the Ithaca bus terminal. TCAT also serves as Cornell’s primary form of on-campus transportation.
Train Service

Syracuse Amtrak Station
The nearest train stop is in Syracuse, NY, located approximately 80 minutes from Ithaca. Syracuse is connected to the Empire (N.Y.C.-Niagara Falls), Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-Boston), and Maple Leaf (N.Y.C.-Toronto) routes.

Amtrak’s Syracuse Station
131 P&C Parkway, Syracuse, NY
(800) 872-7245


Getting to Ithaca from Syracuse Amtrak Station

In addition to bus service (see above) from Syracuse to Ithaca, door-to-door taxi and van service is available to and from the Syracuse Amtrak Station. Connections should be reserved ahead of time with Ithaca Airline Limousine (607) 273-3030; (800) 273-9197.

By car, Cornell University is 4 hours northwest of both New York City and Philadelphia, 6 hours southwest of Boston, 3 hours southeast of Buffalo, and 5 hours northwest of Washington, D.C.

Driving Directions to Cornell University

The directions below are provided by the Information and Referral Center. If you have questions, or are in need of further assistance, please call the IRC at (607)254-INFO (4636) or (607)255-2000. An information specialist will be happy to help.

Once in Ithaca, there will be signs directing you to campus. Use these in conjunction with the directions below to find Cornell University.

Once you arrive on campus please stop at the Visitor and Parking Information Booth open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. An attendant will assist you with locating the safest and most convenient parking available. There also is a campus phone at the booth for you to contact the Information and Referral Center during the hours that the booth is not staffed.

Quick references for drivers from each primary direction:

From Points North – Including Syracuse and Watertown

Syracuse, NY is approximately 60 miles north of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

  1. South on I-81.
  2. Exit 12 at Cortland/Homer.
  3. Rte. 281 South to State Rte. 13.
  4. South on State Rte. 13 to Ithaca, NY.
  5. State Rte. 13 South to State Rte. 366.
  6. After NYSEG (electrical utilities) complex, turn left onto State Rte. 366.
  7. State Rte. 366 west to the intersection of State Rte. 366 and Hoy Road.
  8. Straight onto Hoy Road (through flashing light) and follow to campus.

From Points East – Including Albany and Boston

Albany, NY is approximately 160 miles east of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

  1. West on I-90/NY State Thruway, portions of which charge toll.
  2. West on I-90 (NY State Thruway) to I-88.
  3. West on I-88 for 76 miles to Exit 8 for State Rte. 206 at Bainbridge, NY.
  4. West on State Rte. 206 for 25 miles to State Rte. 79 at Whitney Point, NY.
  5. West on State Rte. 79 for 28 miles to Ithaca, NY.
  6. Turn right onto Pine Tree Road (1.6 miles).
  7. Turn left onto Dryden Road/Rte. 366 (0.3 miles).
  8. Straight onto Hoy Road (through the flashing light) and follow to campus.

From Points South – Including New York City

New York City is approximately 220 miles southeast of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 4 hours.

  1. North on I-87 (portions charge toll) to the Tappan Zee Bridge.
  2. Cross the Tappan Zee Bridge (portions charge toll) and continue North on I-87.
  3. North on I-87 (portions charge toll) to State Rte. 17 at Harriman, NY.
  4. West on State Rte. 17 for 111 miles to I-81.
  5. North on I-81 to Exit 8 for Whitney Point, NY.
  6. West on State Rte. 79 for 28 miles to Ithaca, NY.
  7. Turn right onto Pine Tree Road (1.6 miles).
  8. Turn left at Dryden Road/Rte. 366 (0.3 miles).
  9. Straight onto Hoy Road (through the flashing light) and follow to campus.

From Points South – Including New Jersey

Northern New Jersey is approximately 220 miles southeast of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 5 hours.

  1. West on I-80 to I-380.
  2. North I-380 to I-81.
  3. North on I-81 to Exit 8 for Whitney Point, NY.
  4. West on State Rte. 79 for 28 miles to Ithaca, NY.
  5. Turn right onto Pine Tree Road (1.6 miles).
  6. Turn left onto Dryden Road/Rte. 366 (0.3 miles).
  7. Straight onto Hoy Road (through the flashing light) and follow to campus.

From Points Southwest – Including Ohio and Elmira

Cleveland, OH is approximately 330 miles southwest of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 5 hours.

  1. East on I-90 (NY State Thruway) to Exit 10 for Jamestown, NY.
  2. East on Rte. 17 to Rte. 13.
  3. North on Rte. 13 into Ithaca, NY.
  4. Continue North until the intersection of Rte. 13 and Rte. 79.
  5. Travel East on Rte. 79/Green St.
  6. Rte. 79/Green St. becomes Rte. 79/East State St.
  7. Continue to travel on Rte. 79 East.
  8. Turn left onto Mitchell St./Rte. 366.
  9. Follow Mitchell up the hill and bear left onto Ithaca Road.
  10. Ithaca Road will become Dryden Road at the stoplight.
  11. From Dryden Road, turn left onto Hoy Road at the flashing light.
  12. Follow Hoy Road to campus.

From Points West – Including Toronto, Buffalo, and Rochester

Buffalo, NY is approximately 150 miles west of Cornell University with an estimated driving time of 3 hours.

  1. East on I-90 (NY State Thruway) to Exit 42.
  2. South on Rte. 14 for approximately one-quarter mile to Rte. 96.
  3. South on Rte. 96 for approximately 45 miles to Ithaca, NY.
  4. South on Rte. 13 for approximately one-quarter mile to Rte. 79 and Green St.
  5. East on Rte. 79/Green St.
  6. Green St. becomes East State St.
  7. Continue to travel east on Rte. 79 East/State St.
  8. Turn left onto Mitchell St./Rte. 366.
  9. Follow Mitchell St. up the hill and bear left onto Ithaca Road.
Street Addresses for GPS

Fernow Hall 
226 Mann Drive, Ithaca NY 14853
Natural Resources

Kennedy Hall
215 Garden Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14853
Landscape Architecture, eHUB

Mann Library
237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY 14853
Communication, International Programs

Morrison Hall
507 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853
Animal Science

Plant Science
236 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
School of Integrative Plant Science

Roberts Hall
215 Garden Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14853
Main Administration Building 

Stocking Hall
411 Tower Road, Ithaca NY 14853
Food Science; The Dairy Bar

Warren Hall
137 Reservoir Avenue, Ithaca NY 14853
The Dyson School for Applied Economics and Management; Development Sociology

Parking on campus

Parking

Recommended parking near the Martin Y. Tang Welcome Center is available at Toboggan Lodge (GPS address can be entered as 38 Forest Home Dr, Ithaca, NY) and Forest Home Drive Parking Garage. Options for paid parking are below:

  • Pay for parking in advance
    • You may choose to purchase parking in advance. If you scheduled your visit online, please use your unique parking access code provided in your visit confirmation email. If you plan to rent a car, please note that vehicle information is optional when purchasing a pass in advance. Be sure to bring your printed parking permit with you to display on your dashboard while parked. If you forget your printed permit, you may purchase parking on campus after you arrive.
  • Pay for parking after you arrive
    • Pay-by-Cell: create a Parkmobile account, download the mobile app, or text PARK to 77223 and start a parking session once you're on campus.
    • Pay-by-license-plate pay stations are located throughout campus. Cash and credit cards accepted.

Visitor parking for CALS buildings

Visitor parking for Bradfield Hall, Fernow Hall, Stocking Hall, Morrison Hall, Warren Hall, Plant Science, Roberts Hall, Kennedy Hall and Mann Library can be found either at a paved outdoor lot or an indoor garage on campus.

The closest visitor parking lot to the main CALS buildings and the Ag Quad is found at Peterson Lot (across the street from Stocking Hall at 411 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853), which is a Parkmobile parking facility. Parkmobile allows you to conduct parking transactions by mobile phone. There is a white parking information booth located nearby at 360 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853 should you need more information.

  1. Park: Look for the green Parkmobile sign.
  2. Pay: Use the Parkmobile mobile app found in your app store, their website or call 1-877-727-5730 and enter the zone number listed on the sign. Pay using credit card or PayPal.
  3. Go: Head to class, your office, or that job interview. You can even opt-in to receive a text notification 15 minutes before your parking session is set to expire.
Parking for the Dairy Bar

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Cornell ice cream! Looking to visit the Dairy Bar and get a taste of Cornell's world-famous ice cream? Park in the Peterson Lot and enter Stocking Hall to find the Dairy Bar.

The closest visitor parking garage to CALS is the Hoy Road parking garage. The garage is conveniently located at 167 Hoy Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, and has metered, mobile and permit-parking. There is a Visitor Parking and Information Booth about 20 feet from the garage entrance where parking permits can be purchased.

All multi-space meters are in operation Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Accommodations