Ithaca was made for walking (if you don’t mind some hills). Many students walk to campus from downtown, and making your way between classes on foot is easy once you know your way around. Use the Cornell Map to start familiarizing yourself with the campus.
Get to know the area and keep your commute planet-friendly by biking to class. Read up on campus cycling policies and register your bike with Cornell (there is no fee). There are showers located in the classroom level of Sage Hall if you need to freshen up before class.
The TCAT [Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit] Bus Service in Ithaca runs early, often, and stops right in front of Sage Hall. Your CU ID card doubles as your bus pass. TCAT service is free for your first year as a Cornell student. After the initial year, Cornell students receive unlimited rides weekdays after 6pm and on weekends. Learn about additional fare options and plan your rides on the TCAT website.
Ithaca is serviced by Lyft and Uber, or you can call one of the many local cab companies.
Parking at Cornell is limited, so it is highly encouraged that you use an alternative commuting method. If you do decide to bring a car to campus, you’ll need to purchase a parking permit. Learn about the different permits and requirements, and purchase your permit at Parking for Students.
Travel between Ithaca and New York City with ease on the Campus-to-Campus Bus, which offers express service to the Cornell Club of NYC, Weill Cornell Medicine, and to the F train stop just outside Cornell’s Roosevelt Island campus. The Campus-to-Campus bus picks up and drops off at Sage Hall, so you can travel in comfort any day of the week to network with peers, alumni, and recruiters. For the standard schedule and to buy tickets, visit the Campus-to-Campus Bus website.