Teachers College is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan (525 W. 120 Street between Broadway and Amsterdam) and is accessible by various modes of transportation. Directions for travel by airplane, train, bus, subway, and car are provided below.
By Air
Three international airports serve New York City, and it’s relatively simple to get to Teachers College from each of them.
From JFK, taking the AirTrain ($7.75) to the A train is very affordable and relatively straightforward. You can transfer from the A to the 1 train at 42nd or 59th if going straight to TC.
From LaGuardia Airport, there is a direct bus service (M60) to West 116th Street and Broadway.
From Newark Airport, there is New Jersey Transit bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Although New York City cabs operate on mileage meters, cab fares can vary with traffic conditions. The average one-way fare from John F. Kennedy Airport is about $52.00 plus tolls, one way from LaGuardia Airport is about $32.00. Designated airport passenger pick-up areas usually have cab dispatchers available to assist you. Car shares like Uber or Lyft may be cheaper than cabs, especially when choosing the shared ride option.
By Public Transportation
Trains to New York arrive at Grand Central Station (located at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue) or Pennsylvania Station (located at West 34th Street and Seventh Avenue); buses stop at the Port Authority Bus Terminal (located from 40th to 42nd Streets, between 8th and 9ht Avenues). Visitors arriving at these stations can take either public transportation or a cab north to the campus.
NYC Subway:
One subway line (the No. 1 local red line) serves the Teachers College, Columbia neighborhood. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is 116th Street. Be sure that you are on (or transfer to) the local line at the 96th Street Station. The express line (No. 2 or No. 3 trains) does not serve Columbia University. There are subway entrances at Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. From Grand Central Station, the Shuttle (S) goes to Times Square 42nd Street, offering access to the No. 1 Broadway Local train going uptown
NYC Bus:
Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, M60, M104) will bring you to Teachers College. The M60 bus is a direct link between campus and LaGuardia Airport.
Maps of bus and subway routes are available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website. It’s a good idea to download an App like CityMapper or use Google Maps on your smart phone for up-to-date transit information.
By Car
GPS Address: 525 W. 120th Street New York, New York 10027
By Car From the North:
Take the New York Thruway (I-87) or the New England Thruway (I-95) south to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in the direction of the George Washington Bridge*. Take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south (last exit before the bridge). Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 120th Street. Turn left onto 120th Street, and the entrance to TC is on your left.
Alternatively, take the Saw Mill River Parkway south to the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Cross the Henry Hudson Bridge* into Manhattan. Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 120th Street. Turn left onto 120th Street, and the entrance to TC is on your left.
By Car From the South or West:
Take the New Jersey Turnpike north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge*. After crossing the bridge, take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 120th Street. Turn left onto 120th Street, and the entrance to TC is on your left.
Alternatively, drivers can enter New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel*. Take I-280 north to I-95 north. From I-95, take Exit 16E toward the Lincoln Tunnel/NJ-3 ($12.50 cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). Keep left at the fork and merge onto NJ-495 east. Leaving the tunnel, take the exit toward 42 St./I-495 E/New York 9A; bear to the left and continue under the underpass onto Dyer Avenue. Turn left onto West 41st Street. Turn right onto 12th Avenue, the Henry Hudson Parkway. From the Parkway, take the West 96th Street exit. Merge onto 96th Street and turn left onto Broadway. Continue to 120th Street. Turn right onto 120th Street, and the entrance to TC is on your left.
*MTA bridges and tunnels do not accept cash for tolls. Find out more information on how to pay.
Parking
Street Parking is not impossible on Friday and Saturday since there are no classes at Teachers College on Fridays. There are also two nearby garages: (1) The Claremont Avenue Garage located on 120 Street between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue (212-870-6736): Earlybird before 8am is $25 to park all day until 7pm. After 8am it costs $39 for 8 hours of parking. (2) GMC Garage located on 122nd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue (212-961-1075): $32.10 up to 8 hours; $41.39 24 hours max. These rates are confirmed as of 9/4/2018.
Find out more information on parking.
(Last updated Sep. 2019)