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Monday, July 28, 2025

Lifestyle Article: Transport to and from Cornell - 2

Busses, Trains and Planes: Getting to and From Cornell

Reading time: about 9 minutes

Coming from Washington, D.C., I didn’t think Cornell would feel so far away. Of my top school choices, it was the closest option: on the East Coast instead of somewhere in the Midwest or further. The drive up to move in was “only” six hours, so I was optimistic that buses, trains or planes going back would be similarly quick. 

Now that I’m almost done with my freshman year (and now have more experience with a variety of bus companies that I had never heard of before coming here), I’ve come to the conclusion that my own travel experiences haven’t been too bad. While I used to think the various delays and hiccups in getting home amounted to me being cursed, they pale in comparison to others’ stories: one friend was even abandoned at her bus stop with an upcoming prelim looming, having to fly in to get back in time. Whether you are similarly disillusioned like I once was (I used to think I could travel in six hours with minimal layovers), you’ve barely left since coming here or you’re one of the lucky few with your own car, here’s a quick overview of how the students of Cornell travel to and from campus with some advice thrown in. 

Busses:

New York (31%)

Looking at admissions data about my fellow first-years, about 31% are from New York — meaning anywhere from Ithaca itself to New York City to “true” upstate near the border of Canada. For heading back to New York City after finals, bussing seems to be the most popular and convenient method for getting home. Some options are the Cornell-affiliated Campus-to-Campus bus, FlixBus, OurBus and Megabus, though some students have other favorites. Most students seem to have their own bussing horror stories as well as buses they’d swear on, with pros ranging from water bottles to nice drivers and cons including being abandoned at bus stations and severely delayed rides. Ultimately, it’s going to depend on your own specific situation: timing, pick-up and drop-off location and any individual biases. I like using Wanderu because it helps compile all of the available buses on a certain day, and you can easily filter by time and location.  

You might also pass through (or end up in!) Syracuse if you’re heading to the airport or further north, maybe passing through the University or train station before arriving at the airport. Syracuse is relatively chill, albeit a bit unwalkable, which I found out while trying to get from the airport to the train station during winter break. You might also find yourself passing through or transferring in Binghamton, especially if you’re heading further south. I’ve unfortunately heard a few horror stories related to the safety of the station, so be sure to generally stay aware of your surroundings and, if possible, limit the amount of time spent here: most people want to limit any time spent transferring anyways. 

New England (10%) & Mid-Atlantic (19%)

This is where I have the most experience, traveling to and from Washington, D.C. If you’re close enough to New York City, New Jersey or Connecticut, you might be able to get a ride from your family or hopefully hitch a bus ride without any transfers. As you go further south, I have found that traveling always involves passing through New York City. Specifically, I tend to take a bus into the city and then take a train to D.C., where I can hop on the now greatly appreciated metro (and its reliable schedules) and get home. You can also technically take a train from Syracuse — something I tried over winter break. Being from a big city, I was not expecting the relatively small train station in Syracuse (with no outlets and a few Amish families). Nor did I love the long train ride, which of course still included a two hour transfer to a new train in NYC from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. PM. Due to my choosing a red-eye train trying to save some money, I finally arrived in D.C. some 22 hours after I had left Cornell’s campus (I did save money, but I also still had arm cramps from carrying all my luggage during Christmas). 

Airplanes:

South (9.6%)

The South I know much less about, but it’s my impression that you’ll probably be taking a plane home — either from Ithaca, Syracuse or a New York City airport (so guess what, you’re still somehow subjected to a bus ride to NYC!). If you are flying out of a local airport, you’ll also likely have to transfer, especially if you’re not heading to a big city. As far as plane booking goes, seeing if you can get a ride to the airport is one step: For Ithaca Tompkins International Airport you can take the 32 on the TCAT if it’s not too early or late (generally between 7:30 a.m. to 6:40 p.m.); for Syracuse Hancock International Airport, you could potentially use the Student Assembly shuttle or buy a bus ticket (I again recommend Wanderu). Beyond these options, you’ll be relying on friends or buses to see which airport works best. As for finding flights, I have a bit less experience with this: I tend to use budget sites like Google Flights to find the best deals and see if I can justify missing a day of class to save some money. 

Midwest (6%) and West (13%)

Making up only 6% of the student population, I think I’ve only met a few people from the midwest. And as you’re from further out west, you might be more likely to stay here for shorter breaks and will likely end up flying home if you’re not close enough for parents to pick you up. You might be able to find a bus or parental pickup if you’re close enough in the Midwest, but everyone else will likely be relying on airplanes. In addition, you might be staying on the East Coast for those shorter breaks, maybe traveling to NYC or seeing some of Ithaca’s local nature. Since y’all from the South will be having longer flights, follow my general advice: download entertainment ahead of time (for my shorter flights, I like downloading my favorite songs and listening for the hours I’m in the air), bring a snack for longer flights and wear compression socks and general comfy clothing. 

Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico

While there's no data about what percent of our class those coming from outside of the continental U.S. make up, it’s clear they’ll be flying home (unless you want to plan a road trip to Alaska). Again, if you’re not flying out of Ithaca’s airport, some sort of bus to the Syracuse or a NYC airport will be helpful, but it may also contain some sort of character-building story to tell when you get back from break. 

International (12%)

Representing 57 countries and 12% of the freshman class, international students at Cornell likely have the most amount of planning when it comes to traveling home. Getting home could range from taking a bus north to Canada to taking a plane abroad out of NYC (which is especially common if you’re going to a more popular destination not covered by Ithaca or Syracuse’s flights). Especially good luck to y’all: my one experience flying to Europe a few years ago was very long and crowded, and I encountered everything from some questionable airplane food to ending with long border security lines while waiting to enter the country (and me slightly dehydrated after drinking all of my water on the plane). 

No matter where home is, travel can be strenuous. As you spend more time here, see if you can find people to travel with, whether this is family driving you back home or going on a fall break trip with friends. Make sure to take breaks and take it easy. If a bus is late, try to relax; there's nothing you can do. If a flight is long, try to find creative ways to entertain yourself. Find your happy place, knowing you’re heading home. 


TCAT Route 32 Bus Schedule


Outbound Arrival
Inbound Departure
Weekdays
7:34 a.m. to 7:31 p.m.
7:46 a.m. to 6:43 p.m.
Saturday
Drop off Service Only
8:46 a.m. to 7:46 p.m.
Sunday
Drop off Service Only
8:46 a.m. to 6:46 p.m.

Melanie Delfosse is a first-year in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at md2262@cornell.edu.


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