Stony Brook University is situated on the north shore of Long Island in southeastern New York. We are approximately 60 miles east of New York City. The Math Tower is located across the road from the Service Group Building, about five minutes away from the Stony Brook station of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR); see campus map.

The closest airport to Stony Brook is Long Island's Islip-MacArthur Airport (ISP), located 16 miles south off the campus. It is served by Southwest and some regional carriers. At the airport, you can take a taxi (about $30) or rent a car. During the day, Monday-Saturday, you can also reach Stony Brook by taking Suffolk County Transit's bus S57 to Smith Haven Mall and transfering to S60 or 3D for Stony Brook University ($1.75, 1.5-2 hrs; each bus runs hourly).

Driving directions to Stony Brook University from Islip-MacArthur Airport: Exit the airport and turn left onto Veterans Memorial Highway (Route 454 West). Merge onto Sunrise Highway (Route 27) and take the second exit onto Nicolls Road. See map. Drive north for 12 miles. There will be three entrances to the university, all on your left. See below for directions to the Math Tower parking lot.

Of the major New York City Area Airports, JFK and LaGuardia (LGA) are quite a bit closer than Newark (EWR). If you rent a car, take the Long Island Expressway (LIE/I-495) east to Exit 62 (CR97/Nicolls Rd, North for Stony Brook; 2nd spur to the right after the main exit). There will be three entrances to the university on your left in about 9 miles. See below for directions to the Math Tower parking lot.

The following companies provide limo and/or shared ride service from JFK, LGA, and/or EWR:

• Spartan Limousine Service (631-928-5454)
• Lindy's (631-265-2500)
• Winston Limousine Service (631-924-1200; outside NY toll-free 1-888-444-4425)
• Classic (631-567-5100)
• Travellers Transport (631-751-6633)

From JFK and LGA, the cost is $60-$80 and the ride takes 1-2 hours (slower during peak hours).

From JFK you can also take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station and then LIRR's Port Jefferson Line to Stony Brook (see below for walking directions from the train station). The cost is $12.25 off-peak, $15 peak, and the trip takes 2-3 hours (faster during peak hours).

From LGA you can take MTA's Bus Q33 to its end at Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Ave and then a Queens-bound subway E train to Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave/JFK Airport station (one stop before the end). From LIRR's Jamaica station upstairs, then take a Port Jefferson bound train to Stony Brook. The cost is $9.25-15.50 (depending on the time of the day and whether you use the metrocard) and the trip takes 2.5-4 hours (faster during peak hours).

From ERW you can take the AirTrain to New Jersey Transit's Newark Airport RR station, then NJT's train to New York's Penn Station (not Newark's!), and then LIRR's Port Jefferson line to Stony Brook. After the evening commute, it might be faster to skip AirTran/NJT and take an Olympia bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 8th Ave. & 42nd St. and walk down 8th Ave to Penn Station, 34th St. The entire trip costs $22.50-$27 and takes about 4 hours.

Take LIRR's Port Jefferson line from Penn Station in Manhattan to Stony Brook. Trains to and from Penn Station generally require a timed transfer at either Jamaica, Hicksville, or Huntington. The LIRR station is on the north side of the campus. The Math Tower is a 5-minute walk from the train station.

Walking directions from LIRR's Stony Brook station to the Math Tower: From the campus (south) side of the tracks, take the paved path that leads directly away from the station (it is located across the small road from the overpass). You will pass athletic fields and then the sports complex on your left, ending at a small pay parking lot. The red Physics Building will be directly across the road from you. The Math Tower is attached to the right side of the Physics Building.

If you are coming from New England, you can take Amtrak or Greyhound to Bridgeport and then the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry to Long Island; see below. To get from Port Jefferson to Stony Brook, you can take either a taxi (about $20, 10-15 mins), Suffolk County Transit's bus S60 or S76 during the day Monday-Saturday ($1.50, about 30 mins), or LIRR's's train ($2.25, 15-20 mins walk to the train, 10 min on the train).

From New York City, take the Long Island Expressway (LIE/I-495) eastbound from the Queens Midtown Tunnel in Manhattan, or connect to the LIE from the Throgs Neck Bridge (via Clearview Expwy) or the Whitestone Bridge (via Whitestone Expxy). See maps. Take Exit 62 (CR97/Nicolls Rd, North for Stony Brook; 2nd spur to the right after the main exit). Follow Nicolls Road (Route 97) north for about 9 miles. There will be three entrances to the University, all on the left. If you are heading to the Math Tower parking lot, take the North Entrance (last one), just before Nicolls Road goes under a railroad overpass.

Directions from the North Entrance to the Math Tower parking lot: At the top of the North Entrance Dr., turn right onto Circle Rd. You will pass the Stony Brook railroad station and its long parking on your left. At the end of the station parking lot, turn left onto Gym Rd. Just before the road ends at a small pay-parking lot, turn right, then left (with the road), then right, and immediately left into the Math Tower parking lot. You will need to a permit to park there. Good luck finding a spot if you arrive between 9 and 4! Alternatively, you can park in the small pay-parking lot at the top of Gym Rd. Do not forget to purchase a parking slip from the machine at the far right corner of the lot.

Car ferries cross Long Island Sound from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Port Jefferson, Long Island ($42.50 for car/driver + $12.50 per car passenger). Take Route 25A west to Nicolls Road and turn left on Nicolls in about 3 miles. The north entrance to the university will be on your right, immediately after the railorad overpass. Follow the directions above to the Math Department parking lot.

For a more scenic and time-consuming drive, you can instead take a ferry from New London, CT, to Orient Point, Long Island, ($44 for car/driver + $13 per car passenger) and then Route 25A west to Nicolls Road and proceed as above.

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Last modified: March 5, 2007