Center for International Earth Science Information Network

Location and Directions

CIESIN is located on the Lamont campus of Columbia University in Palisades, New York. The campus is 10 miles north of the George Washington Bridge. It stands along the cliffs of the Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River. CIESIN is on the second floor of the Geosciences Building, via the central spiral staircase. Please go to our reception desk in room 201.

Center for International Earth Science Information Network

61 Route 9W
PO Box 1000
Palisades, NY 10964
Phone: +1(845)365-8988
FAX: +1(845)365-8922

MAPS (click to enlarge)

Map of Lamont

Area Map

Google Map of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Entrance
View Larger Map

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From New York City

Take the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. Stay in the two right lanes. Take the exit to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Proceed north on the Parkway for approximately 10 miles to Exit 4, Route 9W. At the end of the exit ramp at the traffic light, turn left onto 9W (heading north) for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory will be on your right.

From Westchester

Via Interstate 287 (I-287)

Take I-287 west across the Tappan Zee Bridge. Take the first exit after the bridge (Exit 10, Nyack). Proceed South on 9W for approximately six miles. Lamont-Doherty will be on your left (on the New York-New Jersey border).

From Upstate New York and Northern New Jersey

Via the New York State Thruway Southbound (I-87 and I-287)

Take the NYS Thruway (I-87 and I-287) South to Exit 13 (Palisades Interstate Parkway South). Proceed on the Parkway south for approximately 10 miles to Exit 4, 9W. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto 9W (north). (You will be backtracking slightly.) Proceed on 9W for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty will be on your right.

From New Jersey

Via Route I-95 and points south

Take 95 North to I-80 East and continue with directions below.

Via Route I-80 and points west

1. Take I-80 East. When lanes split into local and express, bear right to the three rightmost (local) lanes. Remain in the middle of the three lanes.
2. The left lane will split off and the middle lane will become the left lane. Shortly after that, exit left (Fort Lee/Palisades Palisades Interstate Parkway), just before the George Washington Bridge. The exit will bear left and bring you to a traffic light. Turn left at the light (Fletcher Avenue).
3. Continue through Fort Lee for three additional traffic lights to a Mobil gas station. Bear right to the Palisades Interstate Parkway (north). Proceed north on the Parkway for approximately 10 miles to Exit 4, 9W. At the end of the exit ramp at the stop light, turn left onto 9W (heading north) and proceed for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory will be on your right.

From Area Airports

From JFK International Airport

Take the Van Wyck Expressway (VWE) North (Route 678 toward the Whitestone Bridge). Take the VWE to the Whitestone Bridge (bridge toll: $6.50).
Take the Cross Bronx Expressway (Route 95) to the George Washington (GW) Bridge (no toll charged this direction). Stay to the left on the approach to the GW Bridge; then get into the right lane to access the upper level of the bridge.
Exit to the Palisades Interstate Parkway (north). Continue north about ten miles.
Take Exit 4. Turn left onto 9W North. Proceed on 9W for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty will be on your right.

From LaGuardia Airport

Take Grand Central Parkway West (GCP)/278 to the Triborough Bridge. Bear left to enter the Major Deegan Expressway North (87) toward the George Washington Bridge (GWB).
Exit to the Cross Bronx Expressway (Route 95) to the George Washington (GW) Bridge (no toll charged this direction). Stay to the left on the approach to the GW Bridge; then get into the right lane to access the upper level of the bridge.
Exit to the Palisades Interstate Parkway (north). Continue north about ten miles.
Take Exit 4. Turn left onto 9W North. Proceed on 9W for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty will be on your right.

From Newark Airport

Take the New Jersey Turnpike north toward New York (also called Route 95N, marked by the green and white sign). Continue for about 15 miles, through the toll booths (toll: approximately $3.60) and past a sign saying “End of New Jersey Turnpike.” Follow signs for the George Washington Bridge (GWB)/I-80 East. When lanes split into local and express, bear right to the three rightmost (local) lanes. Remain in the middle of the three lanes.

The left lane will split off and the middle lane will become the left lane. Shortly after that, exit left (Fort Lee/Palisades Palisades Interstate Parkway), just before the George Washington Bridge. The exit will bear left and bring you to a traffic light. Turn left at the light (Fletcher Avenue).

Continue through Fort Lee for three additional traffic lights to a Mobil Gas Station. Bear right to the Palisades Interstate Parkway (north). Proceed north on the Parkway for approximately 10 miles to Exit 4, 9W. At the end of the exit ramp at the stop light, turn left onto 9W (heading north) and proceed for approximately 200 yards (or meters). Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory will be on your right.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

From New York City

BUSES

Lamont Shuttle Bus
Service between Columbia University, New York City, and the Lamont Campus in Palisades, New York.

Additional stops during mid-day runs at Parker Plaza in Fort Lee, N.J. and CU Medical Center at 167th St.

The shuttle bus is free of charge. If full capacity is reached, passengers with Columbia ID or affiliation are given priority.

In New York City, the bus stop is at 120th St., in front of Teacher’s College, directly in front of the guard booth (on the north side of the street.) At Lamont, the bus stop is directly in front of the Geoscience Building, where CIESIN offices are located. Please look for a large, white inter-city bus with “Academy” in blue letters on the side.

Service between Morningside and Lamont is hourly throughout the day except for a gap midday.

See Shuttle Bus Schedule

Coach USA/Rockland Coaches Public Transportation

The 9T and 9AT buses run between the Times Square (42nd St.) Port Authority bus terminal in New York City and the Lamont-Doherty campus, Palisades, New York.

The fare one-way is $7.65 ( (purchase ticket to “stateline,” in Alpine, NJ, which is at the entrance to Lamont, just before the NY border). Tickets may be puchased on board, but change is not guaranteed with bills greater than $10. To purchase tickets in advance, go to window 11 on the ground floor. Buses leave once every hour from platform 208 or 220 (see schedule).

Ask the driver to drop you in front of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the “Stateline” stop.

The 9 and 9A buses run between the George Washington Bridge bus station in upper Manhattan (at 178th and Broadway or the 175th St. subway stop) and the Lamont-Doherty campus, Palisades. The fare one-way is approximately $6.65. Tickets may be puchased on board, but change is not guaranteed with bills greater than $10. To purchase tickets in advance, go to window 11 on the ground floor. The bus leaves from platform 20.

See Coach USA/Rockland Coaches Schedule
Phone: +1(845)356-0877

From Area Airports

Three major airports serve this area:

Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (Brooklyn, NY)
LaGuardia Airport (Queens, NY)
Newark International Airport (Newark, NJ)

Kennedy Internal Airport (JFK) Public Transportation

AirTrain to Subway to Bus

From your JFK terminal take the AirTrain to the Howard Beach Subway Station. Take the “A” train (subway) uptown to 175th Street/George Washington Bridge Bus terminal ( $2.25 to purchase a metrocard ride at the station kiosk). Take the Coach USA/Rockland Coaches Bus #9A to “Stateline” stop in Alpine, NJ (just south of the New York border, at the entrance to Lamont). The bus fare one-way is approximately $6.65. Tickets may be puchased on board, but change is not guaranteed with bills over $10. Buses leave once every hour.

Ask the driver to drop you in front of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the “Stateline” stop.

More information on ground transportation to and from JFK

LaGuardia Airport Public Transportation

Bus to Bus

Take the New York Airport Express Bus from Laguardia Airport to the Times Square (42nd Street) Port Authority Bus Terminal ($13 one-way).

From the Port Authority Bus Terminal take the Coach USA/Rockland Coaches Bus #9A or 9AT bus to the “Stateline” stop in Alpine, NJ (just south of the New York border, at the entrance to Lamont).The bus fare one-way is approximately $7.65. Tickets may be puchased on board, but change is not guaranteed with bills greater than $10. To purchase tickets in advance, go to window 11 on the ground floor. Buses leave once every hour from platform 208 or 220 (check schedule).

Ask the driver to drop you at the entrance to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the “Stateline” stop.

New York Airport Express Bus Phone: +1(718)875-8200

More information on ground transportation to and from LaGuardia

Newark International Airport Public Transportation

The Newark Airport Express bus service goes to the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal. The bus leaves every 15 minutes (departures every 30 minutes before 6:45 AM and after 11:15 PM). From the Port Authority Bus Terminal take the Coach USA/Rockland Coaches ##9A or 9AT bus to“Stateline” stop in Alpine, NJ (just south of the New York border, at the entrance to Lamont).

Ask the driver to drop you at the entrance to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the “Stateline” stop.

More information on ground transportation to and from Newark

Related Resources

• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Airport Information and Transportation

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority Home Page
New York City subway, bus, and railroad maps, schedules, and fares

• Coach USA/Rockland Coaches
   Phone information and schedules: +1(845)356-0877
   Online schedules

• New York, NY Metro
   Guide to New York City

Location and Directions