Here’s a sneak peak at what you might experience at Rutgers Gardens, the official botanic garden of Rutgers University, during this time of year:
Hours
Rutgers Gardens is open year-round with no admission fee. Donations are welcome to help support the plants and maintenance of our gardens and natural areas, including Helyar Woods.
Seasonal Operating Hours:
Tuesdays through Sundays
8:00am to 5:00pm
Rutgers Gardens is closed on Mondays.
All guests, including those visiting Helyar Woods, must exit the property by 5:00pm, as the entrance/exit gate will be locked.
Directions
Rutgers Gardens is located on the Rutgers—New Brunswick campus, 35 miles outside of New York City and 60 miles from Philadelphia, just off exit 9 on the New Jersey Turnpike/I-95.
Or, use this address in your GPS:
130 Log Cabin Rd
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Please be advised that there are areas of Rutgers Gardens with grass, stone paths, uneven terrain, unpaved trails, and stairs. Note that these and other areas may become slippery, especially during or following inclement weather.
Maps
Rutgers Gardens Visitor Map
Helyar Woods Trail Map
Restrooms
There are portable restrooms located near the Log Cabin (wheelchair accessible) and at the entrance path to the Shade Tree Collection just off Log Cabin Road.
Self-Guided Tours and Group Visits
With advance notice and the issuance of a no-fee day pass, Rutgers Gardens welcomes groups who wish to see our unique plant specimens and beautiful grounds during normal operating hours. Please call the office at 848-932-7000 to make arrangements at least five (5) business days in advance of your visit. The preferred date of your visit cannot be guaranteed. To protect and preserve the grounds and because Rutgers Gardens often hosts university classes on-site, we are unable to accommodate groups visiting without a day pass. Buses are not permitted to drive through Rutgers Gardens. Groups with approved day pass permits will enjoy a self-guided experience. If you are looking to book a guided tour for your group, please review our popular group tour options here.
Picnics and Gatherings
Rutgers Gardens welcomes you to enjoy a blanket picnic within a small group. We do not have picnic tables and there are no refreshments available on-site. Rutgers Gardens is a carry in-carry out facility; please take all trash with you when you leave.
The Log Cabin and Alumni Pavilion are seasonally available for private rentals, for a fee, with advance reservations only.
There are benches situated throughout Rutgers Gardens for guests wishing to rest during their visit.
Visitor Policies
Rutgers Gardens and Helyar Woods are the property of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Please do your part to keep Rutgers Gardens a beautiful and safe place for everyone to enjoy. Be respectful of our staff, student interns, and volunteers, and follow their instructions if you are approached during your visit with a reminder about our policies. We hope you enjoy your experience!
- Photography at Rutgers Gardens may require a photo permit: learn more before you visit.
- Park only in paved parking spots or in designated areas.
- Dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash. Please clean up after your pet.
- Rutgers Gardens is a carry in, carry out facility. Please take trash with you when you leave.
- Do not pick, cut, or remove any plants, fungi, or wildlife from Rutgers Gardens or Helyar Woods. Do not feed or disturb wildlife.
- Be mindful of where you walk: do not step in or play in the water features or garden beds. Climbing trees, hanging items from gardens features, or damaging our plant collections in any way is strictly prohibited.
- Alcohol is not permitted at Rutgers Gardens.
- Smoking of any kind, including vaping or electronic cigarettes, is prohibited.
- Rutgers Gardens is a botanic garden and wooded area where visitors hope to enjoy their time in nature or attend scheduled classes with university faculty and staff. Please refrain from any activities that prevent visitors from enjoying the tranquility of Rutgers Gardens, or that prevent our staff from working throughout the gardens.
- This includes no loud music, lewd behavior, barbecues, open fires, ball playing, sledding, kite flying, frisbees, use of drones, contact sports, or sunbathing. Shirts are always required.
- We do not allow soliciting, visitors giving private tours, or visitors passing out information to other guests without prior approval from Rutgers Gardens.
- Private events, ceremonies, group visits, school visits, proposals, posed photography, and tours must be scheduled in advance with our office. Please call 848-932-7000 or email us to inquire about these arrangements.
All rules and regulations are in place for the safety of staff and visitors, to preserve the grounds and the health of our plants, and in the interest of upholding the policies of Rutgers University. Violation of these regulations or any inappropriate conduct can result in removal from Rutgers Gardens and Helyar Woods, police intervention, and fines.
If you have additional questions about the accessibility of Rutgers Gardens areas, please call our office at 848-932-7000.
