Carnegie Mellon University ———
Graduate Education  ›  Incoming Students  ›  Before You Arrive On Campus  ›  Travel Arrangements and Resources
After you've completed the First Steps for Admitted Students, it's time to start planning your trip to Pittsburgh. From temporary housing accommodations to helping you find the campus, we're here to help get you to Pittsburgh as smoothly as possible.

If you are not a new international graduate student, or if you need temporary housing, there are numerous hotels located close to the university. Some hotels offer discounts to Carnegie Mellon visitors and free shuttle service to campus. Rates are per night and reservations are necessary as this is a very busy time of the year. Taxes are not included in the quoted rates, so you may want to ask the hotel how much taxes cost per night.

For help finding a permanent apartment after you arrive, visit the Finding Off-Campus Housing page.

Transitional Housing for Incoming Graduate Students Available (July-August)
Incoming graduate students who live more than 3,000 miles from the Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh campus may apply to use on-campus Graduate Student Transitional Housing which is available from July 17 through noon on August 10.  Students must be an enrolled CMU student to register for housing and list their CMU email address during registration. All residents must vacate their room by Noon on August 10th (no exceptions).  Students can register HERE. 
*Note that this registration form is typically used for conferences held on campus so references such as registering for an event or an event coordinator or name badges may not be relevant.

Housing Details:
  • Accommodations will be in the Welch Residence Hall on Carnegie Mellon's main campus. Welch consists of prime single and prime double rooms. Laundry facilities, kitchen, TV lounge, study lounge and recreation room are located on the A level of the building. All rooms are single gender, and most rooms contain 2 beds, 2 desks, 2 desk chairs, 2 dressers, and 2 closets. There are semi-private bathrooms in each suite.

Housing Rates:
  • $30.00 per person/per night – single occupancy in a single room
  • $35.00 per person/per night – single occupancy in a double roo
  • Linens are included in this price (flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillow, pillow case, blanket, bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth).

The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) has pulled together resources for finding housing and living in Pittsburgh. In addition to some answers to quick questions, you may be asking if there is also a Graduate Student Housing Handbook to help you get settled in - there is!

Driving Directions
If you're driving to campus, use the address below to get directions via Google Maps.

Campus Address:
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Travel from Pittsburgh International Airport to Campus/Oakland

Public Bus Transportation

(Port Authority Transit)
  • The 28X Airport Flyer bus stops downtown and in the heart of the Carnegie Mellon campus. Rides typically take 45 minutes and buses depart from the airport every 30 minutes between 5:30am-12:00 midnight, everyday.
  • The bus uses exact change only and riders can also purchase a transfer ticket, which is good for one ride on another bus from the downtown or campus drop-off location.
  • For the current bus schedule and costs, visit the Port Authority website or call 412-442-2000.
Super Shuttle

Super Shuttle provides shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels. For reservations and pricing information, contact Super Shuttle at 1-800-258-3826.
Taxi Service

The average taxi fare from the airport to campus is about $55-$75, plus tip (an additional, recommended payment for service providers). TripAdvisor recommends a 15-20% tip for taxi service. Taxi cabs are typically located outside of the airport, but if you need to call a service, call zTrip (412-777-7777) or Classy Cab (412-322-5080).

Whether you are staying in a hotel or on campus, taxi service will require a destination address (see campus address above). Most taxis will accept credit cards, but you should check with the driver before you begin your trip.
Uber

The on demand, private taxi service has now been approved to provide service to/from the airport. You can request a pick up and view fare estimates for your trip via the Uber app on your smartphone. All Uber accounts must have an email address and verified mobile number associated with the account in order to request a ride.
Rental Car
  • You can rent a car on-site at the Pittsburgh International Airport. For more information, including a list of car rental agencies and phone numbers, please refer to the transportation services section of the Pittsburgh International Airport website.
  • Driving directions from the airport: Follow 376 East toward Pittsburgh through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and onto the Fort Pitt Bridge. Once on the bridge stay in the far right lanes and follows the signs for 376 East/Monroeville. Take 376 East to the Forbes Avenue/Oakland exit. Stay in the right hand lanes, following Forbes Avenue approximately 1.3 miles through the Oakland business district to campus.

Amtrak, Greyhound, and Megabus

 

 
  • Amtrak rail passenger (train) and Greyhound (intercity bus) operate terminals in downtown Pittsburgh. Both are located at the intersection of 11th Street & Liberty Avenue, across the street from each other.
  • The Megabus express bus stop for all Pittsburgh arrivals is located at the David Lawrence Convention Center in downtown, roughly one block from the Greyhound and Amtrak stations.
  • Students arriving by Amtrak, Greyhound, or Megabus can request taxi or Uber service (see above) to campus or a hotel by providing pick up and destination addresses. If you are staying downtown, you may be able to walk from the station or bus stop to your hotel. City bus service to campus is available on the Port Authority's 61A, 61B, 61C, or 61D routes. Buses to campus depart from the intersection of Fifth Avenue & Smithfield Street.
Bring Cash With You
  • We recommend traveling with $200-$300 (US) in small bills to cover incidental expenses (taxis, meals, books, etc.). For your own safety, you should not travel with large sums of cash. However, you will want to have enough currency to limit the number of times you may need to use an ATM and incur withdrawl or foreign currency exchange fees.  To avoid paying ATM fees once you arrive in Pittsburgh, consider opening a local bank account.

International Students: If you bring a bank draft or a foreign check to open a bank account, you cannot draw upon it for 2 to 3 weeks, so do not rely upon these funds for immediate cash. After you have established an account, you may have money wired directly from your home bank to your Pittsburgh bank. Since wiring fees can be expensive (check with your bank in advance!), consider wiring only large sums.

Bring Credit Cards With You

  • If you have major credit cards, bring them. Whether you are a domestic or international graduate student you should call your bank or credit card company before you travel to let them know your plans and avoid a situation in which they might decline 'suspicious' activity.
    For international students without a credit history in the U.S., it will be difficult or even impossible to obtain a credit card from a U.S. bank, so a credit card from your home country will be help you cover expenses until you can open a local bank account.

Bring Only What You Need
  • If you do not have an apartment secured for your arrival or are traveling long distances or from overseas, you may want to limit the items you bring with you initially. Bringing only the essentials will make it easier for you to get through the airport or transport items from the airport to your hotel. If you live within a reasonable distance of Pittsburgh and wish to visit the city to look at apartments prior to your permanent arrival, consult the Finding Off-Campus Housing page.
  • During the summer, June through September, the weather in Pittsburgh is often hot and humid. Lightweight clothing is recommended. In addition to clothes and walking shoes, books and other essentials, consider bringing the following items: extra eye glasses or contact lenses, medications (in clearly labeled containers), addresses of friends and family, phone numbers of contact people in the U.S., and compact items that will help your residence feel like home.
  • Check with your airline regarding luggage weight and security measures or consult the Transportation Security Administration.  
  • For more information on traveling internationally, visit the Office of International Education.