About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot 6 at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing Township, Mercer County, is an expansive, open-air surface parking facility situated along the southern curve of Metzger Drive. Conveniently positioned in the heart of TCNJ’s athletics and student living zone, Lot 6 serves as a major hub for undergraduate commuters, graduate students, athletic game-day visitors, and campus guests. Designed with well-defined asphalt lanes, clear directional striping, and dedicated pedestrian walkways, the lot delivers a straightforward, hassle-free parking experience for campus arrivals.

Because Lot 6 is an open-surface lot without overhead concrete decks or low-hanging clearance barriers, it accommodates a broad range of passenger and oversized vehicles. Standard sedans, crossovers, full-size pickup trucks (such as Ford F-150s and Chevy Silverados), sports utility vehicles, and high-roof vans can maneuver and park without the vertical clearance concerns often encountered in adjacent multi-level parking decks like Metzger Garage (Lot 7). Wide driving lanes also allow easy turning radii and safe passing when traffic surges between class changes and athletic meets.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Lot 6 boasts an unbeatable location directly adjacent to the premier athletic, recreational, and dining destinations across the TCNJ campus:

Lions Stadium & Ackerman Park: Situated directly next to Lot 6, placing football, field hockey, and track & field fans mere footsteps (1 to 2 minutes on foot) from the ticket gates and bleachers.
TCNJ Soccer Complex & June Walker Field: Located just across Metzger Drive, hosting varsity and regional soccer and softball matches within a 3-minute stroll.
Brower Student Center & Dining Halls: A short 4- to 6-minute walk north across the lawn leads to campus dining options, student lounges, event ballrooms, and bookstore conveniences.
Campus Town at TCNJ: Roughly an 8-minute walk (0.4 miles) south brings visitors to Campus Town along Pennington Road, featuring popular dining and retail spots like Panera Bread, Jersey Mike's, Mexican Grill, and local student hangouts.
Academic Core & Gitenstein Library: Academic halls such as Bliss Hall, Forcina Hall, the STEM Building, and Gitenstein Library are reachable within a pleasant 5- to 8-minute pedestrian stroll through central campus.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing Lot 6 is straightforward thanks to TCNJ's perimeter loop, Metzger Drive. Drivers entering campus from Route 31 (Pennington Road) through either the Main Entrance or the Green Lane Entrance can navigate seamlessly onto Metzger Drive to reach Lot 6's entry apron. Clear directional signage guides incoming traffic past Lot 5 directly into Lot 6. After large sporting events or graduation ceremonies, vehicles can exit smoothly onto Metzger Drive and route towards Route 31, avoiding pedestrian bottlenecks in the campus core.

For regional connectivity, the lot is located just minutes from Interstate 295 (Exit 72 for Route 31), offering direct arterial access to Princeton, Trenton, Philadelphia, and Central New Jersey. Public transportation users are well served by NJ TRANSIT Bus Route 601, which makes regular campus stops providing direct connections to the Trenton Transit Center (for Amtrak, SEPTA Regional Rail, and NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor trains) as well as the Ewing corporate corridor.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Headroom-unrestricted parking ideal for standard vehicles, lifted trucks, rooftop luggage carriers, and high-clearance passenger vans.
License Plate Recognition (LPR) Permitting: Integrated with TCNJ Parking Services' electronic permit and LPR database, eliminating the need for physical hanging tags or dash decals.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Clearly marked, ADA-compliant handicap parking spaces located nearest to pedestrian walkways and athletic facilities.
Campus Security & 24/7 Monitoring: Patrolled regularly by the TCNJ Campus Police Department, backed by campus security cameras and visible emergency blue light callboxes throughout the perimeter.
Close Proximity to EV Charging: While Lot 6 is dedicated open surface parking, 10 Level 2 EV charging stations are situated right next door inside Metzger Garage (Lot 7).
High-Output Lighting: High-efficiency campus luminaire poles keep the lot well-lit during evening classes, night games, and late library study sessions.

Ideal For

Athletic Event Attendees: College sports enthusiasts, visiting team families, and local school tournament participants headed to Lions Stadium, June Walker Field, or the soccer pitch.
TCNJ Commuter Students: Undergraduate Commuter (UC) and Graduate Commuter (GC) permit holders seeking convenient parking close to academic quads and dining facilities.
Campus Visitors & Open House Guests: Families touring TCNJ or attending weekend regional competitions, student showcases, and cultural performances at Brower Student Center or Kendall Hall.
Faculty, Staff & Contractor Overflow: University personnel and service providers needing open surface access without deck clearance limitations.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When using Lot 6, keep the following practical tips in mind to ensure a smooth visit:

Park 'Nose-In' for LPR Enforcement: Because TCNJ utilizes License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles, all motorists must park with their registered license plate facing the drive aisle. Vehicles registered in single-plate states should never back into spaces.
Know the Permit Hours: Permit regulations are strictly enforced Monday through Friday. Commuter permits generally do not allow overnight parking between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM without an authorized overnight dispensation from Campus Police.
Weekend Visitor Flexibility: Visitor parking restrictions are typically relaxed on general weekends for athletic events, but always check event-specific parking advisories and campus signage during NCAA tournaments or special college functions.
GPS Routing: Set your navigation system to 'Metzger Drive, Ewing NJ' or enter through 2000 Pennington Road to ensure you are routed via the proper campus perimeter gate rather than private interior service lanes.