Hotels near/Princeton University
— Colleges · NJ —

Hotels near Princeton University.

The campus and the art museum, an hour from both New York and Philadelphia — reunions weekend is the hardest booking of the year.

The 12 independent hotels we list within about 55 miles of Princeton University, ranked by drive time and the Le Hotelist Score. No chains.

  1. 1h 3m · 35.2 miclosest
    Asbury Park, NJ · $$ from $365 · restaurant

    Adults-only, 16-room boutique in downtown Asbury — Heirloom restaurant does the cooking.

  2. 1h 3m · 35.4 mi
    Bradley Beach, NJ · $$ from $275

    Nine rooms in a quiet Bradley Beach side street — a labor of love for its owner, run like a guesthouse.

  3. 1h 3m · 35.4 mi
    Asbury Park, NJ · $$ from $289 · restaurant

    A 1962 Salvation Army building reimagined in 2016 — rooftop bar, live music, bowling alley downstairs.

  4. 1h 4m · 35.8 mi
    Spring Lake, NJ · $$ from $375 · restaurant

    A 1908 oceanfront Colonial Revival in Spring Lake — 69 rooms, wraparound porch, family-owned.

  5. 1h 4m · 35.6 mi
    Long Branch, NJ · $$ from $295

    Pier Village's art-centric boutique — each suite has a fireplace and a kitchenette, rotating artist showcase.

  6. 1h 7m · 37.3 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $325

    Six mini-apartments in Old City designed by a local creative collective — the best Airbnb-style stay in Philly.

  7. 1h 7m · 37.6 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $295

    Clean-lines modernist in West Philly — quiet, specific, the opposite of the Marriott downtown.

  8. 1h 7m · 37.4 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $225 · restaurant

    Fifty-one rooms in a 19th-century Old City warehouse — balconies over the Delaware, one of the city's oldest continuously operating inns.

  9. 1h 7m · 37.6 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $285

    National Register 1856 dry-goods store turned hotel — steps from the Liberty Bell, improbably independent.

  10. 1h 8m · 38.3 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$$ from $425 · restaurant

    A 19th-century former women's club in Rittenhouse — twelve rooms, female-forward design, under-the-radar.

  11. 1h 8m · 38 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $265

    An 1787 Georgian townhouse on 8th and Locust — 15 rooms in the historic district.

  12. 1h 9m · 38.7 mi
    Philadelphia, PA · $$ from $185

    An 1850s Rittenhouse Square B&B — seven rooms, grand piano in the parlor, breakfast included.

The hotels within a short drive of Princeton University are mostly chains and mid-scale boxes on the approach roads. The ones above are the independent alternatives — inns, converted buildings and small design hotels run by the people who own them. Each has a Le Hotelist Score built from five sub-scores (design, location, service, value, quiet), and the distance shown is straight-line; real drive times run a little longer on back roads.

Frequently asked
What's the closest hotel to Princeton University?
The St. Laurent in Asbury Park, NJ is the nearest independent hotel we list — about 35.2 miles, roughly 1h 3m by car.
Are there any non-chain hotels near Princeton University?
Yes. Le Hotelist lists only independent hotels — no chains, no pay-to-rank. 5 of them are within about an hour's drive of Princeton University, each with a Le Hotelist Score from 0 to 10.
How far in advance should I book?
Peak weekends in season fill up; midweek and shoulder season are more forgiving. The smaller inns near Princeton University have the fewest rooms, so they go first.
Is it better to stay near Princeton University or in the nearest city?
Staying close means an early start and a short drive back after dinner. Asbury Park and the towns nearby keep you within 1h 3m without giving up a good restaurant or a real bed.
These hotels are in: Jersey Shore, Philadelphia
Not sure which one? Answer a few questions →More places to stay near →