Prices and timetables checked on 24 August 2026. Bus fares and services can change, so use the official links below for a final check before travelling.
Driving into central Cambridge can be an expensive mistake. The streets were not designed for modern traffic, the one-way system is unforgiving, and a wrong turn can put you in a bus gate or a city-centre car park charging more than £30 for the day.
Cambridge Park & Ride is usually the simplest escape from the parking game. There are five official sites around the edge of the city: Madingley Road, Newmarket Road, Trumpington, Babraham Road and Milton. Parking is free for up to 18 hours; you pay only for the bus.
But the five sites are not equally useful. The best one depends on where you are driving from, where in Cambridge you want to arrive and how late you intend to stay.
The short answer: which Cambridge Park & Ride should I use?
| Park & Ride | Best when arriving from | Best for | Bus | Typical journey to central Cambridge | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madingley Road | M11 northbound, A428, Bedford, St Neots, Cambourne | Historic centre, Bridge Street, Round Church, St John’s and Trinity | PR1 | 12 minutes; Bridge Street in about 6 | CB3 0EX |
| Newmarket Road | A14 east, A1303, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds | The Grafton, Cambridge United, east Cambridge and the city centre | PR2 | 17 minutes; The Grafton in about 10 | CB5 8AA |
| Trumpington | M11 Junction 11, A10 south, Royston, London and Stansted | Fitzwilliam Museum, Botanic Garden, Trumpington Street and the southern city centre | PR3 | 13 minutes | CB2 9FT |
| Babraham Road | A1307, A11, Haverhill, Saffron Walden and the south-east | Addenbrooke’s, Hills Road, Cambridge station area and city centre | PR4 | 25 minutes | CB22 3AB |
| Milton | A10 north, A14, Ely, Waterbeach and the north-east | Science Park, Midsummer Common, Jesus Green and city centre | PR5 | 16 minutes | CB24 6DQ |
My recommendation for most first-time visitors: use the site that is naturally on your route. Do not drive around the Cambridge ring road merely to reach the site with the shortest bus journey. If two sites are equally convenient, Madingley Road is particularly good for the historic centre, while Trumpington is excellent for the Fitzwilliam Museum and the southern end of town.
How much does Cambridge Park & Ride cost?
Parking at all five sites is free for up to 18 hours. You do not need to buy a parking session for an ordinary day visit; simply park and buy your bus ticket.
The standard Park & Ride fares are:
- Adult return: £4.50
- Child aged 5–15: £1 return when travelling with a fare-paying adult, with up to four children at that price per adult
- Children under 5: free, up to four per fare-paying adult
- Single journey: up to £3
- Short-hop return: £3.80 between Babraham Road and Addenbrooke’s, or between Newmarket Road and the Abbey Stadium on Cambridge United home-match days
Park & Ride returns are valid only for the site and route from which they were bought. They are not an all-day pass for travelling between different Park & Ride sites, and they are not valid on Guided Busway services.
The group-ticket calculation visitors often miss
If several adults are travelling together, do not automatically buy separate returns. A Cambridge Town Zone group DayRider can be cheaper and allows unlimited travel in the zone for the day.
| Your group | Usually the better buy |
|---|---|
| 1 adult | £4.50 Park & Ride return |
| 2 adults | Two returns: £9 |
| 3 adults | Small-group DayRider: £9.50 until 31 August 2026; £10 from 1 September 2026 |
| 4 or 5 adults | Large-group DayRider: £14 until 31 August 2026; £15 from 1 September 2026 |
| 2 adults + 2 children aged 5–15 | Separate Park & Ride fares: £11, normally cheaper than the large-group ticket |
| 2 adults + children under 5 | £9; the children travel free within the stated limit |
The lesson is simple: group tickets are excellent for groups made mainly of adults, but not necessarily for families with young children. Tell the driver how many adults and children are travelling and ask for the cheapest suitable ticket before paying.
Check current Cambridge Park & Ride fares
1. Madingley Road Park & Ride (PR1)
Postcode: CB3 0EX
Best approach: A428 or the M11 northbound at Junction 13
Spaces: 930, including parent-and-child and accessible bays
Maximum vehicle height: 2.1 metres / 6 ft 11 in
Bus frequency: up to every 10 minutes Monday–Saturday; up to every 15 minutes on Sundays
Journey: around 6 minutes to Bridge Street and 12 minutes to central Cambridge
Madingley Road is arguably the best Park & Ride for a conventional sightseeing day. The PR1 reaches Bridge Street quickly, dropping you close to the Round Church, St John’s College, Trinity Street, Jesus Green and the punting stations. From Bridge Street it is an easy walk through the historic centre towards King’s Parade.
It is especially convenient from Bedford, St Neots, Cambourne and the A428, and for drivers approaching Cambridge northbound on the M11.
The M11 Junction 13 catch
Junction 13 is not a normal full-access motorway junction. The direct exit is from the M11 northbound only. If you are travelling southbound, do not assume your sat-nav will give you the same simple exit. Check the route before you reach Cambridge rather than improvising at the last moment.
Pros
- Fastest access to the historic northern centre and Bridge Street
- Particularly good for St John’s, Trinity, the Round Church, punting and Jesus Green
- Frequent service
- Heated waiting room, Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby changing
- Dedicated coach-parking area, with no height restriction, for £15 per vehicle per day
Cons
- The 2.1-metre height barrier excludes some tall vans and roof-loaded vehicles
- No caravans or trailers
- Junction 13 is northbound-exit only, which can catch unfamiliar drivers
- The normal Park & Ride service does not run late into the night
Madingley Road map and official information · Madingley Road timetable
2. Newmarket Road Park & Ride (PR2)
Postcode: CB5 8AA
Best approach: A14 Junction 35, A1303, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds
Spaces: 873, including 8 parent-and-child and 15 accessible bays
Maximum vehicle height: 2.2 metres / 7 ft 3 in
Bus frequency: up to every 10 minutes Monday–Saturday; up to every 15 minutes on Sundays
Journey: around 10 minutes to The Grafton and 17 minutes to central Cambridge
Newmarket Road is the obvious choice from the east. The PR2 serves the Newmarket Road retail area, Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium, The Grafton and Drummer Street bus station.
For the historic centre, stay on to Drummer Street. Market Square, Christ’s College and the Grand Arcade are within an easy walk, while King’s Parade is roughly 10–15 minutes away on foot.
Match-day advantage—and match-day warning
On Cambridge United home-match days, a £3.80 short-hop return is available between the Park & Ride and the Abbey Stadium. This is far less stressful than hunting for a space around Newmarket Road. On the other hand, football traffic can slow the surrounding roads, so allow extra time.
Pros
- Best site from Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and the A14 east
- Direct for The Grafton and useful for Cambridge United matches
- Slightly higher 2.2-metre vehicle limit than the other four sites
- Heated waiting room, Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby changing
- Frequent service to Drummer Street
Cons
- Not the quickest ride to the historic centre
- Newmarket Road can become congested, especially on match days and busy shopping weekends
- No caravans or trailers
- Sunday and evening services finish much earlier than many visitors expect
Newmarket Road map and official information · Newmarket Road timetable
3. Trumpington Park & Ride (PR3)
Postcode: CB2 9FT
Best approach: M11 Junction 11, A10 from Royston and the south
Spaces: 1,600, including 24 accessible bays
Maximum vehicle height: 2.1 metres / 6 ft 11 in
Bus frequency: up to every 10 minutes Monday–Saturday; up to every 15 minutes on Sundays
Journey: around 13 minutes to central Cambridge
Trumpington is the largest of the five sites and the natural choice for many visitors driving from London, Stansted, Royston or the south. The PR3 approaches the city along Trumpington Road and is particularly useful for the University Botanic Garden, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Downing College and the southern end of the centre.
It is also a transport interchange. Long-distance coaches serve destinations including London, Norwich, Manchester, Paris, Stansted and Heathrow, and Guided Busway services connect with Cambridge station, Addenbrooke’s and St Ives.
Do not confuse PR3 with Busway route A
This is one of the most useful warnings in the guide. Both Park & Ride and Guided Busway buses use Trumpington, but a Park & Ride return is not valid on Busway services. If you are heading into the historic centre, check the number and destination before boarding. If you specifically want Addenbrooke’s or Cambridge railway station, Busway route A may be more useful, but it requires the appropriate ticket.
Pros
- Largest car park and easy to reach from M11 Junction 11
- Excellent for the Fitzwilliam Museum, Botanic Garden and Trumpington Street
- Frequent service and a relatively short ride
- 10 Tesla Superchargers listed on the official site
- Major interchange for local, airport and long-distance coach services
- Heated waiting room, Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby changing
Cons
- The multiple bus and coach services can confuse a first-time visitor
- A PR3 return cannot be used on the Guided Busway
- No caravans or trailers
- 2.1-metre height restriction
- It is tempting to use for every southern destination, but Babraham Road is often better for Addenbrooke’s and Hills Road
Trumpington map and official information · Trumpington timetable
4. Babraham Road Park & Ride (PR4)
Postcode: CB22 3AB
Best approach: A1307, A11 and the south-east
Spaces: 1,458, including 16 parent-and-child and 10 accessible bays
Maximum vehicle height: 2.1 metres / 6 ft 11 in
Bus frequency: up to every 12 minutes Monday–Saturday; up to every 15 minutes on Sundays
Journey: around 25 minutes to central Cambridge
Babraham Road is the practical choice from Haverhill, Saffron Walden, the A11 and the south-east. It is also the best of the five for Addenbrooke’s Hospital: the £3.80 short-hop return can save visitors from hospital parking charges and the search for a space on the Biomedical Campus.
The PR4 continues along Hills Road, making it useful for Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge Leisure Park and the station area before reaching Drummer Street.
Pros
- Best Park & Ride for Addenbrooke’s and the Biomedical Campus
- Large site with 1,458 spaces
- Useful intermediate stops along Hills Road
- 35 GeniePoint charging spaces are listed on the current official site
- Excellent approach from the A1307 and south-east
- Heated waiting room, Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby changing
Cons
- Longest scheduled journey to central Cambridge at around 25 minutes
- Slightly less frequent than PR1, PR2 and PR3 on Mondays to Saturdays
- Not the best choice from the M11 if Trumpington is already on your route
- No caravans or trailers and a 2.1-metre height restriction
Babraham Road map and official information · Babraham Road timetable
5. Milton Park & Ride (PR5)
Postcode: CB24 6DQ
Best approach: A10 north and A14 Junction 33
Spaces: 792, including 17 accessible bays
Maximum vehicle height: 2.1 metres / 6 ft 11 in
Bus frequency: generally every 15 minutes
Journey: around 16 minutes to central Cambridge
Milton is the natural northern gateway, particularly from Ely, Waterbeach, the A10 and the A14. The route is useful for Cambridge Science Park, Midsummer Common, Jesus Green and Drummer Street.
Milton has one unusual advantage for evening visitors: Park & Ride returns are also accepted on Stagecoach service 2 between St Andrew’s Street and Milton Park & Ride, giving access to a later return, currently up to about 23:00. Check the live timetable before relying on this.
Pros
- Best site from Ely, Waterbeach and the A10 north
- Convenient from A14 Junction 33
- Useful for the Science Park, Midsummer Common and Jesus Green
- Service 2 provides a later return option than the dedicated PR5 timetable
- Heated waiting room, Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby changing
Cons
- Smallest of the five official Cambridge sites
- Dedicated Park & Ride buses are generally less frequent than PR1, PR2 and PR3
- A14 traffic can be unpredictable at peak times
- No caravans or trailers and a 2.1-metre height restriction
Milton map and official information · Milton timetable
The seven traps that cost Cambridge visitors money
1. “Free parking” does not mean free transport
The car park is free for 18 hours, but the bus is charged per passenger unless a concession or group ticket applies. For a solo visitor or couple, Park & Ride is usually excellent value. For a family or full car, do the calculation rather than assuming.
2. Free parking ends at 18 hours—not at midnight
The rule is based on elapsed time. Stay for 18–24 hours and parking costs £10; 24–48 hours costs £20; 48–72 hours costs £30. The maximum stay is 72 hours.
If you will exceed 18 hours, pay within the first hour of arrival using the official RingGo app or the telephone number and location code shown on the car-park information board.
3. The car park is open 24/7; the buses are not
This is perhaps the easiest mistake to make. You can retrieve a car at night, but most dedicated Park & Ride services finish around 8pm Monday–Saturday and much earlier on Sundays. The staffed waiting areas generally open from 7am to 6.30pm, so do not assume toilets and indoor facilities will remain available merely because the gates are open.
Check the return timetable before you leave the car—not when you are finishing dinner.
4. A return ticket is tied to one site and one day
Since February 2026, the standard return is valid only to and from the Park & Ride site where it was purchased. It does not allow you to arrive through one site and return through another. Returns are valid only on the day of purchase.
If you leave the car overnight and return the next day, buy a single into Cambridge and another single back rather than a same-day return.
5. Park & Ride tickets are not Busway tickets
This matters most at Trumpington. The guided buses may look like a convenient alternative, but the standard Park & Ride return is not valid on Busway services. Ask the driver before boarding if you are uncertain.
6. Height barriers are real
Madingley Road, Milton, Trumpington and Babraham Road have a 2.1-metre limit. Newmarket Road allows 2.2 metres. Roof boxes will fit on most ordinary cars, but tall vans, campervans and vehicles carrying bikes on the roof may not.
Caravans and trailers are prohibited. Coaches should use the dedicated area at Madingley Road.
7. Do not scan a QR code to pay RingGo
RingGo warns that it does not use QR codes on its parking signs. Fake QR stickers can lead to convincing payment pages designed to steal card details. Download the official RingGo app directly from Apple’s App Store or Google Play, or use the telephone number printed on the official board. Never follow a payment link in an unexpected text message.
Read RingGo’s official scam warning
Is Park & Ride always Cambridge’s cheapest parking?
No—and this is where an honest guide is more useful than a sales pitch.
A solo adult pays £4.50 and two adults pay £9, making Park & Ride difficult to beat for an all-day visit. But two adults with two children aged 5–15 pay £11. By comparison, Castle Hill car park currently costs £10 for 5 hours Monday–Saturday and £8.50 on Sunday.
Castle Hill has only 111 spaces, cannot be reserved and involves a roughly 15-minute walk, partly uphill on the return. Park & Ride provides far more capacity and avoids the city’s bus gates and one-way system. So it may still be the better choice even when it is not the absolute cheapest.
What you should avoid for a long daytime stay is arriving without a plan and following the first central “P” sign. Grand Arcade currently charges £33.50 for more than five weekday hours and £36.50 at weekends.
For a full comparison, read our guide to the cheapest parking in Cambridge. If your sat-nav tries to send you through north-west Cambridge, also read our warning about Eddington’s bus gates and controlled parking.
Accessibility, buggies and facilities
Park & Ride buses are low-floor and have space for a wheelchair or approved mobility scooter. There is also room for buggies and pushchairs, although passengers may be asked to fold them when the bus is busy.
All five sites list heated indoor waiting areas, free Wi-Fi, vending machines, accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities. The waiting areas generally operate from 7am to 6.30pm rather than around the clock.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough concessionary-pass holders can travel free throughout the day. Other English National Concessionary Travel Scheme passes are generally accepted after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends. Children travelling with a concessionary-pass holder still need their own valid ticket.
What about Longstanton and St Ives Park & Ride?
Longstanton and St Ives are useful for visitors approaching from the north-west, but they belong to the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway network, not the five-site Cambridge Park & Ride network described above. Their routes, fares and ticket validity are different.
They can be sensible alternatives from Huntingdon, Northstowe and the A14 corridor, but do not assume a £4.50 Cambridge Park & Ride return applies. Check the Guided Busway Park & Ride information and buy the correct Busway ticket.
A local’s verdict
- Best for the historic centre: Madingley Road
- Best from London, Stansted or the M11 south: Trumpington
- Best from Newmarket or the A14 east: Newmarket Road
- Best for Addenbrooke’s: Babraham Road
- Best from Ely or the A10 north: Milton
- Best for Cambridge United: Newmarket Road
- Best for a late evening: Milton, because service 2 offers a later return—subject to the current timetable
- Best for coaches: Madingley Road
The smartest decision is still the least dramatic one: choose the site on your approach route, photograph where you parked, note the return stop in Cambridge and check the last bus before setting off.
Park the car. Then see Cambridge properly.
Park & Ride solves the traffic problem, but it cannot tell you why Trinity’s Great Gate has the wrong king above it, where to find Newton’s apple tree, or which Cambridge stories are true and which have improved with every retelling.
Cambridge Tours offers private guided walks and photography tours in English or French, led by a local who has lived in Cambridge for more than 27 years. The Cambridge Highlights Tour begins near King’s Parade or Senate House, within walking distance of the central stops used by all five Park & Ride routes.
Come into the city without the parking stress. I will take care of what happens next.
Cambridge Park & Ride FAQs
How many Park & Ride sites are there in Cambridge?
There are five official Cambridge Park & Ride sites: Madingley Road, Newmarket Road, Trumpington, Babraham Road and Milton.
Is parking free at Cambridge Park & Ride?
Yes, for up to 18 hours. Parking for 18–24 hours costs £10, 24–48 hours costs £20 and 48–72 hours costs £30. The maximum stay is 72 hours.
Which Park & Ride is best for Cambridge city centre?
Madingley Road is particularly convenient for the historic centre because the PR1 reaches Bridge Street in about six minutes. However, the best overall choice is usually the site on your natural driving route.
Which Cambridge Park & Ride is best from London?
Trumpington is normally the simplest from London and Stansted via the M11, using Junction 11. Madingley Road can also be reached from the M11 northbound at Junction 13, but that junction has restricted movements.
Which Park & Ride is best for King’s College?
Madingley Road is a good choice: leave the PR1 at Bridge Street and walk through Trinity Street to King’s Parade. Trumpington, Babraham Road, Newmarket Road and Milton all terminate within walking distance too.
Can I leave my car overnight?
Yes, provided the total stay does not exceed 72 hours. Charges apply after 18 hours and must be paid within the first hour of arrival. A bus return is valid only on the day of purchase, so overnight visitors should buy single journeys on different days.
What time is the last Park & Ride bus?
It varies by route and day. Many dedicated services finish around 8pm Monday–Saturday and around 6pm on Sundays or public holidays. Milton has a later option via service 2, currently up to about 11pm. Always check the live timetable for your travel date.
Can campervans use Cambridge Park & Ride?
Only if they fit below the height barrier and comply with the site rules. Four sites have a 2.1-metre height limit and Newmarket Road has a 2.2-metre limit. Caravans and trailers are not permitted.
Can I use my Park & Ride ticket on another Cambridge bus?
Generally no. The standard return is valid on the relevant Park & Ride route and site only, although Milton returns are accepted on service 2 between St Andrew’s Street and Milton Park & Ride. Park & Ride returns are not valid on Guided Busway services.
