If you’re planning on visiting Cambridge, you can take away the stress of finding a convenient car park and find a more affordable way to see the city by using the park and ride service which allows you to park, often for free, outside of the city centre and use the low cost bus service to travel in.
Cambridge is one of the least car friendly cities in the country, with most people opting for walking or cycling to get around.
There’s a lot of pedestrian areas to navigate around so driving around the city can take longer than you might think.
How many park and ride sites are there in Cambridge
There are five park and ride sites in Cambridge with direct routes into the city; Milton, Newmarket Road, Madingley Road, Babraham Road and Trumpington.
Milton Park and Ride
Milton Park and Ride is a car park and bus interchange facility located on the northern outskirts of Cambridge, United Kingdom. It provides a convenient parking and transportation option for commuters and visitors to Cambridge.
The park and ride site has approximately 800 parking spaces and is located just off the A10 road. It operates seven days a week and offers frequent bus services to and from Cambridge city centre, as well as other destinations such as the Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge North train station, and the Cambridge Business Park.
The park and ride is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Milton Park and Ride has been in operation since 2004 and has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles. It is a popular transportation option for those traveling to and from Cambridge, especially as parking in the city centre can be difficult and expensive.
Additionally, the park and ride is conveniently located for those traveling to or from the north of Cambridge, as it is easily accessible from the A10 and A14 roads.
Address: CB24 6DQ
Serves: Science Park, Business Park, Midsomer Common
Spaces: 792
Newmarket Road Park and Ride
Newmarket Road park and ride is located in the East of the city, and is easily accessible from the A1303 (Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Felixstowe) as well as the B1047 from Horningsea and Waterbeach.
The park and ride site has approximately 850 parking spaces and operates seven days a week. It offers frequent bus services to and from Cambridge city centre, as well as other destinations such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Newmarket park and ride is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Newmarket Road Park and Ride has been in operation since 2001 and has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles. It is a popular transportation option for those traveling to and from Cambridge, especially as parking in the city centre can be difficult and expensive.
Address: CB5 8AA
Serves: Cambridge United FC, The Grafton
Spaces: 873
Madingley Road Park and Ride
Madingley Road park and ride is located to the West of Cambridge, close to the University of Cambridge and is easily accessible from the A1303 from the direction of St Neots, Bedford and Milton Keynes.
The park and ride site has approximately 1000 parking spaces and is located just off the A428 road. It operates seven days a week and offers frequent bus services to and from Cambridge city center, as well as other destinations such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The park and ride is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Madingley Park and Ride has been in operation since 1998 and has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles. It is a popular transportation option for those traveling to and from Cambridge, especially as parking in the city centre can be difficult and expensive.
Additionally, the park and ride is conveniently located for those traveling to or from the west of Cambridge, as it is easily accessible from the A428 and M11 motorway.
Address: CB3 0EX
Serves: University of Cambridge, Central Cambridge
Spaces: 930
Babraham Road Park and Ride
Babraham Road Park and Ride is a car park and bus interchange facility located on the southern outskirts of Cambridge, near the A11 and A1307 roads. It provides a convenient parking and transportation option for commuters and visitors to Cambridge.
The park and ride site has approximately 1,500 parking spaces and operates seven days a week. It offers frequent bus services to and from Cambridge city center, as well as other destinations such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The park and ride is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Babraham Road Park and Ride has been in operation since 2003 and has undergone several improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles. It is a popular transportation option for those traveling to and from Cambridge, especially as parking in the city center can be difficult and expensive.
Address: CB22 3AB
Serves: Central Cambridge, Railway Station
Spaces: 1,458
Trumpington Park and Ride
Trumpington Park and Ride is a large car park and bus interchange facility located in Trumpington, a suburb of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. It provides a convenient parking and transportation option for commuters and visitors to Cambridge.
Located to the South West of the city, Trumpington park and ride is easily accessible from the M11, in the direction of London Stansted Airport, Huntingdon and Peterborough.
The park and ride site has approximately 1,300 parking spaces and is located just off the M11 motorway. It operates seven days a week and offers frequent bus services to and from Cambridge city centre, as well as other destinations such as the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
The park and ride is managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, and parking charges apply for those using the facility. Bus fares vary depending on the destination and the time of day.
Trumpington Park and Ride has been in operation since 1994 and has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of electric charging points for electric vehicles in recent years. It is a popular and well-regarded transportation option for those traveling to and from Cambridge.
Address: CB2 9FT
Serves: Central Cambridge, Cambridge University, Cambridge Hospital
Spaces: 1,340
Cost to park at park and ride sites in Cambridge
Parking at Cambridge park and ride sites is free of charge for up to 18 hours but charges do apply for stays over 18 hours, which are as follows:
- 18 – 24 hours £10
- 24 – 48 hours £20
- 48 – 72 hours £30
This is an affordable option if you plan on taking a weekend break to the capital or you are visiting Cambridge for a couple of days.
If you’ve booked a short trip to Cambridge and your hotel doesn’t have parking on site, park and ride is a great alternative.
Cambridge park and ride ticket prices 2025
Buses generally run every 10 minutes Mondays to Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays and bank holidays. This bus service is run by Stagecoach covering the Cambridge area.
2025 ticket prices for the park and ride service in Cambridge is as follows:
| Ticket Type | 2025 Price |
| Return (Adult) | £3.50 |
| Return (5 Adults) | £10.50 |
Park and ride vs car parking in Cambridge
If you are travelling alone or as a couple, the park and ride option works out much cheaper than parking in a council run car park as it will cost just £3 (for 1 traveller), or you can travel as a family (5 adults) for just £8.50 when using the park and ride service in Cambridge.
It also means you are closer to the main routes in and out of Cambridge, rather than having to sit in traffic which can become tedious, especially during rush hour and on a weekend.
When it comes to parking in Cambridge, council run car parks are considerably more expensive, with city centre car parks in Cambridge charging a premium.
Parking for 5 hours:
Grand Arcade Car Park – £22.30
Grafton West Car Park – £19.50
Grafton East Car Park – £19.50
Cambridge park and ride timetable
If you are planning on using the park and ride service in Cambridge, you can plan your journey and decide which site to use based on the timetable.
Cambridge park and ride sites are open everyday and opening until late so you don’t need to rush back.
| Park and Ride Site | Frequency |
| Milton | Mon – Saturday Before 6pm – 15 minutes After 6pm – 20 minutes Sunday All day – 15 minutes |
| Newmarket Road | Mon – Saturday Before 6pm – 15 minutes After 5.45pm – 20 minutes Sunday All day – 15 minutes |
| Madingley Road | Mon – Saturday Before 6.30pm – 15 minutes After 6.30pm – 20 minutes Sunday All day – 15 minutes |
| Babraham Road | Mon – Saturday Before 6pm – 12 minutes After 6pm – 20 minutes Sunday All day – 15 minutes |
| Trumpington | Mon – Saturday Before 6.10pm – 10 minutes After 6.10pm – 20 minutes Sunday All day – 15 minutes |
Cambridge park and ride opening times
Each park and ride site across Cambridge are all open 24/7 so you can come and go as you need to, rather than being tied to specific times, however buses do not run in to the night.
| Park and Ride Site | Opening Times |
| Milton | 24/7 |
| Newmarket Road | 24/7 |
| Madingley Road | 24/7 |
| Babraham Road | 24/7 |
| Trumpington | 24/7 |
Motorhomes parking at Cambridge park and ride sites
Motorhomes and caravans are not permitted to park at Cambridge park and ride sites and there’s a 2.1m height restriction in place for those considering bringing a larger vehicle.
Disabled spaces at Cambridge park and ride
If you are a blue badge holder, planning your journey might take more time and consideration. You’ll be pleased to know there are dedicated disabled spaces at all park and ride sites in Cambridge.
- Milton – 17 spaces
- Newmarket Road – 8 spaces
- Mandingley Road – 12 spaces
- Babraham Road – 10 spaces
- Trumpington – 24 spaces
Cycle parking at Cambridge park and ride
Cycling is one of the preferred method of transport in Cambridge, so parking your bike safely at one of the park and ride sites is not a stressful situation.
There are hundreds of designated bike parking spaces in and around Cambridge which also include the ones at park and ride sites.
Cambridge Park & ride sites:
- Milton – 50 lockers
- Newmarket Road – 60 lockers
- Mandingley Road – 40 lockers
- Babraham Road – 250 lockers
- Trumpington – 250 lockers
We always recommend looking out for newly installed road signs as permitted parking can change quickly.