About
The Princeton YMCA, located at 59 Paul Robeson Pl, Princeton, NJ, is a community-focused non-profit organization providing a wide array of programs and facilities for all ages. It emphasizes youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility through offerings such as a fitness center, group exercise classes, various youth programs, and two indoor heated swimming pools, serving as a hub for community engagement and wellness.
The Princeton YMCA features two indoor heated swimming pools. The 6-lane lap pool is maintained at approximately 80°F (26.7°C), making it ideal for lap swimming, water aerobics, and swim team activities. The warm water pool is kept at around 89°F (31.7°C), perfect for swim lessons, water therapy, and general recreational use.
What are people saying (AI review summary)? The Princeton YMCA receives mixed feedback. Positives include a clean and well-maintained facility with solid gym equipment for weight and functional training, flexible weekly/daily passes suitable for visitors, and helpful, kind front desk staff. The swim team coaches are also noted as beneficial for children new to competitive swimming. However, significant downsides are reported: membership and billing policies are confusing, with undisclosed one-time fees, strict 30-day cancellation requirements, and no mid-month proration. The facility itself, especially the locker rooms and pool, is frequently described as old, not very clean, and in need of renovation, with the pool often having excessively high chlorine levels. Member interactions in the pool can be negative, with instances of rude or aggressive behavior regarding lane sharing, and lifeguards are sometimes criticized for being inattentive. Lack of privacy in locker room showers (open partitions) is also a concern, and children's group swimming classes are reportedly poorly organized and ineffective.
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
August 17th, 2025Rahul Gaur
2.5/5 — Good facility, confusing fees/cancellation. Read before joining. I used the Princeton YMCA from July 15 to August 8, 2025 as an alternative to Dillon Gym. The equipment and facility are clean, well maintained, and solid for weight/functional training. However, several policies felt confusing and unfavorable to members: The monthly fees is around $80 which was made clear on their website but $55 one-time fee (for new members) appeared only at online checkout during my signup. In my experience, this wasn’t clearly disclosed up front. 30-day advance cancellation required. If you want only July, you basically need to sign up on July 1 and submit cancellation immediately, or you’ll likely be charged for August. No proration for mid-month starts. If you join mid-month and cancel right away, the 30-day rule still pushes billing into the next month --- effectively another full month. Locker room privacy: Showers are open (no partitions); expect people walking nude between locker and shower areas. Account deletion: I couldn’t delete my account online; I had to email/call to request removal. Bottom line: Great gym equipment, but the billing/cancellation rules and limited online controls make it easy to pay more than expected. If you do join, start on the 1st, budget for the $55 fee, submit cancellation immediately if you’re short-term, and confirm current policies before paying. This is my longest review because I felt some of these policies are unfair to unsuspecting members.
July 11th, 2025Gargi Mitra Keeling
I've been coming here since I was a kid and now that I live out of state and only come back to visit family, it's wonderful that they offer flexible, weekly and daily passes. The indoor pool is a blessing and it's amazing for my my fitness and stress relief. I'll always have a soft spot for my Princeton YMCA!
June 25th, 2025Johnathan Demarkus
This is a relatively good YMCA. The facility really needs renovation though. The locker rooms and pool are really old and not very clean. The pool has a insanely high amount of chlorine though. Swimming here for lap is the only bad experience though. Some of the lifeguards are nice but some don't really pay attention and just sit there, not really doing their job properly. Also, swimming here gives me a lot of social anxiety since it's really scary to go into a lane someone is already swimming in and once some old lady yelled at me for getting into her lane without her permission. Other than that, the staff, especially the ones at the front desk are helpful and kind. The Swim Team here is ok, the Coaches are very nice though, perfect for kids who want to start swimming competitively with little knowledge of swimming. Will improve their swimming technique.
March 1st, 2025Catherine Steers
I am a new member there. I joined to mostly use the pool. Today was my first time there early this morning at 7 AM and honestly, I was not really sure how things work as far as lap swim being again, my first time there. Well it was a horrible experience. I went in a lane on the end where two women were also swimming. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed in the lane with two other people being my first time there. I assumed we just all share doing our laps. Well an older woman started screaming at me in front of everyone. She looked at other woman in lane and said what the hell is she doing. Then proceeded to keep screaming at me to get out and go in other lane. I tried to explain I was new and I was really sorry yet she proceeded to scream at me to get over to other lane. I was really embarrassed and humiliated. I left the there crying. My heart was pound and I felt so badly. No one should feel that way because of another member. She truly needs to be spoken to or lose her membership. What a horrible experience for the first time there. I truly am new and I am not a rude person. I meant no harm. Her behavior was unacceptable. The problem though, the lifeguard on duty did not do or say anything. He actually had headphones on. He was in his own world. I was really excited to join but this put such a bad taste in my mouth. No one should be made to feel threatened by a member. However, I did report to the front desk a few hours later and lady at desk was beyond lovely. She was very comforting and apologized for the experience. I truly appreciate her empathy and kindness. My review is fir the member and the lifeguard who did not intervene. It has nothing to do with the facility or desk staff.
July 24th, 2025Richa Shah
This review is strictly for their group swimming class. Its poorly organized. Coaches are different every week. And child doesn't learn a single thing. Save your money. Don't enroll here
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
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