Back to School: The Best Ways to Get Around Campus

Part of the independence that makes school so fun is figuring out how to get around on your own. Owning a car or living somewhere with reliable public transit has its charms, but micromobility—like an e-bike or an electric scooter—opens up your world without making you pay an arm and a leg for parking, a rideshare, or a bus pass.

The list below includes great ways to get around campus that are more convenient than a car, without taking up enough space to require a parking spot. Ranging from a little over $400 to just over a thousand, we’ve got options that can carry you through high school, undergrad, and beyond.

While not as light as the Razor scooter you cruised on in elementary school, the NIU KQi1 Pro is still on the portable side of electric scooters at 35.7 pounds. The KQi1 Pro has a top speed of 15.5 mph and a range of 14.3 miles, which should be more than enough to get you around town. Better yet, when you do need to top off your battery, the scooter can charge over USB-C, just like your phone or laptop.

For a little over the price of a new laptop or tablet, the Dualtron Togo offers 14 miles of range and a top speed of 20 mph, thanks in part to its 1000W motor. Other commuter-friendly features like a built-in speedometer, horn, and turn signal, along with an adjustable suspension, mean riding home from a late-night study session will be as smooth and safe as possible.

It’s best known for its iconic self-balancing two-wheeled “personal transporter,” but Segway in 2026 has also earned a reputation as an excellent purveyor of premium electric scooters. The Segway E3 Pro is larger than other electric scooters, with a longer 34-mile range, a max speed of 20 mph, and a proprietary “stability enhancement system” that should make it easier to balance on than other options. The addition of front, rear, and undercarriage lighting and integration with Apple Find My means the scooter should also be easy to spot and find if you lose it, too.

The company’s dissolution in 2020 means the days of Boosted Boards are almost certainly behind us, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of options for anyone interested in an electric skateboard. The Backfire G2 Black is a beginner-friendly board with 7-inch trucks, a 187Wh battery, and a max speed of 24 mph. Combined with the board’s simple remote and easy-to-disassemble battery housing, the Backfire G2 Black is a great way to learn the ropes of owning an electric skateboard.

If you’re interested in the convenience of an electric skateboard but prefer an option that doesn’t have a longboard-inspired design, the Exway Wave is a solid alternative. The electric skateboard is rated for IP65 water resistance, has a 99Wh battery, and can reach max speeds of 23 mph. Integrated lights mean you should be visible on your commute back to your dorm or off-campus housing, and a hot-swappable battery design makes it easy to keep rolling without having to stop and charge.

The longboard-style Meepo Go electric skateboard has a large 324Wh battery with dual belt drive motors that let it reach speeds of up to 28 mph.