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Getting to Amherst

Air Travel

The closest airport to UMass Amherst is:

Windsor Locks, Connecticut

45 miles/80 km

Please note: Flying into Bradley may require you to schedule an additional connecting flight through one of the larger U.S. airports.

Other international airports:

Boston, Massachusetts

95 miles/160 km     

 

Queens, New York

145 miles/240 km

Ground Transportation from Airports to UMass Amherst

Getting to UMass Amherst from Bradley International Airport (BDL)

Hire a Shuttle

        *Approximately 1 hour drive

Bus or Train

There are no bus or train services available from Bradley International Airport to UMass Amherst.

 

Getting to UMass Amherst from Boston Logan Airport (BOS)

Hire a Shuttle

        *Approximately 2-hour drive

By Bus

       *Approximately 4 to 6 hours travel time

In order to take the bus from Boston to UMass Amherst, please note the following:

  • Upon arrival at Boston Logan airport, you will need to take public transportation, the Silver Line (SL1), to Boston South Station to get your bus. This will take about 20-30 minutes and it is a free service.

  • You will need to transfer buses at the Springfield, MA bus station

By Train

There are no train services available from Boston Logan Airport to UMass Amherst.

 

Getting to UMass Amherst from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)

Hire a Shuttle

       *Approximately 3.5-hour drive

By Bus

      *Approximately 5.5 to 7 hours travel time

In order to take the bus from NYC to UMass Amherst, please note the following:

  • Upon arrival at JFK, you can take public transportation to Penn Station, where you will get your bus. This will take about an hour. Plan your trip using the MTA Trip Planner website.

  • You will need to transfer buses at the Springfield, MA bus station

By Train

     Approximately 6 hours travel time

In order to take Amtrak from NYC to Amherst, please note the following:

  • Upon arrival at JFK, you can take public transportation to Penn Station or Grand Central Station, where you will get your Amtrak train. This will take about an hour. Plan your trip using the MTA Trip Planner website.

  • You can take Amtrak to either the Northampton, MA Amtrak station or the Springfield, MA Amtrak station. Upon arrival to Northampton Amtrak Station or the Springfield Amtrak station, you will need to find either the closest bus station (see local transportation--buses below) to get to UMass Amherst, or you can use a ride services (see below) to get to UMass Amherst.

 

Local Transportation--Getting around the Pioneer Valley

Buses

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)

413-586-5806

PVTA is a local bus service that only serves the Pioneer Valley. It is free to students during the school year.

 

Peter Pan Bus Lines

800-343-999

 

Greyhound

800-229-9424

Ride Sharing Services

 

Uber

 

Lyft

 

Local Transportation

UMass Transit

UMass Transit operates the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses for the UMass Amherst campus and the other Five Colleges as well as the towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Northampton, South Hadley, and Sunderland. There is limited service on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and breaks. Most buses are free of charge when school is in session with your UCard. Without a school identification card some buses cost will charge a fare (you need to have exact change). Schedule and routes information are here.

 

Taxi Services (Amherst area)

Gotta Go Taxi: 413-461-3070

City Cab: 413-568-6177

Ambassador Taxi: 413-345-8912

 

Non-UMass Bus Services

  • Peter Pan Bus Service: This bus line offers services between New York and Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Includes schedules and fairs, terminal locations, and fleet details.

  • Mega Bus:  This bus service offers discount service from Amherst to NYC and Hartford
       

Cars

Used cars are offered for sale by private owners and car dealerships. Listings can be found in the local newspapers, like the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Craig's List, or AutoList.

A dependable older model car can be found for around $3,500. Keep in mind that Massachusetts requires a yearly inspection of cars. Without an inspection sticker the car cannot be driven. There is also mandatory car insurance which will cost about $700. The registry will charge a 5% state sales tax and your town will bill you annually for another tax which is $25 per $1000 ($50 for a $2000 car). Most insurance companies will give a discount if you can prove you are a safe driver. It helps to bring a document from your home agency or government stating this.

ZipCar Service On-Campus

Need a car? Borrow a Zipcar! UMass Amherst partners with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. When you're done, return the car to the same location where you picked it up.

As a member you get:

  • Access to Zipcars 24/7.

  • Discounted hourly rates for faculty, staff and students age 18 and older: rates start at just $7.50/hour or $69/day.

  • Gas, insurance and maintenance are included for free!

  • Join for only $25 a year, and receive $35 in driving credit your first month.

Need more information?

Find out more about Zipcar

What is car sharing?

Is car sharing for me?

Zipcar on Facebook

 

Driver's Licenses

Please refer to Driver's License Information Page if you are interested in obtaining a Massachusetts Driver's License.