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BLESSFEST - YOU ARE HOME
Maps, Parking
& Directions
Hampshire College - 893 West St Amherst MA
Located in the serene Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, BlessFest cherishes calling Amherst's diverse, inclusive, earth-minded community home. It is centrally located just 2 hours from Boston and a 3.5 hour drive from New York City. If you want to carpool BlessFest's FaceBook page is a great place to connect with other attendees.
BlessFest Festival Map
We will have festival maps upon check-in at registration or feel free to download your own copy here from the PDF icon above.
DRIVING
From Boston and Points East
From Boston, it is approximately 2 hours to the campus. Follow the Massachusetts Turnpike to Exit 4 (West Springfield/Route 91). Take Route 91 north to Exit 19 (Northampton/Amherst, Route 9). Turn right onto Route 9 east and follow it to the center of Amherst. At the town center, turn right on Route 116 and follow it south for approximately three miles to Hampshire. The first sign you'll see for Hampshire is the Farm Center. About one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south is the alumni relations office on the right, a white farmhouse. For the MAIN ENTRANCE, continue another one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south, and you will see a sign on your right for the main entrance to campus. Take a right and continue to campus.
From New York, Hartford, and Points South
Hampshire College is a 3.5-hour drive from New York City. Follow Route 95 to New Haven, Connecticut, and then Route 91 north from New Haven to Northampton, Massachusetts (Exit 19: Northampton/Amherst, Route 9). Turn right on Route 9 (east) and follow it to the center of Amherst. At the town center, turn right on Route 116 and follow it south for approximately three miles to Hampshire. The first sign you'll see for Hampshire is the Farm Center. About one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south is the alumni relations office on the right, a white farmhouse. For the MAIN ENTRANCE, continue another one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south, and you will see a sign on your right for the main entrance to campus. Take a right and continue to campus.
From Vermont and Points North
From points north of Amherst, take Route 91 south to exit 20 (Northampton). Turn left at the first traffic light onto Damon Road. At the next light, turn left and take Route 9 east to Amherst. At the town center, turn right onto Route 116 and follow it south three miles to Hampshire. The first sign you'll see for Hampshire is the Farm Center. About one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south is the alumni relations office on the right, a white farmhouse. For the MAIN ENTRANCE, continue another one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south, and you will see a sign on your right for the main entrance to campus. Take a right and continue to campus.
From Albany and Points West
Hampshire College is a 1.75-hour drive from Albany. Follow I-90 into Massachusetts, where it becomes the Massachusetts Turnpike. Take Exit 4 (West Springfield, Route I-91) onto Route I-91 north and continue to Exit 19 (Northampton/Amherst, Route 9). Turn right on Route 9 (east) and follow it to the center of Amherst. At the town center, turn right on Route 116 and follow it south for approximately three miles to Hampshire. The first sign you'll see for Hampshire is the Farm Center. About one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south is the alumni relations office on the right, a white farmhouse. For the MAIN ENTRANCE, continue another one thousand feet (.2 mile) farther south, and you will see a sign on your right for the main entrance to campus. Take a right and continue to campus.
FLYING
Hartford/Bradley International Airport (BDL) is the closest airport to Amherst, serving both western Massachusetts and the greater Hartford area.
The best way to get to Amherst from Bradley is by reserving the Valley Transporter, which you will need to do in advance and provide flight information. After claiming your luggage, passengers can go to the Valley Transporter Courtesy Desk inside the baggage claim area and use the courtesy phone for instructions on where to meet your driver.
Boston Logan International Airport is also a possibility. From the Boston airport, it is possible to take a Peter Pan Bus to the campus at Amherst. Peter Pan pick up locations are located outside the baggage area of each terminal at Logan Airport. You can also make your way to South Station Boston (700 Atlantic Avenue) and take the bus from there.
Kennedy International or LaGuardia International in New York City: Connecticut Limo offers a shuttle service to Hartford, CT (approximately $69), where it is possible to take either the Peter Pan Bus or the Mega Bus to Amherst. Peter Pan Bus offers a route (approximately 5 hours) from the New York Port Authority to Amherst. You can also make your way by local transport to Penn Station and make connections with Amtrak to Springfield and connect with the Peter Pan Bus to Amherst.
TRAIN AND BUS
- Always double check the schedules beforehand in case of seasonal changes -
Amtrak offers frequent train service (about 5 hours, cash/credit card accepted) from New York - Penn Station, to Springfield, MA. There is one train (the Vermonter) direct to Amherst that departs daily from Penn Station at approximately 11:30am and arrives in Amherst at 4:20. If you are on a train that will take you only to Springfield, you will need to walk or cab/uber (10-15 minutes) from the Springfield train station to the bus station to take the Peter Pan Bus from Springfield to Amherst.
Peter Pan Bus serves Amherst with frequent schedules from Hartford, New York City, and Boston.
Mega Bus serves Amherst and Hartford, but service to Amherst is limited. Reservations are necessary; departure points include New York City and Hartford.
Valley Transporter provides shuttle service from Amherst to the Springfield Amtrak station, and to Bradley, Boston, and New York City airports.