Getting Around
You Can Get There From Here
From walking to flying, transportation at and to UMass Amherst is easy and accessible.
Your Own Two Feet
You can get anywhere on campus on foot, and it's not a bad walk into Amherst either. If you get tired along the way, you can always hop a bus. And if you can't squeeze in a trip to the gym, this may be the only workout you get.
There is no need to be concerned about walking at night, because the Department of Public Safety provides an escort services. Walking escorts are available to and from all areas of campus Sunday-Wednesday, from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM and Thursday-Saturday from 8:00 PM until 3:00 AM.
Your Car
The UMass Amherst campus is walkable (and bikeable). Free and convenient buses can take you around campus when you're in a hurry or just beat, as well as into Amherst, to the other colleges in the area, and to various places around the Pioneer Valley. You can even hop a bus on campus that will take you to New York or Boston (though this isn't free).
However if you need a car on campus, UMass can accommodate your parking needs. Check out the Parking Section for more details.
You can also bring a motorcycle to campus, and parking is available, but you have to register with parking services.
Around Campus
If you need to get around campus quickly, or you're just too pooped to walk, you can hop the Campus Shuttle. The buses do a circuit around UMass Amherst and you can get a bus about every 15 minutes during the peak time of the day. The buses run from early in the morning until very late at night. The Transit Services website has more details.
Around the Pioneer Valley
Buses are available into downtown Amherst and other parts of town like Amherst College and Hampshire College. You can also get to Northampton and South Hadley if you have classes or friends at Smith and Mount Holyoke. There are also commuter buses into other parts of the valley and during the academic year they are FREE.
Bikes on Buses
From the end of Spring Break until the beginning of Thanksgiving Break, many UMass Amherst buses are equipped with bike racks. You can bus to another of the Five College Campuses and then have your bike to get around. The Transit Services site has information on which buses have racks and how to use the service.
Special Transportation
Special Transportation is available to any student with temporary or permanent disabilities. More details.
Getting to Amherst
UMass Amherst is easily accessible from all parts of the globe. We’re near Interstate 91 and only fifteen miles from Interstate 90. There is an Amtrak station in Amherst and buses to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other cities pick up and drop off on campus and at the Amherst town common. The closest airport is Bradley Airport near Hartford, but students get to us via airports in Boston, Providence, RI, Manchester, NH, Albany, NY, and the New York City metro area. Finally, shuttle services between campus and the Boston, Hartford, Providence, and New York airports make getting to campus a breeze.
The UMass Amherst website’s Transport Page has links to all of these transportation options.
