What Guests Need to Know:
Driving to UMass Amherst

Traffic Delays

Traffic into Amherst may be heavy as early as 8 a.m. on Commencement Day, so plan accordingly. Expect significant delays to begin two hours before the ceremony. To expedite traffic flow and shuttle services, local road closures and detours will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; most will be noted in advance at www.masstraveler.com and the traffic information line at (413) 549-7842. Detours will be marked with signs. Please be patient during these unavoidable delays.

Parking and Shuttle Services

Your parking site will be determined by where and when you enter campus. Please park as instructed by police officers and be sure to note your lot number and spot location. Free shuttle buses will make frequent runs to and from the stadium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Allow 40 minutes to park and travel to the stadium. If you attend an event before or after Commencement proper, please travel by shuttle buses and do not attempt to move your vehicle to a different parking lot.

Leaving Campus

Following the ceremony, all shuttle buses will run to every parking lot. Traffic detours will prevent direct vehicle access back to residence halls. Those wishing to return to residence halls after Commencement may do so only under the direction of police officers; Click here to see parking areas and exit routes. University police will direct exiting vehicles along designated routes:

• From Blue lot 44: East Pleasant Street to Amherst Center, North Amherst, route 116, and Interstates 90 and 91.
• From Blue lots 26, 31, and 45: North Pleasant Street to North Amherst and routes 116 and Interstate 91.
• From Red lots 32, 34, and 71: North Pleasant Street to Amherst Center and routes 9 and 116.
• From Green or Purple lots 11, 22, 33, 21, 25, and 12: Massachusetts Avenue to routes 116, 9, and Interstate 91.

Routes to Campus

See Directions to UMass Amherst.

Questions about Commencement? Contact us

This page is maintained by University Relations.

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