Going somewhere outside the Pioneer Valley? These public transportation services may be available. This information is provided for general planning purposes; please consult each carrier's own terms, conditions and information, including how to purchase tickets prior to travel, at their respective sites. And there may be other options as well. These are the most common options available.
Some general travel planning tips:
- Use Google Maps or your favorite mapping service to help plan many elements of your ground travels and connections, even long distance. Select Directions and be sure to select the public transport option (shown as a train icon). This will display most travel options, including any walking or multi-modal connections that you may need to consider. This feature is *typically* accurate, but always confirm on the carrier(s) own website as schedules may have changed.
- UMass Transit and PVTA use the Transit app for local transit service information, which also works in many other places.
- Download your carrier's app to your device before traveling. Most tickets and passes are now issued to the carrier's own device app, including some transit agencies.
- Allow a SIGNIFICANT amount of connecting time between any connecting service and flight for any enroute delays that may occur to flights, trains or buses. Two (2) hours to or from your domestic connections is reasonable between each leg of your journey (except noted below) especially during busy holiday travel periods.
- Plan your local travel to and from the airport before buying your plane ticket. This will avoid being stranded at an airport or requiring an overnight stay. This is especially true for early morning and late evening flights. Remember to include your connection times.
- Once you've mapped out your connections, buy your tickets for all legs of your journey at the same time (if possible).
- Pack lots of snacks and comforts (INCLUDING A DEVICE CHARGER) in case of weather or delays. Consider packing currency (cash money!) in small bills AND coins in case of travel on local transit.
- Uber/Lyft service in the Pioneer Valley is very limited; we do not recommend counting on them to make a connection to any travel service.
- If your travels take you to some very obscure points, UMass Transportation may be able to give some pointers with enough notice. Email us at transit [at] umass.edu
BOS Boston Logan Airport
- Peter Pan Bus Lines offers service from UMass to Boston Logan Airport, with some direct service during holiday peak periods. For details, consult Peter Pan Logan Airport service page.
- Travelers can consider using MBTA Silver Line Rapid Transit buses to make their connections from Boston South Station to Boston Logan to increase their travel options.
BDL Hartford Bradley Airport
- Peter Pan Bus Lines and Ourbus offers service from UMass to Hartford Union Station and vicinity. Connections to CTTransit Bradley Flyer Route 30 bus are available at Union Station.
- Valley Transporter provides shuttle service to Springfield Amtrak station and Bradley international airport. Phone: (413) 253-1350
- Other carriers and services may be available.
EWR Newark Liberty International Airport
- Amtrak Northeast trains from Northampton MA direct to EWR Airport Station
- Peter Pan Bus Lines offers streetside connections at New York City Midtown Bus Terminal to Coach USA Newark Airport Express
JFK New York International Airport
- Amtrak Northeast trains from Northampton MA to New York Penn Station. Connect to LIRR/JFK Airtrain at Penn Station. Allow at least three hours to travel to/from JFK Airport to Penn Station.
Amtrak trains
- Amtrak Northeast trains serve Northampton MA to points south in Northeast, and points north to Burlington (Essex Junction). Frequent PVTA B43 transit bus from Haigis Mall/Bromery Arts Center stops in downtown Northampton two (2) blocks from Amtrak Northampton station.
- Amtrak Lake Shore Limited offers once-per-day service from Springfield MA east to Boston and west to Chicago via Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and intermediate points. Connections to the national rail network are available from Chicago Union Station. Long distance trains offer sleeping car, lounge and dining car options in most cases.
Hartford Line trains
- CTTransit Hartford Line trains operates Springfield Union Station to Hartford and New Haven, with connections to New York, Rhode Island and CT Shoreline East.
- Local transit bus services to Greenfield MA and Franklin County
Peter Pan Bus Lines
- Bus services to Boston South Station, Boston Logan Airport, Springfield, and New York Midtown Bus Terminal and other points from Haigis Mall/Bromery Center for the Arts
- Connections to and from Boston Logan Airport are also available from Boston South Station to Logan Aiport via frequent MBTA Silver Line transit service.
- Most Peter Pan bus services operate with a transfer at Springfield MA with direct bus-side connections. Peter Pan bus schedules typically show an exceptionally tight transfer, but usually Peter Pan buses offer "connection protection" where connecting services will wait until all scheduled transfers arrive (at the discretion of the carrier).
- Peter Pan Buses serve Boston South Station, offering same terminal connections to Maine, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, Rhode Island and other intercity bus points.
OurBus
- Bus services to Boston Back Bay and New York East Side and other points from Haigis Mall/Bromery Center for the Arts
- Connections to and from Boston Logan Airport to Boston Back Bay are available with the Massport Logan Express Back Bay service.
Greyhound/FLIX Bus
- Greyhound/Flix Bus operates from Northampton MA to and from New York City, Quebec, with connections to the national network at the New York Midtown Bus Terminal
- Frequent PVTA B43 transit bus from Haigis Mall/Bromery Arts Center stops in downtown Northampton two (2) blocks from Amtrak Northampton station.
Quaboag Connector
- Services along Route 9 from Belchertown east to Spencer
- Now operating PVTA service to Worcester with connections available to South Station in Boston
- Operates Thursday - Monday, with no service on Tuesday or Wednesday. See schedule and fares at http://www.pvta.com/schedules/B79.pdf
Private Car Services
- Transportation for individuals and small groups to airports, bus, and train stations in Boston, Springfield, and New York
- https://seemoshuttle.com/
- https://deerfieldcarandshuttle.com/