Travel
Located in scenic Western Massachusetts, Amherst is conveniently accessible by air, train, bus and car.
NEW Click here for details on travel from the airports to the venue, and travel during the conference.
By Air
By Train
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Windsor Locks, CT
~45 minutes to Amherst
Logan Airport (BOS)
Boston, MA
~1.75 hours to Amherst
Vermonter to Northampton, MA (~15 minute drive to Amherst)
Northeast Corridor to Springfield, MA (~35 minute drive to Amherst)
Places to Stay
AKBC has reserved blocks of room at Hotel UMass, The Inn on Boltwood, the Allen House Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and the Holiday Inn Express. Please book by April 21st and mention AKBC by name to get access to these rooms.
Hotel UMass
Hotel UMass is located on the campus
of the university, just a short walk
from the conference venue.
The Inn on Boltwood
The Inn on Boltwood is a historic hotel
located in downtown Amherst
just off the town common.
Travel to the venue
If you fly in to Boston Logan Airport there are limited choices for getting from Boston to Amherst.
- Airport shuttle.
- AKBC has arranged for two Valley Transporter shuttle van pick-ups from Boston Logan Airport to Amherst on Sunday, May 19th: one at 4:00 p.m. and one at 8:00 p.m. If you would like to reserve a space on one of these vans please call Valley Transporter (413-253-1350; Option 1 for 8pm, Option 2 for 4pm) to reserve a space. Please mention that you are part of the AKBC group. Note that the group booking code does not work for online bookings via their website (valleytransporter.com). You will not need to pay Valley Transporter, but expect about a $50 charge from AKBC before you leave the conference.
- Airport shuttle return trips from Amherst to Boston Logan Airport must be reserved separately and paid directly to Valley Transporter. We suggest booking ASAP with Valley Transporter as they only make a couple of trips each day and they fill up fast. To make a reservation please call or go online to Valley Transporter (413-253-1350, valleytransporter.com).
- Uber. A round trip Uber ride from Boston to Amherst can cost around $300.
- Bus. Peter Pan Bus Lines travels from Boston to Amherst, but it makes what would be a two hour drive by car into a five or six hour ride by bus.
If you fly in to Hartford Bradley Airport there are limited choices for getting from Bradley to Amherst.
- Airport shuttle. We are not organizing specific ride times for Hartford Bradley Airport pick-up. Airport shuttle trips to/from Hartford Bradley Airport must be reserved separately and paid directly to the shuttle company.
- Valley Transporter. To make a reservation please call or go online to Valley Transporter (413-253-1350, valleytransporter.com).
- Seemo Shuttle. To make a reservation please call 413-586-1120 or go online to seemoshuttle.com.
- Bluebird Airport Transportation. To make a reservation please call 413-221-4512.
- Uber. A round trip Uber ride from Bradley Airport to Amherst can cost around $100.
Shuttle Service to/from UMass campus
AKBC has arranged for free shuttle service from area hotels to the AKBC conference on the UMass campus. A UMass bus will pick up attendees on a set schedule every morning and drop off at UMass. There will also be a return shuttle to area hotels at the end of the day.
We will begin pick up at approximately 7:20 A.M. on Monday and 7:30 A.M. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pick up schedule times may vary due to traffic/road work. It would be best to be outside at least ten minutes before the shuttle arrival time.
Monday morning
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hadley | 7:20 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Econo Lodge Hadley | 7:30 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Howard Johnson Hadley | 7:40 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Courtyard by Marriott Hadley | 7:50 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Inn on Boltwood Amherst | 8:00 A.M. | Location: Outside of the Main Lobby door |
| University Lodge Amherst | 8:10 A.M. | Location: Lower parking lot |
Dropoff: Haigis Mall, UMass Amherst. Please follow the AKBC signs to the Old Chapel.
Monday evening
| 8:30 P.M. | pickup at Flint Circle, UMass Amherst. AKBC volunteers will escort attendees to Flint Circle. |
Tuesday and Wednesday morning
| Van 1 | ||
| Econo Lodge Hadley | 7:30 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Howard Johnson Hadley | 7:40 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Courtyard by Marriott Hadley | 7:50 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Van 2 | ||
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hadley | 7:30 A.M. | Location: Outside of covered entrance of Main Lobby door |
| Inn on Boltwood | 7:40 A.M. | Location: Outside of the Main Lobby door |
| University Lodge | 7:50 A.M. | Location: Lower parking lot |
Dropoff: Haigis Mall, UMass Amherst. Please follow the AKBC signs to the Old Chapel.
Tuesday and Wednesday evening
Tuesday evening return schedule:
| 8:30 P.M. | pickup from Quonquont banquet facility |
Note: for the hike and dinner on Tuesday, a bus will drop off /pick up attendees at Haigis Mall at approximately 4:30 P.M. Anyone not attending the hike, but going to the dinner or going to the hike, but not attending the dinner can use this bus.
Wednesday evening return schedule:
| 5:30 P.M. | pickup at Haigis Mall, UMass Amherst |
