Transportation Options to and From Williamstown, MA
Updated on July 2024
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Are you wondering how to get to, from and around Williamstown? Let this guide to Williamstown and (some) Northern Berkshire transportation options be of help - it’s organized by mode of transportation in alphabetical order. This includes some parking information as well!
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If you are a part of the Williams College community, there are additional options outlined for you on the Williams College website.
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Please contact Kira at kwilliams@cwmars.org, call 413-458-5369 or or visit the Milne Public Library if you have any additional questions!
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Bicycles
A long-awaited shared use path was completed in Williamstown in 2022! At the moment, All Trails has the most thorough information about it. The path runs parallel to the Hoosic River, and several miles from Syndicate Road to the end of the Spruces on Route 2. You can park on either end of the path. The trail is mostly paved, but consists of a rougher gravel path as you get closer to the Spruces.
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Once a bike path is designed and built through North Adams, it will be possible to bike all the way to Pittsfield from Williamstown via the Ashuwillticook Bike Path which runs through Adams, Cheshire and Lanesborough.
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This “storymap” website provides details about past, present and future bike path construction projects in Berkshire County.
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Rights and rules for cyclists in Massachusetts
The statewide organization, MassBike, outlines the rules that cyclists and motorists in the state must follow, in addition to cyclists’ rights. The rules were updated in 2023, so it’s worth taking a look at!
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Buses
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For travel within Berkshire County:
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Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA)
Route 3 serves Williamstown. From North Adams, multiple other lines/routes are available as well.
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Paper schedules are at the library, but please note the most up-to-date schedules are on the BRTA website. From Williamstown, tickets must be purchased with cash on the bus, or you can purchase a “Charlie Card” and other various passes in advance.
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For traveling to and around Bennington County, Vermont:
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The purple line stops in Williamstown four times a day, Monday-Friday. Paper schedules are available at the library as well as on the Green Mountain Express website. Tickets can be purchased with cash, or by using the Transit app on a smartphone.
For travel to major cities and airports:
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The Peter Pan bus can take you to destinations all over Massachusetts, in addition to several major cities out-of-state. Peter Pan only stops in Williamstown on the weekends. From Williamstown, tickets must be purchased online in advance, or with cash on the bus (no change is provided). Schedules are only available online. Please note that fares out of Pittsfield tend to be substantially lower.
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Car Charging
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There are quite a few Chargepoint charging stations in Williamstown, mostly on the Williams College campus. At this time there are no Tesla Superchargers or other Level 3 chargers, but as charging availability everywhere rapidly evolves, there are sure to be changes soon. For the most detailed information about EV charging in general in Williamstown, visit the Williams College Electric Vehicles page.
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Car Parking
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There are a number of public parking options in Williamstown, and some of them have electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The most central parking lot to many Williamstown attractions is located at the bottom of Spring Street.
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Car Rental
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There are no longer car rental options in North Adams or Williamstown. Multiple national rental companies have offices in Pittsfield, Bennington and/or Albany, and may deliver a car to Williamstown for a fee.​
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Taxis (including ride-sharing)
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Serving Northern Berkshire County:
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RJ’s only has a Facebook page online. Call (413) 346-4907 to schedule a ride. Might be the most dependable and economical taxi service in this area!
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Norm’s only has a Facebook page online. Call (413) 663-8300 to schedule a ride. Highly dependable!
Luxury shuttle service in the Berkshires, you can visit the website or call them at 800-639-9605 or 413-443-7111.
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Ride-sharing services in Western Massachusetts:
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Both services require the use of their apps on a smartphone. At this time, Uber is available some of the time for rides to and from Williamstown. However, rides with Lyft and Uber out of Williamstown are not always available since no drivers are based here.
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Trains
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National:
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Amtrak provides service out of Albany to New York City, Buffalo, NY, Montreal and Boston, MA. Out of Pittsfield, Amtrak goes east to Boston. If the Berkshires is your destination between here and New York City, you can take the Berkshire Flyer from (and back to) the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in NYC on weekends during the summer.
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Regional:
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Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
If you can get to Wassaic, NY, the MTA takes less than three hours to get to New York City from there, and is usually more economical than Amtrak.