Terese

I'll be taking a business AND pleasure trip and driving from Hartford CT to Boston, MA. Are there rental car agencies and shuttles on the airport property?
What highway do I get on as I leave Hartford to go towards Boston?
Are there any colonial homes or mansions in the immediate area that I could see before leaving? Thanks

Annie

Hi, Terese!

On your browser bar, type in "Bradley International Airport"--then, hit the "Parking and Ground Transportation" link. It describes the car rental agencies which serve the airport.

Also, try the following site:
http://grhartfordcvb.com/ti-to-see-and-do.html

It allows you to choose from a variety of interests, to better choose your itinerary.

Good luck, and have fun!

Cassie

Hi Terese. Here's my advice - Bradley International Airport is not really in Hartford. It's about 15-20 minutes west, in Windsor Locks. From the airport, look for signs to 84 east, and take that to the Mass Pike. Take the Mass Pike east, all the way to Boston. I can't think of any sights to see(like those you described) around Windsor Locks, but you might want to stop and see Sturbridge Village, which is located off route 84, just before you reach the Mass Pike. There is shopping and some historical stuff to see, including old colonial houses. Good luck, and have fun!

Debi

Let me change the above directions just a bit. The airport is actually North of Hartford and is located off of Highway 91. From Bradley airport, you have 2 options. You can take 91 North to a Mass Pike exit - or take 91 South to Hartford, take 84 East in Hartford - which then runs into the Mass Pike to Boston. Bradley is a good sized airport and has all the car rental agencies. I would personally recommend the south to Hartford choice. Going North, you have to drive through Springfield, MA which can be a bit twisty. If you want to see some pretty large houses (older ones), there are a couple streets in Hartford/West Hartford that are pretty amazing. If you have a Hartford map - look for Scarborough Street. It's off Asylum Ave. I probably would skip that and do the Sturbridge Village suggestion as above.

Terese

Author: Debi ([email protected])
Date: 8/29/2000, 3:29 pm ET wrote:

Message: Let me change the above directions just a bit. The airport is actually North of Hartford and is located off of Highway 91. From Bradley airport, you have 2 options. You can take 91 North to a Mass Pike exit - or take 91 South to Hartford, take 84 East in Hartford - which then runs into the Mass Pike to Boston.

I'm not understanding the latter. The 91S to Hartford, 84 East in Hartford. What does that mean? I'd love to stop in Sturbridge and just may. How do I get to Sturbridge from the airport, and then get back on the highway to head towards Braintree? Thanks.

I would personally recommend the south to Hartford choice. Going North, you have to drive through Springfield, MA which can be a bit twisty. If you want to see some pretty large houses (older ones), there are a couple streets in Hartford/West Hartford that are pretty amazing. If you have a Hartford map - look for Scarborough Street. It's off Asylum Ave. I probably would skip that and do the Sturbridge Village suggestion as above.

Lawrence

Terese, when will you be taking your trip? Maybe we can carpool or think something else up so we can both get over to the area?

Lawrence

You can take 91 North to a Mass Pike exit -

That's one route, as she explained.

or take 91 South to Hartford, (from there you) take 84 East in Hartford - which then runs into the Mass Pike to Boston.

Got it now?

Lawrence

Oh no! Is BRAINARD airport different than Bradley int'l. airport or is it one of those combination names Bradley/Brainard airport? mapquest just did it's thing for me but the only airport I found was in Hartford and it's brainard, not bradley. Man, I'm confused.

howard

I believe that Brainard might be the old name for Bradley. (If so, then I wonder how up-to-date mapquest's directions are!!!) You could try freetrip.com for direction also. I've always found them reliable.
Bradley is actually in Windsor Locks, CT.

Lawrence

thanks Howard, you "jet setter" you. LOL

Have a great long weekend.

Larry

Debi

Brainard is not the same airport as Bradley. Brainard is a small airport (for small private/corporate jets and helicopters) located in Hartford. Bradley is the commercial airport that services Hartford area - it's actually located about 15 miles north of Hartford. It's in Windsor Locks, I believe.

Char

Lawrence,

Get AWAY from MapQuest!!! I hate that program -- it is very misleading on a regular basis. Doesn't show significant roads, misses landmarks an idiot would notice, gets crazily confused about areas, and routinely puts addresses in drastically wrong places. I only use it together with other maps, just for verification. But mostly I don't use it and think no one else who is totally unfamiliar with an area should use it either.

For pete's sake, go get a real paper map from AAA or Rand McNally, etc. and use your eyes and your brain instead of your mouse and keyboard!!! Bradley Airport will be very obvious, as will the highways, Sturbridge, etc.

Larry

You know Char, it might be easy for anyone who lives there or has been there, but when you've never been anywhere, if you are smart, you ask questions so that you can be an educated traveler. That is what I'm here for, to find out as much as I can to have a stress free trip. Here's hoping you chill out and start using your heart when using your keyboard. Karma...it's a bitch.

howard

Sorry for the misinformation, Lawrence and others. My other advice this holds, try freetrip.com

Char

Sorry if I seemed a bit testy, Lawrence, but first of all, I obviously dislike MapQuest and would really like to alert people to its drawbacks. Second, I admit that I've read several of your posts about this trip, since I'm a New Englander and was ready to help; but over time it sure began to look like you were one of those people who starts asking barrages of questions before they do their homework -- esp. when the homework is easy to do, like: get a good map and figure out what you want to do, then ask for specifics and clarifications. Some of your questions and repetitions suggested that you had never looked at a map and wanted someone on this forum to magically cyber-teleport all the information you need through Vulcan mind-meld. In your next life, you will be a reference librarian or travel agent! My karma is that in my last life, I was you.

Mrs. Alden

Back off, Char, or you'll give all New Englanders a bad rep. Not all of us are that inhospitable, Lawrence. We try to help when possible, except for certain regulars who get nasty with new people.

L.M.

Whoa, Char -- is your last name "Broil"?

If someone can't get advice here, why would they even visit the site?

paula

Actually, the best way ou tof Bradley is Rte. 91 South to Rte. 291 South, which leads right into Rte 84 West. It cuts off apprxomately 20 minutes, unless you want to go through Hartford. Rte. 84 West will take you right into Massachusetts (approximately 50 minutes later0. The second Massachusetts exit will lead you to Rte 20 - if you take Rte 20 West, Old Sturdridge Village is less than a mile down the road. You will still be approximately an hour west of Boston. Keep in mind, Sturbridge Village is a replica of an 1800 ( I think) village. Most of the buildings are authentic and were transported in truly creative ways to arrive in Sturbridge in one piece. It is a bit onthe pricey side, but most museums are these days.

There are all the major car rental agencies on the airport premises or a shuttle ride away.

Den

An interseting house to tour is the Mark Twain house. I think it's on Farmington Ave, in Hartford. It's not colonial, but it's historic. It's kept as a museum with memorabilia and anecdotes.