How far from Mass Pike to Springfield downtown?
 

We are going to Worcester to visit colleges, but the Priceline hotels are better in Springfield. Since we'll just be getting up, checking out, and touring the campus and then going on to Boston I don't feel compelled to stay in Worcester.

There are good Priceline hotels in Springfield though. Is this out of the way coming from New York state? Also, will free parking be hard to find in DT Springfield?

Thanks!!

About 5 miles on I-91.

It would cost more, but be so much more emjoyable to spend any of that time in Northampton, MA, about the same distance from Worcester as Sprinfield.

http://www.noho.com/

Springfiled parking will not be pricey and will be plentiful, some metered streets and cheap parking lots.

Northampton is pleasant, but downtown Northampton is more like 20-30 minutes from the Mass Pike. I don't think it is worth the detour if you don't have any time to visit Hamp anyway.

You might also want to check for hotels the Ingleside (Mall) area of Springfield, which on I-91, also very close to Mass Pike.

To clarify, Ingleside is in the city of <b>Holyoke</b>, not Springfield.

Ingleside has very easy access to I-91 and the Masspike. It would be a good bet if you don't want to deal with the hassle of a Downtown area, although Downtown Springfield is pretty sleepy.

Are the hotels in Springfield, or West Springfield? There are a few hotels in downtown Spgfld (Marriott, Sheraton, Holiday Inn), close to I-90, but most hotels are in W Springfield, on Rt 5 (Riverside), even closer to I-90 (MassPike).

Springfield is not out of your way coming from upstate NY, as you will pass through it on I-90 before you get to Worcester. Both I-90 and I-91 pass right through the center of Springfield.

Last weekend, I took Amtrak to Springfield as a halfway point for meeting someone. We had a lot of difficulty getting out of Springfield and back onto the Pike West because our internet directions were incorrect and signage in Springfield was *awful*. However, signs for eastbound were slightly better, and after a half hour of circling around trying to go west, we finally opted for that. (And I usually pride myself on my sense of direction! *sigh*) You should have no problem: from downtown Springfield, take the I-291 connector highway east; when it ends, there is an exit for the Pike. You'll want I-90 East at that point.

Good luck with the college hunt!