Attendees can select to pay by credit/debit card or check/purchase order when completing their online registration. Please contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu if you have any questions, wish to discuss alternate payment methods, or need an invoice to facilitate payment. If payment is not received in full by the close of business (4 p.m. ET) on July 11, your account will be assessed an additional $40.00 late fee.

Credit/Debit Card
Attendees can pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express using our secure online gateway. Simply click "Register Now" to complete your registration and select "Credit/Debit Card" under the payment method drop down to be brought to the online payment portal. You will need to enter the correct Billing Address for the card in the appropriate box for the transaction to be processed successfully, so be sure to have this information on hand before beginning your registration.

Check
To pay by check, click "Register Now" to complete your online registration. Select "Check/PO" under the payment method drop down. After completing your online registration, mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to: UMass Conference Services/MTA, 819 Campus Center, 1 Campus Center Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003. Reference the names of all attendees being covered by the check so we can apply the payment to the correct accounts. All checks should be received by the close of business on Thursday, July 11. Payments received after 4PM ET on Thursday, July 11, will be assessed an additional $40.00 late fee.

Any check returned due to insufficient funds will be assessed a $35.00 processing fee.

Purchase Order
If you wish to submit a PO, click "Register Now" to complete your online registration. Select "Check/PO" under the payment method drop down. After completing your registration email a copy of the PO to UMass Conference Services (registration@umass.edu) clearly indicating if an invoice is required to facilitate payment. If an invoice is needed, please provide the name and contact details for the individual/department that should receive the invoice (if not yourself). Please note you must still submit payment by check or card so that it is received by July 11. If payment is not received in full by July 11, your account will be assessed a $40.00 late fee.

Receipt
A receipt will be emailed to the address on your registration as soon as payment is processed. If you do not receive a payment receipt or need another receipt sent to you, contact the UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.

Parking
Lot 44: Complimentary parking is available for all North residence hall guests in Lot 44, the large surface lot located adjacent to the North Residential Complex. Parking passes for this lot will be provided at the North residence hall check-in desk. Once you obtain this pass upon your arrival you must fill out the required information and display the pass on your dashboard throughout the program to avoid any ticketing and/or towing. Lot 44 is located a 10 - 15 minute walk from most conference activities. Click here for directions to Lot 44. Note those staying in North are also welcome to parking in the more centrally located Campus Center Parking Garage (see below) and obtain a discounted parking coupon at the registration desk.

Campus Center Parking Garage: Discounted $6.50/day parking is available for all attendees at the Campus Center Parking Garage. Many conference sessions will be held in or around the Campus Center, making the garage a convenient option for commuters or those who need a shorter walk. For GPS purposes, the Campus Center Parking Garage is located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003. Click here to obtain turn-by-turn directions from your direction. If you park in the garage make sure to pick up a parking coupon at registration, granting you a discounted rate of $6.50/day (valid for one exit). As you leave each day, but before you get to your car, bring your gate ticket and parking coupon to one of the garage pay stations. There are pay stations on levels 2, 3 and 4 of the garage. All pay stations accept card, while the pay station on the 2nd level right outside the Parking Office accepts card or cash. Enter your gate ticket and, when prompted, scan the barcode on the parking coupon we gave you. This will discount your parking for the day for, at most, $6.50/day. Submit payment and take your now validated gate ticket. Return to your car and, as you drive out, enter your validated gate ticket into the kiosk to raise the exit gate. Please note: you should only stop at a pay station as you leave for the day and tickets are only validated for 15 minutes from time of purchase. Coupons are only valid for one exit. Please disregard if the kiosk says "1 use left"; the coupon will work each day. 

Accessible Parking: Vehicles displaying a state-issued accessible placard or license plate may park in any marked Reserved Accessible Space, any regular, unreserved space, or any parking meter at no charge. The only spaces/lots attendees with a state-issued accessible placard or plate cannot park while on-campus are spaces noted as being reserved specifically for a campus entity (Res Life Staff, UMPD, etc.), the Lower Campus Center Parking Garage, and the PVTA bus surface lot. Note: all vehicles, regardless of accessible placards or plates, must pay when utilizing the Campus Center Parking Garage. Attendees with limited mobility and/or accessibility needs are encouraged to provide any specific aids or services required on the MTA and UMass registration forms so we may further plan and communicate information/options to you. 

Click here to view an interactive parking guide of campus.

Driving to Campus

From the South, via I-91 North
Take Exit 25 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, stay to the right to merge onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left onto 116 and go one mile to the UMass Exit. Stay to the right as you exit to merge onto Massachusetts Avenue. Take a left at the second set of lights onto Commonwealth Avenue.
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left to go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right.
For North Apartment guests: Commonwealth Avenue will become Governors Drive. Stay on Governors Drive until you reach the rotary. Take the second exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

From the North, via I-91 South
Take Exit 36 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left onto Routes U.S. 5/10/116. Follow until the lights and then turn right to stay on 5/10/116. Go one mile and turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for eight miles to the UMass exit. Turn left at the stop sign. Take a left at the second set of lights onto Commonwealth Avenue.
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left to go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right.
For North Apartment guests: Commonwealth Avenue will become Governors Drive. Stay on Governors Drive until you reach the traffic circle. Take the second exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

From the North, via I-93 South
Follow I-93 to I-495 South. Follow to Route 2 West. Continue on Route 2 to U.S. 202 South. Follow for about 15 miles to the blinking light at the Pelham exit marked “Route 9 and 116 Amherst.” Turn right and follow for seven miles to Amherst center. Turn right onto North Pleasant Street. Stay on North Pleasant Street (you will need to turn left twice to remain on North Pleasant Street, - follow signs to the UMass Campus).
For commuters and Hotel UMass guests: as you enter campus you will come to a set of lights. Stay to the left to turn onto Massachusetts Avenue. Follow Massachusetts Avenue through campus until you come to a set of lights. At the lights take a right onto Commonwealth Avenue. Continue on Commonwealth Avenue until you reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right onto Campus Center Way. Stay to the left and go up the hill - you will see the garage entrance up the hill on your right. 
For North Apartment guests: as you enter campus you will come to a set of lights. Stay in the right line and take a right to stay on North Pleasant Street. Follow North Pleasant to the traffic circle. Take the first exit onto Eastman Lane. Take your second left (immediately after Totman) onto the one-way street. You will see the first two North Apartment buildings on the right. Based on the housing assignment email you will receive closer to the event, pull into the small half circle in front of your building and check-in.

From the East or West, via I-90 
Travelers have a choice of four routes:

• Off Exit 63 (Palmer/Ware): Follow Route 32 South to Palmer; take Route 20 West to Route 181 North into Belchertown, and then Route 9 West to Amherst. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 54 (Ludlow): Follow Route 21 North to U.S. 202 North to Route 9 West to Amherst center. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 49 (Chicopee): Follow Route 33 North to Route 116 North to Amherst center. Turn left at the light onto Route 9 West. Follow signs to UMass.
• Off Exit 45 (West Springfield): I-91 North to Exit 19 to Route 9 East to Amherst. Follow signs to UMass.

Traveling by Plane
If you are traveling to Amherst by plane, the closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (near Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 miles from the UMass campus. Logan Airport in Boston is approximately 90 miles from the UMass campus. Both airports feature car rental agencies and a variety of shuttle services, including Valley Transporter (413-253-1350) and Seemo Shuttle (413-586-1120).

Traveling by Bus
The Amherst area is serviced by Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Megabus, and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. For Greyhound, Peter Pan, and Megabus, we recommend using "Amherst UMass, MA" as your destination instead of "Amherst Center, MA". The Amherst Center stop used by these bus services is about 1.5 miles from the UMass Campus and it will require some additional planning to get to campus (you will need to travel from Amherst Center by PVTA bus, taxi, or foot). The Amherst UMass stop, however, will bring you right to Haigis Mall, located on the UMass Campus. From here, the UMass Campus Center is about a 7 minute walk and the North Apartments are about a 15 minute walk. 

Please be sure to review bus schedules and campus maps before your arrival as both the area and the campus can be confusing to navigate.

Staying on campus is the most convenient and economical way to be close to all the conference activities. Suite-style air-conditioned dormitory rooms are available in the North Residence Halls, located in the North Residential Area of Campus. Details on Summer Conference Housing at the University of Massachusetts can be found below. Questioning if this lodging type is right for you? Contact us at registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102!

North Residence Halls
The North Residence Halls, located in the North Residential Area of the UMass Amherst campus, consist of air-conditioned suites located within a 10 to 15 minute walk of conference activities. Each apartment-style suite consists of four single-occupancy bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a common area, and a kitchen. Each lockable bedroom is furnished with a twin bed, desk, chair, and dresser. Each guest will be provided with a linen pack consisting of two flat sheets, a pillow with case, two towels, and a thin blanket. The kitchen has a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, and stove-top oven. If you are interested in preparing some of your meals in the suite, you should bring your own supplies: silverware, cookware, and plates are not provided or available for use. Toiletries are also not included: guests should bring their own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. Because some find the air-conditioning to be cold, we encourage guests to bring a sweatshirt or extra blanket. As there are no televisions within the suite, we also recommend bringing a laptop or tablet with some streaming services loaded (we'll provide the wifi!), cards, board games, or other entertainment options for use during any down time.

Note rooms only accommodate four guests in total and all guests must be a registered attendee of the MTA Summer Conference: if you book a room in North, you cannot bring a spouse, partner, or child to share the suite with you as these rooms and suites are exclusively reserved for MTA attendees. 

There are 4 North Apartment buildings: North A, North B, North C, and North D. All four buildings are located less than a minutes walk apart on Eastman Lane in Amherst. Specific building assignments and detailed arrival instructions will be sent to registered and fully paid guests in July.

Roommate & Suitemate Requests
Individuals or groups who wish to share the same residence hall suite must enter their suitemate requests on this registration page. There will be a clearly labeled box on the online registration form for this purpose. UMass Conference Services makes every attempt to accommodate all roommate/suitemate requests but there are no guarantees. Priority is given to early registrants. If no specific requests are received, we will assign you to an apartment with other MTA attendees based on gender and dates of stay. Housing assignments will be sent in July to fully paid guests.

Accessibility Needs
All four North buildings are fully accessible, with elevators in each building and automatic door openers with key card readers accessible to all floors. Accessible parking is also available near each building. Guests with any accessibility and/or mobility needs should indicate such during registration. There will be a box on the registration form for accessibility needs. Special medical requirements and/or accessible access will be honored on an as-received basis. Due to space limitations, the University cannot guarantee the accommodation of all special requests but will make all attempts to do so. You will be contacted in the event that UMass cannot honor your accessibility needs or accommodation requests. For specific handicap-access information on dorms, suites or classrooms please contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu, or click here to view a campus accessibility map.

Room Keys & Access Cards
At check-in each guest will be provided with an access card for their assigned residence hall and suite, along with a room key for their individual bedroom. Access cards and keys must be returned in their original condition at check-out to the Summer Conference Housing desk clerk located in the lobby of your assigned building. Guests will be charged $25.00 for a lost/damaged access card and $100.00 for a lost/damaged key. Returns will not be accepted for keys/cards returned after your departure.

Hotel UMass
Seated in the center of the picturesque UMass Amherst campus, Hotel UMass blends a tranquil countryside escape with the bustling energy of campus life, making it your ideal destination when staying in the area. Just an elevator ride from Campus Center meeting spaces and amenities, including the University Store and several newly renovated dining options, Hotel UMass offers unbeatable convenience for a discounted conference rate of $169.00 - $219.00/room/night (plus applicable fees, currently 6% plus $1.00 per room, per night). Discounted rates are valid through June 28, or until space fills, so early reservations are recommended.

To complete a reservation, interested attendees should click here to be taken directly to the MTA Summer Conference Hotel UMass reservation page. Note reservations are available online only: if you call to complete a reservation you will be directed to book online. Please note: Please call Hotel UMass directly at 877-822-2100 to inquire about rooms outside the room block. Additional lodging options are available here or click on the "Area Guide" tab above. 

Note: payment for your stay at Hotel UMass must be made separately from your registration payment. 

UMass Dining
"America's Most Awarded Dining Program," UMass Dining, invites you to join our table! Our summer guests can find UMass Dining at every corner of campus. With dining commons, retail cafes, food trucks, and more, we welcome you to enjoy all that the UMass Dining experience has to offer. Note: you can select a registration option that includes 3 meals per day of attendance, redeemable in the Worcester Dining Commons.

Worcester Dining Commons
Served all-you-care-to-eat style, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available from 7AM - 8PM each day in our award winning Dining Commons. At each meal you will find a variety of cuisines, often including sushi, pho noodles, create-your-own stir-fry, pizza, dim sum brunch, pasta and salad bars, deli sandwiches, American fare, Halal dining, vegan and vegetarian options, a range of desserts, ice cream, and more. Daily menus will be available as your stay approaches on the UMass Dining website.

Campus Center Eateries
The Blue Wall, located in the Campus Center, is one of the most popular and convenient dining options on campus. The Blue Wall has 10 different stations served a-la-carte. Offerings include pizza, salads, wraps, deli sandwiches, sushi, burgers, burritos, gelato, and more, ensuring that the Blue Wall has something to satisfy every craving. Harvest Market, located on the main concourse of the Campus Center, is a full service market serving healthy, sustainable, and delicious fare for our on the go customers. The hot bar often features Indian, Ethiopian, traditional American, and many other world cuisines, and the salad bar is always stocked with in-season ingredients and freshly prepared composed salads. Additional highlights include a Chobani yogurt bar, all natural and organic snacks, local cheeses and deli meats, grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, and a made-to-order juice and smoothie bar. Need a quick pick-me-up or caffeine fix? People's Organic Coffee, located on the main concourse of the Campus Center across from Harvest Market, serves People's Organic Fair Trade coffees, as well as a variety of specialty coffee beverages, organic teas, locally baked pastries, fresh cookies, salads and paninis.

Note: meal plans are only valid at the Dining Commons. Attendees may visit retail dining locations but will need to pay via cash or debit/credit card.

The Commonwealth Restaurant
We proudly welcome you to joins us at The Commonwealth. Located on the top floor of the newly constructed Worcester Commons, our elegantly modern restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere featuring beautiful views of campus. Come be waited on by delightful and diligent staff while enjoying our delicious, fresh, local, and sustainable menu.

Food Trucks
Our food trucks, Baby Berk and Baby Berk 2, are great options for a quick and convenient meal. Serving freshly prepared food truck fare, including burgers, wasabi steak tacos, grilled cheeses, tater tots and sweet potato fries, you are sure to leave satisfied. Checkout @UMassBabyBerk and @UMassBabyBerk2 on Twitter to find daily schedules and location updates, and look for the trucks around campus during your stay!

Dietary Restrictions and Food Allergies
Attendees with dietary restrictions or allergies should detail all dietary related needs on the UMass registration form (there will be a clearly labeled box on the online page for this purpose). UMass Conference Services will communicate all needs to the Dining Commons/Catering staff and will contact you in the event that we have questions or need to further discuss your needs. To learn more about how UMass handles special dietary needs, click here.

On-Campus Attractions
You don't need to travel far to find something to do - there are numerous attractions located right here on campus! 

The UMass Fine Arts Center seeks to engage audiences in the arts, embrace diversity, and uphold the highest standards for arts education. Comprehensive in scope, the Center offers the region's only mix of classical music, dance, theater, jazz, Broadway, special events, and gallery exhibitions. The Fine Arts Center is also home to the University Museum of Contemporary Arts.

The Mullins Center, our state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility, hosts diverse events from hockey and basketball to concerts and popular touring performance groups. 

The Augusta Savage Gallery, located in New Africa House, is a multicultural and multiarts facility that seeks to promote artistic works from a broad spectrum of cultures

The Durfee Conservatory and Garden, established in 1867, is a historic plant conservatory that offers a sanctuary of calm and serenity among the hustle and bustle of campus.

The Rausch Mineral Gallery, located in the Department of Geosciences in the Morrill Science Center, includes more than 250 large mineral specimens from around the world from the mineral collection of the late Dr. Marvin Rausch.

Fitness Centers
Day passes to the UMass Recreation Center are available for our conference guests to pick-up at registration and residence hall check-in (the daily fee for this summer is still being determined, but is typically between $3.00 - $7.00/day). The Recreation Center includes fitness and weight equipment, a 3-court gymnasium, activity rooms, and a jogging/walking track. On-campus there are also 10 tennis courts located behind the Mullins Center, handball/squash courts located in Boyden, and pools in Boyden and Curry Hicks. Note summer hours and availability might be limited: visit the Campus Recreation website during your stay for the most up-to-date hours. 

Libraries
The W.E.B. Du Bois Library and Science and Engineering Library offer technology and space to work for our campus guests, including printing/copying services, collections, and book stacks. The W. E. B. Du Bois Library is 28 stories and over 286 feet tall, making it the third-tallest library in the world. It primarily holds resources in humanities and social and behavioral sciences. In addition to book stacks, the W.E.B. Du Bois Library has a Learning Commons offering PCs/MACs and a variety of workspaces, quiet study areas, the W. E. B. Du Bois Center, and Special Collections & University Archives. The Science and Engineering Library (SEL) is the primary location for resources in the natural and physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering. In addition to book stacks and periodicals, SEL provides study rooms with computers and whiteboards, 65 individual computer stations, wireless access, quiet study spaces, and photocopying/printing services.

Campus Health and Safety
University Health Services
University Health Services (UHS), conveniently located on-campus at 150 Infirmary Way (near the Franklin Dining Commons), helps you stay healthy and cares for you if you're not. UHS provides comprehensive health and wellness services, including general medical care, walk-in care, and by-appointment services, for UMass Amherst students, faculty, staff and their dependents. Note UHS is not a hospital and does not have an emergency department. Appointments: 413-577-5101. Triage Nurse (available during health center hours): 413-577-5229. After-hours medical and mental health advice: 413-577-5000. 

UHS Walk-in Clinic Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.  

UHS Pharmacy Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

For on-campus emergencies please contact the UMass Police at 413-545-2121 or call 911. For medical assistance and/or pharmacy needs outside of the hours above, off-campus services are available at Cooley Dickinson Hospital (9.7 miles from campus), AEIOU Urgent Care (1.9 miles from campus), MedExpress Urgent Care (2.4 miles from campus) and CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles from campus).

Emergency Alerts
During your stay, we recommend signing up for our temporary text alert system. Text UMassAlertsGuest to 78015 to receive alerts during your stay. Your subscription will automatically expire after one week, or you can test Stop to 78015 to cancel upon your departure. Click here or email oem@ehs.umass.edu for additional information.

Emergency Services 
The UMass Police Department (UMPD) is located at 585 East Pleasant Street in Amherst, MA 01003. For emergencies, use your cellphone to call 413-545-3111 for the quickest response. If you call 911 with your cellphone note that you will be connected to the MA State Police, who can then transfer you to UMPD (say you are calling from UMass Amherst). For non-emergencies call 413-545-2121. During your visit you will also notice over 115 "Help" phones located all across campus. These boxes are easily identified by their yellow boxes topped with blue lights. When the red emergency button is pushed, the caller will be put in immediate contact with UMPD. In addition to providing voice contact with a police dispatcher, "Help" phone use also enables a dispatcher to pinpoint the caller's exact location. If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have access to TTY equipment, you can contact UMPD at 413-577-0384, or utilize the telecommunications relay service offered by Mass Relay.

Off-Campus Accommodations
Conference participants may choose to stay off-campus in one of the area’s many hotels. If you choose to stay off-campus, you are responsible for making your own arrangements. You should register as a commuter (with or without campus meals). Off-campus hotels are a good option for those traveling with family.

The Amherst area is home to many hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts. A variety of large chain hotels are located a 5 - 10 minute drive from the UMass Campus in neighboring Hadley, including the Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Howard Johnson, and Courtyard by Marriott. Looking for something a little different? Amherst, Northampton, and the surrounding area are home to many lovely inns and bed & breakfasts, including the Black Walnut Inn and the Inn on Boltwood, among others, all located within a 10 - 20 minute drive of campus. To help plan your visit, keep in mind that the University of Massachusetts campus is a 10 - 15 minute walk or 5-7 minute drive from the center of Amherst, and a 20-minute drive from the center of Northampton. The area is popular with vacationers in the summer, so we encourage you to complete your reservation as soon as possible. Some popular options are below.

Allen House: 599 Main Street, Amherst MA 01002. 413-253-5000.
The Black Walnut Inn: 1184 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA. 413-549-5649. 
Comfort Inn: 400 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Courtyard by Marriott: 423 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Hampton Inn: 24 Bay Road, Hadley MA 01035
Howard Johnson: 401 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley MA 01035
Inn on Boltwood: 30 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst MA 01002
University Lodge: 345 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Local Transportation
There are multiple transportation options to get you from campus to amenities and attractions in the surrounding area. Amherst center, with local shops, restaurants, and small convenience stores, is a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute drive from campus. If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located on University Drive and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley, about a 5-10 minute trip from campus by car or bus. Retailers include CVS, Big Y, Stop and Shop, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Marshalls, and more.

Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, run regularly between Amherst center and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley, including Northampton, Springfield, and Greenfield. If you'd rather take a car, UMass has partnered with Zipcar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to bring on-demand car sharing services right to campus. The area is also serviced by a variety of cab companies, including Uber, Lyft, Celebrity Cab Company and Taxi Express. A variety of bike rental options are also available, weather permitting, including Laughing Dog Bicycles, and Hampshire Bicycle Exchange,

Dining
Looking to head off-campus for a meal? There are so many wonderful and convenient options! Downtown Amherst, located about a 5 minute drive/20 minute walk from campus, has many unique restaurants, with fare ranging from Thai, Chinese, Italian, American, Indian and more. Some longstanding downtown favorites include Antonio's pizza by the slice, Bueno Y Sano, and Johnny's Tavern. About 5 minutes in the other direction, heading down University Drive, you will find some more popular local spots including The Hangar Pub and Grill and Ginger Garden. Travel just a bit further (7 - 10 minutes from campus) and you will reach the Route 9/Russell Street area of Hadley, which is replete with familiar chains and fast-food spots including Friendly's, Panara, Chili's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Texas Roadhouse and more. Have a little more time on your hands? Visit downtown Northampton, about a 25 minute drive from campus, to explore the many restaurants and shops that make up this artistic, academic and countercultural hub. Click the links below for some more information on off-campus dining options, and be sure to take a look at the bus services offered by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to help you get where you need to go! 

For more information visit:
Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce: http://www.amherstarea.com/list/category/restaurants-281
Visit Hampshire County: https://visithampshirecounty.com/eat/restaurants/

Shopping
If you find you need to visit a grocery store, large retail store, or pharmacy during your stay, numerous options are located 5 - 10 minutes from campus in downtown Amherst, as well as on University Drive in Amherst and Russell Street (also known as Route 9) in neighboring Hadley. These locations are also serviced by PVTA buses.

Downtown Amherst
Amherst Shopping Center - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Big Y, Dunkin Donuts, CVS and Goodwill. Located at 181 University Drive in Amherst, MA.

Hampshire Mall - retail/grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, including Target, Trader Joe's, J. C. Penney, Cinemark, Pinz Bowling, Interskate 91, LaserBlast, and Planet Fitness Gym. Located at 367 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.

Campus Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including TJ Maxx, Super Stop & Shop, Dollar Tree, Liquors 44, and Johnny's Roadside Diner. Located at 440-454 Russell Street in Hadley, MA.

Mountain Farms Mall - retail/grocery stores and dining, including Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Panera Bread and Whole Foots Market. Located at 335 Russell Street in Hadley, MA

Attractions
Amherst is known for its rural charm and big city appeal. With many restaurants, bars and local shops, visitors get lost exploring our downtown. Located just a few minutes drive from the campus, it is a convenient and popular destination. 

The city of Northampton is a blend of historic, contemporary, intellectual, artsy, athletic and entrepreneurial. With cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, shops, museums, rivers, parks and spas, Northampton is a place to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of budget.

The Emily Dickinson Homestead, located right in downtown Amherst, was mentioned frequently in her intensely idiosyncratic and strikingly modern poetry. Devoted Dickinson readers visit the Homestead and The Evergreens, the Italianate home built next door by Emily's brother Austin Dickinson, to walk today where Emily walked and to see what Emily saw.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located in Amherst, looks to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books, just a short 15 minute drive from campus. Founded by Eric Carle and his wife Barbara, the Museum is for visitors of all ages: children and families, teachers and librarians, scholars, and everyone interested in the art of the picture book.

The Yiddish Book Center is a nonprofit organization working to tell the whole Jewish story by rescuing, translating, and disseminating Yiddish books and presenting innovative educational programs that broaden understanding of modern Jewish identity. The Yiddish Book Center is located on the Hampshire College campus, about a 15 minute drive from UMass.

The Amherst College Beneski Museum of Natural History, located about 5 minutes from the UMass campus, is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, boasting three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world. 

Yankee Candle, located about 15 minutes away in South Deerfield, offers an enchanting mix of shopping and entertainment. You'll find 400,000 candles in over 200 different famous Yankee scents, but there are more than just candles at this flagship Village Store. It's a unique, entertaining world of New England charm, fairy tale fantasies, and hands-on, interactive candle making that's fun for every age.

Historic Deerfield is an authentic 18th-century New England village. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings, see yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades, and explore the world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. 

The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a 14,400 square foot facility that includes a 4,000 sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation, about a 20 minute drive from campus in neighboring South Deerfield.

Home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history, the Basketball Hall of Fame stirs the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, shooting contests and enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans. 

The Springfield Museums grant visitors access to the Springfield Science Museum, George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Springfield History and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and Museum, all under a single admission. The museums are located in the heart of downtown Springfield, about a 40 minute drive from UMass.

Six Flags New England is home to many rides and attractions, from pulse-pounding roller coasters to gentler options for the youngest of thrill seekers. With some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, most gut-wrenching rides in the country (including a few record breakers), as well as family rides, kid rides, entertaining shows and the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Six Flags New England has fun for everyone.

Medical Services
If you find you need medical services, including emergency care or pharmacy services, below are some options close to campus. For on-campus emergencies please contact the UMass Police at 413-545-2121, utilize an on-campus "Help" phone, or call 911 and ask to be transferred to UMass Amherst PD.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital - offers 24-hour full hospital/health care services including emergency and critical care, imaging/radiology, lab services.
30 Locust Street, Northampton MA (9.7 miles from campus).
Main Number: 413-582-2000. Crisis Hotline: 413-586-5555.

CVS Pharmacy - offers pharmacy, drive-thru pharmacy, MinuteClinic, immunizations.
165 University Drive, Amherst MA (1.9 miles from campus).
Main Number: 413-256-0421.

AEIOU Urgent Care - offers urgent care services for non-life threatening minor illness or injuries. Open Monday - Friday 8AM to 7PM; Saturday & Sunday 11AM to 5PM.
170 University Drive, Suite 102, Amherst MA (1.9 miles from campus).
Main Number: 413-461-3530.

MedExpress Urgent Care - offers urgent care services for illness and injuries. Open everyday from 8AM to 8PM.
424 Russell Street, Hadley MA (2.4 miles from campus).
Main Number: 413-253-0483.

[On-Campus] University Health Services - offers advance appointments, same-day appointments, walk-in care. Serving UMass students, faculty, and staff, and their domestic partners, spouses and dependent children.   
150 Infirmary Way (near Franklin Dining Commons).
Appointments: 413-577-5101. Triage Nurse (available during health center hours): 413-577-5229. After-hours medical & mental health advice: 413-577-5000. 

Interested in learning about more things to do in the Pioneer Valley? Click here!

For conference or workshop related questions:
For additional Summer Conference information, visit the conference website. For additional event staff contact information, click here.

For housing, meal, payment, or UMass area travel related questions:
Contact UMass Conference Services at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu. Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8AM - 4PM (ET), excluding any state or federal holidays and/or campus closure days. All calls, emails, and voicemails will be answered as soon as possible during out standard business hours.

To mail payment:
Complete your online registration and select the "Check/PO" payment option. Mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to: UMass Conference Services/MTA, 819 Campus Center, 1 Campus Center Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003. Reference the name of all attendees being paid by the check so we can apply payment to the correct account(s). Payments received after the close of business on July 11, 2024, will be charged an additional $40.00 late fee.

To request an invoice:
Complete your online registration and select the "Check/PO" payment option. Email UMass Conference Services at registration@umass.edu with the subject "MTA Summer Conference Invoice Request". In the body of your email include the names of all attendees that should appear on the invoice and provide the name and contact information for the person/department that should receive the invoice. Because of the high volume of requests we receive, please allow 3 business days for your request to be processed.