Location
The program will be held at the UMass Amherst campus.  For GPS purposes the Campus Center, including Hotel UMass and the attached Campus Center Parking Garage, are located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. Click here to take a look at a campus map.

By Car
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. 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. 

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. 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.

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). 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. 

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.

By Air
The closest airport to campus is Bradley International Airport, located in Windsor Locks Connecticut (just outside of Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 minutes from the UMass campus. Logan International Airport located in Boston, MA, may have more flight options depending on where you are traveling from, but this airport is approximately 90 miles from the UMass campus so does require additional travel time. 

Both airports feature car rental agencies and a variety of shuttle services, such as Valley Transporter, Seemo Shuttle, Exclusive Car Service Inc., Bluebird Transportation, and Michael's Limousine and Transportation Service. Shuttle services should be booked prior to your arrival at either airport.

By Bus
The Amherst Area is serviced by Peter Pan Bus Lines, Greyhound, and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). Peter Pan Buses travel directly to Amherst, with stops directly on campus and in Amherst Center. When possible, select your destination as "Amherst UMass MA" instead of "Amherst Center MA": the Amherst Center stop is about a 1.5 mile walk to campus (also accessible via PVTA bus), but the "Amherst UMass MA" stop will drop you at Haigis Mall, located right on-campus. Greyhound travels to Union Station in Springfield, MA, which is about 26 miles from campus. If you travel via Greyhound bus you should also plan to take a taxi, Uber/Lyft, or PVTA bus from Springfield to campus. PVTA offers local bus services around the Amherst area so can be a great option when traveling around the area, including to local restaurants, amenities, and off-campus lodging options.

Once on Campus
Hotel UMass and Campus Center Parking Garage
For GPS purposes the garage is located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. Click here to obtain directions from your location. Upon arriving you campus follow the signs to the Campus Center Parking Garage. If you are staying at Hotel UMass, park on the 2nd level, enter the building, and take the elevators (the hotel lobby is located on level 3; meetings and meals are located on various floors in the campus center).  

Campus Maps
If you have not been on campus before, we recommend having a campus map readily accessible until you are acclimated. Click here to download a campus map, click here to view a campus accessibility map, and click here to view campus via Google maps.

Parking
Complimentary parking is available for all attendees in the Campus Center Parking Garage. Please plan to park in the Campus Center Parking Garage as parking elsewhere on campus without a valid permit, pass, placard, or license plate may result in ticketing and/or towing.

Attendees can park in the Campus Center Parking Garage, located at 91 Campus Center Way, Amherst MA 01003. Campus Center Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue, across from the Mullins Center (our large sports/entertainment arena). Upon turning onto Campus Center Way stay to the left to proceed up the hill. The garage entrance will be up the hill on your right. 

Please note: The UMass Campus Center Parking Garage has gone gateless. Instead of receiving a complimentary parking coupon in your folder, you will be emailed an unique link prior to the start of the conference. Whether you are staying at Hotel UMass or a commuting attendee, each day you will need to register your vehicle with the link once you pull into the Campus Center parking garage. The #1 most important thing you need is your license plate number. Plan to give yourself some extra time so that you can take care of parking before you check into the conference. You have 20 minutes starting when you enter the garage to register your vehicle before you’re in violation.  

Accessible Parking
Attendees with a valid state-issued reserved accessible license plate or placard may park in any marked accessible space or any nonrestricted, nonreserved space or lot, at no charge, as long as your plate or placard is clearly displayed at all times during your stay. To locate reserved accessible parking, visit the UMass Parking Map and search for "Accessible Spaces" in the key on the upper left of your screen. For an interactive campus accessibility map, click here. Attendees may also follow the instructions in the "Commuting Attendees" section above for complimentary parking in the Campus Center Parking Garage.

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.

On-campus and area lodging
Below are a few options for hotel accommodations for your stay. Please make your reservations early! We strongly encourage you to stay on-campus at Hotel UMass when possible. Hotel UMass is the only unionized hotel in the area, and it is very convenient to sessions and meals (and includes a continental breakfast). Please register on-line by clicking the Hotel UMass website below. The link will take you directly to the Strike Hotel UMass reservation page.  

   Hotel UMass ($189.00/room/night + fees)
   Deadline to reserve: February 28, 2025, or until space fills
   1 Campus Center Way, Amherst 01003.   
   Phone: 877-822-2110.
   Website: Hotel UMass.
   Distance: on campus.
   
   Hillel House (around $35/night/room + parking)
   388 North Pleasant Street, Amherst 01003.
   Contact  Matthew Plotkin for availability, rates, and room details: 413-549-1710
   http://www.umasshillel.org/living-at-hillel.html.
   Distance: about a mile from campus.

   Black Walnut Inn 
   1184 North Pleasant Street, Amherst 01002.     
   Phone: 413-549-5649.
   http://www.blackwalnutinn.com/.
   Distance: about 2 miles from campus.

   Comfort Inn 
   400 Russell Street, Hadley 01035.     
   Phone: 413-584-9816.
   https://www.choicehotels.com/massachusetts/hadley/comfort-inn-hotels/ma090.
   Distance: about 3.5 miles from campus.

   Courtyard by Marriott 
   423 Russell Road, Hadley 01035.   
   Phone: 413-256-5454.
   http://www.hampshirehospitality.com/.
   Distance: about 2 miles from campus.       
        
   Hampton Inn Hadley
   24 Bay Road, Hadley 01035.
   Phone: 413-586-4851.
   http://www.pvhg.com/properties/.
   Distance: about 6.5 miles from campus.        

   Homewood Suites by Hilton Hadley Amherst
   340 Russell Street, Hadley 01035.
   Phone: 413-387-0583.
   https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bdlhahw-homewood-suites-hadley-amherst/.
   Distance: about 3.4 miles from campus.
   
   Howard Johnson
   401 Russell Street, Hadley 01035.
   Phone: 413-586-0114.
   http://www.hampshirehospitality.com/.
   Distance: about 2.5 miles from campus.
   
   Inn on Boltwood
   30 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst 01002.
   Phone: 413-256-8200.
   http://www.lordjefferyinn.com/.
   Distance: about 2 miles from campus.

Questions? Contact us!

For questions regarding the schedule or the event in general, please visit The Strike website:
The Strike Website: https://websites.umass.edu/strike2025/

For questions regarding payment, on-campus lodging, or using the online pre-registration page, please contact UMass Conference Services:
registration@umass.edu or 413-577-8102.