Traveling east on I-90 from Albany and points west: as you pass the impressive central city Albany skyline on your right, watch carefully for the first exit after you cross the bridge over the Hudson River - it comes shortly after you arrive on the east bank. The sign indicates Route 43 and Defreestville. Take that exit. At the bottom of the ramp, a sign directs you to turn left for Route 43 east; take that turn and get on 43 eastbound.
Route 43 will actually lead you all the way to Williamstown - it takes about 45-50 minutes under normal conditions. Follow the signs carefully, though: there are several places where 43 forks or even makes hard turns.
Route 43 will eventually lead you to Stephentown, the easternmost town in New York State via this route. Shortly after 43 crosses NY Route 22, it brings you across the state line into Massachusetts in the town of Hancock. Stay on 43. Soon you'll see a sign welcoming you to Williamstown.
Continue until you come to a blinking light at the crossing of Route 43 and Route 7. Turn LEFT onto Route 7 northbound. Follow Route 7 for 3 or 4 miles, headed north, until it brings you to a small rotary in front of the Williams Inn. Route 7 crosses Route 2 at this rotary, and you want to exit the rotary on ROUTE 2 headed EAST - you will have changed direction about 90 degrees as you leave the rotary.
Route 2 is Main Street in Williamstown. As you proceed, you will see a row of former fraternity houses on your right and a white church on your left. Watch for Chapin Hall Drive on your left,, turn left just before the church. The Paresky Student Center will be on your left as you proceed down Chapin Hall Drive. We are on the second floor, room 205. If you have problems on the way, the office phone number is 413-597-2483.
Get on Route 7 in Sheffield, Great Barrington or Stockbridge and head north. Between Stockbridge and Lenox you'll come to a stoplight at which Route 7 merges with Route 20; from this point you have approx. 30 miles to go. Follow 7 carefully through the center of Pittsfield, where you part company with 20 and then 7 takes a couple of well-marked turns. North of Pittsfield you'll go through Lanesboro, then New Ashford. A sign will welcome you to Williamstown; about 2 miles later you'll come to a blinker where Route 43 crosses Route 7 (The Store at Five Corners on your right). Continue north on 7 for 3 or 4 miles until you come to a rotary in front of the Williams Inn. Route 7 joins Route 2 at this rotary, and you want to exit the rotary on ROUTE 2 headed EAST - you will have changed direction about 90 degrees by the time you leave the rotary.
Route 2 is Main Street in Williamstown. As you proceed, you will see a row of former fraternity houses on your right and you'll see a classic white clapboard New England Congregational Church ahead on your left; turn left just before the church, onto Chapin Hall Drive. The Paresky Student Center will be on your left as you proceed down Chapin Hall Drive. We are on the second floor, room 205. If you have problems on the way, the office phone number is 413-597-2483.
Follow 2 west from Cambridge (Memorial Drive/Fresh Pond Parkway, etc.), Concord, etc. Just west of Erving, you'll suddenly find that by following "2" signs you've merged into a 4-lane highway, as Route 2 gets on I-91 headed south for about 2 miles. Merge toward the right lane and get off at the very next exit, at the sign directing you to North Adams via the Mohawk Trail (still Rte. 2). [Get food or gas here, if you need them; there's not much between here and North Adams, 45 minutes west.] From here on the drive is just beautiful. Stay on 2 through Shelburne, Charlemont and Savoy - the road will gradually lead you up Florida (!) Mountain through a beautiful gorge along the Cold River. You'll come first to the Eastern Summit (observation tower, elk statue), then finally to the Western Summit from which you'll have a glorious view of the valley to the west as you descend into North Adams.
Four miles later, still on 2, you'll find yourself in the center of North Adams. (Watch for Mass MoCA on the right as you leave the downtown behind you - and plan to come back!) Keep going on 2. Half a mile after a Super Stop & Shop on the left, you'll see the Williamstown sign. A mile or so later you come to a stoplight; go straight through it and up a small hill. At the crest (with the College's neo-gothic chapel on your right) you'll see a classic white clapboard New England Congregational Church ahead on your right; turn right just after the church, onto Chapin Hall Drive. The Paresky Student Center will be on your left as you proceed down Chapin Hall Drive. We are on the second floor, room 205. If you have problems on the way, the office phone number is 413-597-2483.
If you have problems on the way, the office phone number is 413-597-2483.
Follow the Mass Pike west (toward Albany, NY) to exit 2, for Route 20 and Lee. At the bottom of the ramp (after the toll booth), turn right onto 20. It will lead you through the town of Lee, with several well-marked turns. Several miles north of downtown Lee, 20 merges into Route 7 northbound. From this point you have approx. 30 miles to go.
Follow 7 carefully through the center of Pittsfield, where you part company with 20 and then 7 takes a couple of well-marked turns. North of Pittsfield you'll go through Lanesboro, then New Ashford. A sign will welcome you to Williamstown; about 2 miles later you'll come to a blinker where Route 43 crosses Route 7 (The Store at Five Corners on your right). Continue north on 7 for 3 or 4 miles until you come to a rotary in front of the Williams Inn. Route 7 joins Route 2 at this rotary, and you want to exit the rotary on ROUTE 2 headed EAST - you will have changed direction about 90 degrees by the time you leave the rotary.
Route 2 is Main Street in Williamstown. As you proceed, you will see a row of former fraternity houses on your right and you'll see a classic white clapboard New England Congregational Church ahead on your right; turn right just after the church, onto Chapin Hall Drive. The Paresky Student Center will be on your left as you proceed down Chapin Hall Drive. We are on the second floor, room 205. If you have problems on the way, the office phone number is 413-597-2483.
You may find mapquest to be helpful as well.
http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp