Williamstown (Massachusetts)

Williamstown is a town in the Berkshires at the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with New York and Vermont. It is a true college town, having hosted Williams College since 1793.

Understand
Williamstown is a lovely historic town that's well worth a visit. There are quite a few tasteful 18th-, 19th- and early 20th-century buildings, on and off campus.

Get in

 * From the South or West: From I-87, take Exit 6; drive 45 minutes east on NY/MA Rt. 2 into Williamstown.
 * From Taconic Parkway: Take NY Rt. 295 East to NY Rt. 22 North to NY Rt. 43 East (which becomes MA Rt. 43 North) to US Rt. 7 North into Williamstown.
 * From the North (Vermont): Follow US Rt. 7 South to Williamstown.
 * From the East (Boston): Take Mass. Pike (I-90) to Exit 2 (Lee); US Rt. 20 West. This will merge with US Rt. 7 North, which you follow into Williamstown.

There is a bus direct from Port Authority (New York City) that takes about 5 hours. Check Peter Pan Bus lines.

Get around
Williamstown is a small town, and most locations are reachable on foot. For further trips to Vermont or neighboring North Adams, you're best off with a car, although local public transportation can get you around too. Buses run infrequently, so plan well. The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority webpage, with schedules, is at this link.

See
Aside from the following museums, you can enjoy walking around downtown Williamstown, looking at the outsides of buildings and walking into some of them, such as churches, if you visit when they are open.



Do

 * Hiking: Pine Cobble There are countless hikes in the Williamstown area, but one of the most popular is certainly Pine Cobble. The Williams Outing Club publishes the North Berkshire Trails guide, available at Water Street Books (26 Water Street, ), the local bookstore, for $12.  A trail description of Pine Cobble is available here.  The trail (estimated time: 1 hour) climbs a hill north of Williamstown overlooking the Purple Valley and arrives at an expanse of quartzite rock exposed by glaciers long ago.

Eat

 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
 * Happy Star Chinese Restaurant, 240A Main St., M-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10:30PM.

Go next
There is a Peter Pan bus to New York City on Sundays that costs $45. Buy tickets at the Williams Inn. Leaves at 4PM.

You can take the Berkshire Transport to Pittsfield (about 20 minutes south) for many more transportation options, including a train. The bus to New York City also stops in Pittsfield.

If you are a student at Williams then log onto WSO and check out the rideboard.