Amherst travel guide

Amherst Tourism | Amherst Guide

You're Going to Love Amherst

With a population of 19.065, Amherst is a must-see destination in Massachusetts, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Amherst to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Amherst

If you’re looking for affordable options, Johnny's Tavern (30 Boltwood Walk) and 30 Boltwood - Inn on Boltwood (30 Boltwood Avenue) are great picks.

When to visit Amherst

Amherst in January
Estimated hotel price
$156
1 night at 3-star hotel
Amherst in January
Estimated hotel price
$156
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Amherst in July, when the average temperature is 71.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 14 °F, with an average temperature of 24.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 3.9″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Amherst, with an average rainfall of 3″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Amherst

Plane

Although Amherst doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Worcester (ORH), which is located 54 km from Amherst. Worcester is the most popular, with regular flights from Azul, JetBlue, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Amherst departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 26m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Amherst, followed by Acela. The train journey from Amherst to Providence takes 0h 46m and costs around $5 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New Haven, expect to pay about $15 for a 2h 28m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Amherst is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 217 km from Amherst. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Amherst, including CoachRun, OurBus and Bus. From Portland, the bus ride to Amherst takes 185 km and will cost you around $32. From New York, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 435 km. The most popular bus station is Amherst 130 Presidents Dr, located 1.7 km from downtown Amherst. Amherst Center - 79 S Pleasant St is also a commonly used station, and is 0.2 km from the city center.

Plane

Although Amherst doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Worcester (ORH), which is located 54 km from Amherst. Worcester is the most popular, with regular flights from Azul, JetBlue, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Amherst departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 26m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Amherst, followed by Acela. The train journey from Amherst to Providence takes 0h 46m and costs around $5 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New Haven, expect to pay about $15 for a 2h 28m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Amherst is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 217 km from Amherst. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Amherst, including CoachRun, OurBus and Bus. From Portland, the bus ride to Amherst takes 185 km and will cost you around $32. From New York, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 435 km. The most popular bus station is Amherst 130 Presidents Dr, located 1.7 km from downtown Amherst. Amherst Center - 79 S Pleasant St is also a commonly used station, and is 0.2 km from the city center.

Airports near Amherst

Airlines serving Amherst

Lufthansa
Good (4,671 reviews)
KLM
Good (858 reviews)
SWISS
Good (929 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,498 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,609 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,301 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,561 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (475 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,940 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,128 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,481 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,800 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (229 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,166 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (831 reviews)
LOT
Good (684 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (917 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Amherst

Most booked hotels in Amherst

Old Mill Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9.4, 218 reviews)
$225+
Homewood Suites by Hilton Hadley Amherst
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 257 reviews)
$213+
Hampton Inn Hadley-Amherst Area
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 252 reviews)
$173+
Inn on Boltwood
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 89 reviews)
$257+
Comfort Inn & Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 487 reviews)
$177+
Amherst Inn
3 stars
Excellent (10, 3 reviews)
$223+

Renting a car in Amherst

Renting a car in Amherst costs $50 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 43% cheaper than airport locations in Amherst.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Amherst (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Amherst is Luxury (Class Luxury Van or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Buick Regal or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Amherst costs $50 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 43% cheaper than airport locations in Amherst.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Amherst (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Amherst is Luxury (Class Luxury Van or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Buick Regal or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.