Springfield to Holyoke, Northampton and Amherst

PVTA buses connect Springfield with Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley's college towns. Here is which bus to take from Union Station and how long each trip takes.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 28, 2026

Where to board in Springfield

PVTA buses leave from numbered bays at Springfield Union Station, the same station the Amtrak and CTrail trains use.

To Holyoke

1. At Union Station, board the P21E at Bay 9.
2. Ride about 15 minutes, by way of I-391, to the Holyoke Transportation Center.
3. The P21E runs about every 30 minutes: about 6 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays, 8 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays and 9 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays.

The P20 local takes longer because it goes by Holyoke Mall, but on weekdays it runs later, until about 10:30 pm.

To Northampton

1. Board the G73E at Bay 10.
2. Ride about 30 minutes. The bus goes by Holyoke Mall and stops at the Academy of Music in downtown Northampton.
3. The G73E runs about every 30 minutes, from about 6 am (7 am on weekends) until about 9 pm (8 pm on Sundays). Buses back to Springfield leave from the same Academy of Music stop, the last one around 9:40 pm (8:40 pm on Sundays).

To UMass and Amherst

1. Ride the G73E to the Academy of Music stop in Northampton.
2. Change to the B43 (Northampton-Hadley-Amherst) at the same stop.
3. Ride about 25-35 minutes to UMass at Haigis Mall, or about 30-45 minutes to Amherst center and Amherst College.

The B43 runs about every 20 minutes on weekday daytimes, every 30 minutes on Saturdays and about every hour on Sundays. Door to door, Springfield to Amherst takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on the connection.

By train to Holyoke and Northampton

Amtrak's Valley Flyer and Vermonter trains run from Springfield Union Station to Holyoke in about 26 minutes and to Northampton in about 42 minutes. There are only about 3 trains a day each way, so they work best when the times suit you.

What it costs

• PVTA buses. Free right now. Per PVTA, its fixed-route buses are fare-free until further notice, so you don't need a fare or a pass for the P21E, P20, G73E or B43.
• Changing buses. The change from the G73E to the B43 in Northampton is free too.
• Amtrak. Amtrak sets its own fares for the Valley Flyer and Vermonter. Check Amtrak for the price of your train.

Fares as of October 2026. Check PVTA's fares page and Amtrak before you ride.

Tips for PVTA buses from Springfield

• Look for your bay number on the signs at Union Station before the bus is due.
• Sundays are quieter. Several routes start later and end earlier, so check Cobblehop before you set out.
• Headed to campus? Ask Cobblehop for the building or stop, like "Haigis Mall", and it picks the bus.

What can go wrong on PVTA trips

• Missing the connection in Northampton. If the G73E runs late, you may wait 20-60 minutes for the next B43, depending on the day.
• Evening service. On weekdays, the last express buses leave Springfield around 7:30 pm for Holyoke and around 9 pm for Northampton.
• Schedule-based times. Cobblehop uses PVTA's published schedules, so get to the stop a few minutes early.

Springfield to Holyoke, Northampton and Amherst: common questions

How do I get from Springfield to Holyoke by bus?

Take the PVTA P21E express from Bay 9 at Springfield Union Station. It reaches the Holyoke Transportation Center in about 15 minutes and runs about every 30 minutes.

Which bus goes from Springfield to Northampton?

The PVTA G73E express from Bay 10 at Union Station. It takes about 30 minutes to the Academy of Music in downtown Northampton and runs about every 30 minutes.

How do I get from Springfield to UMass Amherst?

Ride the G73E to the Academy of Music stop in Northampton, then change to the B43 at the same stop. The B43 takes about 25-35 minutes to UMass at Haigis Mall. Door to door, Springfield to Amherst takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes.

Is there a train from Springfield to Northampton?

Yes. Amtrak's Valley Flyer and Vermonter trains run from Springfield Union Station to Holyoke in about 26 minutes and to Northampton in about 42 minutes, but there are only about 3 trains a day each way.

How much does the PVTA bus cost?

Nothing right now. Per PVTA, its fixed-route buses are fare-free until further notice, so you don't need a fare or a pass for the P21E, G73E or B43.

Official sources

Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:

• PVTA: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
• Amtrak: Valley Flyer
• Amtrak: Vermonter
• CTrail Hartford Line
• PVTA: bus fares
• PVTA: fare-free program continued

Published October 28, 2026. Route details were checked against the published schedules for fall 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.