I need some help from you Mass. guys that might be familiar with the turnpike. My kid goes to college in upstate, NY. That's a 5 hour ride from home that I don't want to make if I don't have to, especially since the S is still hibernating. Spring break starts this weekend and she wants to get home. She can get a ride from a kid going home to Boston. He'll be on Rt. 90 heading east and he can drop her anywhere along there so I can pick her up on Rt 90 instead of driving all the way to NY. Are there any convenient on/off spots on that road where we can meet up? Somewhere near either the I91 or I84 intersections would be good. I would rather drive a little more myself and keep it as simple as possible for the kid heading to Boston. Is there a spot he can get off and get right back on again or maybe a rest stop?

It looks like maybe near rt. 202 north of Westfield or maybe a rest stop just east of the I84 intersection, but then it's a long drive to get off and turn around. Of course, I 'll probably have to do the same thing the other way a week later.

Any help out there?
Thanks

 

This might be helpful.

http://www.massturnpike.com/travel/index.html

Park and Ride lots are an easy place to meet...

 

I believe there is a full service stop on I90 (East) just after the interchange with I84.

 

Thats the Charlton rest area. Of course, you cant start back westbound until you get to Auburn, where you can get off then back towards 84.

 

if you take the route 20 from rt 84 you can come into the rest area from the "public" side. all of the rest areas have servce entrances with some limited parking for employees etc. you make your pickup at the rest area, then just turn around on rt 20 and your gone.

do a mapquest of highfield rd in charleton.

 

This is probably the best location for you

 

Excellent help, thanks. It looks like the Charleton rest area will be the spot. Is it possible to get into that rest area from rt. 20? I mapquested highfield road and the general area. It looks like the only access is from the Turnpike. If so, I guess I'll have to drive to Auburn to turn around. Also, is there a rest area in the same general area accessable from the westbound side? I'll need that a week later for the trip back.

Thanks again.

 

Okay, to get to the east bound rest area take the route 20 East exit from 84. Go about 21/2 to 3 miles and get in the left lane. You'll see the back of the police station on your left with its radio towers. At the crest of the next hill, there'll be an entrance to the parking lot. The westboound area is several miles east on the turnplike, but access is probably 10 miles from I-84 and down some secondary roads. Not really a good option.
Couple alternatives, however,
In West Springfield at the 90/91 (exit 4) exchange the driver can get off and take 91 south to route 5 south and get to the Friendly's about a quarter mile from the exit. Quick u-turn and he's heading back to 91 north and the Pike.
In Sturbridge, exit 8, 90/84 interchange, the driver can get off and go a mile west on rouotre 20. There are a McD's, Burger King, Friendly's, Picadilly Pub and the lobby of the Sturbridge Host Hotel to meet up in. A couple hundred yards west of all this is the u-turn to head back to the pike.

 

That's good stuff. Thanks for the help.