Parking, Directions and Accommodations

• Parking
• Directions
• Hotels
• Eat

Parking at the Regatta

Download the Regatta Info packet for detailed parking instructions.

The eastbound side of Pawtucket Boulevard will be closed on race day.  Bus and vehicle parking will be available across the street from the boathouse and in the soccer field across the street to the east of the boathouse.  This lot will cost $10.

Free Handicap Parking will be available downriver of the boathouse.  Additional parking will be available at the large lot behind J.J. Boomers Restaurant, about 1/4 mile westbound from the boathouse.  There will be a HP-accessible shuttle bus running every 15 minutes to and from the boathouse.  This lot will cost $5.

For teams traveling by bus, free bus parking will be available across the street from the boathouse in a lot adjacent to the main visitor parking lot.

Trailer parking will be available in the trailer-only lot immediately west of the boathouse, in the eastbound breakdown lanes well clear of the boathouse and past the vendor parking area eastbound of the boathouse.

Trailers also may NOT park across the street in the parking lot or in the soccer field per the Lowell Police Department.  

Check the Finish Area Map for parking locations.

Directions to the Regatta

Interactive Google Map

>> Open Google Maps

FROM POINTS NORTH:

Follow Route 3 South into Massachusetts. Take exit 32 off of Route 3 at North Chelmsford. You will immediately be on a rotary.  Well it was a rotary a few years ago.  Now it's some hack of a traffic design that only a Bostonian could love.  Basically, you want to straight off the exit, get to your left so that you can make a left to cross back over Rt 3 and head straight onto Drum Hill Road.  Two or three orbits of this interchange should be all you need to master these directions.  You're on Drum Hill Road when you see paradise - a Starbucks on the left and a Dunkin Donuts on the right among other strip mall tenants.  Follow this road straight through TWO sets of lights.  At your THIRD set of lights bear left through the fork.   Follow straight through TWO MORE sets of lights (Market Basket on left and White Hen Pantry on your right). This will put you on the Rourke bridge which passes over the Merrimack river. Take a right off of the bridge.  The boathouse is 200 meters down on the right.

FROM POINTS SOUTH or WEST:

Follow either I-495 North or 128 North (i.e., I-95 N). Take to Route 3 North. Take exit 32 off of Route 3 at Rt.4 in Chelmsford.  Take your first right at the stop at the top of the exit.   Follow that straight through two sets of lights. At your third set of lights bear left through the fork.  Follow this road straight through two more sets of lights (Market Basket on left and White Hen Pantry on your right). This will put you on the Rourke bridge which passes over the Merrimack river. Take a right off of the bridge.  The boathouse is 200 meters down on the right.

FROM POINTS EAST:

If you coming from northeast MA, Portsmouth NH, or coming down 95 from Maine, take 95 South to 495 South.  Take to Route 3 North. Take exit 32 off of Route 3 at Rt.4 in Chelmsford.  Take your first right at the stop at the top of the exit.   Follow that straight through two sets of lights. At your third set of lights bear left through the fork.  Follow this road straight through two sets of lights.  At your third set of lights bear left through the fork (green arrow for left).   Follow straight through two more sets of lights (Market Basket on left and White Hen Pantry on your right). This will put you on the Rourke bridge which passes over the Merrimack river. Take a right off of the bridge.  The boathouse is 200 meters down on the right.

Local Accommodations in and around Lowell, MA

Consider staying locally!  Enjoy Massachusetts fall foliage and a good night's rest before your race.   Our friends at the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau are pleased to announce the following hotels with special Group Rates for the Textile River Regatta.  They have secured a number of options for your stay.  Hotels range from full service to extended stays.  No hotel is more than 30 minutes from the Race Site.

Please reference: Textile River Regatta when making reservations at the following properties:  

Billerica, MA

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT BILLERICA/BEDFORD.  270 Concord Road - 978.670.7500 www.courtyard.com/BOSBB
Rate: $99.00 plus tax $114.00 plus tax – includes breakfast (for up to 2 adults and 2 children)
Over Newly Renovated 210 room hotel, located off Rt. 3 near I-495 is a beautiful location for meetings and events for up to 250 people.

Chelmsford, MA

BEST WESTERN CHELMSFORD INN. 187 Chelmsford Street - 978.256.7511 www.bestwestern.com/chelmsfordinn 
Rate: $104.00 plus tax (King Beds)
Newly renovated 3-Diamond property offering complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, high-speed Internet, outdoor pool, and much more. Moonstones Restaurant/Lounge on property. Boston 27 miles.

RADISSON HOTEL & SUITES CHELMSFORD 10 Independence Drive - 978.256.0800 www.radisson.com/chelmsfordma 
Rate: $124.00 plus tax (Junior suite - 2 night minimum stay)
Our 214 rooms, most with Sleep Number beds, include 81 suites. HSIA is complimentary in all rooms, meeting space and public areas. Other hotel features include free car and ample motorcoach parking, 20,000 sq. ft. meeting space, restaurant, lounge, health club, the largest indoor pool in the area and business center.

Nashua, NH

RADISSON NASHUA HOTEL 11 Tara Boulevard - 603.888.9970 www.radisson.com/nashuanh 
Rate: $129.00 plus tax
Comfort and Hospitality at our Nashua, NH Hotel – The castle-styled Radisson Nashua Hotel offers comfortable accommodations and friendly service in a convenient, picturesque New Hampshire location. At the Radisson, our combination of top-notch services and hospitality sets us apart from other hotels. With our idyllic setting, the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, NH is ideal for conferences and meetings, as well as weekend getaways, business trips and family vacations.

Other area hotels:

Lowell, MA

Doubletree Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott

Chelmsford, MA
Radisson Chelmsford
Hawthorn Suites Chelmsford

Tewksbury, MA
Fairfield Inn
TownPlace Suites - Studio Suites, 1-800-257-3000

Westford, MA
Westford Regency

Places to Eat around the regatta

Trip Advisor recommends some restaurants that the locals agree with.  Restaurants.com has a more comprehensive list, but we haven't eaten at most of these places, so you're on your own.  For feeding large groups, we recommend The Mill City Brewery.   

In close proximity to each other in downtown Lowell, you'll find several good restaurants and bars.  Smaller crowds can fit nicely at the Café Paradiso (Italian) downtown.   Mambo Grill for Mexican, Green Bamboo for cheap Chinese eats are also both recommended.   La Boniche is a finer restaurant, but only if your coach or parent is picking up the tab.