Parking, Directions and Accommodations

• Parking
• Directions
• Hotels
• Eat

Parking at the Regatta

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.

Trailer parking will be available in the boathouse parking lot for a maximum of FIVE trailers or in the BREAKDOWN LANE to both the east and the west of the boathouse. There will be no trailer parking from the boathouse entrance to approximately 200 yards past 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

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 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.

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!  

• (2008 info) Marriott International properties - book before Sep-29 and mention the TRR:
  • Tewksbury TownPlace Suites - Studio Suites - $74, 1-800-257-3000. Link.
  • Andover Courtyard - King $104 Double $114, 1-800-321-2211. Link.
  • Andover Springhill Suites - King $104 Double $114, 1-888-287-9400. Link.
• (2007 info) Fairfield Inn - Conveniently located right off of I-495 and 3 miles from I-93. 133 nicely appointed rooms.  Start your day with our complimentary deluxe continental breakfast.  Free local phone calls, free parking and free high-speed Internet.  Call and ask for TRR rate of $79/night (plus applicable taxes) Phone (978) 640-0700
• (2007 info) Lodging is available right across the river in North Chelmsford, MA at the Hawthorn Suites.  TRR Rate of $94 $89/nite (plus applicable taxes) includes a hot breakfast. Hawthorne Suites offers all-suite rooms with full kitchen, queen bed and double sleeper sofa.  To get this rate, mention that you are visiting for the Textile River Regatta.  Phone (978) 256-5151. 

Other area hotels:

Lowell, MA

Doubletree Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott

Chelmsford, MA
Radisson Chelmsford
Hawthorn Suites Chelmsford

Tewksbury, MA
Fairfield Inn

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.   Bad Dawgs for hotdogs.  La Boniche is a finer restaurant, but only if your coach or parent is picking up the tab.