The Big E Tips For Directions and Parking

Major Home Improvements is excited about the Big E once again this year.

We are big fans of the exposition and visit every single year. After years of visiting we learned a few tips to avoid traffic and find cheap and close parking. Her are a few direction and parking tips for all you New Englanders and New Yorkers.

Big E Directions & Parking

H1 Big E Tips For Directions and Parking

General Directions 

FROM Connecticut  (Most Used Rout)

Take I-91 North from Route. 2, I-84, I-95 or the Merritt Pkwy. Follow I-91 North to Massachusetts. Take Exit 3 to Route 5 North to Route 147 West (Memorial Avenue) approximately 3/4 miles to Gate 9 parking lot.

Note: Using I-91 north or south to get to the Big E will have the most traffic. We advice you to use alternative routes below to save time and a head-ach.

FROM Worcester/ Boston Are Using Mass-Pike.

Take the Massachusetts Turnpike West to Exit 6 (Springfield). Go left at the light, following I-291 South to I-91 South (right lane) to Exit 3 and follow signs.

OR, take the Massachusetts Turnpike West to Exit 4, to Rte. 5 South to Rte. 147 West. Continue approximately 3/4 mi. to ESE Gate 9 parking lot.

Avoid Traffic By Using These Routes

Routes from Northern Mass/Vermont using I-91 South.

  • Head south on I-91 S
  • Take exit Exit 11 for Birnie Ave toward W.Springfield/ US-20 W
  • Keep right at the fork, follow signs for MA-20 W/Plainfield St/W. Springfield and merge onto Plainfield St and head towards the 2nd Bridge.
  • At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Park St
  • Turn left onto River St
  • Turn left onto Memorial Ave

(Note: This area will have traffic and you will need to look for parking around the Gate 9. There are more parking available if you take a Left on Memorial Ave over the bridge.)

Routes from Connecticut using I-91 North.

Route #1

  • Head north on I-91 N
  • Take exit 47W to merge onto CT-190 W toward Suffield
  • Turn right onto CT-159 N/CT-190 W
  • Head north on CT-159 N/CT-190 W toward Suffield Meadow Dr (At this point you might want to start looking for parking.)
  • Turn right onto MA-147 E/Suffield St towards Gate 9 Big E.

Route #2

  • Head north on I-91 N
  • Take exit 47W to merge onto CT-190 W toward Suffield
  • Turn right onto CT-159 N/CT-190 W
  • Turn left onto CT-190 W/Thompsonville Rd
  • Turn left onto CT-190 W/Mapleton Ave
  • Turn right onto CT-75 N. Head North to Gate 9 Big E

(Once you get close you will see a lot of people walking, this is when you want to start looking for parking.)

Routes from Boston using I-90 West Mass-Pike

Route #1

  • Head west on I-90 W
  • Take exit 4 for US 5 S/W Springfield
  • Merge onto US-5 S/Riverdale St
  • Slight right onto the US 20 ramp to West Springfield/Springfield
  • At the traffic circle, keep right and exit onto US-20 W/Park St
  • Turn left onto River St
  • Turn left onto Memorial Ave

(Note: This area will have traffic and you will need to look for parking around the Gate 9. There are more parking available if you take a Left on Mamorial Ave over the bridge.)

Route #2

  • Head west on I-90 W
  • Take exit 6 for I-291 toward Springfield/Hartford Connecticut
  • Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto I-291 W (signs for Interstate 291 W/Interstate 91/Springfield)
  • Take I-291 W to Plainfield St. Take exit 1B-2B from I-291 W
  • Turn left onto River St
  • Turn left onto Memorial Ave

Routes from Southwestern Connecticut using Route 10/202

Route #1

  • Head North on Route. 10/202 towards Granby CT.
  • Turn right onto CT-20 E/E Granby Rd
  • Turn left onto CT-187 N
  • Turn right to stay on CT-187 N
  • Turn left to stay on CT-187 N
  • Head north on CT-187 N/N Grand St toward Spruce St
  • Turn right onto MA-57 E (signs for Massachusetts 57 E/U.S. 5/Interstate 91/Springfield)
  • Take the MA-75 exit toward Agawam/W Springfield/Agawam West. Springfield
  • Turn left onto MA-75 N/Suffield St (signs for Massachusetts 75 N/W Springfield)
  • Continue onto Memorial Ave towards Big E.

Parking

Big E Automobile Parking – $10 per vehicle

Automobile parking is available for our guests at Gate 9 for $10 (cash only). Our handicapped parking and drop off area is located inside the Gate 9 parking area at Gate 9A. The Big E provides 580 accessible parking spaces, exceeding the code requirement of 58 spaces, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Gate 9A area is also available for the drop-off/pick-up of handicapped, elderly or otherwise impaired passengers. Several adjacent private parking lots are located in the neighborhoods along Memorial Avenue and are not affiliated with The Big E. 

Street/ Residential Parking

If you have never been to Big E. Note that there will be lots of PAID parking available at business parking lots such at the Rockies hardware store and Motel across the street, which usually run $4-$8. There is also lots of parking on residential lawns, cash only, usually running from $5-$10 all across the Big E area on adjacent streets. Be aware that parking in a non-parking area is strongly prohibited and police and tow companies are watching like hawks to make sure you follow the rules.

We hope that we were detailed enough in this post.  Thank You for reading.