Here are directions to Pomfret boathouse. Note: it may help to look at a Google map as you read these.
From Boston for crew and trailers:
(approximate travel time – 75 minutes)
• Take the Massachusetts Turnpike West to Auburn, MA (Exit 10) • Go through toll booth, follow signs for 395 South • Take 395 South to Exit 97 • Turn right off ramp onto Route 44 West (traffic light #1).
• In one mile, at the third traffic light, take a right on Route 171.
• Continue on 171 for three miles into Woodstock, CT.
• At the light in Woodstock, follow 171 as it turns left.
• Follow 171 for 1.2 miles and take a left onto East Quasset Rd.
• In half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
From Hartford and 84 for crew and trailers:
(approximate travel time from Hartford – 60 minutes) • Take 84 east to exit 69.
• At the end of the ramp, take a right onto 74 east.
• In 8 miles, take a left on 44 east.
• In 5 miles, take a left on 198 north and continue through the town of Eastford.
• In 4 miles, 171 joins up with 198. Stay on route 171.
• In half a mile, when 198 takes a left, bear right and continue on 171 towards Woodstock, CT.
• In 5 and a half miles, take a right onto East Quasset Rd.
• In less than half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
From Mass Pike West to East for crew and trailers:
(approximate travel time – 75 minutes)
• Take the Massachusetts Turnpike West to Sturbridge, MA (Exit 9) • Go through toll booth, follow signs for 20 West.
• As soon as you get onto 20 West, get in the left lane to turn left onto 131 South. Follow 131 South 4 miles through Sturbridge and Southbridge to the small rotary and follow 169 South.
• Half a mile after the rotary, at a light and gas station, follow 169 South as it bears right.
• Follow 169 South for 10 miles, and take a right at the light onto Route 171.
• Follow 171 for 1.2 miles and take a left onto East Quasset Rd.
• In half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
From Groton:
Take 495 South to 290 West, to 395 South.
• Take 395 South to Exit 97
• Turn right off ramp onto Route 44 West (traffic light #1).
• In one mile, at the third traffic light, take a right on Route 171.
• Continue on 171 for three miles into Woodstock, CT.
• At the light in Woodstock, follow 171 as it turns left.
• Follow 171 for 1.2 miles and take a left onto East Quasset Rd.
• In half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
From Providence:
– Take route 6 west to route 101 west. Follow 101 for 20 miles, into Connecticut.
– Take a right at the intersection with route 169 North. In two miles, you will pass Pomfret School. Continue an additional 3 miles to the junction with 171.
• Take a left onto 171.
• In half a mile, at the light, take a left to stay on 171.
• Follow 171 for 1.2 miles and take a left onto East Quasset Rd.
• In half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
From Pomfret School for trailers:
(If you accidentally wind up with a trailer at the school, do the following):
• Pomfret school is located on 44/169 as they overlap. Take 44 east/169 north. Go straight through the blinking light 0.8 miles north of the school.
• You are now on 169 north. Continue for three miles to the junction with 171.
• Take a left on 171.
• In half a mile, at the light, take a left to stay on 171.
• Follow 171 for 1.2 miles and take a left onto East Quasset Rd.
• In half a mile, bear right onto West Quasset Road. The lake will be visible and the boathouse driveway is on the left at the top of the hill.
WARNING: If you are driving a trailer, do not attempt a left hand turn onto Quasset Hill Road if traveling north on East Quasset road (you will see that this turn is impossible and will jacknife your trailer and hit your boats). These directions prevent you winding up in this position. So do not rely on a GPS since it might put you on this road. If you still wind up in this position, call 617-953-5431 (Greg Rossolimo); there is a way out…
– The above directions are for trailers too and are the fastest to the boathouse. If your bus accidentally goes to the school, either follow the trailer directions to teh boathouse or do the following in a bus only (not with boats or a trailer):
• Pomfret is on Routes 44 & 169 (they overlap as the same road as they pass the school). Follow Route 44 East/169 North.
• 0.8 miles from the school, at the blinking light, take a left onto Route 97 South.
• In 0.7 miles, turn right onto Quasset Rd.
• In 4 miles, take a hairpin turn left onto West Quasset Rd (do not take this turn with a trailer or with boats!).
Other info for parents:
– Parents must watch races from the boathouse. The race course passes in front of the boathouse and offers a full view of the final 750 meters of the race, including the finish. They must not try to watch from the finish line or the dam at the end of the lake.