Travel Information and Sightseeing

Please remember, you will need your passport to travel to Canada.

How to Get to McMaster University

http://www.mcmaster.ca/welcome/directions.cfm

Kilometres to McMaster from:

Toronto
68 km

Windsor
303 km

Niagara Falls
90 km

London, Ontario
128 km

Hamilton Airport
19 km

Hamilton, Ontario has it's own airport, Hamilton International Airport. Hamilton is also near to several large airports including Toronto and Buffalo, New York.

Airlines to Buffalo, New York:

The following airlines fly to Buffalo Niagara International Airport

AirTran
800 247-8726
http://www.airtran.com

American Eagle
800 433-7300
http://www.aa.com

Continental Airlines
800 525-0280
http://www.continental.com

Continental Express
800 525-0280
http://www.continental.com

Comair/Delta Connection
800 221-1212
http://www.comair.com

Jet Blue
800 538-2583
http://www.jetblue.com

Northwest Airlines
800 225-2525
http://www.nwa.com

Southwest Airlines
800 I FLY SWA
http://www.southwest.com

United Airlines
800 241-6522
http://www.ual.com

United Express
800 241-6522
http://www.ual.com

US Airways
800 28-4322
http://www.usairways.com

If you are in the States and plan to rent a car, it may be less expensive to fly to Buffalo and rent a car there. While Hamilton is about an hour and a half drive from Buffalo, remember to allow yourself some extra time as you will need to clear US Customs before driving onward to Hamilton, Ontario.

Hired Car from Buffalo:

Buffalo Limousines:

Buffalo is less convenient because it is farther away and you have to cross the border, sometimes with long line ups. If you do fly to Buffalo, you can rent a car or arrange a limo with http://www.blimo.com/airporttransfers-buffalo-to-hamilton.html at $160 U.S. for 3 passengers. There are other limo services; they are all fairly pricey.

Airlines to Hamilton from locations in Canada:

You can fly directly to Toronto and rent a car from there.

Westjet:

WestJet offers multiple weekly flights including non-stop service to Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Halifax and Moncton as well as connections to 16 other destinations from the convenience of Hamilton International. Also Orlando, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale.

Air Canada:

Air Canada, through its regional affiliate Jazz, offers daily and weekend service to Ottawa and Montreal, from the convenience of Hamilton International Airport.

Airline to Hamilton from the UK:

There ARE inexpensive flights from a few spots, like London, UK. One such airline is flyglobespan.

Flyglobespan:

In May 2008 flyglobespan, a web-based, low cost airline will resume service from Hamilton International Airport to several destinations in the U.K. and Ireland, including London (Gatwick), Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin.

Hired Car from Toronto to Hamilton:

Airways Transit:

Being driven from Toronto to Hamilton is another good option. The cheapest way for a single traveller to get to McMaster from Toronto Pearson airport is by Airways Transit.

The cost one way is $68 CAD. Bookings can be made on the web.
https://secure.airwaystransit.com/.
Be sure to note where their desk is in the terminal in which you will be arriving. You can pay the driver by credit car or prepay on the web.

Aerofleet:

For two people travelling together, it's cheaper and more convenient to call Aerofleet after you have retrieved your luggage. They will pick you up within 10 minutes at a door close to the arrivals area. 416 449-4990 or 1 800 268-0905.

The charge is $77 CAD for the car, regardless of the number of passengers. You can pay the driver by credit card.


Those traveling by transit can receive personalized trip planning assistance from McMaster's ACT Office (All-modes Commuting & Transportation) at ACT@mcmaster.ca . or 905-525-9140 Ext. 24772. For parking rates and information visit parking.mcmaster.ca

From Toronto, Oakville, Burlington (to central campus)

Travel westbound on the QEW or Highway 407. In Burlington, take Highway 403 to downtown Hamilton. Exit Highway 403 at the Main Street West off ramp. At the traffic signal turn left on to Main Street West, and then:

For south campus, Science & Engineering buildings, or the McMaster University Medical Centre: Continue along Main Street West to Emerson Street and turn right at the Main Street West entrance onto the McMaster campus, to the parking kiosk

For west campus, Alumni offices, West Quad student residences, or the Campus Services Buildings: Continue along Main Street West and turn right onto Cootes Drive. Take the off ramp on your right onto the McMaster campus, to the parking kiosk.

For central campus, the McMaster University Student Centre, or North Quad student residences: After turning left onto Main Street West, turn immediately right on Newton Avenue. As this street crosses King Street it becomes Sterling Street. Proceed up Sterling Street onto theMcMaster campus, to the parking kiosk.

Transit options:

GO Transit provides direct transit service to McMaster's GO Terminal on west campus, from Sunday to Friday, along two GO Transit corridors:

An express bus connection to/from the Burlington GO Station with convenient transfers with the Lakeshore GO train service.

GO bus service along the Highway 407 corridor includes service at three carpool lots in Burlington and Oakville, as well as bus stops in Mississauga, Brampton and York University. See ACT.mcmaster.ca for details.

Burlington Transit's route #1 bus travels along Plains Road and Fairview Street from the Appleby GO Station to downtown Hamilton, where you can transfer to a Mac-bound Hamilton Transit (HSR) bus. See ACT.mcmaster.ca for details.

Directions for Bus Charters: Follow detailed directions above, to appropriate campus entrance.

From Toronto Airport (Lester B. Pearson International)

Exit the airport onto Highway 427 South. Exit Highway 427 onto the QEW toward Hamilton. Follow detailed directions for coming from Toronto to appropriate campus entrance.

Transit options:

GO Transit provides weekday service between Pearson International and campus, with a transfer at the Bramalea GO Station onto the Highway 407 West service. Pacific Western's Airport Express to downtown Toronto operates daily. There is a convenient transfer at the Union Station Bus Terminal to GO Transit's QEW express bus to downtown Hamilton. See ACT.mcmaster.ca for details.

From the Hamilton Airport (John C. Munro International)

Exit the airport onto Highway 6 north, which connects to Highway 403. Take Highway 403 eastbound (toward Toronto), and exit as described in the directions for coming from Brantford.

Transit options:

There is an hourly shuttle bus from John C. Munro International Airport to hotels in downtown Hamilton. Hamilton's municipal transit system (HSR) also services the airport. Note this service includes a special taxi connection. For details on taking transit from the airport to McMaster, see ACT.mcmaster.ca.

From the Niagara Peninsula

Follow the QEW over the Burlington Skyway Bridge as though going to Toronto. Take Highway 403 toward Hamilton and exit as described in the directions for coming from Toronto.

Transit options:
Coach Canada offers service from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines to downtown Hamilton, with stops in a number of Niagara communities.

From downtown Hamilton you can catch a Hamilton Transit (HSR) bus that will take you onto campus. Visit ACT.mcmaster.ca for details.

From Kitchener/Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge

Take Highway 401 to Highway 6 South. From Highway 6, exit on Highway 403 toward Hamilton, and exit Highway 403 as described in the directions for coming from Toronto.

From the south Cambridge area, take Highway 8 to Hamilton. Proceed through Dundas along King Street, which becomes Cootes Drive. As you approach McMaster and see an overpass, exit on the right for west campus.

Transit options:

Coach Canada provides bus service onto campus from Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Sheffield, Rockton, Waterdown, Millgrove, Freelton, Morriston, Aberfoyle and West Flamborough. Visit ACT.mcmaster.ca for more information.

From Brantford and London

From Brantford and London travel on Highway 403 to the Aberdeen Avenue exit. Turn left at the first traffic signal and proceed along Longwood Road, then turn left onto Main Street West. Follow detailed directions for coming from Toronto to appropriate campus entrance.

Transit options:

Greyhound offers service from London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Paris and Brantford directly to downtown Hamilton, and to McMaster's campus. Visit www.ACT.mcmaster.ca for details.

Purchase transit tickets at Compass Information Centre, McMaster University Student Centre Marketplace.