Getting to Snell Library
By Public Transportation
Orange Line & Providence/Stoughton Commuter Rail Riders
Go through Ruggles station. Use exit door marked Northeastern. Turn right on the walkway between the NU Veterans Memorial and the Egan Research Center. Keep straight on this walkway; Snell Library is the building straight ahead.
Green Line Riders
Take the E or Heath Street trolley to the Northeastern University stop. Cross to the south side of Huntington Avenue (across from Marino Recreation Center). Turn left and walk along Huntington Avenue past the Cabot Physical Education Center. Then turn right to enter Northeastern’s Boston campus. Walk 50 yards or so until you reach an open plaza. The Snell Library building is in front of you across the plaza.
Bus Riders
Take the #39 bus to the stop at Huntington and Forsyth Way, in front of the Marino Recreation Center. Follow the same walking directions as for Green Line riders.
By Car
From the West
Take Mass. Pike (I-90) east into the Boston area. Take Exit 133 (Prudential Ctr/E), and bear right toward Copley. Proceed to the first traffic light and turn right onto Dartmouth Street. Take the next right onto Columbus Avenue. Enter the Renaissance Parking Garage, about 3/4 mile on your right.
From the North or South
Take Rte. 93 (Southeast Expressway), to exit 131 (Brighton/E). Continue onto Melnea Cass Boulevard for two miles until the end. Turn left at the light. Enter the Renaissance Park Garage on your right.
From the North, Alternate Route
Take Rte. 93 south, and exit at the Leverett Connector, following signs to Storrow Drive. Proceed west to the Fenway exit. Follow signs for Boylston Street inbound, then bear right immediately onto Westland Avenue. Continue straight between the marble pillars. At the third set of lights where Westland Avenue ends, turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Proceed to the third traffic light and turn right onto Columbus Avenue. Enter the Renaissance Park Garage, about 3/4 of a mile down on the right.
Visitor Parking
Parking is available for a fee at the Renaissance Park Garage, located on the corner of Columbus Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, and at the Gainsborough Garage, at 10 Gainsborough Street. Both garages have accessible parking spaces for state-issued placard holders.
Limited public street parking, including accessible parking for state-issued placard holders, is available on Columbus Avenue and Forsyth Street. Please read and follow all parking signs.
Directions to Visitor Pay Parking at the Renaissance Parking Garage
The Renaissance Parking Garage is located at 835 Columbus Avenue.
From the Renaissance Parking garage, take the garage exit marked “East” for Snell Library. Follow the painted green pathway to the footbridge over the rail lines. Next, bear right and you will see Snell Library straight ahead.
Allow about 10 minutes to walk from the Renaissance Parking to Snell Library. View a map with walking directions from the garage to the library. [PDF]
Bicycles & Scooters
Bikes and scooters are not allowed inside Snell Library. Bike racks are available at the entrance to Snell Library. There is also a bike cage at the Renaissance Park Garage.
You can find more information about commuting to campus by bicycle on Northeastern’s Commuting Services website. There are several public access bicycle racks located throughout campus. Regardless of where you park you bicycle, it is recommended that you utilize a lock.
There are 4 Hubway Blue Bikes bike stations on the Boston campus: at the entrance to the Renaissance Park garage; near the corner of Columbus Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue; in the North Lot and on Massachusetts Avenue near the Christian Science Center.
Visitor Access Policy
Access to Snell Library is temporarily restricted to current students, faculty and staff with a valid Northeastern University Husky Card.
See our visitor access policy for more information.
Need Directions to Northeastern’s Boston Campus?
You can find directions to the Boston campus, a full campus map, and directions to other Massachusetts campuses on the university’s directions page.