Directions to EPS:
Entrances to the Department
of Earth and Planetary Sciences are located at 20 Oxford Street (The
Hoffman Laboratories), Cambridge , Massachusetts . If you are planning to drive, please
be advised that parking near the department is very limited, and in the case
of university-owned lots, requires a pre-paid day permit. Please read the parking
section below about where and how to park near the department.
We strongly urge using public transportation.
However, if you are driving, please read the following information and instructions
carefully, and select the appropriate travel mode.
- On-Street metered parking : There are limited 2-hour metered spaces available
on Oxford and Kirkland Streets (these meters only accept US quarters.)
- Commercial Garages : There are also commercial parking garages in Harvard
Square , however the Department cannot validate parking for those businesses.
- University Day-Permit Parking : Limited parking is available for department
visitors in nearby University-operated parking garages. Day permits can be
purchased up to 2 weeks in advance, whether in person (at the Harvard Parking
Office at 3 Bow Street) or online. If you wish to purchase a permit online,
please carefully read the section below, "Purchasing a Parking Pass Online."
Parking section:
Purchasing a Parking Pass Online
A limited number of Daily Visitor Parking Permits are available for
purchase online. Daily permits are $9.00. All major credit cards are accepted,
and all sales are final (no refunds or exchanges.)
Before proceeding to the online form, please note the following:
- If you are a first-time user, you will need to register by creating a user
name and password.
- Please have your car's license plate number ready. No permit can be purchased
without a current plate number.
- We recommend requesting a permit for the 52 Oxford Street Garage (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm .)
- You will be asked for the date of the permit. Be sure to select the correct
date (permits are not transferable.)
- You will need to choose the Earth and Planetary Sciences's department from
a drop down list.
- You will need to enter the Department of Earth and Planetary Science's department
Code: 3027
You are now ready to proceed to the . . .
By Public Transportation
Taking the MBTA Subway (or the "T")
Take the Alewife Red Line to the Harvard Square stop. Exit through the turnstyles
and up the stairway that leads to Harvard Yard, and walk into Harvard Yard to
the statue of John Harvard -- from here take the path to your left, exit the
yard and veer slightly to the right. The Science building (a white granite structure
with a rock formation in front) will be on your left, and Memorial Hall (a large
red brick building with a tall steeple) on your right. (If Memorial Hall is
on your left, you are walking in the wrong direction. ) This will take you to
the intersection of Kirkland and Oxford . Proceed left (westward) down Oxford
Street . The main entrance to the department is on the right side of Oxford
-- at 20 Oxford Street .
From the North
If you are coming by car from the north, take route 93 or 1 south toward
Boston . Take the exit for "Storrow Drive-Cambridge". Follow Storrow
Drive west for approximately 4 miles. After approximately 2 miles Storrow Drive
becomes Soldiers Field road. You will not notice any change. Stay in the right
hand lane in order to avoid the many left hand exits off Storrow Drive until
you reach the exit marked "Harvard Square/Cambridge." Take the exit
and go over the Charles River to the set of lights at Memorial Drive . Go straight
ahead through the lights. You will now be on JFK Street . You will enter Harvard
Square . After you pass the intersection of JFK and Mt. Auburn Street , you
will come to another set of lights where Nini's Corner and The Coop are on the
left, and Out of Town News and the subway "T" stop will be on your
right. Go straight (veering slightly to the right) through these lights, passing
"Out of Town News". You will then approach another fork in the road
-- stay to the left of the fork and then immediately get into the right hand
lane. This will take you onto Massachusetts Avenue , headed north. Go approximately
0.2 tenths of a mile past the Harvard Law School to Everett Street on your right.
At the lights at Everett Street there is a five story beige cement garage on
one corner and a women's clothing store called LOOKS on the opposite corner.
Turn right onto Everett St. and go to the next set of lights at Oxford Street
, street parking is to your right. IMPORTANT: Please be advised that parking
near the department is very limited, and in the case of university-owned lots,
requires a pre-paid day permit. Please read the parking section above about
where and how to park near the department
From the South
Take route 3 (South East Expressway) north and follow the above directions
for Storrow Drive West.
From the West
Take route 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) east. Get off the Cambridge/Allston
exit (#18) and follow signs for Cambridge bearing to the right. As you come
off the Turnpike exit, a 10 story hotel is on your right. Begin to move to the
left lane as you pass the hotel. There is a traffic light at the corner of the
hotel. Go through this light, but be prepared to make a left, before the bridge
(do not cross over the bridge.) You will now be on an entrance ramp leading
onto Storrow Drive with very rapid traffic. Follow Storrow Drive approximately
1/2 mile. Stay in the right hand lane, which will become the "Harvard Square/Cambridge"
exit on your right. Follow the directions given above for coming from the north
starting with "....Take the exit and go over the Charles River ."
( IMPORTANT: Please be advised that parking near the department is very
limited, and in the case of university-owned lots, requires a pre-paid day permit.
Please read the parking section above about where and how to park near the department.)
