📷 Photo by Rutger Lanser on UnsplashThe Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires
A flower bridge, a mill full of contemporary art, Massachusetts’ highest peak and Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge.
- Distance
- 135 km (84 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 30 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- MA
- Updated
- April 28, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 135 km (84 mi) with 8 stops, from Greenfield to Great Barrington. About 1 h 30 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Massachusetts
Route description
The Mohawk Trail, State Road 2, is one of America’s oldest scenic roads. From Greenfield it climbs west along the Deerfield River to Shelburne Falls, where an old trolley bridge has become the Bridge of Flowers and glacial potholes dot the riverbed.
Past Charlemont the road climbs over the Hoosac Range to the famous Hairpin Turn and descends into North Adams, a mill city whose huge MASS MoCA museum fills a 19th-century factory. Williamstown, next door, is a college town with the Clark Art Institute.
Drive up Mount Greylock from the north on Notch Road and down the south side on Rockwell Road toward Lanesborough; the summit road is open from late spring to fall. Then head south on US-7 to Lenox, a town of Gilded Age cottages including The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, and Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony.
Finish through Stockbridge, where the Norman Rockwell Museum shows the painter’s originals, and on to Great Barrington, a lively town with good food. Fall color peaks in early to mid-October; summer brings music and theater festivals.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Greenfield
MA - 214 km
Bridge of Flowers
OdditiesShelburne Falls, MAAn old trolley bridge turned into a garden walk across the Deerfield River. Nearby, glacial potholes are carved into the riverbed below the falls.
- 339 km
MASS MoCA
OdditiesNorth Adams, MAA huge contemporary art museum in a 19th-century mill complex, with room-sized installations. Plan at least half a day.
- 49 km
Williamstown
MA - 511 km
Mount Greylock
ViewsAdams, MAMassachusetts’ highest peak, topped by a war memorial tower, with views into four states. The summit road is closed from late fall to spring.
- 642 km
The Mount
HistoryLenox, MANovelist Edith Wharton’s house and formal gardens, which she designed herself in 1902.
- 77 km
Norman Rockwell Museum
HistoryStockbridge, MAThe largest collection of Rockwell’s original paintings, and his studio moved to the grounds. Stockbridge’s Main Street, the scene of one of his paintings, is close by.
- 814 km
Great Barrington
MA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Greenfield → MASS MoCA · 33 mi · 0 h 35 minOn the way: Bridge of Flowers.Overnight nearby, for example: Historic Valley Campground (2 mi); Sherman Brook Campsite (2 mi).
- Day 2: MASS MoCA → Mount Greylock · 12 mi · 0 h 13 minOn the way: Williamstown.Overnight nearby, for example: Historic Valley Campground (5 mi); Father Tom Campsite (5 mi).
- Day 3: Mount Greylock → Great Barrington · 39 mi · 0 h 42 minOn the way: The Mount, Norman Rockwell Museum.Overnight nearby, for example: Taconic State Park Campground (9 mi); Lone Oak Campsites (14 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires?
3-day road trip of about 135 km (84 mi) with 8 stops, from Greenfield to Great Barrington. About 1 h 30 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 30 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires start and end?
It starts in Greenfield and ends in Great Barrington.
Which states does The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires pass through?
Massachusetts.
Where can you camp along The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires?
OpenStreetMap lists 57 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Chester Railway Station, Barton Cove and Historic Valley Campground.
When is the best time for The Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
