Travel & Maps

McMASTER UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED AT 1280 Main St West, Hamilton ON L8S 4L8

CONFERENCE BUILDING LOCATIONS

The main buildings used at McMaster University for the CUC Conference are marked in red on thee campus map above:

• Mary Keyes Residence - # 50 on campus map
• Les Prince Residence - # 53
• Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning & Discovery (MDCL) for workshops, displays and some meals- # 52
• McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) for meals and some workshops - # 51

There is a handy bar code on the map that you can scan into your smartphone to get walking directions.

PARKING

• Discounted parking passes at $12 per day with multi entry access are still available for purchase at the CUC Conference Registration desk at Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery. . A regular day parking pass is $20 with one entry only.
  • For those who have purchased discounted parking passes:
  • We recommend studying the campus map before you leave home; see driving directions below
  • Park in one of the McMaster lots, which includes the underground parking in the L.R. Wilson building, the surface lots B + C, and the parking under the Stadium (which is at least a 5 minute brisk walk to Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning (MDCL).
  • Do not park in the lot shown as A (aka the School of Divinity Parking Lot) on the campus map. It is nearest to MDCL, but it is not covered by our parking passes. Do not park in the Health Sciences Parking (entry off Main Street) as these are needed for hospital staff, patients and visitors. Do not park in temporary lots, eg Lot Q. Use only the lots that have the bar across the entrance.
  • Take a ticket to enter the parking lot and keep it with you.
  • Pick up your purchased parking passes when you register. You will use this pass to exit the parking lot, and not the ticket you got when you entered it.
• Parking passes: if you find you need additional discounted parking passes, these are available for purchase at the conference registration desk in MDCL.

Getting around McMaster Campus

The campus is vast. There is a handy bar code on the map that you can scan into your smartphone to get walking directions., or use Google maps. It is about a 10 minute walk from Mary Keyes and ls Prince residences to the Student Union Centre and Michael DeGroote Centre. Signs will point the way, but please allow plenty of time for walking.

For those who need a bit more speed, a number of scooters have been reserved. The Accessibility Team will have been in touch with those who indicated a need on their registration, but if you find you need a scooter when you arrive on campus, please email conference@cuc.ca.

Drive from Toronto, Oakville, Burlington (Central Campus)

1. Travel westbound on the QEW or Highway 407
2. In Burlington, take Highway 403 to downtown Hamilton
3. Exit Highway 403 at the Main Street West off ramp
4. 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.

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.

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 the McMaster campus.

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.
• 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.

Those traveling by transit can find further information at sustainability.mcmaster.ca.

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

Drive from Lester B. Pearson International Airport

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

GO Transit from Pearson Airport Terminal 1*

1. #40 Bus to Hamilton GO (takes ~ 1 hr 20)

• Leaves Pearson Airport Terminal 1 every 30 minutes. Cash or Presto card fare only: $11.65
• Depart from Terminal 1 Ground Level - near Door Q.
• Get off at "Main Street West and Paisley Ave South" stop in Hamilton
• Walk 20 minutes or take Hamilton transit to McMaster University - Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning - Walking directions here.
• Transit instructions and map

*If you are arriving at Terminal 3, take the free Terminal Link Train from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. Take the elevator to Ground Level.

Transit from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)

If you are flying into Billy Bishop Airport (also called Toronto City Airport), take the free shuttle from the airport to Union Station: More information here.

At Union Station, follow signs for GO Transit. There are train and bus options to Hamilton - details below.

GO Train - departing Union every 15-30 minutes (takes ~ 1.5 hrs)

• From Union Station: Take Lakeshore West train to Aldershot
• Transfer to Bus #15 - Brantford Terminal
• Get off at McMaster University GO Bus Terminal
• Walk to Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning (about 7 minutes)
• Transit instructions and Lakeshore West Go Train schedule here.
• Cost: $12.45

GO Bus - #16 - departing Union every 20-30 minutes (takes ~ 1.5 hrs)

• From Union Station: Take GO bus #16 toward Hamilton GO
• Get off at Main Street West and Paisley Ave South stop in Hamilton
• Walk 15 minutes to McMaster University - Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning - Walking directions here.
• Transit instructions and #16 Bus schedule here.
• Cost: $12.45

From the Hamilton Airport (John C. Munro International)

Some flights fly into the Hamilton airport, which is closer to McMaster University than Pearson International Airport.

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

Transit Options

Bus #20 - A-Line, with transfer to McMaster University

• Requires a transfer to another bus, which will take you to McMaster University - please look up Google Maps directions based on the arrival time of your flight.
• Bus #20 leaves Hamilton International Airport every 20-30 minutes during the day
• Takes about 30 minutes to downtown Hamilton.
• Schedule and route map.
• Fare: $3.00 - cash and exact change required. Take a transfer so you can get on the next bus.

From the Niagara Peninsula

1. Follow the QEW over the Burlington Skyway Bridge as though going to Toronto.
2. 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.

Those traveling by transit can find further information at sustainability.mcmaster.ca.

From Kitchener/Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge

1. 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.
2. 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

GO Transit provides bus service onto campus from Guelph and Aberfoyle.

Megabus runs 4 daily buses between Kitchener and Hamilton.

From Brantford And London

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

Transit Options

Greyhound bus offers service from London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Paris and Brantford directly to downtown Hamilton, and to McMaster's campus.