Millbrook Tarry

Directions to

Concord's Millbrook Tarry Parking Lot

A short distance along Lowell Road from the rotary (officially known as Monument Square) in downtown Concord, marked by its prominent obelisk and the Colonial Inn, is a mini-mall, the Millbrook Tarry, featuring, among other merchants a Rite-Aid Pharmacy. The parking lot serving the Tarry is only a (long) stone's throw from downtown's municipal parking lot, but this is just enough separation to increase the odds of finding an open spot from near zero to near certainty. Getting there is very nearly the same thing as getting to the Old North Bridge.

The lot is easily found by taking either Routes 62 or 2A to the rotary/obelisk in Concord Center, going 'round and 'round until you spot Lowell Road splitting off toward Carlisle on the left of the Colonial Inn, then taking it and driving about 0.15 miles to the Tarry. It'll be on the left, marked by a prominent sign. Go a little too far and you'll pass Keyes Road (also on the left) and then, ultimately, cross over the Concord River. If the first of these things happens to you, no problem, just take Keyes Road and enter the parking lot from it. If the second happens, turn around and try again.

If you're coming from the south or west on Route 62, Route 126 (Walden Street), Sudbury Road, or any of a number of other sneaky possibilities, sooner or later you'll run into, or otherwise find yourself on, Route 62; once that happens, head toward downtown Concord, continue through it all the way to the rotary, and proceed as described above.

From Route 128/95

Take Exit 29 for Route 2 west toward Concord. Drive about four miles to the lights where Route 2 bends sharply left and the Cambridge Turnpike continues straight ahead. Take the Turnpike and continue along it 1.3 miles to its intersection with Lexington Street, turn left on Lexington Street, and drive toward Concord. Continue on Lexington Street to the rotary and from it take Lowell Road to the Tarry, and (attempt to) park. MapQuest estimates the driving time from Route 128 to the Lot is 18 minutes.

From Lincoln, Wayland, and parts of Weston too

Avoid Route 128 like the plague; instead, take Route 126/Walden Street to downtown Concord, turn right at its intersection with Route 62/Main Street in the heart of downtown, continue to the rotary, and take Lowell Road to the mini-mall.

From Lexington, Burlington, and maybe Winchester too

Because traffic in Concord Center is pretty horrendous in the early morning, try circumventing it this way: take Route 225 west from Bedford and, shortly after crossing the Concord River, turn left onto Skelton Road. Follow Skelton a quarter mile or so to the stop sign at its intersection with River Road. Turn left on River Road (becomes Monument Street in Concord). Enjoy the scenery as the road wends its way past horse farms, climbs a hill offering a terrific panoramic view to the east, then descends, passes the Fenn School (on the left) and, just before crossing the Concord River, encounters Liberty Street (on the right). Turn right on Liberty Street, climb up a short incline and turn left at its top (still Liberty Street), then descend past the Buttrick Mansion (and a long-distance view of the old North Bridge) on the left to the stop sign at Lowell Road. Turn left here too, and then drive about 0.4 miles to the Tarry parking lot (on the right).

If you should, perchance, miss Liberty Street and cross the River, just keep going to the rotary and proceed from it as indicated above.

Or, if your starting location is convenient to Route 2A, pick it up in Lexington, fork right onto Lexington Street when 2A veers left to join Route 2, continue to the oft-mentioned rotary, and proceed from there as above.

*** Good Luck !!! ***

For those navigating to the start with MapQuest or a GPS system:

71 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742 or N42 27.768 W71 21.076

To contact us call 978-808-0900