The southern route passes through Holyoke and runs north of Springfield on secondary roads and highways, joining Route 20 in Brimfield. At Sturbridge, it turns south from Route 20. It passes through Southbridge and Webster and crosses the Blackstone Valley on scenic, historic Hartford Road. Most of the section between Belchertown and Mendon runs parallel to Grand Trunk Trailblazers rail-trail proposals, which could be incorporated into the route. From Mendon eastwards, the route skirts the Rhode Island border, then heads southeast to the Berkley-Dighton Bridge across the Taunton River.
Side trips A number of side trips have been designated for the touring routes.
A spur of the northern east-west route follows Route 8A from Savoy to Charlemont, then continues north along Zoar Road and River Road to the Vermont border. The sights along this route are extraordinary, and include the east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel, the Yankee Rowe atomic power plant, and a pumped-storage power plant. An alternate routing in the Connecticut Valley crosses the Connecticut River from Northampton to Hadley and proceeds to Amherst along the Norwottuck Rail Trail. It then turns north, passing through the hill towns of Leverett, Shutesbury and Wendell, and via Warwick to Northfield. Points of interest include the cultural attractions of Amherst and swimming at Lake Wyola in Wendell.