Our guide to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, includes information on tickets, parking, public transportation, nearby hotels and restaurants and more. Read on to find out how to get the most out of your experience.

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As the certified birthplace of the sport of basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts, is the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

After all, it was in this city in 1891 that James Naismith created the game, installing two peach baskets at either end of a gymnasium at what is now known as Springfield College. More than a century later, the shrine that commemorates the history of the sport he created has the full name of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

For basketball fans itching to immerse themselves in this history, the Hall of Fame is certainly worth the visit, even if it’s not necessarily a major hub for sports.

Springfield isn’t a major city in the truest sense of the word but it’s not as far-flung as you might think. It’s just a two-hour drive from Boston and a 45-minute drive from Hartford.

So if your travels bring you to New England and you happen to be a huge basketball fan, it’s not as much of an undertaking as you might think to get a little taste of what has shaped the sport into the phenomenon it is today.

Getting to the Basketball Hall of Fame

Springfield is close enough to Hartford that it has its name attached to Hartford’s airport — officially, Bradley International Airport is said to serve both Hartford and Springfield.

In fact, the Hall of Fame is a mere 17 miles from the airport, so if you felt like it, you could head straight there after touchdown.

Wherever you’re coming from within Connecticut’s a pretty straight shot north on Interstate 91, with Springfield located just a few miles north of the state border on the Massachusetts side.

If you’re coming from Boston, the Massachusetts Turnpike, aka I-90, is the most direct route, a drive of about 90 miles from the center city. You’ll have to make your way to I-91 and then head south toward Hartford.

Once you’re in Springfield, it’s a little tricky. I-91 straddles the Connecticut River as it winds through downtown, as does the building housing the Basketball Hall of Fame. Exits are marked clearly as the one you want for the Hall of Fame (Exit 6 if you’re traveling northbound), but you need to make your way to the west side of the highway.

You’ll eventually come across what looks like a strip mall with several restaurants along the front side facing the parking lot. This is the Hall of Fame building, which is marked by the distinctive silver globe-like structure that faces the street.

If your travels are taking you to Springfield expressly to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame, you might need a hotel for the night. That shouldn’t be a problem, with a handful of hotels within a short drive of the Basketball Hall of Fame building, on either side of I-91.

Should you need a hotel within walking distance, the closest one to the Basketball Hall of Fame is the Hilton Garden Inn Springfield, just across the parking lot to the south.

Basketball Hall of Fame tickets and hours

Pass the statue of James Naismith that stands in front of the entrance and walk past the row of shops and restaurants to find the entrance to the Basketball Hall of Fame, where you can pay for admission.

You can also purchase tickets online by following the link.

As of December 2024, admission prices were $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for youth, and children under 5 were admitted for free.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. During the winter months it is closed on Mondays except for select holidays. Check the Hall’s early closings calendar for information about the specific date you wish to visit.

Of course, the most popular time to visit is on enshrinement weekend. The annual events honoring the newest inductees to the Hall are typically held in early to mid-August (though in 2024 it was moved to October to avoid conflicts with the Summer Olympics).

Tickets to the enshrinement ceremony and accompanying events are available to the public. Follow the link to the Basketball Hall of Fame’s website for more info about events, travel, hotels and more.

Things to see at the Basketball Hall of Fame

After buying your ticket, you’ll be directed to an elevator, which takes you up to the third floor for you to begin your tour of the museum. Although a working basketball court beckons on the ground floor, you must wait for the end to get your shot on that.

On the third floor is an interactive timeline of the sport’s history, photos of every inductee into the Hall and a balcony on which you can view the entire museum, including the court below.

The third floor is the one you’re likley to spend the most time on. Looking at all the artifacts, watching the short videos playing on a continuous loop and getting a glimpse at every era of the sport’s history — making up one complete revolution of the third floor — can take upwards of an hour depending on how closely you’re looking at each display.

Moving on to the second floor, you’ll find displays dedicated to the college and high school game, a kid’s area with Pop-a-Shot and other games, and a section on basketball media.

Hall workers — or docents in museum terms — are more than happy to engage in conversation with patrons and will often approach you to see if you’re enjoying yourself. So if there’s something in particular you want to be sure to see, be sure to ask someone — the staff is quite helpful.

Finally, you’ll come across the basketball court on the first floor. Not only can you shoot a few hoops on a regulation basket, there are also hoops from eras gone by, including a peach basket that famously made up the original hoop.

Like any museum, the experience ends with a trip through the gift shop, a veritable NBA team store with apparel and souvenirs from every team as well as mementos commemorating the Hall of Famers enshrined in the museum.

More attractions near the Basketball Hall of Fame

While the Basketball Hall of Fame is certainly a top reason to visit Springfield, Massachusetts, it’s far from the only reason. Here are a few other attractions that might pique your interest while you’re in town:

• The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum celebrates the life and work of the prolific and beloved children’s author, born Theodor Geisel in Springfield in 1904.

It stands next to a sculpture garden in which many of Seuss’ characters are brought to life, and both attractions are part of a larger museum complex on the edge of Springfield’s downtown.

The Dr. Seuss Museum is located at 21 Edwards Street, a little over a mile from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

• The Springfield Armory National Historic Site offers a glimpse into Revolutionary-era military armaments. It holds the distinction of being the first armory in the United States and houses the world’s largest collection of American military firearms.

The Armory is located at 1 Armory Street, about two miles from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Located downtown, the MassMutual Center is Springfield’s event arena. It is home to the Springfield Thunderbirds, the American Hockey League affilate of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and often hosts concerts and conventions.

The MassMutual Center also hosts high school and college basketball events sponsored by the Hall of Fame, such as the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic doubleheader held in 2024.