Northampton's multimodal transportation system offers several safe and efficient transportation options.

Downtown streets include sidewalks generously sprinkled with crosswalks. Northampton residents are keenly aware that in Massachusetts, pedestrians have the right of way! All new streets serving housing or commercial development projects include sidewalks. Bicycle and pedestrian trails for recreation and commuting have been created on the site of old railroad beds. The longest of these, the Norwottuck Rail Trail, leads from Damon Road in Northampton to Amherst. The Northampton Bike Path leading from State St. in downtown Northampton to Look Park in Florence measures nearly 3 miles. Look Park has a paved walkway around the park that measures approximately one mile in length.

Two downtown thoroughfares, South Street and Elm Street, have lined bicycle lanes. The Northampton Bike Path leads from State St. in downtown Northampton to Look Park in Florence, and the Norwottuck Bike Trail is an 8.5 mile path linking Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst. A bike path connecting the Norwottuck Bike Trail and the Northampton Bike Path is proposed as well as a bike path connecting downtown Northampton to Easthampton.

Several active bicycling organizations in the city help maintain current bike paths and propose improvements for increased bike safety.

The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) serves Northampton with public bus transportation within the City and to surrounding towns in the Pioneer Valley with direct service to Amherst, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Holyoke, and Greenfield. PVTA runs regular buses between the Five Colleges (Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts). The Peter Pan Bus Terminal in downtown Northampton serves local, regional and national destinations.

AmTrak passenger rail service is available from nearby Springfield, 20 minutes south by car or bus. The Guilford Rail Company runs cargo trains through Northampton on a regular basis.

Northampton Airport, known to pilots as 7-Bravo-2, is home to a number of local pilots and aviation enthusiasts. This private airport welcomes commuters, business executives, and visitors to its runway and also books charter flights. Northampton Airport hosts Northampton Aeronautics, a flight school; Pioneer Valley Hot Air Balloons; and Air Adventures, a tandem parachuting company. Charles Lindbergh flew into Northampton Airport and Amelia Earhart took some of her first flight lessons here.

Bradley International Airport, located 35 miles to the south in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is served by all major airlines providing convenient and uncrowded service to national and international destinations.