RV route guide
Storrow Drive Boston — RV STAY OUT
Sub-13 ft bridges. Weekly truck strikes. Storrowing is a thing. Don't be the RV.
Storrow Drive and the parallel Memorial Drive in Boston run along the Charles River with multiple bridges at sub-13 feet clearance. The phenomenon of moving trucks and RVs striking these bridges is so common Bostonians call it 'Storrowing.' Every September during college move-in season, multiple trucks Storrow. RV travelers in Boston: use I-93 or I-90 (Mass Pike), not Storrow Drive.
- Tier
- Clearance + restriction
- State
- Massachusetts
- Sources
- Cited official (.gov / .org)
What is Storrowing?
Storrowing is the Boston-area phenomenon of moving trucks (and RVs) striking the sub-13-foot bridges on Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive. The bridges are old (some 1930s-era), the lanes are narrow, and the signage warning trucks is inadequate. Every September brings a Storrowing surge as college students move in. RV travelers should not drive on Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive.
- Storrow Drive: sub-13 ft bridges
- Memorial Drive: same
- Storrowing common phenomenon
- Use I-93 / I-90 / Route 1 instead
- Boston parkways RV-prohibited
Don't be Storrowed
Verify route via trucker GPS
Don't trust generic GPS in Boston.
Use I-93 + I-90
RV-friendly Boston alternatives.
Park outside the city
Multiple RV parks in eastern MA and southern NH.
What MassDOT + Boston tourism doesn't tell you
MassDOT posts the restrictions. Local awareness is good. RV-traveler awareness is poor. PickRV's role is filling the gap.
- MassDOT: Massachusetts road info.[source]
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I park an RV in Boston?
- Not in the city center. Multiple eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire RV campgrounds.
Authoritative sources
Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.
Planning an RV trip along Storrow Drive Boston?
Was this guide helpful?