The Wellesley College Campus
For more than 30 years, Explo has made its home at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts: a 500-acre campus that provides the perfect setting for the intellectual, social, and recreational needs of Explo at Wellesley.
Wellesley College Wins
Forbes asked a panel of architects and campus designers to nominate their top picks for beautiful college campuses. When Forbes named the Most Beautiful College Campuses in the World, Wellesley College made the list. Come to Explo at Wellesley and you’ll see why this Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed campus beat out the competition.
Campus Map
Our campus map highlights the residential, academic, and recreational facilities available to students during the summer. The map also indicates the location of our on-campus informational meetings in the winter and spring.
The Wellesley Campus
An arboretum, one large lake, woodlands, ponds, and miles of footpaths to explore. Not to mention the magnificent indoor and outdoor facilities — from the Jewitt Art Center to the outdoor amphitheater — that make up the campus of Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
With classrooms all over campus — including seminar rooms, art studio spaces, lecture halls, and performance areas — Explo makes sure its students can enjoy all the campus has to offer, including its recreational facilities. Students can set their courses across Wellesley's lake during the sailing, canoeing, and kayaking workshops, and can enjoy athletic facilities ranging from outdoor tennis courts and practice fields to the indoor courts, dance studios, and swimming pool housed in Wellesley's multimillion-dollar athletic complex.
The Quad
Explo at Wellesley finds its home in the Wellesley College residence halls, which surround a central quadrangle. The hub of activity throughout the day — the Quad is a place to gather for meetings, activities, and pick-up games of Frisbee and four-square.
Along with the residence halls' common areas, the Quad is the perfect place for talking and relaxing with friends and checking out the wide range of activities. All of our residence halls, meeting spaces, and program offices, along with the infirmary and dining halls, are located on the Quad, and classrooms and athletic facilities are a short walk away.
The Vil
During the afternoon "Chill Time" you can sign out to go into the town of Wellesley and check out a variety of coffee shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors, and more. You have the option to go into "the Vil" two days a week, where you'll find our staff stationed throughout to help you find what you're looking for.
Some popular stops in The Vil include: JP Licks, The Upper Crust Pizza, Wellesley Booksmith, CVS, Starbucks, The Gap, Thunder Sports, Rosie's Bakery, and more!
Driving Directions:
Wellesley College
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481
from the west
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Exit 14 (Weston). Take Interstate 95/Route 128 South for half a mile to Exit 21B (Route 16 West). Follow 16 West for 3.0 miles to a stoplight (5-way intersection) in the town of Wellesley; go straight through the light on Route 135 West. At the third traffic light turn left into the main entrance to Wellesley College. Follow signs for Exploration parking.
from boston and the east
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Exit 16 (West Newton). Follow Route 16 West for 4.7 miles, using the directions above.
from the north or south
Take Interstate 95/Route 128 to Exit 21B (Route 16 West). Follow Route 16 West for 3.0 miles, using the directions above.
