Although you can use taxi, boat or car rental services from the airport, most passengers use the Boston subway to get to the airport.
If you're heading to the South Downtown area and the main Boston South train and coach station, use the free SL1 bus service.
Metro
The MBTA Airport Station subway station is part of the Blue Line, which you can conveniently transfer from downtown to the other three routes.
The subway is operated by the MBTA, whose official website can be found here: mbta.com.
Fares
Tickets can be purchased at MBTA ticket machines in the terminal or on the platform. You can pay by card or cash.
- 2,40 usd - 1 ride
- 11 usd - 24 hours (valid on all subway and local bus lines in Boston)
- 22,50 usd - 7 days (valid on all subway and local bus lines in Boston)
Timetable
The Blue Line runs directly into downtown Boston, terminating at Bowdoin Station. On the other hand, it heads to the northeastern suburb of Wonderland.
- Travel time - 9 minutes to downtown (+ approx. 5 to 15 minutes shuttle bus to/from terminals)
- Frequency - 5 minutes (weekend and late evening 10-14 minutes)
- Last train from the airport to the city centre - 5:37am (on Sundays as late as 6:27am)
- First train from Bowdoin station to airport - 0:38
Free shuttle bus to the station
A free airport shuttle bus is required to get to the station from the terminal. Bus stops are located outside the arrivals level in each terminal.
The journey to the metro takes between 5 and 15 minutes. The longest from Terminal A and the shortest from Terminal E. On the other hand, the journey from the metro to the airport is the shortest to Terminal A and the longest to Terminal E.
There are several bus lines to the metro:
- Line 22 - Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Metro -> Car Rental Centre -> Metro -> Terminal A -> Terminal B
- Runs from 9:00 to 22:00
- Line 33 - Terminal C -> Terminal E -> Metro -> Car Rental Centre -> Metro -> Terminal C -> Terminal E
- Runs from 9:00 to 22:00
- Line 55 - Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Terminal C -> Terminal E -> Metro -> Car Rental Centre -> Metro -> Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Terminal C -> Terminal E
- Runs from approx. 3:30 to 9:00 and from 22:00 to approx. 1:30
- Line 66 - Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Terminal C -> Terminal E -> Metro -> Boat Line Dock -> Metro -> Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Terminal C -> Terminal E
- Runs 24/7
- Line 88 - Metro -> Terminal A -> Terminal B -> Terminal C -> Terminal E
- Running 24/7
The trip from the downtown Bowdoin origin station to the MBTA Airport Station takes 9 minutes, followed by about 5 minutes for the bus transfer to the terminal. Ticket price is $2.25.
Tip for hotels near subway stations
Don't want to spend a long time looking for a downtown hotel after you arrive? Choose accommodation right next to the Blue Line metro station to the airport.
- Boston Marriott Long Wharf **** - One of the best hotels with a great location near the harbour and the metro station "Aquarium"
- Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall **** - a hotel right in the middle of Boston near the State subway station
Express bus SL1
If you're traveling directly to South Boston or the main train station, a much more convenient transportation option is the SL1 express bus (Silver Line 1), which, unlike the subway, goes directly to all terminals.
The bus uses dedicated lanes for most of the route, making the ride fast.
The bus terminates at Boston South Station, where you can transfer to the Red Line subway or the SL4 express bus.
The SL1 line is free.
- Travel time - 35 minutes
- Frequency - 10 minutes (10-14 minutes on weekends and late evening)
- Last bus from the airport to the city centre - 1:18 (1:06 on Sundays)
- First bus from Boston South station to the airport - 5:36 (Saturday 5:45)
- Connection Search: mbta.com/schedules
Taxi, Uber, Lyft
The fastest and most convenient way to get directly to your hotel is via the ubiquitous taxi or Uber or Lyft mobile apps.
It takes about 10 minutes by car to get to downtown Boston in the early morning or late evening. During the day, depending on traffic, the drive time can be up to 25 minutes.
The average cab fare to downtown Houston is 30 usd. Services like Uber and Lyft can offer significantly lower prices from 20 usd.
Rent a car
Boston is one of a minority of American cities with very good public transportation, so if you're only heading into the city, renting a car isn't worth it.
However, if you want to explore the scenic northeastern US and New England, rent a car right at the airport.
Prices for a week's rental are around 310 usd.
Car rental agencies are located in a separate building about 2 km from the airport and can be reached from the terminals by free shuttle buses.
- To Terminals A, B - Line 22 (9:00 to 22:00)
- To Terminals C, E - Line 33 (9:00 to 22:00)
- To all terminals - line 55 (approx. 3:30 to 9:00 and 22:00 to 1:30)
Logan Express bus
An alternative to the metro and public transport buses are the large long-distance buses of the private carrier Logan Express, which run on several routes.
You can use them especially when travelling to the outskirts of Boston, but also to the southwestern part of downtown (Black Bay). The buses on each route always travel to their final destination without stopping.
- Back Bay - southwest edge of downtown and Acela rapid transit station
- Price - 3 usd
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Operating Hours - 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Braintree - South Suburbs of Boston
- Price - 9 usd
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Hours of Operation - 2:15 to 1:15
- Framingham - western suburbs of Boston
- Price - 9 usd
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Hours of Operation - 2:15 to 1:15
- Peabody - Northeast Suburbs of Boston
- Price - 9 usd
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Hours of Operation - 3:15 to 1:15
- Woburn - North Suburbs of Boston
- Price - 9 usd
- Frequency - 30 minutes
- Hours of Operation - 2:15 to 1:15
Tickets can be purchased at "LEX" machines or online at the official website, where you can also find schedules: loganexpress.com.
Ferry
An interesting and very photogenic transport option are the public ferries running from the wharf about 1 km from the terminals.
A free shuttle bus, line 66, runs from all terminals to the wharf.
A ferry service from downtown Boston (Long Wharf) to Hingham stops at Logan Airport, but only about 6-8 times a day.
The cost for a one-way trip is 6,50 usd and all-day public transportation tickets are not valid on the ferry.
Detailed information and schedules can be found at: mbta.com/schedules/Boat-F1.
