This post provides the best ways to reach downtown Boston from Logan International Airport, including public transportation, and taxis.
TRAVELING BETWEEN LOGAN AIRPORT AND BOSTON
Logan International Airport is located on the east side of Boston and it is the busiest airport in New England.
If you’re traveling to this city by plane, chances are you’ll be heading through this airport.
Whether you’re looking for a private ride into Boston or you’d prefer something more affordable, there are several different options to choose from.
SUBWAY FROM LOGAN AIRPORT TO BOSTON
To avoid both an expensive cab ride and the Boston traffic, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) – called the T by Bostonians – offers air travelers a cheap and easy 10-15 minute ride downtown.
Depending on where you need to go, the T gives you two options.
For more general information, please read our post about how to ride the T.
Red Line
The Red Line will take you to some of the most notable locations in Boston, and you can get a transfer from South station which will take you to the city center.
Here are a few of the more notable locations included on this line:
- Downtown Crossing
- Boston Common
- JFK/UMass
- Broadway
- Harvard
- MIT
- And more!
In order to reach the Red Line, you’ll have to take the FREE Silver Line bus (SL1) to South Station.
This bus stops at all the airport terminals of Logan Airport. It usually leaves at the lower levels every 10-15 minutes (map). You can ride this bus to the World Trade Center or the Courthouse as well.
When you reach the arrival level, look for the MBTA Silver Line signs; they are usually directing you to the far right of each terminal.
Once you arrive at South Station by Silver Line bus, if you have heavy luggage, use the elevator on the right when you exit the bus at South Station.
Make sure you are heading in the right direction at the Red Line station. To reach the city center, go Northwest towards Alewife.
Blue Line
The Blue Line is a great way to reach the city center, where you can hop onto other lines and see most of the popular locations in Boston.
Although there aren’t many popular stops on this line, here are a few you might want to consider:
- New England Aquarium
- State Street (Orange Line)
- Government Center (Green Line)
As with the Red Line, you’ll need to take a bus to the subway station. Walk out any Boston airport exit and check the signs lining the outside of the building.
Look for a rectangular sign that says “MBTA” or “airport shuttle buses.”
Wait for a white bus with a blue horizontal stripe. The digital display on the front and side of the bus should say “MBTA Blue Line.”
Buses number 22, 33 or 55 will take you to the subway station, depending on the time of day.
The 22 stops at terminals A and B, the 33 stops at terminals C and E, and the 55 runs during off-peak hours.
The free Massport bus shuttle to the Blue Line won't cost a thing, but you must purchase a ticket to get on the subway.
Enter the subway Boston Logan Airport station through the glass doors when the shuttle drops you off. Look for ticket machines on the sides of the entrance hall.
If you’re interested in visiting other locations in Boston, consider hopping off at stops such as State Street and Government Center to take the Green Line or the Orange Line.
Subway Ticket Prices
If you’re taking the Blue Line or you plan to use the T for more than just transportation to the city center, you will need to purchase a ticket.
The MBTA offers what they call a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket. The CharlieCard is valid on subways, local buses, and the Silver Line, while the CharlieTicket is also valid on Commuter Rail and Charlestown Ferry.
Most people will only need a CharlieCard, but you can also purchase 1-day, 7-day, and monthly passes.
- CharliePass: $2.40
- CharlieTicket: $2.90
- 1-Day Pass: $12.75
- 7-Day Pass: $22.50
- Monthly Pass: $90
For more information, please read our post about riding the T.
TIP: If you’re only planning to be in Boston for a short time (during a layover, perhaps?), make sure to check our post covering Boston luggage storage for information about where you can keep your belongings.
SHUTTLES FROM LOGAN AIRPORT
If you need to get somewhere other than Boston, there are a couple of different Logan airport shuttles you may want to consider.
These services provide transportation from Logan Airport to locations such as Back Bay, Plymouth, and more.
Each shuttle service also offers rides to Boston at reasonable rates of anywhere from $3-$9.
Shuttles are typically available from around 6 am - 11 pm.
Logan Express
This company offers daily shuttles to and from Logan Airport to several locations in and around Boston.
Departures are made every 20-30 minutes and hours of operation vary for each stop, as do ticket prices.
The following list includes each of the stops offered by Logan Express:
- Back Bay
- Braintree
- Framingham
- Peabody
- Woburn
The Back Bay shuttle to Boston is actually free, but if you want to take the shuttle back to the airport, it will cost $3.
This is a fairly cost-effective means of transportation to and from the city.
Here are the rates for every other Logan Express shuttle:
- One Way Fare: $12/Adults | $11/Seniors | Kids ride FREE
- Round Trip Fare: $22/Adults | $20/Seniors | Kids ride FREE
- Ticket Books (10 One Way Tickets): $75 – $7.50 per ticket
- More information.
Logan Direct
Much like its competitors, this company also offers shuttles from Logan Airport to several locations in New England.
Departures are made once every 30-45 minutes and tickets range from $9-$38 per person.
Logan Direct provides shuttles to the following locations:
- Boston
- One Way: $9/Adults | $5/Children
- Round Trip: $18/Adults | $9/Children
- Rockland
- One Way: $18/Adults | $9/Children
- Round Trip: $32/Adults | $16/Children
- Plymouth
- One Way: $22/Adults | $11/Children
- Round Trip: $40/Adults | $20/Children
- Sagamore
- One Way: $25/Adults | $13/Children
- Round Trip: $45/Adults | $23/Children
- Hyannis
- One Way: $27/Adults | $14/Children
- $49/Adults | $25/Children
- Harwich
- One Way: $33/Adults | $17/Children
- Round Trip: $59/Adults | $30/Children
- Orleans
- One Way: $34/Adults | $17/Children
- Round Trip: $61/Adults | $31/Children
- Eastham
- One Way: $35/Adults | $18/Children
- Round Trip: $63/Adults | $32/Children
- Wellfleet
- One Way: $36/Adults | $18/Children
- Round Trip: $65/Adults | $33/Children
- Truro
- One Way: $37/Adults | $19/Children
- Round Trip: $67/Adults | $34/Children
- Provincetown
- One Way: $38/Adults | $19/Children
- Round Trip: $68/Adults | $34/Children
This service isn’t as cheap as Logan Express, but it will take you further out of Boston.
If you’re not looking for transportation to the city center, this could be a decent option.
SHARED RIDE VANS
Whether you’re trying to avoid large crowds on shuttles and subways or you just want a comfortable ride into the city, shared rides are an excellent option for getting from Logan Airport to Boston.
Tickets can be purchased in advance, allowing you to ensure that you’ll have a ride when you arrive at the airport.
Depending on which service you choose, you can expect your ride to take anywhere from 30-60 minutes on average.
Ticket Details
- Boston & Seaport: $22.50 per passenger
- Cambridge & Somerville: $35 per passenger
- Allston & Brighton: $39 per passenger
- Arlington, Brookline & More: $50 per passenger
- Newton & Waltham: $60 per passenger
- Availability: Daily
- Hours: 3 am - 11 am
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
If you decide to use another form of transportation, you can get a full refund on these tickets when they are canceled at least 24 hours beforehand.
TAXI/UBER/LYFT
If cost isn’t a factor, you can always take a taxi from Logan Airport to just about anywhere in Boston.
All drop-off points within a 12-mile radius of downtown are charged at a metered rate. You'll find pick-ups are made at Terminal C on the ground level.
While this isn’t going to be the cheapest option, it’s certainly easy to use, as you’ll find taxis waiting right outside your terminal!
Depending on how far you are staying from the city center, you can expect rates of about $30-$40 for a taxi.
Alternatively, you can also take either an Uber or a Lyft. These services are very similar to a taxi, but they also offer the opportunity for ride-sharing.
Rates range from $20-$30 but could be higher if your destination is further out from the city center.
Whether you plan to get a taxi or use a ride share service, you’ll find your pickup location on the arrivals level of each terminal.
WATER TAXI/FERRY
While it might not be the first thing you think of, there is actually a ferry dock fairly close to Logan Airport.
As a matter of fact, it’s so close that there is a free shuttle bus that will take you to the dock.
This is a fast ride across Boston Harbor, so it shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to complete the journey.
If you’re looking for a quick way to get across the water without worrying about traffic, this is a great option.
The most common option is to take the ferry from Logan Airport to either Rowe’s Wharf (South) or Long Wharf (North), a service that is available daily.
Ferry Ticket Details
- One Way: $9.75/Standard Fare | $4.85/Reduced Fare
- Round Trip: $19.50/Standard Fare | $9.75/Reduced Fare
Water Taxi Ticket Details
- One Way: $15/Adults | $3/Children
- 10 Ride Pass: $120 ($12 per ticket)
The only problem with taking the ferry/water taxi is that it’ll only get you across the water.
That said, you can always catch a bus or hop in an Uber/Lyft on the other side.
Get more information from their website.
CAR RENTALS
If all else fails, or if you want to have control over the means of transportation you use, there are always car rental options at Logan International Airport.
All of the car rental services are located at the Rental Car Center, which is at the following address:
15 Transportation Way
East Boston, MA 02128
The following free shuttle buses service the Rental Car Center:
- 11
- 22
- 33
- 55
- 66
- 88
You'll find several popular car rental brands available here, including the following:
- Hertz
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Zipcar
- Avis
- And more!
If you want to plan things out ahead of time, you can schedule a car rental now and make sure it will be ready when you arrive!
Tips for Visiting Logan International Airport
No matter what airport you're traveling to or from, it will be important to consider when you leave the house for your flight, what you should expect, and other significant details.
Here are a few tips that will help you avoid most frustrations while traveling in or out of Boston Logan Airport.
Tip 1: Give yourself at least 2 hours to get to the airport.
It could take a while just to get there due to traffic, and if you're driving, you'll also need to find parking. It'll be important to prepare for at least 90-120 minutes of travel.
Tip 2: If you plan to drive to Logan International Airport, book a parking spot ahead of time.
You can use the Massport website to book a parking space at the airport before driving there, ensuring you'll have somewhere to park the moment you get there.
Tip 3: Don't drive, use public transportation.
Whether it's finding a parking spot or paying for gas, the costs related to driving either to or from Boston's airport can get pretty high.
If you want a low-cost alternative that could be even faster and less stressful, consider the subway, shuttle buses, shared rides, water taxis, and other public transportation options instead.
Tip 4: Be prepared for a security check.
While they usually don't perform a security check on everyone coming through the airport, you should still be prepared for the eventuality that it will happen. This could take as little as 5 minutes, but it could also take a bit longer.
If you're rushing to catch a flight, a security check could make the difference between whether or not you arrive at the gate on time. This is yet another reason it's important to give yourself at least 2 hours for travel.
Tip 5: Avoid shopping at the airport.
We get it. You've been walking through the airport for a while now and you're getting tired and thirsty. We recommend waiting until you get on the plane and asking for a bottle of water instead.
As with most airports, this one has plenty of shopping options that are very expensive, and it's far better to avoid wasting money at these locations.
If you're worried about being bored on the flight, make sure to bring a book or magazine to avoid the temptation to pick something up at the airport.
RELATED POSTS:
