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About South Station

Boston’s South Station is located on the banks of the Fort Point Channel between the South Boston Waterfront and Downtown. It’s the city’s busiest transportation hub, so there’s a good chance you’ll arrive at or depart from South Station when traveling through Boston by train or bus.

The South Station rail terminal dates back to 1899, and its exterior of Greek columns welcome travelers into a vast concourse with several food options and shops.

Boston South Station’s 13 tracks act as departure points for long-distance passenger rail services on Amtrak, plus commuter rail routes on the MBTA. As the northern terminus of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, South Station links Boston to Baltimore, Washington DC, New York City, and Chicago among other major destinations.

South Station is also the city’s downtown terminus for nine commuter rail lines traveling south and west on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The local subway, known as the “T,” runs through South Station on the Red Line and Silver Line.

The South Station bus terminal, adjacent to the train station, provides connections with major intercity bus companies including Greyhound and Peter Pan. Most bus service from Boston to Cape Cod departs from the South Station bus terminal.

700 Atlantic Ave

Boston, MA 21110

(617)-523-1300


Hours

Open 24/7


The bus terminal is open 24/7, but the train terminal is only open between 5:00 AM and 12:00 AM.

South Station exterior in Boston, MASouth Station location in Boston

Frequently Asked Questions

South Station is located in Dewey Square at the intersection between Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue. The station is near downtown Boston, the Seaport, Chinatown, and the Financial District.

The South Station bus terminal is located in a separate building above the train tracks, and can be reached through the main Amtrak station or independently from an entrance on Atlantic Avenue.

South Station is just a couple of minutes’ walk from major Boston attractions, including the Boston Common, Boston Tea Party Museum, and the Old State House.

It’s easy to get to South Station on the T, via the Red Line or Silver Line. The MBTA Red Line connects South Station with Cambridge, Ashmont, Dorchester, and Braintree. Silver Line buses join MBTA bus lines 4, 7, and 11 to provide local connections throughout the city.

South Station has a taxi stand located on Atlantic Avenue between the train and bus terminal buildings. Cabs are often readily available at the stand, although at peak times you may have to wait a few minutes for one to arrive.

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Both Uber and Lyft serve Boston, so it’s easy to book a rideshare journey to or from South Station. Prices for a ride to Boston Common start at $10, and an Uber to Fenway Park will cost around $12 from Boston South Station.

South Station is about three miles away from Boston Logan Airport, across the Boston Harbor.

Traveling from South Station to Logan Airport is probably easiest with a taxi, Uber, or Lyft if you have lots of luggage. The journey takes about ten minutes when traffic is flowing, but traffic delays can get brutal during rush hours.

If you’re on a tight budget or traveling light, you can also travel directly between South Station and Logan Airport by branch SL1 of the MBTA Silver Line. It has dedicated stops at each airport terminal building (with two for Terminal B). Many intercity bus companies also stop at Logan Airport en route to or from South Station.

Train service is split between two Boston Amtrak Stations; southbound trains depart from South Station, while northbound trains depart from North Station.

It is about one mile from South Station to North Station, which equates to a 25-minute walk or 10-minute drive. Local transit also connects the two Amtrak stations, though you will have to transfer from one line of the T to another.

From South Station, take the Red Line North towards Alewife. Transfer at either Downtown Crossing onto the Orange Line towards Oak Grove, or at Park Street onto the Green Line towards Lechmere. The destination stop is conveniently called North Station.

Boston South Station is just steps away from the Boston Tea Party Museum, where you can throw tea into the harbor from the deck of a replica 18th-century ship. It’s a little cheesy, but this patriotic attraction is a great way to “do” Boston even on a short layover between buses!

Across the Fort Point Channel, you can also walk to the Boston Children’s Museum or Institute of Contemporary Art. For a quick meal near South Station, there’s no better place to head than Chinatown, just a couple of blocks west of the station.

Amenities

Parking

South Station Parking Garage has attended parking on the bus terminal roof, open 24 hours a day. One hour of parking starts at $10, while 24 hours costs $25. The entrance to South Station parking is located on the eastern side of Atlantic Avenue, between Kneeland and Summer streets.

Wi-Fi

South Station Boston has free public Wi-Fi. However, don’t rely on it for anything more data intensive than checking messages. Many of the restaurants inside South Station provide better connections.

Baggage Storage

Amtrak offers luggage storage at South Station for its passengers—ask any “Red Cap” Amtrak attendant for assistance. Greyhound Package Express also provides luggage storage services on the 5th floor of the bus terminal. Luggage cannot be left overnight at Boston South Station.

Restaurants

South Station food options range from coffee shops like Starbucks to fast food, to-go sandwiches, pubs, and sit-down restaurants. You’ll find most dining at South Station in the train terminal, however the bus station building does have a handful of fast food options.

Waiting Area

South Station train and bus terminals have limited free seating for passengers. You can purchase a day pass to Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge, located between the information booth and ticket office, for a more comfortable place to wait for your trip.

Accessibility

South Station is fully accessible for those with disabilities thanks to ramps and elevators. The station also provides a RedCap wheelchair service daily between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Restrooms

Restrooms in the train terminal are located in the main concourse and on the mezzanine level. The bus terminal has public restrooms on its third floor. If you’ve got a higher standard of restroom comfort and cleanliness, you can try asking politely at one of the hotels near South Station.

Convenience Stores

South Station has a large CVS pharmacy at the station, convenient if you need travel essentials or grab-and-go snacks. There is also a separate bookstore, florist, ATMs, and a shoe and luggage repair stand.

Inside the Station

Getting around South Station is relatively simple. The train terminal has its main entrance on the corner of Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue. It also has additional entrances on Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue, close to the roadside taxi stand. Most of South Station’s amenities are located at street level within the main wedge-shaped concourse. Train tracks are located opposite the main entrance, and platforms are announced via the main information board inside the concourse. To reach the South Station bus terminal from the train terminal, passengers should walk past track 1 in the northeast corner of the train terminal, and enter the bus station building. Bus platforms are located on the third floor.

Interior view of South Station in Boston
Interior view of South Station in Boston

Near South Station

  • Distance to Faneuil Hall

    0.6 mi

  • Distance to Boston Common

    0.5 mi

  • Distance to New England Aquarium

    0.5 mi

  • Distance to TD Garden

    1 mi

  • Distance to Boston Convention Center

    0.6 mi

  • Distance to Boston Logan International Airport

    2 mi

Bus & Train Carriers at South Station Boston

South Station Boston has a range of transportation services, operating locally and regionally. Local public transportation includes MBTA bus lines, commuter rail services, and the Red and Silver rapid transit lines. The Red Line forms part of the city’s subway system, and the Silver Line runs express bus services across the city, including to Boston Logan International Airport.

Amtrak runs several important regional lines from South Station Boston, including its popular downtown-to-downtown train between Boston and Washington DC, the Northeast Regional. South Station bus terminal also offers a range of alternatives to Amtrak, with Greyhound, OurBus, and Peter Pan among other major bus companies.

  • South Station train terminal serves Amtrak routes that travel south of Boston. For trains traveling north of the city, like those that go to Maine, you may need to transfer to North Station. The primary Amtrak destinations from South Station include those forming part of the Northeast rail corridor, including New York City and Washington DC.

    Amtrak currently provides no checked baggage service at South Station Boston. If you need any assistance before your trip, the Amtrak customer service desk is next to the company’s Metropolitan Lounge in the main concourse.

  • Acela provides Amtrak’s luxury high-speed services along the Northeast rail corridor. Traveling at speeds of up to 150 mph, Acela trains connect Boston with Washington DC via New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and ten other intermediate stops. The full Boston to DC journey takes roughly seven hours. There are usually 9 scheduled Acela train departures from South Station every day.

  • Like Amtrak Acela services, Northeast Regional trains run between Boston and Washington DC. Intermediate station stops include Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Amtrak’s busiest route, Northeast Regional trains depart from South Station Boston every few hours during the day.

  • Amtrak Lake Shore Limited runs overnight between Boston and Chicago via Cleveland. The 959 mile journey between Chicago and Boston takes an average of 22 hours. Trains operate once daily in either direction, and you can pick from standard Coach and Business Class seating, roomettes, bedrooms, and suites. Watch for platform assignments on the information screens at South Station.

  • Greyhound operates a ton of intercity bus services from the bus terminal at South Station Boston. Destinations include New York, Albany, and Philadelphia. The Greyhound ticket office at South Station is open 24 hours per day, should you need to pick up a will-call ticket or request assistance.

  • OurBus routes depart from several stations in Boston, including South Station. OurBus service from South Station usually operates from Gate 12, heading to cities like Hartford, CT. OurBus does not have a customer service desk at South Station, so be sure to contact them in advance if you have questions about your journey.

  • Peter Pan buses from South Station head to Washington DC, Albany, Providence, several destinations on Cape Cod, and many more. Buses for New York and Washington DC can usually be found at gate 1. Other services depart from either gate 3 or gates 20-22. A Peter Pan ticket counter is open at South Station bus terminal between 7:30 AM and 8:30 PM daily.

  • C&J operates one main coach route from South Station, connecting Boston with Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with additional stops in Dover and Seabrook, New Hampshire. There are departures in either direction roughly every two hours from early morning until late evening. The C&J counter at South Station is open 7:30 AM to 11:15 PM daily.

  • From South Station, Concord Coach Lines connects Boston with smaller towns and cities in the states of Maine and New Hampshire. As well as regularly scheduled trips to Logan International Airport, its destinations include Bangor and Portland in Maine, alongside Concord and Londonderry in New Hampshire. Concord Coach Lines depart Boston South Station from gates 14 through 17.

  • Since May 2022, FlixBus services from South Station include those traveling to and from Providence, Hartford, Philadelphia, Midtown New York, Baltimore, and Washington DC. There are several services daily on the Boston to New York route, which lasts just under 5 hours. FlixBus does not have a ticket office at South Station bus terminal.

Top routes from South Station

DestinationDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Providence

11

1h 49m

$7.99

Hyannis, Cape Cod

23

2h 8m

$19.00

Worcester

9

0h 59m

$7.00

New Haven

31

2h 31m

$74.73

New York

33

4h 2m

$115.40

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