Travel Tips

Tips for Traveling in Massachusetts

Navigating the street network in the Boston area can be tricky. Unlike many cities, Boston is not laid out on a grid. Streets are winding, narrow, and frequently one-way only. Street signs often indicate only the cross-streets and not the major road. Parking is limited and can be expensive.

In Massachusetts, squares are not square. "Squares" such as Harvard Square, Kenmore Square, and Central Square are typically areas of activity centered around intersections or other features rather than around plazas or open areas, as they are in most other cities. There may or may not be signage indicating that you've arrived at a square.

Street names may suddenly change with little or no signage, both within muncipalities and as you cross town boundaries. A street atlas may be helpful for driving. Where possible, the travel directions provided by this website indicate street name changes.

All of these things make driving in Massachusetts a challenge, especially in the Boston area. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation when possible. There is a well-established public transportation system in the Boston Metropolitan Area, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The MBTA (www.mbta.com) operates commuter railways, trolleys, buses, subways, and ferries. Locals refer to the entire system as "the T."

If you plan to use public transportation:

• Start your trip by visiting the MBTA's website at www.mbta.com to get the most recent schedule, fare, and service information.
• On the MBTA, directions may be given as "inbound" or "outbound." Inbound is always toward downtown Boston, and outbound is away from it. In the subway system, inbound is toward four stations: Park Street, State, Downtown Crossing, and Government Center. (Within those four stations, inbound and outbound indicators are not used.)
• The Green Line is made up of four streetcar lines: B-Boston College; C-Cleveland Circle; D-Riverside; and E-Heath Street. The E-line branches off from the main line after Copley; the other lines branch off after Kenmore.
• Be aware that bus and trolley drivers don't have the ability to make change. Exact change or monthly, weekly, or 3-day visitor's passes are all accepted. Drivers will accept dollar bills, but are not able to give change.

If you do choose to drive, please make note of the following:

• Travel lanes are not always clearly striped, and usage (one lane or two) may vary according to time of day.
• If so posted, travel may be permitted in breakdown lanes during rush hours.
• If you are from out of state, you may not be familiar with rotaries, or traffic circles. You may encounter a rotary at an intersection instead of a STOP sign or traffic signal. When entering a rotary, yield to vehicles already in the rotary.
• According to Massachusetts state law, pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks. As a driver, please be aware that it is your responsibility to stop for a pedestrian entering or in a crosswalk. However, jaywalking is common, and you should be prepared for pedestrians to enter the street at any point (regardless of whether traffic is clear), particularly in commercial areas.
• Many intersections in Massachusetts are posted, "no right on red." If this is the case, drivers may not turn right during the red signal phase. This allows pedestrians to safely cross the street.
• Signs reading "thickly settled" indicate an advisory speed limit of 30 mph.

Local points of interest:

• Back Bay = The area that runs from Boylston Street at Massachusetts Ave to the Boston Common.
• Esplanade = Located on the shores of the Charles River along Storrow Drive. The site of many musical events.
• Financial District = The area around Post Office Square which includes Congress, Federal, Broad, High, Summer, and State Streets.
• Kenmore Square = Just west of Back Bay down Comm Ave, it's where Fenway Park is located.

Local lingo:

• bah: pub
• cah: automobile
• Comm Ave: Short for Commonwealth Avenue, a major road that runs from Kenmore Square to the Back Bay.
• Mass Ave: Short for Massachusetts Avenue, a major road running through Boston and Cambridge. Parts of Mass Ave are also Route 2A.
• Mass Pike: I-90

Helpful websites:

• www.mbta.com
• www.massturnpike.com
• www.state.ma.us/mhd