Plymouth Thanksgiving Parade by T, Sat, Nov 21
Quick answer: The parade steps off at 10 am at Plymouth Rock. There's no train to Plymouth itself. Take the 8:42 am Kingston Line train from South Station to Kingston (arrives 9:41 am), then the parade shuttle bus from the Kingston station lot to Lincoln Street in Plymouth. The shuttle plan on the organizer's page is from last year, so check it before you go.
South Station to Plymouth parade
- Kingston Line
- Parade shuttle
- Take the 8:42 am Kingston Line trainFrom South Station
- Get off at KingstonAbout 9:41 am, the last stop
- Take the parade shuttle to Lincoln St, PlymouthLast year: every 15 min, 7 am to 3 pm
- Walk to the parade route
Saturday schedule as of Nov 5. The 2026 shuttle plan isn't posted yet.
Getting there
The Kingston Line ends at Kingston station, about 3.5 miles from downtown Plymouth. On Saturday, November 21, trains leave South Station at 8:42 am (arriving 9:41 am) and 10:08 am. They also stop at Quincy Center and Braintree.
The organizer's transportation page says parade shuttles run every 15 minutes from 7 am to 3 pm, dropping off and picking up on Lincoln Street in Plymouth, from two lots: the Kingston MBTA lot on Marion Drive and a lot at Route 3 Exit 13 (Obery Street). It also says buses will be ready for the train. That page still shows last year's map and has no 2026 train time yet, so check it the week of the parade.
The route runs along Water Street, Main Street and Court Street and ends at Court Street and Nelson Street. Water Street closes to traffic from 7 am.
Service on Saturday, November 21
Regular Saturday schedules, with one big exception: from Nov 20 to Nov 22, shuttle buses replace Red Line trains between Broadway and North Quincy, and Ashmont trains run only between JFK/UMass and Ashmont. If you're coming from Quincy, Braintree or Dorchester, add about 20 to 30 minutes.
Commuter Rail runs its weekend schedule, so most lines have a train every two hours or so.
For the whole week, see our MBTA Thanksgiving 2026 schedule.
Getting home
Kingston Line trains back to South Station leave Kingston at 12:05 pm, 2:05 pm and 4:15 pm (arriving 1:05, 3:05 and 5:16 pm). The shuttle runs until 3 pm on last year's plan, so aim for the 2:05 pm train at the latest if you're relying on it.
Plymouth parade by train: common questions
Is there a train to Plymouth for the Thanksgiving parade?
Not to Plymouth itself. The Kingston Line ends at Kingston, about 3.5 miles away. The parade organizer runs shuttle buses from the Kingston station lot.
What train should I take from Boston?
The 8:42 am Kingston Line train from South Station, which reaches Kingston at 9:41 am, before the 10 am step-off.
Where does the parade shuttle drop off?
On Lincoln Street in Plymouth, close to the route, per the organizer's transportation page. That page shows last year's plan, so check it before you go.
When is the last train back to Boston?
Trains leave Kingston at 12:05 pm, 2:05 pm and 4:15 pm. Last year the shuttle ran until 3 pm.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with the MBTA. Event details come from the organizers' own pages. Check these for the latest:
- America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade
- Parade organizer: transportation and shuttles
- MBTA: Kingston Line timetable
- GATRA (local buses in Plymouth)
Date and step-off from the organizer. Shuttle details from the organizer's transportation page, which hadn't been updated for 2026. Train times from the MBTA's published schedule for Saturday, Nov 21. Checked November 5, 2026.
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