Boston to Cambridge: Harvard and MIT

The Red Line is the quickest way from downtown Boston to Harvard and MIT. Here is where to board, how long it takes and when the bus makes more sense.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 28, 2026

To Harvard Square

1. Go to a downtown Red Line station: South Station, Downtown Crossing, Park Street or Charles/MGH.
2. Board a train toward Alewife. Trains toward Ashmont or Braintree go the other way.
3. Ride through Charles/MGH, Kendall/MIT and Central. It takes about 10 minutes from Park Street and about 13-15 minutes from South Station.
4. Get to the door after Central. Harvard station is right in Harvard Square.

To MIT

1. Take the same Red Line train toward Alewife and get off at Kendall/MIT. It's about 4 minutes from Park Street and about 7 minutes from South Station.
2. Get to the door after Charles/MGH.
3. Kendall/MIT is at the east end of campus. MIT's main entrance at 77 Massachusetts Avenue is about an 11-12 minute walk from the station.

Heading to the main entrance or the west side of campus? Bus 1 on Massachusetts Avenue stops right at 77 Massachusetts Ave.

From Back Bay or Copley

• Subway. At Copley, take any Green Line train heading toward Park Street and Government Center. At Park Street, change to the Red Line toward Alewife. Plan on about 19 minutes to Kendall/MIT and about 25 minutes to Harvard.
• Bus 1. Catch it on Massachusetts Avenue at Newbury Street, near Hynes Convention Center station. It reaches 77 Massachusetts Ave at MIT in about 5 minutes and Harvard Square in about 20 minutes. Buses come about every 10-15 minutes.

From North Station

Take the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing or the Green Line to Park Street, then change to the Red Line toward Alewife. The whole trip to Harvard takes about 27-30 minutes.

Boston to Harvard and MIT at a glance

How often and how late the Red Line runs

Red Line trains toward Alewife come about every 4-6 minutes on weekdays and about every 5-7 minutes on weekends, with longer gaps late at night. In the current fall schedule, the last trains from Park Street toward Harvard leave around 12:45 am most nights and around 1:45 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Coming back, the last train from Harvard toward Park Street leaves around 12:35 am most nights and around 1:35 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

What it costs

• Red Line. $2.40 one way to Kendall/MIT or Harvard. From Copley, the change from the Green Line to the Red Line at Park Street is included.
• Bus 1. $1.70, like any local bus.
• Bus and subway together. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time. Cash doesn't get transfers.
• How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or the bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. Children 11 and under ride free.
• Passes. On a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket, a 1-day pass is $11 and a 7-day pass is $22.50, for unlimited subway and bus rides.

Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.

Tips for the Red Line to Cambridge

• Check the direction before you board. Every Red Line train from downtown to Cambridge is going to Alewife.
• At rush hour, trains can be crowded. If you're getting off at Kendall/MIT, start moving toward a door after Charles/MGH.
• Ask Cobblehop for a specific place, like "MIT Stata Center" or "Harvard Art Museums". It picks the station and the walking route for you.

What can go wrong on the way to Cambridge

• Wrong direction. It's easy to grab the wrong train at a busy platform. Look for Alewife.
• Planned work. Shuttle buses sometimes replace Red Line trains. Check station signs. Cobblehop uses live MBTA predictions where they're available.
• Late night. After midnight, trains are farther apart. Ask Cobblehop for the last train before you head out.

Boston to Harvard and MIT: common questions

How long does the Red Line take from Park Street to Harvard?

About 10 minutes on a Red Line train toward Alewife. From South Station, it's about 13-15 minutes.

Which Red Line stop is closest to MIT?

Kendall/MIT, about 4 minutes from Park Street and about 7 minutes from South Station. MIT's main entrance at 77 Massachusetts Avenue is about an 11-12 minute walk from the station.

Is there a bus from Back Bay to MIT and Harvard?

Yes. Bus 1 runs on Massachusetts Avenue. From Massachusetts Avenue at Newbury Street, it reaches 77 Massachusetts Ave at MIT in about 5 minutes and Harvard Square in about 20 minutes, with buses about every 10-15 minutes.

How late does the Red Line run to Harvard?

On the fall 2026 schedule, the last trains from Park Street toward Harvard leave around 12:45 am most nights and around 1:45 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

How much is the Red Line to Harvard or MIT?

$2.40 one way from any downtown station, including the change at Park Street if you start on the Green Line. Bus 1 costs $1.70. Children 11 and under ride free.

Official sources

Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:

• MBTA: Red Line
• MBTA: Harvard station
• MBTA: Kendall/MIT station
• MBTA: bus 1
• MIT: visiting MIT
• Harvard University: visit Harvard
• MBTA: subway fares
• MBTA: bus fares
• MBTA: transfers

Published October 28, 2026. Route details were checked against the published schedules for fall 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.