Getting around Salem in October

October brings huge crowds to Salem. Here is how to get there by train, move around town and get home without stress.

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

Halloween 2026 in Salem: what changes on October 31

Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Per the MBTA, nearly half a million people travel to Salem for Halloween each October, and the MBTA and the City of Salem have announced the changes below for the day. Plans can change, so check the MBTA's Salem page, the Newburyport/Rockport Line alerts and the City of Salem's road closure notice before you go.

Trains: the Halloween weekend schedule

• Per the MBTA, a special Halloween weekend schedule (PDF) is in effect on the Newburyport/Rockport Line on October 31 and November 1, 2026 only.
• On October 31, the first train to Salem leaves North Station at 6:30 am. The last one leaves at 11:50 pm and arrives in Salem at 12:21 am.
• Evening trains from Salem to North Station leave at 6:32, 6:52, 7:42, 7:58, 8:58 and 9:49 pm. The last train leaves Salem at 11:14 pm and arrives at North Station at 11:53 pm.
• Per the MBTA, bikes and scooters are not allowed on any Newburyport/Rockport Line trains on the weekend of October 31 to November 1, because of heavy Haunted Happenings ridership.

Salem station: garage, busway and elevator

• Parking garage. Per the MBTA, cars can't enter or leave the Salem station parking garage between 6 pm and 11:30 pm on October 31, so a car that's already parked there can't leave during that time. The City of Salem's notice says the garage is closed from 6 pm to 1 am, so plan around the longer window.
• Busway. Per the MBTA, the Salem Depot busway closes at 6 pm on October 31.
• Elevator. As of October 28, the MBTA lists Salem Elevator 997, which links Bridge Street, the parking garage, the busway and the platforms, as unavailable for maintenance, with no end date posted. The MBTA's Halloween schedule says high-level platforms and bridge plates are available.

MBTA bus detours on October 31

Per the MBTA, buses detour on October 31 because of heavy traffic and road closures:

• Start of service to 6 pm. Route 455 doesn't serve Salem Depot and ends at Lafayette Street at Harbor Street (Lafayette Park). Route 450 runs express between Essex Street at Warren Street and Salem Depot. Route 465 runs its regular route. Routes 451 and 456 don't run on Saturdays.
• 6 pm to the end of service. Route 450 doesn't serve Salem Depot. It ends opposite 30 Highland Avenue and starts back at Highland Avenue at Proctor Street. Route 465 doesn't serve Salem Depot and uses North Street at Mason Street instead. Route 455 stays on its daytime detour.

Street closures in downtown Salem

• Per the City of Salem, downtown streets close to all traffic no later than noon on October 31, and closures may begin earlier depending on crowd size and public safety.
• Bridge Street also closes to all traffic between the westerly overpass ramps and Sgt. James Ayube Memorial Drive from 9:15 pm to 11:30 pm for the end-of-night drone show, which starts at 10:15 pm.
• The City strongly encourages visitors on weekends and on Halloween to take the Commuter Rail or the ferry to Salem. For live updates, it suggests the My Salem MA and Destination Salem apps.

Staying for the drone show? The last train to Boston leaves Salem at 11:14 pm, per the MBTA's Halloween schedule, so leave time to get through the crowds to the station.

Why October is different in Salem

Salem's Haunted Happenings season fills downtown with visitors, especially on weekends and around Halloween. In 2026, Halloween falls on a Saturday. Trains, platforms and sidewalks can be packed, mostly in the afternoon going out and in the evening coming back.

Extra trains on October weekends

The MBTA's published schedules for the last two weekends of October (October 24-25 and October 31 to November 1) show more trains between North Station and Salem than on a regular weekend.

Some of the extra trains run only between North Station and Salem or Beverly. On those weekends, the trip back to Boston is scheduled at about 34-39 minutes, a few minutes longer than usual.

A simple plan for a busy day

1. Go early. Morning trains are usually the easiest time to find space.
2. Be on the platform early. At North Station, Cobblehop shows your track as soon as it's posted.
3. Get to the door after Swampscott. Salem is next, and many people will get off with you.
4. Walk in Salem. Downtown is compact. From the station, the Essex Street area is about 5-10 minutes on foot, and the Salem Witch Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum are about 10-12 minutes.
5. Pick your train home early. Ask Cobblehop for the "last train to Boston" so you know your deadline. The card marks it as the last one.
6. Head back with time to spare. Get to Salem station 15-20 minutes before your train, because the platform can fill up.

What it costs

• Train. Per the MBTA, a one-way ticket between North Station and Salem is $8, so a round trip is $16.
• Weekend pass. On Saturdays and Sundays, including Halloween, a $10 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides. Buy it on the mTicket app, at a North Station ticket window or from the conductor. Fare machines don't sell it.
• Buying tickets. The mTicket app lets you buy before you reach the station. Paying the conductor can add a $3 fee when you board at a station that sells tickets, like North Station. Tap-to-pay doesn't work on the Commuter Rail.
• Kids. Children 11 and under ride free.
• Buses and the ferry. MBTA buses 450, 455 and 465 cost $1.70. The Salem Ferry, run by City Cruises, starts at $44 with fees and taxes included, and its 2026 season ends October 31.

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

Crowd tips for Salem in October

• If you can, visit on a weekday. Crowds are usually lighter than on weekends.
• If a train is too full to board, the next one may be 20-60 minutes later on an October weekend. Build in a buffer.
• After about 10 pm, trains back to Boston are far apart. On Halloween night, the MBTA's Halloween schedule has a gap of more than an hour before the last train: 9:49 pm, then 11:14 pm.
• Agree on a meeting spot in case your group gets split up at the station.
• Keep your phone charged. Cobblehop needs data and an open screen to buzz you before your stop.

Buses in Salem

MBTA buses 450 and 455 connect Salem with Wonderland station on the Blue Line. Per the MBTA, bus riders should plan for extra travel time to or through Salem in October. Per the MBTA, several Salem bus routes detour on Fridays and weekends in October, through Sunday, November 1. On those days, route 455 skips Salem Depot and ends near Lafayette Park (Lafayette Street at Harbor Street) instead of at the train station, and outbound 450 and 456 buses run express from Essex Street at Summer Street to Salem Depot. For Halloween detours, see what changes on October 31. Ask Cobblehop for your trip and it routes you to the right stop for that day.

What can go wrong on a Salem trip in October

• Packed trains. Let a full train go and take the next one. Cobblehop lists the next times on the card.
• Delays. Cobblehop uses live MBTA predictions and shows when a train on your route is canceled.
• Missing the last train. There is no fast way back to Boston late at night. If it happens, ask Cobblehop for the best option that's left.

Salem in October and on Halloween: common questions

Is the Salem MBTA parking garage open on Halloween 2026?

Per the MBTA, cars can't enter or leave the Salem station parking garage between 6 pm and 11:30 pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The City of Salem's notice says 6 pm to 1 am for the same closure, so plan around the longer window.

Does the Salem Depot busway close on Halloween?

Yes. Per the MBTA, the Salem Depot busway closes at 6 pm on October 31, 2026. After 6 pm, routes 450 and 465 don't serve Salem Depot, and route 455 doesn't serve it at all that day. Route 455 ends at Lafayette Street at Harbor Street (Lafayette Park).

When is the last train from Salem to Boston on Halloween?

Per the MBTA's Halloween weekend schedule, the last train from Salem to North Station on Saturday, October 31, 2026 leaves at 11:14 pm and arrives at 11:53 pm. The train before it leaves Salem at 9:49 pm, so don't count on a later option.

Can I bring a bike on the train to Salem on Halloween weekend?

No. Per the MBTA, bikes and scooters are not allowed on any Newburyport/Rockport Line trains on the weekend of October 31 to November 1, 2026, because of heavy Haunted Happenings ridership.

Are there extra trains to Salem in October?

Yes. The MBTA adds weekend trains to Salem in October. On late-October weekends, the MBTA's published schedules show about 24-25 trains each way between North Station and Salem, compared with about 18 on a regular weekend.

How much is the train to Salem on Halloween weekend?

Per the MBTA, a one-way ticket between North Station and Salem is $8. On Saturday and Sunday, a $10 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides, which costs less than a $16 round trip. 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: Salem destination page, with Haunted Happenings, parking and bus changes
• MBTA: Halloween weekend schedule for the Newburyport/Rockport Line, October 31 and November 1, 2026 (PDF)
• MBTA: Newburyport/Rockport Line timetable
• MBTA: Newburyport/Rockport Line alerts
• MBTA: Salem station
• MBTA: North Station
• MBTA: bus 450
• MBTA: bus 455
• MBTA: bus 465
• City of Salem: planned and anticipated October road closures
• City Cruises: Salem Ferry
• MBTA: Commuter Rail fares
• MBTA: $10 Commuter Rail weekend pass
• MBTA: bus fares

Published October 28, 2026. Route details were checked against the published schedules for fall 2026. Halloween details were checked on the MBTA and City of Salem websites on October 28, 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.