Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History
The T route from Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Alewife5 stops, about 12 min
- Get off at HarvardThe stop after Central
- Walk about 12 min to Harvard Museum of Natural HistoryUse the Church St, Harvard Yard exit
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, then the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, and walk about 12 min. The trip takes about 35 minutes (33-37 min depending on the connection). On weekdays the Orange Line runs every 5 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to Harvard Museum of Natural History
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove.
- Ride 3 stops, about 4 min, through Tufts Medical Center and Chinatown, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Red Line toward Alewife.
- Ride 5 stops, about 12 min, through Park Street, Charles/MGH, Kendall/MIT and Central, and get off at Harvard.
- Walk about 12 min to Harvard Museum of Natural History. Use the Church St, Harvard Yard exit.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Sullivan Square, then bus 109 to Kirkland St @ Kirkland Place, and walk about 5 min: about 43 min.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times and gives you the one that gets you there first.
Times and frequency
| Day | First trip | Last trip | How often (daytime) | Trip time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Thursday | 5:13 am | 1:10 am | Every 5 min | About 35 min |
| Friday | 5:13 am | 2:13 am | Every 5 min | About 35 min |
| Saturday | 5:20 am | 2:00 am | Every 7 min | About 34 min |
| Sunday | 5:59 am | 12:59 am | Every 8 min | About 34 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Back Bay, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for the Orange Line (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 1:10 am and gets to Harvard Museum of Natural History around 1:48 am, using bus 39 and bus 1. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:13 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:00 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:59 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Central. The next stop is Harvard. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Downtown Crossing. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Red Line toward Alewife.
- The Harvard Museum of Natural History is on Oxford Street, north of Harvard Yard.
- Back Bay station has the Orange Line, Commuter Rail and Amtrak under one roof. It connects to Copley Place by an indoor passage.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Back Bay, Downtown Crossing and Harvard) as accessible. Downtown Crossing has 6 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Subway. $2.40 one way. Changing between subway lines is free.
- How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, then the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, and walk about 12 min. The trip takes about 35 minutes (33-37 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History?
About 35 minutes on the main route, or 33-37 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Downtown Crossing. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, then the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, and walk about 12 min.
How often does the Orange Line run?
Every 5 min on weekdays during the day, every 7 min on Saturdays and every 8 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 1:10 am and gets to Harvard Museum of Natural History around 1:48 am, using bus 39 and bus 1. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:13 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:00 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:59 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Art Museums
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Square
- Boston Common to Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Kendall Square to Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Porter Square
- Back Bay Station to Cambridge Hospital
- Back Bay Station to Longfellow House
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School
- Back Bay Station to Inman Square
- All routes from Back Bay Station
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Schedules on this page come from MBTA/MassDOT public data. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MBTA: Orange Line
- MBTA: Red Line
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Harvard station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts
Published October 30, 2026. Times were computed from the fall 2026 MBTA schedule (2026-11-04 for weekdays). Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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Get the live route from Back Bay to Harvard Museum of Natural History