Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art
The train route from Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Providence/Stoughton Line
- Take the Providence/Stoughton LineFrom Back Bay, toward South Station1 stop, about 3 min
- Get off at South Station
- Walk about 19 min to Institute of Contemporary ArtUse the 7 | Summer St exit
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Providence/Stoughton Line to South Station, and walk about 19 min. The trip takes about 20 minutes. On weekdays Providence/Stoughton Line trains run about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to the ICA
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Providence/Stoughton Line toward South Station.
- Ride about 3 min to South Station, without stopping.
- Walk about 19 min to Institute of Contemporary Art. Use the 7 | Summer St exit.
Other ways to go
- Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to South Station, and walk about 19 min: about 23 min.
- Take the Needham Line to South Station, and walk about 19 min: about 23 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 | 5:21 am | 12:55 am | About every 30 min | About 20 min |
| Friday | 5:21 am | 1:36 am | About every 30 min | About 20 min |
| Saturday | 4:55 am | 1:40 am | About every 2 hours | About 19 min |
| Sunday | 6:06 am | 12:52 am | About every 2 hours | About 19 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 Providence/Stoughton Line trains.
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:55 am and gets to Institute of Contemporary Art around 1:32 am, using bus 9 and bus 11. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:36 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:40 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:52 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Inbound or outbound. Commuter Rail trains toward Boston are called inbound and trains leaving Boston are outbound. This trip is inbound: look for South Station on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.
- The ICA is on the Seaport waterfront, next to Fan Pier.
- 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 and South Station) as accessible. South Station has 9 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Commuter Rail. Back Bay to South Station is a Zone 1A fare, $2.40 one way. On Saturdays and Sundays, a $10.00 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides.
- Buying a train ticket. Tap-to-pay doesn't work on the Commuter Rail. Use the mTicket app, a fare machine or ticket window, or pay the conductor. Paying on board can add a $3 fee when you board at a station that sells tickets.
- 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 Institute of Contemporary Art: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art by public transit?
Take the Providence/Stoughton Line to South Station, and walk about 19 min. The trip takes about 20 minutes.
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art?
About 20 minutes on the main route. Walking takes about 43 minutes.
Do I have to change trains?
No. The Providence/Stoughton Line goes all the way, so it's one ride.
How often do Providence/Stoughton Line trains run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about every 2 hours on Saturdays and about every 2 hours on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:55 am and gets to Institute of Contemporary Art around 1:32 am, using bus 9 and bus 11. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:36 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:40 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:52 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Seaport World Trade Center
- Back Bay Station to Boston Children's Museum
- Boston Common to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Kendall Square to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
- Back Bay Station to Leader Bank Pavilion
- Back Bay Station to New England Aquarium
- Back Bay Station to Long Wharf ferry terminal
- Back Bay Station to Faneuil Hall
- 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: Providence/Stoughton Line timetable
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: South Station station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: Commuter Rail fare zones
- 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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