Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park
How to get from Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.
Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Bus 215
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Ashmont8 stops, about 17 min
- Change at Ashmont
- Take bus 215Toward Quincy Center9 stops, about 3 min
- Get off at Granite Ave opp Hilltop StThe stop after Granite Ave @ Milton St
- Walk about 16 min to Pope John Paul II Park
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to Ashmont, then bus 215 to Granite Ave opp Hilltop St, and walk about 16 min. The trip takes about 57 minutes (54-60 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 215 runs about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to Pope John Paul II Park
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 Ashmont.
- Ride 8 stops, about 17 min. Get off at Ashmont, the stop after Shawmut.
- At Ashmont, change to bus 215 toward Quincy Center.
- Ride 9 stops, about 3 min. Get off at Granite Ave opp Hilltop St, the stop after Granite Ave @ Milton St.
- Walk about 16 min to Pope John Paul II Park.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to Fields Corner, then bus 202 to Hilltop St @ Hallet St, and walk about 8 min: about 61 min.
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to Fields Corner, then bus 201 to Hallet St @ Florian Hall, and walk about 9 min: about 61 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-Friday | 4:25 am | 12:19 am | About every 30 min | About 57 min |
| Saturday | 5:33 am | 1:20 am | About every 30 min | About 58 min |
| Sunday | 6:18 am | 12:23 am | About every 30 min | About 56 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 bus 215 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:19 am and gets to Pope John Paul II Park around 1:18 am, using Orange Line and Red Line and bus 210. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:20 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:23 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Check the Red Line branch. Trains to Braintree don't go to Ashmont. Look for Ashmont on the train sign.
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Granite Ave @ Milton St. The next stop is Granite Ave opp Hilltop St. 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 Ashmont.
- Pope John Paul II Park is on the Neponset River in Dorchester, off Gallivan Boulevard.
- 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 Ashmont) 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 and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. 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.
- 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 Pope John Paul II Park: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to Ashmont, then bus 215 to Granite Ave opp Hilltop St, and walk about 16 min. The trip takes about 57 minutes (54-60 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park?
About 57 minutes on the main route, or 54-60 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and Ashmont. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to Ashmont, then bus 215 to Granite Ave opp Hilltop St, and walk about 16 min.
How often does bus 215 run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about every 30 min on Saturdays and about every 30 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:19 am and gets to Pope John Paul II Park around 1:18 am, using Orange Line and Red Line and bus 210. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:20 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:23 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Marina Bay
- Back Bay Station to Wollaston Beach
- Boston Common to Pope John Paul II Park
- Kendall Square to Pope John Paul II Park
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to UMass Boston
- Back Bay Station to JFK Presidential Library
- Back Bay Station to Carson Beach
- Back Bay Station to L Street Beach
- Back Bay Station to Franklin Park Zoo
- 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: bus 215
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Ashmont 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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