Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza
Plain directions from Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Bus 238
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Braintree8 stops, about 23 min
- Change at Quincy Adams
- Take bus 238Toward Holbrook/Randolph20 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at S Shore Plaza @ GarageThe stop after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins.
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage. The trip takes about 62 minutes (60-64 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 238 runs about once an hour during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to South Shore Plaza
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 Braintree.
- Ride 8 stops, about 23 min. Get off at Quincy Adams, the stop after Quincy Center.
- At Quincy Adams, change to bus 238 toward Holbrook/Randolph.
- Ride about 16 min (20 stops). Get off at S Shore Plaza @ Garage, the stop after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins..
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line to Braintree, then bus 236 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage: about 62 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 | 5:28 am | 9:56 pm | About once an hour | About 62 min |
| Saturday | 5:55 am | 10:06 pm | About once an hour | About 61 min |
| Sunday | 7:02 am | 10:03 pm | About every 90 min | About 63 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 238 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 9:56 pm and gets to South Shore Plaza around 11:22 pm, using Orange Line and bus 22 and bus 240 and bus 238. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 10:06 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:03 pm. 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 Ashmont don't go to Quincy Adams. Look for Braintree on the train sign.
- Know your stop. Get to the door after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins.. The next stop is S Shore Plaza @ Garage. 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 Braintree.
- South Shore Plaza is on Granite Street in Braintree, off Route 3 and I-93.
- 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 Quincy Adams) 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 South Shore Plaza: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage. The trip takes about 62 minutes (60-64 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza?
About 62 minutes on the main route, or 60-64 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and Quincy Adams. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage.
How often does bus 238 run?
About once an hour on weekdays during the day, about once an hour on Saturdays and about every 90 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 9:56 pm and gets to South Shore Plaza around 11:22 pm, using Orange Line and bus 22 and bus 240 and bus 238. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 10:06 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:03 pm.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Adams National Historical Park
- Back Bay Station to Wollaston Beach
- South Station to South Shore Plaza
- Logan Airport to South Shore Plaza
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park
- Back Bay Station to Marina Bay
- Back Bay Station to UMass Boston
- Back Bay Station to Blue Hills Reservation
- Back Bay Station to JFK Presidential Library
- 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 238
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Quincy Adams 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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