Back Bay Station to UMass Boston
Plain directions from Back Bay Station to UMass Boston, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
Back Bay Station to UMass Boston
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Bus 8
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Ashmont4 stops, about 8 min
- Change at JFK/UMass
- Take bus 8Toward Harbor Point via South Bay Center4 stops, about 4 min
- Get off at Mt Vernon St opp South Point DrThe stop after Mt Vernon St @ Paul A. Dever School
- Walk about 7 min to UMass Boston
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to JFK/UMass, then bus 8 to Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, and walk about 7 min. The trip takes about 41 minutes (37-43 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 8 runs about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to UMass Boston
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 4 stops, about 8 min, through South Station, Broadway and Andrew, and get off at JFK/UMass.
- At JFK/UMass, change to bus 8 toward Harbor Point via South Bay Center.
- Ride 4 stops, about 4 min. Get off at Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, the stop after Mt Vernon St @ Paul A. Dever School.
- Walk about 7 min to UMass Boston.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to JFK/UMass, then bus 16 to Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, and walk about 7 min: about 43 min.
- Take the Providence/Stoughton Line to South Station, the Red Line toward Ashmont to JFK/UMass, then bus 16 to Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, and walk about 7 min: about 40 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 | 5:30 am | 12:40 am | About every 30 min | About 41 min |
| Saturday | 7:39 am | 1:03 am | About every 45 min | About 44 min |
| Sunday | 7:24 am | 12:49 am | About every 45 min | About 42 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 8 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:40 am and gets to UMass Boston around 1:04 am, using bus 8. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:03 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:49 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 Mt Vernon St @ Paul A. Dever School. The next stop is Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr. 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.
- UMass Boston is on Columbia Point in Dorchester, next to the JFK Library. A university shuttle runs from JFK/UMass station.
- 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 JFK/UMass) 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 UMass Boston: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to UMass Boston by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to JFK/UMass, then bus 8 to Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, and walk about 7 min. The trip takes about 41 minutes (37-43 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to UMass Boston?
About 41 minutes on the main route, or 37-43 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and JFK/UMass. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to JFK/UMass, then bus 8 to Mt Vernon St opp South Point Dr, and walk about 7 min.
How often does bus 8 run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about every 45 min on Saturdays and about every 45 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to UMass Boston?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:40 am and gets to UMass Boston around 1:04 am, using bus 8. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:03 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:49 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to JFK Presidential Library
- Back Bay Station to L Street Beach
- Boston Common to UMass Boston
- Kendall Square to UMass Boston
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Carson Beach
- Back Bay Station to Marina Bay
- Back Bay Station to Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
- Back Bay Station to Pope John Paul II Park
- Back Bay Station to Leader Bank Pavilion
- 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 8
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: JFK/UMass 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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