Back Bay Station to The Witch House
How to get from Back Bay Station to The Witch House on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.
Halloween weekend: On Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, the MBTA runs a special Halloween schedule on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, so the weekend train times on this page don't apply on those two days. See Getting around Salem in October for the Halloween times.
Back Bay Station to The Witch House
- Orange Line
- Newburyport/Rockport Line
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove6 stops, about 8 min
- Change at North Station
- Take the Newburyport/Rockport LineToward Newburyport4 stops, about 33 min
- Get off at Salem
- Walk about 10 min to The Witch House
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, then the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Salem, and walk about 10 min. The trip takes about 64 minutes (61-66 min depending on the connection). On weekdays Newburyport/Rockport Line trains run about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to The Witch House
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove.
- Ride 6 stops, about 8 min, through Tufts Medical Center, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, State and Haymarket, and get off at North Station.
- At North Station, change to the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport.
- Ride about 33 min to Salem, with 3 stops on the way.
- Walk about 10 min to The Witch House.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Haymarket, then bus 450 to Essex St @ Summer St: about 71 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 | 5:05 am | 12:07 am | About every 30 min | About 64 min |
| Saturday | 5:48 am | 11:29 pm | About once an hour | About 63 min |
| Sunday | 6:11 am | 11:28 pm | About once an hour | About 64 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 Newburyport/Rockport Line trains (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:07 am and gets to The Witch House around 1:08 am, using Orange Line and bus 450. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:29 pm, and on Sunday nights at 11:28 pm. 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 outbound: look for Newburyport on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.
- Changing at North Station. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Newburyport/Rockport Line.
- The Witch House is at Essex and North Streets, on the west side of downtown Salem.
- 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, North Station and Salem) as accessible. North Station 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.
- 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.
- Commuter Rail. North Station to Salem is a Zone 3 fare, $8.00 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. A Commuter Rail ticket doesn't cover the subway part of the trip.
- 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 The Witch House: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to The Witch House by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, then the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Salem, and walk about 10 min. The trip takes about 64 minutes (61-66 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to The Witch House?
About 64 minutes on the main route, or 61-66 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at North Station. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, then the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Salem, and walk about 10 min.
How often do Newburyport/Rockport Line trains run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about once an hour on Saturdays and about once an hour on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to The Witch House?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:07 am and gets to The Witch House around 1:08 am, using Orange Line and bus 450. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:29 pm, and on Sunday nights at 11:28 pm.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Salem Witch Museum
- Back Bay Station to Salem Hospital
- South Station to The Witch House
- North Station to The Witch House
- Getting around Salem in October (guide)
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Salem Maritime National Historical Park
- Back Bay Station to Salem State University
- Back Bay Station to Square One Mall
- Back Bay Station to Revere Beach
- Back Bay Station to Belle Isle Marsh
- 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: Newburyport/Rockport Line timetable
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: North Station station
- MBTA: Salem 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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