Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center
The T route from Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center
- Red Line
- Orange Line
- Bus 31
- Take the Red LineFrom Harvard, toward Braintree5 stops, about 12 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Orange LineToward Forest Hills10 stops, about 16 min
- Change at Forest Hills
- Take bus 31Toward Mattapan5 stops, about 4 min
- Get off at Morton St @ Harvard StThe stop after Morton St @ Canterbury St
- Walk about 12 min to Boston Nature Center
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Downtown Crossing, the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then bus 31 to Morton St @ Harvard St, and walk about 12 min. The trip takes about 61 minutes (58-64 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 31 runs about every 15 min during the day.
Get the live route from Harvard to Boston Nature Center
Step by step
- At Harvard, take the Red Line toward Braintree.
- Ride 5 stops, about 12 min, through Central, Kendall/MIT, Charles/MGH and Park Street, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
- Ride 10 stops, about 16 min. Get off at Forest Hills, the stop after Green Street.
- At Forest Hills, change to bus 31 toward Mattapan.
- Ride 5 stops, about 4 min. Get off at Morton St @ Harvard St, the stop after Morton St @ Canterbury St.
- Walk about 12 min to Boston Nature Center.
Other ways to go
- Take the Red Line to Ashmont, then bus 21 to Morton St @ Harvard St, and walk about 12 min: about 63 min.
- Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Downtown Crossing, the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then bus 21 to Morton St @ Harvard St, and walk about 12 min: 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 | 5:06 am | 1:20 am | About every 15 min | About 61 min |
| Saturday | 4:32 am | 1:19 am | About every 15 min | About 62 min |
| Sunday | 6:07 am | 1:11 am | About every 15 min | About 63 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Harvard, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 31 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Harvard at 1:20 am and gets to Boston Nature Center around 2:48 am, using bus 1 and bus 28. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:19 am, and on Sunday nights at 1:11 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 Morton St @ Canterbury St. The next stop is Morton St @ Harvard 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 Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
- Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center is on Walk Hill Street in Mattapan.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Harvard, Downtown Crossing and Forest Hills) 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.
Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center: common questions
How do I get from Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center by public transit?
Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Downtown Crossing, the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then bus 31 to Morton St @ Harvard St, and walk about 12 min. The trip takes about 61 minutes (58-64 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center?
About 61 minutes on the main route, or 58-64 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and Forest Hills. Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Downtown Crossing, the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then bus 31 to Morton St @ Harvard St, and walk about 12 min.
How often does bus 31 run?
About every 15 min on weekdays during the day, about every 15 min on Saturdays and about every 15 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Harvard Square to Boston Nature Center?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Harvard at 1:20 am and gets to Boston Nature Center around 2:48 am, using bus 1 and bus 28. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:19 am, and on Sunday nights at 1:11 am.
Related routes
- Harvard Square to Forest Hills Cemetery
- Harvard Square to Franklin Park Zoo
- Kendall Square to Boston Nature Center
- Back Bay Station to Boston Nature Center
- Boston to Cambridge: Harvard and MIT (guide)
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Harvard Square
- Harvard Square to White Stadium
- Harvard Square to Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
- Harvard Square to Arnold Arboretum
- Harvard Square to Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
- Harvard Square to Larz Anderson Auto Museum
- All routes from Harvard Square
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: Red Line
- MBTA: Orange Line
- MBTA: bus 31
- MBTA: Harvard station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Forest Hills 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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