Harvard Square to Boston University
How to get from Harvard Square to Boston University on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.
Harvard Square to Boston University
- Red Line
- Green Line B
- Take the Red LineFrom Harvard, toward Braintree4 stops, about 10 min
- Change at Park Street
- Take a Green Line B trainToward Boston College7 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at Boston University EastThe stop after Blandford Street
- Walk about 5 min to Boston University
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Park Street, then a Green Line B train to Boston University East, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 40 minutes (38-42 min depending on the connection). On weekdays Green Line trains to Boston University East run every 8 min during the day.
Get the live route from Harvard to BU
Step by step
- At Harvard, take the Red Line toward Braintree.
- Ride 4 stops, about 10 min, through Central, Kendall/MIT and Charles/MGH, and get off at Park Street.
- At Park Street, change to a Green Line B train toward Boston College.
- Ride 7 stops, about 16 min, through Boylston, Arlington, Copley, Hynes Convention Center, Kenmore and Blandford Street, and get off at Boston University East.
- Walk about 5 min to Boston University.
Other ways to go
- Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Central, then bus 47 to Mountfort St @ Lenox St, and walk about 11 min: about 31 min.
- Walk about 4 min to Eliot St @ Bennett St, then take bus 66 to Brighton Ave @ Cambridge St, then bus 57 to Commonwealth Ave @ Carlton St, and walk about 7 min: about 39 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-Thursday | 4:57 am | 1:20 am | Every 8 min | About 40 min |
| Friday | 4:57 am | 2:19 am | Every 8 min | About 40 min |
| Saturday | 5:01 am | 2:18 am | Every 10 min | About 41 min |
| Sunday | 5:55 am | 1:11 am | Every 11 min | About 42 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Harvard, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for Green Line trains to Boston University East (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 University around 1:52 am, using bus 1. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:19 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:18 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
- Check the branch letter. C trains and D trains and E trains from Park Street don't go to Boston University East.
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Blandford Street. The next stop is Boston University East. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Park Street. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Green Line B.
- BU stretches along Commonwealth Avenue, and the Green Line B branch runs down the middle of the avenue through campus.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Harvard, Park Street and Boston University East) as accessible. Park Street 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. Changing between subway lines is free.
- 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 University: common questions
How do I get from Harvard Square to Boston University by public transit?
Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Park Street, then a Green Line B train to Boston University East, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 40 minutes (38-42 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Harvard Square to Boston University?
About 40 minutes on the main route, or 38-42 minutes depending on the connection. Walking takes about 45 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Park Street. Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Park Street, then a Green Line B train to Boston University East, and walk about 5 min.
How often do Green Line trains to Boston University East run?
Every 8 min on weekdays during the day, every 10 min on Saturdays and every 11 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Harvard Square to Boston University?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Harvard at 1:20 am and gets to Boston University around 1:52 am, using bus 1. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:19 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:18 am, and on Sunday nights at 1:11 am.
Related routes
- Harvard Square to Fenway Park
- Harvard Square to Emmanuel College
- Kendall Square to Boston University
- Back Bay Station to Boston University
- Boston to Cambridge: Harvard and MIT (guide)
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Harvard Square
- Harvard Square to House of Blues Boston
- Harvard Square to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Harvard Square to Agganis Arena
- Harvard Square to Boston Children's Hospital
- Harvard Square to Longwood Medical Area
- 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: Green Line
- MBTA: Harvard station
- MBTA: Park Street station
- MBTA: Boston University East 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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