Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Plain directions from Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Red Line
- Orange Line
- Take the Red LineFrom Kendall/MIT, toward Ashmont3 stops, about 6 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Orange LineToward Forest Hills5 stops, about 7 min
- Get off at RugglesThe stop after Massachusetts Avenue
- Walk about 14 min to Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumUse the Ruggles St exit
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Downtown Crossing, then the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, and walk about 14 min. The trip takes about 33 minutes. On weekdays the Red Line runs every 5 min during the day.
Get the live route from Kendall to the Gardner Museum
Step by step
- At Kendall/MIT, take the Red Line toward Ashmont.
- Ride 3 stops, about 6 min, through Charles/MGH and Park Street, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
- Ride 5 stops, about 7 min, through Chinatown, Tufts Medical Center, Back Bay and Massachusetts Avenue, and get off at Ruggles.
- Walk about 14 min to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Use the Ruggles St exit.
Other ways to go
- Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Park Street, then the Green Line toward Heath Street to Longwood Medical Area, and walk about 5 min: about 37 min.
- Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Downtown Crossing, the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, then bus 65 to Huntington Ave @ Longwood Ave, and walk about 4 min: about 34 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 | 5:15 am | 12:51 am | Every 5 min | About 33 min |
| Friday | 5:15 am | 1:59 am | Every 5 min | About 33 min |
| Saturday | 5:14 am | 1:42 am | Every 7 min | About 34 min |
| Sunday | 6:00 am | 12:42 am | Every 8 min | About 34 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Kendall/MIT, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for the Red Line (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Kendall/MIT at 12:51 am and gets to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum around 1:17 am, using Red Line and bus 47. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:59 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:42 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:42 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 Massachusetts Avenue. The next stop is Ruggles. 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.
- The Gardner Museum's entrance is on Evans Way, a short walk from the Museum of Fine Arts.
- Kendall/MIT station is on Main Street in Kendall Square, at the east end of MIT.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Kendall/MIT, Downtown Crossing and Ruggles) 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. $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.
Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: common questions
How do I get from Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum by public transit?
Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Downtown Crossing, then the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, and walk about 14 min. The trip takes about 33 minutes.
How long does it take to get from Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?
About 33 minutes on the main route.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Downtown Crossing. Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Downtown Crossing, then the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, and walk about 14 min.
How often does the Red Line run?
Every 5 min on weekdays during the day, every 7 min on Saturdays and every 8 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Kendall Square to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Kendall/MIT at 12:51 am and gets to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum around 1:17 am, using Red Line and bus 47. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:59 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:42 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:42 am.
Related routes
- Kendall Square to Wentworth Institute of Technology
- Kendall Square to Emmanuel College
- Back Bay Station to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Boston Common to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Kendall Square
- Kendall Square to Museum of Fine Arts
- Kendall Square to Boston Children's Hospital
- Kendall Square to Longwood Medical Area
- Kendall Square to Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Kendall Square to Fenway Park
- All routes from Kendall 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: Kendall/MIT station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Ruggles 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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