North Station to Back Bay Station

How to get from North Station to Back Bay Station on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 29, 2026

Get the live route from North Station to Back Bay

Step by step

1. At North Station, take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
2. Ride 6 stops, about 8 min, through Haymarket, State, Downtown Crossing, Chinatown and Tufts Medical Center, and get off at Back Bay.

Times and frequency

First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves North Station, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for the Orange Line.

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 1:06 am and gets to Back Bay Station around 1:26 am, using Green Line. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:00 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:55 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:53 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 Tufts Medical Center. The next stop is Back Bay. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
• Back Bay station has the Orange Line, Commuter Rail and Amtrak under one roof. It connects to Copley Place by an indoor passage.
• North Station sits under TD Garden. The Orange and Green Lines are underground and the Commuter Rail tracks are on the main level.

Step-free access

MBTA data lists every station on this route (North Station and Back Bay) 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.
• Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.

Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.

North Station to Back Bay Station: common questions

How do I get from North Station to Back Bay Station by public transit?

Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Back Bay. The trip takes about 9 minutes.

How long does it take to get from North Station to Back Bay Station?

About 9 minutes on the main route. Walking takes about 38 minutes.

Do I have to change trains?

No. The Orange Line goes all the way, so it's one ride.

How often does the Orange 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 North Station to Back Bay Station?

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 1:06 am and gets to Back Bay Station around 1:26 am, using Green Line. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:00 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:55 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:53 am.

Related routes

• Back Bay Station to North Station
• North Station to Copley Square
• North Station to Boston Common
• South Station to Back Bay Station
• Getting to TD Garden by T (guide)
• Never miss your stop (guide)

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: North Station station
• MBTA: Back Bay station
• MBTA: fares
• MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts

Published October 29, 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.