North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art
Plain directions from North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Silver Line SL2
- Take the Orange LineFrom North Station, toward Forest Hills3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Ashmont1 stop, about 1 min
- Change at South Station
- Take the Silver Line SL2Toward Design Center1 stop, about 1 min
- Get off at Courthouse
- Walk about 7 min to Institute of Contemporary ArtUse the 1 | Seaport Blvd exit
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to South Station, then the Silver Line SL2 to Courthouse, and walk about 7 min. The trip takes about 26 minutes. On weekdays the Silver Line SL2 runs every 7 min during the day.
Get the live route from North Station to the ICA
Step by step
- At North Station, take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
- Ride 3 stops, about 4 min, through Haymarket and State, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Red Line toward Ashmont.
- Ride 1 stop, about 1 min to South Station.
- At South Station, change to the Silver Line SL2 toward Design Center.
- Ride 1 stop, about 1 min to Courthouse.
- Walk about 7 min to Institute of Contemporary Art. Use the 1 | Seaport Blvd exit.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to South Station, then the Silver Line SL3 to Courthouse, and walk about 7 min: about 25 min.
- Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Braintree to South Station, then the Silver Line SL1 to Courthouse, and walk about 7 min: about 27 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 | 5:26 am | 12:30 am | Every 7 min | About 26 min |
| Friday | 5:26 am | 1:10 am | Every 7 min | About 26 min |
| Saturday | 5:53 am | 1:12 am | Every 10 min | About 24 min |
| Sunday | 6:56 am | 12:24 am | About every 15 min | About 25 min |
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 Silver Line SL2 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 12:30 am and gets to Institute of Contemporary Art around 12:55 am, using Orange Line and Red Line and Silver Line SLW. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:10 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:12 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:24 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Changing at Downtown Crossing. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Red Line toward Ashmont.
- The ICA is on the Seaport waterfront, next to Fan Pier.
- 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, Downtown Crossing, South Station and Courthouse) as accessible. South Station has 9 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.
North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art: common questions
How do I get from North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to South Station, then the Silver Line SL2 to Courthouse, and walk about 7 min. The trip takes about 26 minutes.
How long does it take to get from North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art?
About 26 minutes on the main route. Walking takes about 34 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and South Station. Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Ashmont to South Station, then the Silver Line SL2 to Courthouse, and walk about 7 min.
How often does the Silver Line SL2 run?
Every 7 min on weekdays during the day, every 10 min on Saturdays and about every 15 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from North Station to Institute of Contemporary Art?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 12:30 am and gets to Institute of Contemporary Art around 12:55 am, using Orange Line and Red Line and Silver Line SLW. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:10 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:12 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:24 am.
Related routes
- North Station to the Seaport
- North Station to Seaport World Trade Center
- Boston Common to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Back Bay Station to Institute of Contemporary Art
- Getting to TD Garden by T (guide)
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from North Station
- North Station to Boston Children's Museum
- North Station to Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
- North Station to Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
- North Station to Leader Bank Pavilion
- North Station to New England Aquarium
- All routes from North 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: Red Line
- MBTA: Silver Line SL2
- MBTA: North Station station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: South Station station
- MBTA: Courthouse 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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