South Station to Harvard Square

How to get from South Station to Harvard Square 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 South Station to Harvard

Step by step

1. At South Station, take the Red Line toward Alewife.
2. Ride 6 stops, about 13 min, through Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Charles/MGH, Kendall/MIT and Central, and get off at Harvard.

Times and frequency

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

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:44 am and gets to Harvard Square around 12:59 am. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:43 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:44 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:44 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 Central. The next stop is Harvard. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
• Harvard station opens right into Harvard Square. Harvard Yard is across Massachusetts Avenue from the main entrance.
• South Station has the Red Line and Silver Line underground, Commuter Rail and Amtrak on the main concourse, and the intercity bus terminal upstairs next door.

Step-free access

MBTA data lists every station on this route (South Station and Harvard) 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.
• 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.

South Station to Harvard Square: common questions

How do I get from South Station to Harvard Square by public transit?

Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard. The trip takes about 16 minutes.

How long does it take to get from South Station to Harvard Square?

About 16 minutes on the main route.

Do I have to change trains?

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

How often does the Red Line run?

Every 5 min on weekdays during the day, every 6 min on Saturdays and every 6 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.

What time is the last train from South Station to Harvard Square?

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:44 am and gets to Harvard Square around 12:59 am. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:43 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:44 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:44 am.

Related routes

• South Station to Davis Square
• South Station to Boston University
• Boston Common to Harvard Square
• North Station to Harvard Square
• Boston to Cambridge: Harvard and MIT (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: Red Line
• MBTA: South Station station
• MBTA: Harvard 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.