South Station to Pope John Paul II Park

Plain directions from South Station to Pope John Paul II Park, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 30, 2026

Get the live route from South Station to Pope John Paul II Park

Step by step

1. At South Station, take the Red Line toward Ashmont.
2. Ride 7 stops, about 16 min, through Broadway, Andrew, JFK/UMass, Savin Hill, Fields Corner and Shawmut, and get off at Ashmont.
3. At Ashmont, change to bus 215 toward Quincy Center.
4. Ride 9 stops, about 3 min. Get off at Granite Ave opp Hilltop St, the stop after Granite Ave @ Milton St.
5. Walk about 16 min to Pope John Paul II Park.

Other ways to go

• Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Fields Corner, then bus 202 to Hilltop St @ Hallet St, and walk about 8 min: about 45 min.
• Take the Red Line toward Ashmont to Fields Corner, then bus 210 to Neponset Ave @ Minot St, and walk about 12 min: about 42 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

First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves South Station, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 215 (the least frequent part of the trip).

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:35 am and gets to Pope John Paul II Park around 1:18 am, using Red Line and bus 210. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 12:37 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:36 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 Red Line branch. Trains to Braintree don't go to Ashmont. Look for Ashmont on the train sign.
• Know your stop. Get to the door after Granite Ave @ Milton St. The next stop is Granite Ave opp Hilltop St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
• Changing at Ashmont. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for bus 215.
• Pope John Paul II Park is on the Neponset River in Dorchester, off Gallivan Boulevard.
• 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 Ashmont) 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 and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time.
• 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 Pope John Paul II Park: common questions

Related routes

• South Station to Marina Bay
• South Station to Wollaston Beach
• Boston Common to Pope John Paul II Park
• North Station to Pope John Paul II Park
• Never miss your stop (guide)

More routes from South Station

• South Station to UMass Boston
• South Station to JFK Presidential Library
• South Station to Quincy Center
• South Station to Carson Beach
• South Station to L Street Beach
• All routes from South 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: Red Line
• MBTA: bus 215
• MBTA: South Station station
• MBTA: Ashmont 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.