South Station to South Shore Plaza
Plain directions from South Station to South Shore Plaza, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
South Station to South Shore Plaza
- Red Line
- Bus 238
- Take the Red LineFrom South Station, toward Braintree7 stops, about 22 min
- Change at Quincy Adams
- Take bus 238Toward Holbrook/Randolph20 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at S Shore Plaza @ GarageThe stop after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins.
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage. The trip takes about 49 minutes (44-53 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 238 runs about once an hour during the day.
Get the live route from South Station to South Shore Plaza
Step by step
- At South Station, take the Red Line toward Braintree.
- Ride 7 stops, about 22 min, through Broadway, Andrew, JFK/UMass, North Quincy, Wollaston and Quincy Center, and get off at Quincy Adams.
- At Quincy Adams, change to bus 238 toward Holbrook/Randolph.
- Ride about 16 min (20 stops). Get off at S Shore Plaza @ Garage, the stop after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins..
Other ways to go
- Take the Red Line to Braintree, then bus 236 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage: about 48 min.
- Take the Fall River/New Bedford Line toward Fall River to Holbrook/Randolph, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage: about 57 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-Friday | 5:33 am | 10:06 pm | About once an hour | About 49 min |
| Saturday | 6:09 am | 10:20 pm | About once an hour | About 46 min |
| Sunday | 7:19 am | 10:16 pm | About every 90 min | About 47 min |
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 238 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 10:06 pm and gets to South Shore Plaza around 11:22 pm, using Red Line and bus 240 and bus 238. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 10:20 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:16 pm. 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 Ashmont don't go to Quincy Adams. Look for Braintree on the train sign.
- Know your stop. Get to the door after S Shore Mall Rd @ Travelers Ins.. The next stop is S Shore Plaza @ Garage. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Quincy Adams. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for bus 238.
- South Shore Plaza is on Granite Street in Braintree, off Route 3 and I-93.
- 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 Quincy Adams) 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 South Shore Plaza: common questions
How do I get from South Station to South Shore Plaza by public transit?
Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage. The trip takes about 49 minutes (44-53 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from South Station to South Shore Plaza?
About 49 minutes on the main route, or 44-53 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Quincy Adams. Take the Red Line toward Braintree to Quincy Adams, then bus 238 to S Shore Plaza @ Garage.
How often does bus 238 run?
About once an hour on weekdays during the day, about once an hour on Saturdays and about every 90 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from South Station to South Shore Plaza?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 10:06 pm and gets to South Shore Plaza around 11:22 pm, using Red Line and bus 240 and bus 238. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 10:20 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:16 pm.
Related routes
- South Station to Braintree
- South Station to Quincy Center
- Back Bay Station to South Shore Plaza
- Logan Airport to South Shore Plaza
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from South Station
- South Station to Adams National Historical Park
- South Station to Wollaston Beach
- South Station to Pope John Paul II Park
- South Station to Marina Bay
- South Station to UMass Boston
- 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 238
- MBTA: South Station station
- MBTA: Quincy Adams 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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