By Shawn Gallagher
Although Boston Logan Airport is located very close to Downtown Boston, it can actually be a bit of a challenge trying to navigate to the city center. With that said, there are several ways to get there, one of them being the Silver Line.
The Silver Line is basically an express bus service from the airport terminals to South Station in Downtown Boston. No, it’s not a subway line, even though it sounds like one (for New Yorkers: the Silver Line is a glorified bus route kind of like the MTA’s Select Bus Services). Nonetheless, it does its job transporting passengers from each terminal to the city.
It’s also free to use when going from the airport, and drops you off inside the ticket gates at South Station, meaning you can make a free transfer to the Red Line and use that further to your final destination.
Here’s a guide on how to grab the Silver Line bus from Boston Logan Airport.
Arrival At Boston Logan Airport
I’ll be using terminal A as an example, but all the terminals go the same way.
Upon landing, head to baggage claim and the exits.
I had a bag to pick up at baggage claim.
Once you grab your bag if you have one, you can head out of any of the exits on the arrivals level (ground level).
Signs usually say “Silver Line” with a T logo, but sometimes say “Public Transportation” like in the picture above.
Once you get outside, walk along the curb until you see the sign for “Silver Line.” For terminal A, it’s adjacent to baggage claim carousel 3 inside.
You’ll see a sign like this. Every terminal will have this same sign.
The bus will come here and drop off and pick up passengers. This airport route is Silver Line 1 (abbreviated SL1), and buses will come once every 10 minutes. I recommend using the MBTA website for the most up-to-date information on the bus’ location and status.
Airport To South Station
Once the bus comes, all you do is hop on. I think this is the best part of the Silver Line for visitors; there’s no need to shuffle around and quickly figure out how to buy a ticket in a new city. It’s free, just get on and relax until you arrive.
The bus has luggage racks for your suitcases and large bags.
The bus does make a few stops in the Seaport District, so if that’s your final destination, you can get off before South Station.
The bus goes through a dedicated tunnel under Seaport and the rest of the way to South Station. The whole trip takes about 15-20 minutes, but it really depends on traffic. Once arriving at South Station, you’ll be inside the ticket gates of the Red Line subway station; you can make a free transfer there or go outside.
Concluding Thoughts
The Silver Line does its job when you need to get from the airport to the city center. Sure, buses can be a pain in general. But considering they’re free, accommodates large luggage, and drops you off inside the ticket gates at South Station, I’d say it’s a good option for when you arrive.
I’ve taken this many times when using Logan Airport and it’s come in handy every time, especially the free transfer to the subway.
All photos taken by the author.