Park and Ride Lots in Boston
Narrow and curved streets laid out for oxen and carts. Drivers with a national reputation for aggressive driving. Limited parking at sky-high prices. Ever-present meter maids. Hordes of pedestrians and cars.
Still looking forward to your next visit to Boston? Luckily, there’s an easier way to visit this historic city than driving downtown and hunting for a legal parking spot. Simply park at one of the MBTA’s major parking lots and take the “T” to your destination. You’ll save money parking, avoid taking part in the demolition derby that is Boston driving, and enjoy your visit without ratcheting up your blood pressure.
Boston, MA
MBTA’s Major Subway Parking Lots
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, also known as the MBTA or simply the “T”, operates most bus, subway, commuter line and ferries in the Boston metropolitan area. In 2008, the MBTA averaged 1.8 million passenger trips daily, with the subway accounting for 598,200 of those rides. For many residents, commuters and visitors, the subway is the key mode of transportation. Schedules and interactive maps for the subway, along with the rail, bus and boat systems, are at www.mbta.com.
For the majority of visitors driving to Boston, the easiest way to visit is to drive to one of the MBTA’s major parking lots and then take the subway to your destination. The MBTA operates over 51,000 parking spaces in 150 locations, with the number of spaces at each lot varying from a few dozen to over 2500. For visitors, it is easiest to park in one of the MBTA’s major subway lots, which are usually located near a major highway exit. The daily parking fees vary by location, but are generally $7 at subway parking garages, $5 - $6 at subway surface lots, $4 at commuter rail surface lots, and $3 at commuter rail lots. These parking fees are often much lower than the parking fees charged by non-MBTA lots.
The MBTA’s major parking lots for the subway system listed below. Visitors will most often park at one of the seven biggest subway garages, each of which has close to or more than 1000 spaces. These 7 lots are located at Alewife, Braintree, North Quincy, Quincy Adams, Riverside, Wellington and Wonderland.
List of Major MBTA Subway Parking Lots
Alewife: 2733 spaces; $7.00 per day or $8.00 overnight; 272 Cambridgepark Dr, Cambridge, MA 02140
MapQuest Link: Map
Beachmont: 430 spaces; $5.00 per day; 665 Winthrop Ave, Revere, MA 02151
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Braintree: 1322 spaces; $7.00 per day or $8.00 overnight; 197 Ivory St, Braintree, MA 02184
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Forest Hills: 206 spaces; $6.00 per day; 1 Hyde Park Ave, Boston, MA 02130
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Lechmere: 347 spaces; $6.00 per day; 1 1st St, Cambridge, MA 02141
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Malden Center: 188 spaces; $6.00 per day; Commercial St & Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148
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North Quincy: 1206 spaces; $5.00 per day; 200 Newport Ave, Wollaston, MA 02170
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North Station: 1275 spaces; Hourly rates from $5.00; 135 Causeway St, Boston, MA 02114
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Oak Grove: 788 spaces; $6.00 per day; 3 Winter St, Malden, MA 02148
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Orient Heights: 434 spaces; $5.00 per day; 1026 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128
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Quincy Adams: 2538 spaces; $7.00 per day or $8.00 overnight; 400 Centre St, Quincy, MA 02169
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Riverside: 925 spaces; $6.00 per day; 390 Grove St, Newton, MA 02462
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South Station: 226 spaces; from $5.00 per 30 minutes; [1-32] Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
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Sullivan Square: 222 spaces; $6.00 per day; 1 Cambridge St, Charlestown, MA 02129
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Wellington: 1316 spaces; $6.00 per day; 51 Rivers Edge Dr, Medford, MA 02155
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Wollaston Station: 550 spaces; $5.00 per day; 300 Newport Ave, Wollaston, MA 02170
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Wonderland: 1862 spaces; $5.00 for first 15 hours; 1300 N Shore Rd, Revere, MA 02151
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Woodland: 548 spaces; $6.00 per day or $7.00 overnight; 1940 washington st, auburndale, MA 02466
MapQuest Link: Map
Additional information about Boston parking at MBTA lots is at www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/parking.
