What is the best way to travel from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Ma.?

Question

I will be soon in Washington-Maryland area, then I would like to travel to Boston. What are tha cheapest ways to travel and what are the must see places in Boston

Answer 1

Trains are okay, but.....ehh, flying is really the best way to go.
Places to see;
*Freedom trail, a lot of walking, but well worth it for the historic value
*NorthEnd, oh the food!
*Science Museum - really cool
*Boston Aquarium - nice for an aquarium
*Prudential Center - a neat mall-like area

Boston is an amazing and diverse city. The T is fairly simple, yet like any other system takes time to learn. Go to their website www.mbta.com - which is being improved and will offer more soon. Once you get the hang of it, its simple and works well. That is the best way to travel once in the city. Walking is the second best way.

Like every other city in the world, you should not be alone after dark. Also, the street signs in Boston leave A LOT to be desired. There are either too many or none! Apparently they are trying to correct this problem. Do your homework, and you won't be disappointed. Also, there are wonderful places not far from city proper, and you can reach these via the T and rental car. New England is like no where else.

I hope you enjoy your trip!!

Roaring Mice - driving is much longer than 5 hours - its about that far to NYC, driving time from Washington DC is about 8 hours, so long as you avoid the cities along the way.

Answer 2

I travel between Boston and DC area for both business and visiting family a lot... like 2-3 times a month.... so I've taken just about every type of transportation like a million times.

Driving sucks - it's 7.5 hours AT LEAST, not a particularly pleasant drive, and actually not as cheap as you'd think. (More than a tank of gas each way and $10-15 in tolls).

The train is also not cheap and is a long trip (8 hours unless you take Acela, then it's still 6.5) - It's fun for the first couple hours but then it gets way old. It's also not as cheap as flying.

Flying, then, is obviously my preference. The cheapest is generally from BWI - on AirTran you can fly for $130 round trip or so. Southwest isn't usually cheaper and they don't fly into Boston anyway.... you'd have to go into Providence or Manchester, each an hour away... so even if Southwest is $10 cheaper it wouldn't be worth it. If I'm traveling for work, I fly from National Airport in DC which is by far the most convenient although usually more expensive. The USAirways shuttle is GREAT if you happen to get a deal on them - it's SO easy.


To see in Boston: Harvard Square, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and/or Museum of Fine Arts (Actually the Gardner would be my preference if you only see one of them).... if you're into art museums, that is. Of course, you have to pay admission and they're not as impressive when you're used to the Smithsonian, but the Gardner is interesting because of the history. Also walk the Freedom Trail and see the historic sites along it... if you really see everything along it, then that's pretty much a full day. Still worth seeing though. And eat dinner in the North End.... and especially go to Mike's Pastry.

Answer 3

There are some express flights which will get you from DC to Boston in about an hour. I know Delta used to have an express flight that went a few times per day. If that seems to be too expensive, then I would say take the Acela Train. Takes about 4 hours. . .Easier than driving, which can take about 7 or 8 hours, depending when you leave as far as traffic, etc. Once you're in Boston, make sure to check out lots of historic sites. You can walk the Freedom Trail and see everything! There are lots of nice museums and restaruants too. Go to www.boston.com for reviews and listings! Have a great trip!

Answer 4

Quickest, if you're near the train stations, may be to take the train from DC to Boston. The Acela Express would be your best bet.

Driving from DC to Boston shouldn't take that long - maybe 5 hours? But it takes longer because it's a high-traffic route, and then the traffic in and around the cities is a misery.

Flying is also an option, and there are lots of quick shuttles between DC and Boston. But factor in travel time to the airports, getting through security, it may be quicker to take the train.

Boston is a great city to tourist. Make sure you walk the Freedom Trail - it has most of the famous sites right on it. For details, go to the website for The Lonely Planet or get one of their guidebooks. The Let's Go guides are also good books, but they don't have info online like Lonely Planet does.

Answer 5

Hmmm. I notice that all prior answerers ignored your request about what is cheapest (other than hitch-hike, bike or walking). It would be busses, and the cheapest of all (as low as $20) would be Fung Wah bus. Said to be quite a cultural experience also.

As for Amtrak, you can take alternative intercity train to Acela (which is 6 1/2 hrs, not 4 as ShouldBeW writes [and driving is 9-10hrs, not 7-8]) at about half the price, but trip is 8 or more hours.

Some airlines have weekend special deals. Or, instead of flying D.C. to Boston fly cheapo Southwest from Washington-Baltimore to either Providence or to Manchester-Boston regional. Cheaper, but you have hassle of taking local transit for the differences on either end (not so much of a problem to Washington-Baltimore, just take MARC or Amtrak trains, but from Providence you have to bus it from airport to downtown than T or Amtrak train to Boston South Station; from Manchester regional a bus shuttle to Anderson then T train to Boston North Station. However Providence is very much a much-to-see place also (not Manchester!!!) so you may wish to consider.

Contrary to I_Love_li..., Boston (and most major cosmopolitan cities in the world!!) not so unsafe after dark (though occasional things DO happen).

Also, please know that Boston is actually Boston and Cambridge. The cities lie across the river from each other and each is unique (someone living in Cambridge NEVER says he or she is living in the Boston area) with differing economies and things to see and do.

Answer 6

The flight I took from Boston to Washington DC and vice versa was only around and hour and a half. I don't remember how much it was thoguh. It's around an 8 hour dirve and there's is Amtrak (train) service to and From Washington DC to Boston. I'm sure that's much less expensive than flying

Answer 7

If you want to see the sceneries along the way, Amtrak (the train stops in Penn Station - New York) and then continues on to Boston.

If you just want to get there quick....airplane.

BTW, the drive from Washington to Boston is 8-9 hours.

Answer 8

you will get nicer drives in case you're taking an extremely circuitous path (case in point, from Boston, take path 2 all a thank you to the Albany section, the southwest in direction of Allentown PA, then south in direction of DC), yet which will contain a large number of using, possibly two times as long as an instant BOS-DC holiday. you should evaluate the prepare instead to flying. The Amtrak provider from Boston to DC is approximately 6.5-7 hours, and the ecosystem is in many situations somewhat superb. i'm in basic terms conscious of the Boston-long island element, yet you will get distinctive glimpses of the sea and marshes, and you have an impressive view of long island as you're making your way in from the western end of long island

Answer 9

Someone I know went from Baltimore to Boston recently and the cheapest they could find was plane for $89

Answer 10

the accela express or a special shuttle flight. dont drive, its too long and the gas, tolls, rest stops and confuzing maps make it not worth while. if u want to travel in boston use the T, preferably the green line since it is the train most concentrated in the city rather than commuters.