Driving, Boston

If you are looking at going from New York to Boston / Boston to New York, a very hassle free and comfortable trip is on the Limo Liner! Easy pick up at the Hilton Hotel between 6th and 7th Street
First class individual lay back sets with tables or a club car for a group travelling together. Offer refreshments and has restrooms. They even show a movie!
Very clean and great to drive up to Boston seeing the countryide, rather than a busy train or airport

Driving to Boston is quite easy for us, but getting around Boston is a bit tricky. Many people would recommend parking your car someplace central and then taking the T or walking, as the driving in Boston can be problematic with finding parking as well as some congestion due to contruction you may encounter not to mention the horrible drivers.

We usually drive from New York City to Boston and don't have a problem navigating our way around the city, but we prefer to leave the car parked at the hotel or at an inexpensive parking lot and using the T to get around. Finding a place to park your car that won't cost a bomb is pretty hard to find, so do your homework ahead of time to find a place that is both convenient and within your budget.

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Driving to Boston is an enjoyable way to get there. We enjoy hopping in the car and taking a roadtrip. The drive isn't too long and we have managed to arrive in Boston from our front door from 3-4 hours in duration.

Weekend parking rates are reduced in many Boston parking garages. For example, you can park in the centrally located Boston Common Underground Garage for only $12. Or, if you plan to stay around the Harbor, Quincy Market and North End, you can park in International Place for only $7. Wherever you park, plan to leave the car there and walk the city. You can reach most anywhere Downtown easily by foot. You can always supplement with the T if walking isn't your thing.

AlanSM

I rented a car against all warnings... it cost me $93 for one day....and I couldn't find anywhere to park the thing so that I could get out & walk. Finally when I did park it....for like 3 hours, it cost me $16. Then, I got lost on the way back to the airport, and was frantic, I almost missed my flight. Apparently, the turnpike does not connect to any of the streets like a normal highway. Anyway.
Seriously. Get a subway pass. They are $9 for the whole day (24 hrs) unlimited. It will get you ANYWHERE you wanna go & then you can walk the city like it should be seen! I can't tell you how much more fun I had this way! you can see all of the shops & cafes this way.

and.....when you are done....if you still have time left on your subway pass give it to someone waiting in line for one!

Do NOT drive in Boston. Driving etiquette in Boston is much different from the rest of the country. What may be common for a Boston driver, or "Masshole" may be deadly for anyone else. I learend to drive in the area, but I still take the T as much as possible. Not only are the drivers nightmares, but finding your way around is no walk in the park either. Unlike every other city in America, Boston is made up of a bundle of narrow winding streets with no attempt at any organization, rather than a grid. Attempting to navigate through the city in a car is a great way to put a damper on a great vacation. Driving into the city is a scenic and interesting drive, but you may still fall victim to the Massholes. If you are going to bring a car to Boston however, park at the hotel and take the T.

This was the 2nd time I went to Boston from NYC. The first time, I did everything on public transportation from the NY Port Authority and once we got to Boston we did everything mostly on foot.

This time, we drove, and I will NEVER do that again. Coming from NYC I didn't think it would be a big deal at all, but it's amazing how different the city seems to operate. NY may have traffic and grid lock, but we literally are more like a "grid" whereas Boston streets come out of nowhere, just like the cars. And the lights don't make sense at all. It will look like you're supposed to go, but for some reason everyone else is going too, AT YOU! The drivers are nasty and relentless, cutting people off like I've never seen in NYC, and the streets are just strange.

On foot, people didn't hesitate to talk to you, give friendly directions, or suggest spots to visit. I just found it to be a MUCH better experience on foot.

ALSO, we got caught in a monsoon and needed a cab and fell over from shock when we heard the rate.....NYC may have a reputation for being expensive, but Boston rapes you on cab fare........Whatever you can do to avoid hailing a cab unless you have money to blow, don't take a cab! Take the "T" line or let your feet do the walking.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) doesn't just register motor vehicles. It does driving tests (road tests, as they call them in MA) and everything else to do with motoring.

To British motorists it's like the VRO's (Motor Vehicle registration), DSA (Driving Tests), DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing) and VOSA (Commercial Vehicle operator regulation, enforcement and vehicle testing) combined into one organisation.

GO TO THE WEBSITE BELOW, CLICK ON "DRIVERS' MANUAL" and you can download the Massachusetts equivalent to Britain's Highway Code! This is a marvellous document, which tells you everything you need to know to make you an expert on driving in Massachusetts.

Driving in Boston is something that, even after living in the area for a while, we still try not to do unless there is no other option. With feet that work and a very capable T system, we find that driving isn't worth the hassle or, especially, the cost of parking.

However, if getting to Boston by car is your only option, we would suggest driving to a T or commuter rail station. Leave the car in the suburbs and take the train the rest of the way in. Even if you have to pay to park at the train station, it is considerably less than what you would pay in Boston!

In 1991 I was shocked to see Boston's streets gridlocked from 3pm to 7pm: I've never seen traffic jams anything like the ones I saw in Boston in the UK!
Between my penultimate visit to Boston in 1998 & my last in 2005, something called the 'Big Dig' took place, which involved dismantling the flyovers of Boston's urban motorways & moving the roads underground into tunnels.
As my 2005 visit was on a Saturday, when things were pretty free-flowing, I'm unsure of how well this grand scheme has worked.