We're excited you'll be coming for NEEPS 2015! Here you'll find travel resources and maps to help you get to Boston and then to get around the downtown area. Choose your preferred method of arrival to see how best to get here (plane, train, car, or bus), and then take a look at our resources for Getting Around once you're here!
Getting to boston
Via Plane
Boston's main airport is Logan International Airport. There are also several smaller regional airports each of which is a little over an hour from Boston: Worcester Regional Airport (Worcester, Mass.), Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (Manchester, N.H.), and T.F. Green Airport (Warwick, R.I.). However, Logan is usually your best bet, as it connects directly to public transit, which is the best way to get around Boston (see Getting Around Boston, below). From Logan Airport, the quickest way to the official NEEPS hostel is to catch the Silver Line bus SL1, which is free, and ride it to the final stop, South Station, where you can walk 10 minutes to the hostel or change to the Red Line and ride to the hostel or venue. Another transit option from Logan Airport is to take the free airport shuttle to the Blue Line and take the inbound train (toward Bowdoin) to get to Suffolk. More info on taking public transit from Logan Airport can be found here.
From T.F. Green Airport, the Providence/Stoughton line will take you into town (see below).
Boston's main airport is Logan International Airport. There are also several smaller regional airports each of which is a little over an hour from Boston: Worcester Regional Airport (Worcester, Mass.), Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (Manchester, N.H.), and T.F. Green Airport (Warwick, R.I.). However, Logan is usually your best bet, as it connects directly to public transit, which is the best way to get around Boston (see Getting Around Boston, below). From Logan Airport, the quickest way to the official NEEPS hostel is to catch the Silver Line bus SL1, which is free, and ride it to the final stop, South Station, where you can walk 10 minutes to the hostel or change to the Red Line and ride to the hostel or venue. Another transit option from Logan Airport is to take the free airport shuttle to the Blue Line and take the inbound train (toward Bowdoin) to get to Suffolk. More info on taking public transit from Logan Airport can be found here.
From T.F. Green Airport, the Providence/Stoughton line will take you into town (see below).
Via Train
Boston has several railroad stations that connect directly to public transit. North Station has train connections from New Hampshire and Maine on a line called the Downeaster. If you're coming from anywhere else, you'll be coming into either South Station -- Boston's biggest train station -- or Back Bay Station. There's also a station called Route 128 in Westwood, MA (about 32 minutes southwest of Boston); if you end up coming in there for some reason, you'll need to take the Providence/Stoughton commuter rail train line toward South Station. From this line, you can transfer to the Orange Line at either Ruggles or Back Bay Stations, or to the Red Line at South Station. And South Station is a 10 minute walk to the official NEEPS hostel. Check out Amtrak if you'd like to travel here by train.
Boston has several railroad stations that connect directly to public transit. North Station has train connections from New Hampshire and Maine on a line called the Downeaster. If you're coming from anywhere else, you'll be coming into either South Station -- Boston's biggest train station -- or Back Bay Station. There's also a station called Route 128 in Westwood, MA (about 32 minutes southwest of Boston); if you end up coming in there for some reason, you'll need to take the Providence/Stoughton commuter rail train line toward South Station. From this line, you can transfer to the Orange Line at either Ruggles or Back Bay Stations, or to the Red Line at South Station. And South Station is a 10 minute walk to the official NEEPS hostel. Check out Amtrak if you'd like to travel here by train.
Via Car
Boston is easily accessible by automobile via the major highways I-90 (if you're coming from the west) and I-93, which connects to I-95 (if you're coming from the north or south). However, driving around downtown Boston should be avoided if possible, due to the scant and expensive parking options near Suffolk University (not to mention crazy traffic and confusing, winding street layout). Instead, we strongly recommend parking at one of the public transit stations that allow overnight parking (listed below), riding the subway into town, leaving the car for the weekend, and getting to the conference and your lodgings on foot and via public transit. It's easy, and you'll pay only $6 or $8 per day for overnight parking (compared to over $35/day near Suffolk). The ideal station will depend on what direction you're coming from.
Coming from the west
Alewife Station - Red Line
Riverside Station - Green Line (slightly more expensive than other lots)
Woodland Station - Green Line
Coming from the south
Quincy Adams Station - Red Line (best availability of parking)
Braintree Station - Red Line
Coming from the north
Wellington Station - Orange Line
Wonderland Station - Blue Line
If you're sure you want to try driving around parking in downtown Boston (don't say you weren't warned), there are a number of high priced parking garages near Suffolk University. The closest one to the conference facilities is at 120 Tremont St. You can also use the Boston Common parking garage, which is a short walk away. Here is a list of the other parking facilities near campus, and a nifty Parking Finder tool at BestParking.com where you can find parking lots and compare prices (for a lot near the hostel, look in Chinatown or the Theater District).
Boston is easily accessible by automobile via the major highways I-90 (if you're coming from the west) and I-93, which connects to I-95 (if you're coming from the north or south). However, driving around downtown Boston should be avoided if possible, due to the scant and expensive parking options near Suffolk University (not to mention crazy traffic and confusing, winding street layout). Instead, we strongly recommend parking at one of the public transit stations that allow overnight parking (listed below), riding the subway into town, leaving the car for the weekend, and getting to the conference and your lodgings on foot and via public transit. It's easy, and you'll pay only $6 or $8 per day for overnight parking (compared to over $35/day near Suffolk). The ideal station will depend on what direction you're coming from.
Coming from the west
Alewife Station - Red Line
Riverside Station - Green Line (slightly more expensive than other lots)
Woodland Station - Green Line
Coming from the south
Quincy Adams Station - Red Line (best availability of parking)
Braintree Station - Red Line
Coming from the north
Wellington Station - Orange Line
Wonderland Station - Blue Line
If you're sure you want to try driving around parking in downtown Boston (don't say you weren't warned), there are a number of high priced parking garages near Suffolk University. The closest one to the conference facilities is at 120 Tremont St. You can also use the Boston Common parking garage, which is a short walk away. Here is a list of the other parking facilities near campus, and a nifty Parking Finder tool at BestParking.com where you can find parking lots and compare prices (for a lot near the hostel, look in Chinatown or the Theater District).
Via Bus
South Station Bus Terminal is served by a number of bus lines, including Greyhound, Peter Pan, Megabus, BoltBus, and a number of Chinatown lines. See full list of lines here. The South Station bus terminal is adjacent to the actual South Station train station, and from the train station you can take the Red Line to Suffolk or walk 10 minutes to the official NEEPS hostel.
South Station Bus Terminal is served by a number of bus lines, including Greyhound, Peter Pan, Megabus, BoltBus, and a number of Chinatown lines. See full list of lines here. The South Station bus terminal is adjacent to the actual South Station train station, and from the train station you can take the Red Line to Suffolk or walk 10 minutes to the official NEEPS hostel.