Requesting directions Storrow Drive to Beacon St.
May 5th, 2011, 06:31 AM
#1
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Requesting directions Storrow Drive to Beacon St.
We live in NH. Last weekend, I drove to the MFA with a friend and we downloaded Mapquest directions that included the instruction to exit Storrow Drive at, I believe, exit 26 and then turning slightly right/left end up on Beacon St. We missed the turn(s) and although we ultimately ended up at the museum, we passed by Fenway Park, surveyed the Fenway, and emerged by the Museum School en route.
Now, this Saturday, my SO is meeting someone who lives in Brookline (but near Fenway Park) to go to a Red Sox game. His instructions to the guy's house are almost identical to mine from last weekend, I'm afraid he'll have trouble navigating that Storrow Drive offramp to Beacon Street and he'll be by himself (no GPS). Can anyone with experience driving in this area offer any details about getting from Storrow Dr. onto Beacon St. (once on it, I think he'll be fine). Thanks very much -
gail
Now, this Saturday, my SO is meeting someone who lives in Brookline (but near Fenway Park) to go to a Red Sox game. His instructions to the guy's house are almost identical to mine from last weekend, I'm afraid he'll have trouble navigating that Storrow Drive offramp to Beacon Street and he'll be by himself (no GPS). Can anyone with experience driving in this area offer any details about getting from Storrow Dr. onto Beacon St. (once on it, I think he'll be fine). Thanks very much -
gail
May 5th, 2011, 07:21 AM
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Assuming your SO is coming over the Tobin Bridge, follow the signs to Storrow Drive. Beware: immediately after coming off of the bridge, there's an underpass where the speed limit suddenly drops to 30 MPH, which is almost impossibly slow for this piece of highway. Most people don't slow down that much, but it's a speed trap, and there are sometimes state police officers waiting under the underpass to pull people over.
After merging onto Storrow, get out of the leftmost lane, which is "exit only" at Government Center/Kendall Square, and you don't want to exit here: http://tinyurl.com/3wz7jud
After passing by that exit, get in the leftmost lane, so that you're forced onto the next "left lane exit only," to Copley Square/Back Bay, here: http://tinyurl.com/3za3fpg As a landmark, note that the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge crosses over Storrow Drive here.
At the end of the off-ramp, you're forced to turn either left or right on Beacon Street. Turn right. http://tinyurl.com/65rw5ye
Be sure to bring a map, and plan for extra time, because one will get lost driving in Boston.
Also, having said all this, taking Storrow to Beacon Street may not be the best way to get through town close to a Red Sox game. There could be a lot of traffic on Beacon. Depending on where in Brookline your SO is going, it might be worthwhile to take Memorial Drive past the whole Fenway/Kenmore area, like this: http://tinyurl.com/3ehts8n Let's see what other people say about that. There won't be traffic on Memorial Drive, but it might not be worth doing this if it's significantly out of the way.
After merging onto Storrow, get out of the leftmost lane, which is "exit only" at Government Center/Kendall Square, and you don't want to exit here: http://tinyurl.com/3wz7jud
After passing by that exit, get in the leftmost lane, so that you're forced onto the next "left lane exit only," to Copley Square/Back Bay, here: http://tinyurl.com/3za3fpg As a landmark, note that the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge crosses over Storrow Drive here.
At the end of the off-ramp, you're forced to turn either left or right on Beacon Street. Turn right. http://tinyurl.com/65rw5ye
Be sure to bring a map, and plan for extra time, because one will get lost driving in Boston.
Also, having said all this, taking Storrow to Beacon Street may not be the best way to get through town close to a Red Sox game. There could be a lot of traffic on Beacon. Depending on where in Brookline your SO is going, it might be worthwhile to take Memorial Drive past the whole Fenway/Kenmore area, like this: http://tinyurl.com/3ehts8n Let's see what other people say about that. There won't be traffic on Memorial Drive, but it might not be worth doing this if it's significantly out of the way.
May 5th, 2011, 07:27 AM
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Your instructions are just what I was looking for, thanks.
He's going to a street that is just off Beacon St., about a 10 minute walk from Fenway according to his friend. I tried printing the map off Mapquest and the ramps off Storrow Dr. are a mass of spaghetti, so you can't tell what to take. I'll continue to look for a printable map; all the maps I have of Boston don't show that exit ramp area very well, probably because it's impossible...
He's going to a street that is just off Beacon St., about a 10 minute walk from Fenway according to his friend. I tried printing the map off Mapquest and the ramps off Storrow Dr. are a mass of spaghetti, so you can't tell what to take. I'll continue to look for a printable map; all the maps I have of Boston don't show that exit ramp area very well, probably because it's impossible...
May 5th, 2011, 08:32 AM
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I beg to differ. Hawksbill's suggestion for exit on Storrow Drive will take your SO onto Beacon Street in BOSTON, not in Brookline. He'll end up stuck in traffic forever crawling up Beacon Street block by block.
My suggestion would be: After he gets on Storrow Drive W, stay in the MIDDLE LANE, which he'll end up exiting at KENMORE SQUARE. Stay on the R land after exit and turn R, which is BEACON STREET. After a block, he'll be in Kenmore Square, which is a huge intersection. He wants to be in sort of the middle lane and go STRAIGHT, staying on the L hand side of Hotel Buckminster (the Street on the R hand side of Buckminster is Comm Ave). That is Beacon street which will then crossover MassPike and enter Brookline.
My suggestion would be: After he gets on Storrow Drive W, stay in the MIDDLE LANE, which he'll end up exiting at KENMORE SQUARE. Stay on the R land after exit and turn R, which is BEACON STREET. After a block, he'll be in Kenmore Square, which is a huge intersection. He wants to be in sort of the middle lane and go STRAIGHT, staying on the L hand side of Hotel Buckminster (the Street on the R hand side of Buckminster is Comm Ave). That is Beacon street which will then crossover MassPike and enter Brookline.
May 5th, 2011, 08:50 AM
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yk, your advice makes sense -- I don't have any idea how long he'd be on Beacon St. before hitting Kenmore Sq if he got off at the Copley exit, but as long as getting off at Kenmore Sq is pretty straightforward, then his main challenge would be ending up on Beacon St. leaving Kenmore (which is where my friend and I went wrong, I think). sigh. Wish him luck!
May 5th, 2011, 08:54 AM
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How much earlier than game time is he planning on arriving at his friend's house? I ask because the traffic going through Kenmore Square will be stop and go before the game.
The earlier he can come in, the better.
There are ways to avoid Kenmore Square but they are not so straightforward, especially for a visitor. Do you know the name of the street in Brookline?
The earlier he can come in, the better.
There are ways to avoid Kenmore Square but they are not so straightforward, especially for a visitor. Do you know the name of the street in Brookline?
May 5th, 2011, 09:54 AM
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Oh - for some reason I thought gailw wanted to get off of Storrow as early as possible.
It's true, there will be a lot of traffic on Beacon Street going through Boston before a Red Sox game. However, taking Storrow outbound to the Fenway/Kenmore exit right before a Sox game is no picnic either. If you do that, the secret will getting in the correct lane. Storrow has three lanes at that point. Two of them exit to the left at Fenway/Kenmore, and the rightmost lane continues as Storrow Drive. The best way to handle this exit will be to exit left from the MIDDLE lane, rather than the far left lane. Then stay toward the right, and take the "low road" rather than the "high road," which is an overpass that goes toward Fenway. Your first right will be Beacon Street. Follow the little red car here: http://tinyurl.com/3qhjq6p Then stay on the left side of this fork to remain on Beacon Street: http://tinyurl.com/4yha62z Then, as yk says, at Kenmore Square, bear left so that the Hotel Buckminster stays on your immediate left. I.e. follow the red pickup truck here: http://tinyurl.com/63jtbvn
As cw says, the traffic at Kenmore is going to be a nightmare too, and that exit from Storrow may be ugly. The more I think about it, if the goal is to end up in Brookline, I really think it will probably be better to take Memorial Drive through Cambridge, and come back over into Brookline on the B.U. Bridge.
It's true, there will be a lot of traffic on Beacon Street going through Boston before a Red Sox game. However, taking Storrow outbound to the Fenway/Kenmore exit right before a Sox game is no picnic either. If you do that, the secret will getting in the correct lane. Storrow has three lanes at that point. Two of them exit to the left at Fenway/Kenmore, and the rightmost lane continues as Storrow Drive. The best way to handle this exit will be to exit left from the MIDDLE lane, rather than the far left lane. Then stay toward the right, and take the "low road" rather than the "high road," which is an overpass that goes toward Fenway. Your first right will be Beacon Street. Follow the little red car here: http://tinyurl.com/3qhjq6p Then stay on the left side of this fork to remain on Beacon Street: http://tinyurl.com/4yha62z Then, as yk says, at Kenmore Square, bear left so that the Hotel Buckminster stays on your immediate left. I.e. follow the red pickup truck here: http://tinyurl.com/63jtbvn
As cw says, the traffic at Kenmore is going to be a nightmare too, and that exit from Storrow may be ugly. The more I think about it, if the goal is to end up in Brookline, I really think it will probably be better to take Memorial Drive through Cambridge, and come back over into Brookline on the B.U. Bridge.
May 5th, 2011, 10:21 AM
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Just to clarify hawksbill's directions in the second to the last paragraph: "at Kenmore Square, bear left so that the Hotel Buckminster stays on your immediate RIGHT (not left).
It's a big intersection and you have three streets to choose from--Beacon Street is the choice in the middle--so don't bear left or right.
But I agree that going over the BU bridge to Brookline would be preferable, depending on the arrival time.
It's a big intersection and you have three streets to choose from--Beacon Street is the choice in the middle--so don't bear left or right.
But I agree that going over the BU bridge to Brookline would be preferable, depending on the arrival time.
May 5th, 2011, 10:38 AM
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He's going to Amory Street and it looks from the map as if it were not far from Beacon Street. I think the game they're attending starts at noon, and don't want him to miss the beginning of the game either lost or stuck in traffic, but also, he hasn't driven much at all in Boston and doesn't fully realize how bad it can be (I always use the T in Boston, so normally don't have to deal with all this, but he wants to drive in...)
I really really appreciate everyone chiming in to help. Thanks!
gail
I really really appreciate everyone chiming in to help. Thanks!
gail
May 5th, 2011, 10:48 AM
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I guess the BU bridge has reopened. Mem Dr -> BU Bridge -> Brookline is an option. If your SO are coming into town a few hours before game time (say >2 hrs), the traffic should be okay. But it'll definitely be quite a nightmare if he hopes to get in within the hour before game time.
P.S. I see that it's a 1pm game on Saturday. Just note that Berklee College of Music has its commenecement that day at the BU Agganis Arena, starting at 10am. http://www.berklee.edu/commencement/schedule.html
I guess all I'm saying is, plan on driving in early so he won't be stuck in traffic and be late for the game. Alternatively, he can consider parking his car at Alewife station and take the Red Line -> Green Line to Fenway or Brookline. Less convenient but definitely LESS HEADACHE!
P.S. I see that it's a 1pm game on Saturday. Just note that Berklee College of Music has its commenecement that day at the BU Agganis Arena, starting at 10am. http://www.berklee.edu/commencement/schedule.html
I guess all I'm saying is, plan on driving in early so he won't be stuck in traffic and be late for the game. Alternatively, he can consider parking his car at Alewife station and take the Red Line -> Green Line to Fenway or Brookline. Less convenient but definitely LESS HEADACHE!
May 5th, 2011, 10:53 AM
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gailw, just saw your response:
he hasn't driven much at all in Boston and doesn't fully realize how bad it can be
Ahem... I drive into the city 1-2x/week (on Storrow Dr via Back Bay & Theatre District). I can tell you that the traffic has SIGNIFICANTLY gotten worse over the last few weeks. There are TONS of out of state drivers (either tourists or parents of college students) who don't know where they're going; plus TONS of visitors on foot who don't follow traffic cross lights. It's been a MAJOR PITA lately to drive in; it takes 30 minutes for me to drive from Storrow Dr Copley Sq exit to get to Chinatown area. And this is not during game nights. Good luck to your SO.
he hasn't driven much at all in Boston and doesn't fully realize how bad it can be
Ahem... I drive into the city 1-2x/week (on Storrow Dr via Back Bay & Theatre District). I can tell you that the traffic has SIGNIFICANTLY gotten worse over the last few weeks. There are TONS of out of state drivers (either tourists or parents of college students) who don't know where they're going; plus TONS of visitors on foot who don't follow traffic cross lights. It's been a MAJOR PITA lately to drive in; it takes 30 minutes for me to drive from Storrow Dr Copley Sq exit to get to Chinatown area. And this is not during game nights. Good luck to your SO.
May 5th, 2011, 10:58 AM
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Thank you for the feedback. I'll try to talk him out of driving into the heart of the beast.
I think he'd go by the Sullivan Square exit coming in off 93, and maybe he could drop the car at the lot there and take the orange line in and then pick up one of the others to get out to Brookline.
I think he'd go by the Sullivan Square exit coming in off 93, and maybe he could drop the car at the lot there and take the orange line in and then pick up one of the others to get out to Brookline.
May 5th, 2011, 11:10 AM
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I live right near Amory St.
He should take the Fenway/Kenmore exit off of Storrow. Stay right toward Kenmore Sq. Take a right at the light onto Beacon St. Stay straight on Beacon for about a mile, Amory St will be on the right. If he passes the Holiday Inn on the right, he's gone too far.
Amory St is really super, super easy to find.
He should take the Fenway/Kenmore exit off of Storrow. Stay right toward Kenmore Sq. Take a right at the light onto Beacon St. Stay straight on Beacon for about a mile, Amory St will be on the right. If he passes the Holiday Inn on the right, he's gone too far.
Amory St is really super, super easy to find.
May 5th, 2011, 11:16 AM
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Before moving here last year I had never taken a bus. Now I am a frequent MBTA traveler. And now I realize with the above travel info the advantage (for me living in the area) taking the T with a short walk from the stop to Fenway Park....and not driving.
I've got to get to a Red Sox game...and it looks like they may begin to win.
Bill in Boston (actually Watertown)
I've got to get to a Red Sox game...and it looks like they may begin to win.
Bill in Boston (actually Watertown)
May 5th, 2011, 01:42 PM
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If he were to drive to friend's in Brookline, does he have plans for what to do with his car? On game days parking is impossible and Brookline has recently upped meter rates top ridiculous levels in areas where Fenway-goers might park.
I am very familiar with area in question, having gone to BU and having lived in area decades ago - and still the directions above are giving me a headache (although they are correct - I am not sure I could follow them if I was unfamiliar with the area).
Another possibility is to park at Prudential Center garage and walk from there - it is perhaps 3/4 mile and easier to get to.
I am very familiar with area in question, having gone to BU and having lived in area decades ago - and still the directions above are giving me a headache (although they are correct - I am not sure I could follow them if I was unfamiliar with the area).
Another possibility is to park at Prudential Center garage and walk from there - it is perhaps 3/4 mile and easier to get to.
May 5th, 2011, 04:14 PM
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Yes, CW. Friend has a driveway and he'll park there. I agree with the other Gail: the directions give me a headache.
After having read the entire thread above, he has agreed to leave quite early in the morning to beat any pre-game traffic; he'll follow the "Kenmore Square to BEacon St., stay to the left of the Buckminster Hotel" directions, and says he'll be able to do it.
We Fodorites have done all that is humanly possible; now it's up to him. I'll report back on his success and thank you all once again for your invaluable assistance.
gailw
After having read the entire thread above, he has agreed to leave quite early in the morning to beat any pre-game traffic; he'll follow the "Kenmore Square to BEacon St., stay to the left of the Buckminster Hotel" directions, and says he'll be able to do it.
We Fodorites have done all that is humanly possible; now it's up to him. I'll report back on his success and thank you all once again for your invaluable assistance.
gailw
