Boston to Cape Cod (and back) driving questions
 

Hi,

In mid-May it looks like we'll be flying into Boston (instead of Providence as we've done before) and driving to Cape Cod. We'll be arriving on either a Tuesday or Wednesday from 11 AM to possibly 3:30 PM.

1. On Mapquest it says about 1 1/2 hours from Boston to the Sagamore bridge, from personal experience, would you say this is about correct?

2. On Mapquest it looks like we'd be on MA-3 S for the bulk of the drive. Does anyone have a suggestion for a better route?

3. We're leaving on either Saturday or Sunday and driving back to Boston for our flight. Since it's only mid-May (before Memorial Day), is it still hard trying to get off the Cape on the weekends? We'd be leaving anywhere from 12PM to 4PM to catch our flight out. From the Sagamore bridge, would 3 hours be enough to get back to Boston airport and return car, check in luggage, etc?

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

1 - you can make it faster to Sagamore Bridge, but it could also take longer. Unless there is an accident, that sounds about right, maybe a little too much time.

2 - Rte 93 (Central Artery/Expressway) to Route 3 South - very easy.

3 - The later in the day you leave, the more likely you will hit traffic, especially if it is a Sunday afternoon and the weather has been nice for the weekend. WBZ (1030 AM) has 24-hour/day traffic reports every 10 minutes (on the 10s) or you can hit *1 on cell phone and get up-to-date trafic reports. Three hours sounds about right, but check the traffic.

Where in Cape Cod are you going?

If you're going to Falmouth or Woods Hole, you'll be better off taking MA24 to I-495 to the Bourne Bridge.

Also, if you hear on traffic report that the Sagamore Bridge is congested. Bourne often has better traffic.

Thanks for responding!

gail, thanks for the info on how to get traffic reports, I'll be sure to use it when the time comes. Really appreciate the other info as well.

rkkwan, we're staying in Cataumet, which I think is nearer to the Sagamore bridge. Your suggestion about taking the Bourne bridge in case of traffic is a good one and I'll get directions just in case. Do you still think taking the MA24 to I-495 would be better? I'm a little nervous about driving out of Boston (though I live near Miami so I don't know why!) so whichever way it's harder to get lost would be great.

Thanks again!

Once you get out of the airport onto I-93 South (make sure you do take I-93 south, and don't end up on I-90/Masspike), it's easy.

About 8 miles south of Downtown, I-93 will come to a split. Stay left and you'll be on Rte 3 towards Cape Cod. Straight to the Sagamore Bridge.

It won't be necessary for your weekday drive south to take 24/I-495. To do it, stay right at that split, and you'll still be on I-93 South. Two exits later, and Rte 24 South exits from the left. Then take I-495 South which becomes I-195 and/or Rte25 (can't remember exact signage, but you just go straight), which then leads to the Bourne bridge.

If you arrive at 3:30, by the time you pick up your luggage and rental car, you are going to hit rush hour traffic on a weekday leaving Boston.

If it were me, I'd plan on a nice dinner near the Public Gardens and a stroll before heading to the Cape.

Our preferred route from Boston is I-93S to Route 24 to I-495 to Route 25 to the Bourne Bridge then Route 28.

Hi Beth: Actually, Cataumet is part of Falmouth about 8 miles down route 28 after the Bourne Bridge.

But,you should take whichever route you feel more comfortable with.

The route 3 South is a straight shot right to Sagamore and I will add that it no longer ends at the dreaded rotary. Now that the Sagamore Flyover is completed you just exit onto the Scenic Highway and drive along the Cape Cod Canal to Bourne where you ramp onto the Bourne Bridge.

Don't stress! I get lost at the drop of a pin and even I can find my way to Cape Cod from Boston. Those big green "Cape Cod ->" signs lead the way. Route 93S to Route 3S will get you to the Cape. Just keep in mind that to get to the Falmouth area from the Sagamore bridge you go over the bridge and then along the canal (not on the mid-cape Rt. 6). To get to the Bourne Bridge you go along the canal first on the mainland side and then over the bridge. It doesn't really matter which bridge you take and we have never run into an accident on the bridge. Either way, the traffic situation is way blown out of proportion for mid- May (once you are out of Boston that is).

Thanks everyone for your reassurances. Mapquest has done me wrong before so it's nice to get feedback from actual people who know!

It's been a while since I've been to the Cape so I think I'm getting my bridges mixed up. I better trot out the old maps and refresh my memory cause it's obviously taking a nap.

About hitting rush hour traffic, I was thinking that might be an issue. Your suggestion is a good one. If I can't get earlier flights, I think we might do that.

To all, thanks again. Really appreciate it!