I'll be driving from Long Island, NY to the Boston area for Columbus Day weekend Oct 6-8. I plan to park the car at my hotel and use the T. I've decided not to stay in downtown Boston because I don't want to drive in the City. If I stay in Cambridge how will the drive in be? I've never been and I'm concerned that the drive into Cambridge will be hairy. I'm only used to suburban driving.

The Drive into Cambridge is not difficult. Take Mass Pike to Rt 128 North (aka I 95). Take Rt 2 east into Cambridge.
Are you staying in Harvard Square or along Memorial Drive? Either way there are good directions to either.
The key to Boston driving is patience and to not let us "idiots" intimidate you. If you are willing to not be upset by a wrong turn, no problem.

Heather: The hotels in the Back Bay area can be accessed directly from the MA Pike. I think you would find that less confusing and stressful than staying in Cambridge. Route 2 will take you to the outermost part of Cambridge (Fresh Pond) and from there you will need to navigate your way to Harvard Square. I drive into Boston every day from the west/Route 2 and it can be confusing if you don't know the area. If cost is a factor for you, there are many posts here with suggestions for reasonable ways to stay in the Back Bay area. Good luck and enjoy Boston!

I agree with Marie...go directly into Boston, park at the hotel and navigate from there. Cambridge can be just as confusing as Boston. It's a popular weekend so book early.

Cambridge is as confusing as Boston if not more.

rkkwan is so correct!

You may as well drive into Boston. Many hotels in Cambridge charge for overnight parking and are not convenient to the "T".

However...rooms at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge often come up on Hotwire or Priceline with an exceptionally low rate, which more than offsets the awkward location (especially if you get a room with a balcony and view) and the hotel is just fine (we stayed there last month).

If you're planning to spend your time in Boston, parking will be inconvenient and expensive. (Unless you park in the Financial District where you can usually park the entire weekend for less than one night elsewhere.)

In fact, if stay in Boston, it's worth the effort to park at a garage in the Financial District rather than any hotel garage.

No matter where you decide to stay, the driving directions at the hotels' websites are usually excellent (and updated regularly for construction, etc.).

I know my way around both Boston and Cambridge, and agree with rkkwan - both can be confusing, mainly because streets seem to always go one way in the wrong direction.

<<mainly because streets seem to always go one way in the wrong direction>>

Along with the lack of street signs...

Heather, I grew up in the Boston area and have lived in NYC for a very long time now. I get turned around *every time* I drive in Boston! Cambridge is a little better, but it may just be a slightly better familiarity on my part (the roads haven't been rerouted a zillion times in the last few years like they have in downtown Boston for the Big Dig).

Route 2 will be out of your way coming from NY.

My suggestion would be to drive to the commuter train or T stations on Rte 128 just west or south of Boston, park in their long-term parking and take the easy public transportation into town. Depending on whether you take I-95 from CT or I-84 to the Mass Pike (my preference) would dictate which T station you park at. You then don't have to deal with either the traffic nor the confusing streets. If this appeals to you, we can certainly provide directions, etc.!

We stayed at a hotel across the river from Cambridge years ago, then drove into Boston -- we literally, spent 3 hours trying to find our way back to the hotel.
We had a triple A map, and the "real" streets and the map didn't match up.

Driving in Boston was one of the most nerve wracking experiences. I've driven in Ireland, Mexico, Italy....nothing compared to Boston.

You might just take a cab!

And don't count of a navigation system either! I'm sure they move the streets around and change one way signs during the night to confuse the tourists the next day!!

mainly because streets seem to always go one way in the wrong direction.

Maybe only because you're going to the wrong place?

It's the right direction for those who're going the other way! Hahaha...

Hi rkkwan:
LOL yes, that's generally the case when you end up going the wrong direction on a one way street! but, the weird part was the map showed the one way street going in one direction, and when we got to the street it was going in the opposite direction. gotta love it.

You have both discovered the secret to driving horror in Cambridge (also Lowell). There is a guy on the city payroll whose job is to steal street signs and to change direction of one-way signs so as to point in the opposite direction you wish to go.

I live here and I will not drive in Boston OR Cambridge!!

gail - i knew it! can't wait to "prove" it to my husband (who thinks I'm crazy).

Wow, Thanks for all the responses. This is exactly the information I was looking for. I was imagining that Cambridge was a sleepy suburb. I guess I was wrong.

I have a reservation at the Quincy Marriott and I think I'll end up keeping that. The Quincy-Adams T stop is supposed to be a few minutes drive from there.

I'm not usually too much of a timid driver but I'm bringing my mother with me who never wanted me to drive into Boston in the first place. She keeps telling me about the time my father and her drove into Boston and almost couldn't find their way back out. I think she would just end up making me nervous with all of the "told you so's".

I will check into the Back Bay hotels and see if that would work. I'm paying 150 a night at the Marriott and I don't want to go over that.

Cambridge is its own city adjacent to Boston; it's more like Brooklyn is to Manhattan than a suburb!

Staying is Quincy is a decent choice. You'll be all the way at one end of the red T line, but it's straightforward to drive to and you do have the T right there once you park the car! Also, it's not far from the JKF library, if that interests you.

ggreen

I checked into Back Bay but that looks like it's going to be more than I want to spend.

I was looking at using priceline for a hotel near the airport. I wonder how the drive will be in that area.

I'm trying to minimize the length of the ride in on the T if I can. I think I'm getting caught in the trap of wanting it all in terms of convenience but unfortunately I just don't have the budget for it.

Oh no, definitely don't do a hotel near the airport! You have to take a tunnel (or bridge) to get out there, and it's really not near anything. Also, if you have to choose a T line, IMO the red is preferable to the blue in terms of accessing areas of Boston and Cambridge that you probably want to visit.

Years ago my mom and I stayed at a hotel on Soldiers Field Road. I think it was a Days Inn? It's not in a super-populated area and was easier to access by car. It was a fine if not fancy hotel... I'll try to find some info...

BTW, I'm not sure you'll be able to "have it all" as you mentioned. I will say that the T is a lot nicer than NYC subway! Especially the red line. Cleaner, and the seats are even a little padded! LOL