Hi,

Finally booked our trip in mid sept, for 3 nights in Boston and then renting a car for 4 days. We ar picking up the car from Dollar city office at the Marriott nr Copley Square on a Sunday and leaving the city straight away. Any tips on how easy it is to drive out of city to Salem i.e directions, traffic on a sunday etc.
Thanks

Copley Square is quite near an on-ramp to the Mass Pike (I-90). The most straightforward path is to take the Pike west from there out to where it meets Rte. 128, which you would then take north past Lexington to Salem. Rte. 128 is also I-95 where it meets the Pike (but not when it's closer to Boston, just to be confusing).

Alternatively, you could take I-93 south from Boston through Quincy and connect with Rte. 128 that way. It saves you the Pike tolls, but does initially take you southeast where you want to be going north...

Since Salem is northeasat of Boston, it makes no sense to head out either west or south. You'd get on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) heading EAST, then follow route 1A north to 107.

I haven't driven in Boston since the Big Dig was completed, but can you just do I-90 to I-93 to US1 now? Then continue to 128 and 107. That should be the fastest route

Very true: my directions are biased against driving *through* Boston! Has the situation really improved to the point where the I-90 East to I-93 North route is preferable? It certainly makes a lot more sense from a mileage perspective!

You can't get onto I-90E in the Back Bay. The only entrance is westbound.

You will need to drive on city streets to I-93N. This is only about 6-8 blocks, it won't be very busy on Sunday, and the Dollar people will be able to give you easy directions from the Marriott.

You will travel through a mostly industrial neighborhood with most other drivers trying to get to I-93 as well.

Going west to 128/I 95 would be madness.

The car rental people will know best. I myself wouldn't use Route 93 at all, but would go down E Brookline St and Albany Street in the South End, to Frontage Road and get on I-90E there.

Anonymous, that I-90E (Masspike Extension) will only get you to the airport, useless unless you are going to Salem via 1A, not recommended.

Faster to take 93 to 1 to 128 to Peabody and get off the well-marked exit for Salem.

Fastest is going by train from North Station, but presumably the poster is not returning to Boston.

OP - our goal is to totally confuse you! My suggestion is to ask car rental people for directions to Storrow Drive. Head east. From the end of Storrow Drive (about 4 miles) you can pick up either I93 or Route 1 to Route 128 to Route 114.

Now, let's talk about I95 and Rte 128. In many parts they are the same road, with the official name being I95 but all locals calling it Rte 128. Signage is bigger for Rte 95 than Rte 128. However, there are several places where they are not the same road. Look at a map for north of Boston and the route will make sense, even if the signage and names of roads does not.

Too bad you're not heading south, since then we'd have a chance to explain if you're heading South on 95 you have to get off at Exit 12 (a left-hand exit) and get on Route 93 North if you want to stay on Route 128 South.

Any of the routes recommended here will get you to Salem eventually, it's a matter of whether you want to minimize time or distance, maximize scenery, etc.

Thanks but now I'm totally confused. Looking at maps I think I should be ok driving on a Sunday morning from Copley Square to I93 but then I'm not sure which way? Help

I have no idea what all the people above are talking about - and I live in the vicinity! It will be VERY easy to exit Boston on a Sunday and drive to Salem. Goodness - just did it last night! If you are heading into Salem in a Sunday in October, however, be prepared for a lot of traffic there.

Take Berkely St. out to Storrow Drive and when you are about to pass Mass General on your right, pick up the ramp that says expressways North (Rts. 1 and 93). Once on the ramp, bear left for Rt. 1 North over the Tobin Bridge. Follow Rt. 1 through Revere and Saugus, and pick up Rt. 128 North in Lynnfield.

I would then exit on Lowell St. in Peabody, bear right, and follow all the way (several miles) straight through Peabody Square (Main St.) and on straight (stop and go) until the road ends in Salem (Boston St). Take a left on to Essex St., and you'll be headed for downtown Salem.

Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Thanks for help, your route sounds like one I can follow. Its a Sunday in late September, so hopefully will be a bit quieter than October. Thanks again for your help

I also live in the area. I agree with most of what dreamer2 says. Only instead of getting off 128 at Lowell Street, I suggest you instead go to the next exit (Exit 25A) to Andover Street, which is also Route 114. Route 114 goes straight to the center of Salem.

Dreamer2 has it right. That's the easiest and fastest route and it should be pretty quiet on a Sunday morning. Have fun!

JoyceL has it right...don't get off 128 at Lowell Street but rather at 114 and take that directly into Salem.

Alternatively, 1A on a Sunday shouldn't be bad.

Word of caution about Route 114 into Salem. It will get you to Salem without a problem, but there are frequent turns - well marked with signage - just don't expect to get on and go straight and get there. You will end up in Peabody or God knows where.

FYI: Both 114 and Lowell St go through Peabody and into Salem, but circle around different ways. Both of the above routes take you into the same section of Salem - near the Witch House and county court house - where North St and Essex St meet.

A regular Boston commuter here with just one addition to Dreamer2's directions - Berkeley Street to Storrow Drive EAST, bearing right. There are two exits at the end of Berkeley, EAST and WEST. WEST takes you out towards Cambridge and Rt.2, so make sure you exit EAST on Storrow Drive.

I may have a better suggestion, how about renting the car at Logan Airport you can take the T there or a cab, and then just get on 1A and head north, it's a pretty straight shot to Salem, and just follow the signs. You will get to do a little site seeing, East Boston, (wave to Winthrop for me), Revere, Lynn, Salem. You might want to stop in Revere at Kelly's for the BEST roast beef sandwich ever, and enjoy the view of the ocean there.