Parking Options in/around Boston
 

Hello Fellow Travelers:

I am traveling to Boston from Connecticut, with my wife, for a four-night stay between April 21 - 25. I am having trouble deciding whether to take the train or drive. A train will cost us over $200. Hotel parking $150. I have a problem paying that much if we do not use the car. Regardless of where we park, we have already decided to leave the car in a garage or lot once I get there. My challenge is how to find a garage or lot that is reasonable in terms of price, security and convenience. In short, one that is cheap enough to be worth the expected hassle and extra time of getting to the hotel. Do any of you have any specific suggestions on alternatives, perhaps up to $10-15$ daily overnight? I have not been able to find much here yet, only general suggestions. We do not want to move the car, just leave it four days and have peace of mind it will be there safely when we return. Thank you very much for any help.

It'd help if you tell people where you're staying.

It will make a difference where you're staying, but it's rare that having a car in Boston is worth the cost. It's only worth it if you plan to see things outside of the Boston-Cambridge area on the north or south shores or some of the western suburbs. The only reasonable alternative is to stay at a suburban motel within walking distance of a T station, and there aren't too many of them. The Grove St./Newton Holiday Inn comes to mind, and I believe there's something out in the Alewife part of Cambridge. But even then, you are in the position of a long T ride at the end of the day and not being able to pop back to your room in the middle of the day for forgotten items, to drop off purchases, or to take a nap.

Where is your hotel?

I think the best you will do is the Boston Common Garage at $23/day. It is centrally located and has a capacity of 1300 vehicles.

I am sorry I left the hotel out. We are staying downtown at the Millenium, near Fanueil Hall. I didn't think this was particularly relevant, since the $150 parking tab I mentioned would have clued everyone that we were staying downtown. I also didn't think it mattered where we stayed because everything downtown seems to be almost $30+ a day anyway, which is exactly what we are trying to avoid.

Again, we already know driving a car around Boston is not smart, but paying $200 for train tickets isn't exactly the best alternative. The Boston Common Garage for $23 a day is heading in the right direction, but still a little high. (Thank you, Craig.) CFC, I believe you are confused about our plans. We are already registered at the Millenium. We have no intention of driving anywhere after we check in. Obviously, the garage/lot has to be good for overnight. Surely there must be some places perhaps 15 mins out of town that are reasonable. Anything??

You can park at the Route 128 Amtrak station, which is also served by the Attleboro line of the Commuter Rail of the MBTA, for $10 per day; it's about 20 minutes from downtown Boston and the commuter rail fare is $3.50. Check at www.mbta.com for schedules, which run 7 days but do favor weekday rush hours. The commuter rail can take you to Back Bay station (on the subay's Orange Line) and South Station ( on the Red Line).

Here is another alterntive my friend just used.. the Chinese buses...there is one that leaves from Hartford..
http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/
She used it from D.C. to NYC. then to Boston and back to NYC... parking in Boston and the fact your thinking of driving is even crazier.

I agree with "Anonymous" about the 128 Amtrak/T station, I use it all the time when I'm heading into town.

If the train schedules aren't working for you, you can drive a few extra miles to the Braintree Stop on the T's Red Line...(Just off Route 3). They have a parking garage there. I'm not sure of the rates though.

Braintree, being the last stop on the subway's Red Line, usually fills up by 7:30 AM on weekdays (the OP is arriving tomorrow, Wednesday). Also, the MBTA parking lots are not geared to overnight parking as Amtrak is, and might even forbid it.

Hello again. I hope some of you are still out there. Thank you very much for your help and guidance. The suggestion to park at Rt. 128 seems to make sense, however, I have a concern about getting a parking space. I have heard things about garages filling up by 7:30AM. We are coming from Connecticut, so would prefer not having to get up at 4:30-5AM to get a space. Does this Rt. 128 garage fill up at 7:30 like every othewr garage, or is this different. Tried calkling MBTA, but they couldn't tell me anything. Please help if you can. Thanks again!

Another option is to park at a Logan Express lot. I have parked at the woburn stop and taken the bus to the airport. I checked their website and see that parking is $11/day and $20roundtrip to the airport--Maybe you can find a cheaper way into Boston? loganexpress.com

I've also parked at Park N Go in Chelsea. Parking is $75/week and they drive you (10 min) to the airport--you could catch a cab or take MBTA to fanuel hall, an easy trip.