Boston Logan Airport to South Station
Company-authored guide. Sources and their check date appear below; no independent or first-hand review is claimed.
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GetTransfer Editorial · Company-authored guide
For South Station, take the Silver Line SL1 bus from your Logan terminal. The airport-to-city ride is free, and Massport says it includes a free transfer to the Red Line at South Station. SL1 serves all Logan passenger terminals. Follow the Silver Line signs on the Arrivals level to the terminal curb. Massport public-transport guide
Your next decision is which part of South Station you need: the train concourse, the intercity bus terminal or the Red Line. Keep the onward ticket available so that you can check the operator, station and departure time.
From arrivals to the SL1
- Finish any arrival formalities and collect your bags before assessing your onward connection.
- Follow Arrivals-level Ground Transportation and Silver Line signage.
- Check that the vehicle is SL1 towards South Station.
- Use Massport’s Bus Locator for current terminal departure information.
The Blue Line’s Airport Station is a separate transport connection reached by an airport shuttle. For this direct SL1 journey, you can board at the terminal. Massport’s route information
Keep essential items where you can reach them while managing your bags. If you need a step-free route, check the current station and lift information before travelling; a route description alone cannot confirm that every lift will be working on your date.
Match the station to your ticket
Amtrak identifies Boston South Station as BOS, while Back Bay is BBY and North Station is BON. Check the written station name as well as the code. This guide ends at South Station; an onward ticket from another station needs a different connection. Amtrak’s South Station page
| What your onward ticket says | What to look for at South Station | What to keep ready |
|---|---|---|
| Amtrak train from Boston South Station | Train concourse and current departure board | Train number, date and boarding instructions |
| MBTA Commuter Rail from South Station | Commuter Rail departure information | Line, destination and valid rail ticket |
| Intercity bus from South Station Bus Terminal | Signs for the bus terminal and your bus operator | Operator, service number and boarding instructions |
| Red Line | Red Line directions | Your destination and the correct direction of travel |
This is an editorial connection checklist, not a platform assignment. Use current signs and departure boards for the final boarding point. Amtrak’s station information distinguishes the train and bus terminals; do not treat arrival at the SL1 stop as arrival at your onward boarding point. South Station information
Plan time from the terminal exit to boarding
There is no single airport-to-train connection time that works for every passenger. Use the following worksheet with the current journey estimate and your operator’s boarding requirement:
Time you are ready to leave Logan + wait for SL1 + journey to South Station + time to reach the boarding point + the operator’s required margin.
Then allow for uncertainty in the parts you cannot control. A scheduled aircraft landing time is not the time you will be standing at the SL1 stop. An airport delay, a longer baggage wait or a missed bus can each change the calculation.
Before buying a separate onward ticket, compare these two situations:
- A later departure you can still use if your flight slips: check its actual change conditions and the last usable service of the day.
- A fixed departure with little room left after the estimated airport transfer: decide whether to choose a later service before committing to that ticket.
We have not measured a typical transfer time for this guide. Check live SL1 information and the onward operator’s timetable; do not turn an optimistic journey estimate into a connection guarantee.
The return journey has a different fare
Starting a new trip at South Station towards Logan, SL1 uses the MBTA subway fare. The standard one-way fare is US$2.40; passes, reduced fares or an eligible transfer may affect what you pay. Follow signs for the Silver Line and choose SL1 to Logan Airport. SL2 and SL3 are different services. MBTA subway fares · Massport’s SL1 route guide
For two full-fare adults buying a new one-way trip, the fare calculation is 2 × US$2.40 = US$4.80. That is a return-direction example, not a charge for the free journey from Logan to South Station.
When a car may fit your journey
Compare a car if the current public-transport itinerary does not fit your arrival time, or if managing your luggage and onward walk would be difficult. Specify whether the destination is the train terminal or the bus terminal, and confirm the actual drop-off point.
Compare the complete car price for everyone travelling with your complete public-transport plan. For the outbound SL1 ride from Logan, the bus fare is zero; a paid car needs to offer something useful to your situation, such as a suitable pickup arrangement. A car journey also needs its own current time estimate.
If you request an offer, our transfer comparison checklist covers the questions to resolve before booking.
Sources checked on 1 October 2026. This company-authored guide uses official transport information and AI assistance. No editor’s test journey or measured transfer time is claimed.