Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – Getting to Downtown Boston

Boston Logan sits on a peninsula in East Boston, just 5 km from downtown. You have excellent options. The Silver Line bus (SL1) is free from the airport to South Station and takes about 20 minutes. The Blue Line T costs $2.40 and connects to the subway system. A taxi is metered on the city tariff — $2.60 for the first 1/7 mile plus $0.40 for each additional 1/7 mile, about $2.80 a mile (Boston Police Department Hackney Carriage Unit) — so the short run downtown comes to roughly $15–$25 once the $2.75 tunnel toll and waiting time in the tunnels are counted. Ride-hailing (Uber/Lyft) is priced by the app and moves with demand, so read the quote before you confirm. A pre-booked private transfer typically costs $45–$70 USD. For most travelers heading to downtown or Back Bay, the Silver Line is the simplest and cheapest option.

Logan has four terminals: A, B, C, and E. After collecting your bags, follow signs toward ground transportation. Each terminal has its own exit to the curb.

For the Silver Line, look for the "Buses / Silver Line" signs and walk to the designated bus stop at your terminal's lower level. Buses run to all four terminals.

For taxis, follow signs to the taxi stand at the lower level of your terminal. An attendant manages the queue during busy hours.

For Uber/Lyft, go to the designated ride-app pickup zone at each terminal. Logan has specific areas marked for these pickups — do not try to get picked up at the taxi stand.

For the Blue Line T, take the free Massport shuttle bus (Route 22 or 33) from your terminal to the Airport station. This adds 5–10 minutes to your journey.

Logan is a busy airport with over 40 million passengers per year. During peak hours (4–7 PM weekdays), ground-level traffic can be congested, particularly in the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels connecting to downtown.

The Silver Line SL1 is genuinely free in the airport-to-city direction. It runs along a dedicated busway and is surprisingly efficient. The only downside is limited luggage space during rush hour.

Boston taxis are metered on a single city tariff set by the Boston Police Department Hackney Carriage Unit: $2.60 for the first 1/7 mile plus $0.40 for each additional 1/7 mile — roughly $2.80 a mile — with waiting and idling time charged at $28.00 an hour. A $2.75 tunnel toll is added on Logan trips, and Massport adds a per-trip airport access fee that it revises from time to time.

That tariff is the whole story for a taxi. Downtown is only about 5 km away, so the meter itself is small — on the order of $11 — and a downtown fare typically lands around $15–$25 once the toll and tunnel traffic are counted. Longer runs (Cambridge, Brookline) scale with the mileage and with whatever the traffic does to the clock. Because the fare is metered rather than fixed, the honest answer to "what will it cost" is: the meter decides. The rate card is posted in every cab, and the tariff is revised periodically — check it before you travel.

Uber and Lyft do not work this way. There is no published tariff; the app prices each trip against demand and shows you the number before you confirm. That figure can be well below or well above a taxi on the same route depending on the hour, the weather and what is happening in the city. Check the app rather than a guide.

A private transfer costs more but the price is fixed at booking. For families or business travelers who want certainty, this removes the unpredictability of surge pricing and traffic-dependent meters.

Logan operates 24 hours but public transport does not. The Silver Line and Blue Line stop running around 12:30 AM. After that, your options are taxis, Uber/Lyft, or a pre-booked transfer.

Taxis are available around the clock at Logan — the taxi stand operates 24/7. Late-night Uber/Lyft availability is good but prices tend to be higher after midnight, especially on weekends.

The Logan Express bus services end earlier, typically by 10 PM depending on the route.

For arrivals after midnight, a pre-booked transfer guarantees a ride without waiting or surge pricing.

The Silver Line is manageable with one or two bags but gets difficult with strollers, multiple suitcases, and children during rush hour. The bus has limited luggage space and no dedicated storage.

Taxis at Logan are a mix of sedans and minivans. If you need a larger vehicle, ask the taxi dispatcher. Child seats are not provided in taxis or Uber/Lyft — you must bring your own or pre-book a transfer with one.

The water taxi to Long Wharf is fun for families in summer, but only practical if you are heading to the waterfront area and have manageable luggage.

For families with young children and heavy luggage, a private transfer with a pre-arranged child seat is the least stressful option.

For pre-booked transfers at Logan, the standard meeting point is the arrivals level (lower level) of your terminal, near the designated ride-app pickup area or just inside the terminal doors. Your driver will have a name sign.

Some transfer companies will direct you to the Central Parking garage walkway on the arrivals level. Confirm the exact meeting point when you book.

Taxis are at the curb on the lower level with a marked taxi stand. Uber/Lyft pickups are at designated zones — the Uber and Lyft apps will guide you to the exact spot for your terminal.

Take the Silver Line if: You are heading to South Station, Seaport, or anywhere on the Red Line, and you travel light. It is free and efficient.

Take the Blue Line if: You are heading to the North End, Beacon Hill, or connecting to the Green/Orange lines. Take the free shuttle to Airport station first.

Take a taxi if: You want door-to-door service without app hassle. Prices are predictable and taxis are always available.

Use Uber/Lyft if: Prices are not surging and you prefer paying by app. Check the estimated fare before requesting.

Book a transfer if: You are arriving late at night, traveling with family, have lots of luggage, or want a guaranteed fixed price without surge surprises.

Take the water taxi if: You are heading to the waterfront area in summer and want a scenic 7-minute ride across the harbor.