Home / Boston /Logan International Airport / SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard vs Logan Express bus to Back Bay

BOS → Boston · head to head

SL1 bus and Red Line to HarvardorLogan Express bus to Back Bay?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard goes to Harvard station. Neither reaches Downtown Boston at South Station.

The Logan Express bus to Back Bay is quicker: 25 min against 38 min. The SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard varies between 27 and 47 minutes.

SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard: 05:30–00:12. Logan Express bus to Back Bay: 06:00–22:00.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in USD. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersSL1 bus and Red Line to HarvardLogan Express bus to Back BayDifference
1US$0US$0same
2US$0US$0same
3US$0US$0same
4US$0US$0same
5US$0US$0same
6US$0US$0same
7US$0US$0same
8US$0US$0same

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
SL1Red Line · MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard
From
Silver Line stop at the arrivals-level curb of each terminal, A, B, C and E
To
Harvard station, under Harvard Square in Cambridge
Runs
05:30–00:12
Journey
27–47 min

At South Station, stay inside and follow the signs down to a Red Line train towards Alewife; Harvard is the sixth stop.

SL1 bus and Red Line to Harvard: price for every party size

See Massport's transit page
Logan Express · Massport (Massachusetts Port Authority)Logan Express bus to Back Bay
From
Logan Express stop at the lower-level curb of each terminal
To
Back Bay, on Stuart Street by Back Bay Station, then 800 Boylston Street at the Prudential Center
Luggage
No limit on luggage; large items and sports gear go in the hold.
Runs
06:00–22:00
Journey
20–30 min

Massport gives 20 to 30 minutes for the ride from Back Bay to the airport; the way in can take longer in traffic.

The first stop is by Back Bay Station, the second at 800 Boylston Street: listen for the announcements.

Logan Express bus to Back Bay: price for every party size

See the Logan Express timetable

This compares two of 5 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Logan International Airport