The Boston Commute Guide: Tunnels, bridges and parking hunts
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: what getting around Boston really takes.
Candice, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Candice has called Massachusetts home for 15 years, which started with a Texas to New England road trip in a Honda Civic, three cats, zero plans, and just enough confidence to assume it would all work out. She has lived all over the state which means she knows Massachusetts is really several states pretending to be one. She has been a writing professor, a software designer, a piano and sax player, and a mom to 2 pre teen kids and a very elderly cat. She lives for brunch, needs regular nature fixes to stay sane, and knows exactly which Mass stereotypes are true. At Snappy Scout, Candice keeps Massachusetts guides fast, sharp, and painfully accurate.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
How Do You Get Around Boston?
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: the daily logistics nobody puts on the listing.
The time I spend getting to/from work every day is
an eternity on the T or pure road rage on 95
Traffic congestion areas to avoid
Storrow Drive at all times, plus the Mass Pike whenever there's a Sox game
Ability to get around without a car
Totally doable with the T, but you'll master the art of complaining about the Red Line
Locals dream of driving around in a
vintage Saab with a Tufts sticker, naturally
The reality is that most locals drive
beat-up Subarus with mysterious bumper scuffs from parallel parking
Quirky local driving habit
Flashing their brights
The likelihood of finding parking
somewhere between winning the lottery and spotting a unicorn
#1 driving tip
ignore the GPS when it tries to route you onto Storrow in a U-Haul.
Where I Go for a Quiet Escape
The Boston Public Library's reading room. It's generally quiet and quite breathtaking. The green shaded lamps give it a really cool vibe that is conducive to study, reading, or just quietly thinking.
— Candice Hallsett
Massachusetts Local Expert
Ready to See If Boston Fits You?
Compare neighborhoods, check the routes, or head back to the full Boston guide for the bigger picture.