Driving to Boston - help with directions

[Snowflakey]

Hello friends. I have to go to Boston for an appointment next month for my DH at Boston General. I've never driven there before and heard horror stories about driving in that city. Yikes!

Looking online at directions and from what Boston General sent to me, nothing seems to align. Exit numbers are different, etc.

Is there anyone who can help me out and make this as easy as possible. I'm coming from rural New England where traffic isn't an issue - ha ha

This is what Boston General gave me for directions:

*Take I-93 South to Exit 26 (Storrow Drive/Cambridge)
*Follow signs to Storrow Drive (stay left)
*Take Storrow Drive west to Government Center Exit (left exit)
*At end of ramp, yield to crossing traffic at flashing signal, then process straight
*Turn left onto Cambridge Street at traffic signal
*Turn left onto North Grove Street
*Follow signs to park at the Yawkey Center

Does this sound right? Is the Exit number correct? Seems like once I take the exit I just stay left pretty much the whole way?

What about when I leave? Is it easy to get back on I-93 North?

Ugh - I dread this.

 

[sam_gordon]

Do you have a smart phone?
Do you have a driving/map app?
Follow it.

Or, go to googlemaps.com. Search for "Yawkey Center".
Click "Directions"
Put in your starting location.
Let it find the best route.

 

[Snowflakey]

Do you have a smart phone?
Do you have a driving/map app?
Follow it.

Or, go to googlemaps.com. Search for "Yawkey Center".
Click "Directions"
Put in your starting location.
Let it find the best route.

Of course I have a smart phone, map app, etc. and that is the reason why I posted this. Nothing matches up. I would think Boston General would give the right directions but why are other sites (mapquest for example) giving different exit numbers, etc.

My post is for anyone who knows Boston and can provide clarity.

Following your smart phone isn't always smart. News stories of where people end up following their phones at times are crazy!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Yes, this does sound correct. The weirdest thing I had to get used to is that the Boston Tunnels have exits and onramps in the tunnel, which is something I never saw before but in the tunnels drivers are generally courteous and will let people in and out of lanes.

The part you are talking about after 93 has a bit of criss crossing that can be a bit nerve wracking though so I prefer my own way. This part can get very snarled, the 2 left lanes drive onto Cambridge but only the right goes down Charles to meet the park - not a big fan and generally avoid as much as possible.
*At end of ramp, yield to crossing traffic at flashing signal, then process straight
*Turn left onto Cambridge Street at traffic signa
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When I go into MGH I usually first set my GPS to Boston Common driving Charles straight between Common Garden and Boston Common, then make a right at the light onto Beacon where Charles turns into a one way opposite me. Over here I pull over alongside the park and then reset GPS to MGH making a left after the Statehouse/Courthouse and find parking in one of the garages off Parkman, the Wang building has Valet which I'd do if anxious, there isn't much saving to park yourself. When driving in or out on 93 there are lots of HOV aka Zipper lanes which are in the far left so you want to make use of these as much as possible as long as you have a companion. If you can schedule your apt to be out of the city before 3 it will save with traffic, or just make dinner plans and relax to avoid the rush.

If you arrive extra early there is usually lots of inexpensive parking along the 2 parks so you can sit and calm yourself before the appointment. The Public Garden is among my favorite places and generally where I like to sort of meditate before my appointments. Park Boston App allows you to park by the parks inexpensively and you can just walk up Cobblestoned Charles to MGH, if you can walk easily. The restaurant Harvard Gardens across the street is a good choice but there is also an easy to walk to Whole Foods nearby

 

[Snowflakey]

Yes, this does sound correct. The weirdest thing I had to get used to is that the Boston Tunnels have exits and onramps in the tunnel, which is something I never saw before but in the tunnels drivers are generally courteous and will let people in and out of lanes.

The part you are talking about after 93 has a bit of criss crossing that can be a bit nerve wracking though so I prefer my own way. This part can get very snarled, the 2 left lanes drive onto Cambridge but only the right goes down Charles to meet the park - not a big fan and generally avoid as much as possible.
*At end of ramp, yield to crossing traffic at flashing signal, then process straight
*Turn left onto Cambridge Street at traffic signal

When I go into MGH I usually first set my GPS to Boston Common driving Charles straight between Common Garden and Boston Common, then make a right at the light onto Beacon where Charles turns into a one way opposite me. Over here I pull over alongside the park and then reset GPS to MGH making a left after the courthouse and park in one of the garages. There are lots of HOV aka Zipper lanes which are in the far left coming into the city so you want to make use of these as much as possible as long as you have a companion. If you can schedule your apt to be out of the city before 3 it will save with traffic, or just make dinner plans and relax to avoid the rush

Thank you for replying! So many questions I have:

Will I be going in a tunnel?

So instead of doing what you usually do by going to Boston Common - can I just follow what I listed in my first post and should be ok?

What are Zipper Lanes?

Do you know approximately how long it is once I take Exit 26 until I arrive at BG?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Are you coming from North of Boston or from South of Boston?

 

[lanejudy]

It does sound accurate. I always allow a good cushion of time in case I miss an exit and need to double back. Traffic moves very quickly. We come from VT and no tunnels; that may depend from where you originate.

ETA: I would use your phone or GPS for directions as well as the print out from the hospital. You can check in advance if the phone is running the same route. It also should adjust for construction/closures. Allow plenty of time, 93 has delays often.

 

[Snowflakey]

Are you coming from North of Boston or from South of Boston?

North - I93 from NH

 

[LuvOrlando]

I see so from there probably no tunnel then nor any zipper lanes. You'll likely find HOV to your left (no zipper up this way) then go over the bridge and I think be guided with signs towards the Science Museum as well.

The snarly part will be the same because all sorts of traffic patterns drop into this area but just go slow and just get into the far left lane when you are looking to turn onto Cambridge Street because you will need to make a left to get into the hospital and traffic can make changing lanes challenging so best to do it early. Again people are generally courteous because there are so many out of town visitors to the hospital.

The zippers are fun, you can find them on Google but they are only South of the City I think.

 

[Snowflakey]

I see so from there probably no tunnel then nor any zipper lanes. You'll likely find HOV to your left (no zipper up this way) then go over the bridge and I think be guided with signs towards the Science Museum as well.

The snarly part will be the same because all sorts of traffic patterns drop into this area but just go slow and just get into the far left lane when you are looking to turn onto Cambridge Street because you will need to make a left to get into the hospital and traffic can make changing lanes challenging so best to do it early. Again people are generally courteous because there are so many out of town visitors to the hospital.

The zippers are fun, you can find them on Google but they are only South of the City I think.

What are HOV?

 

[LuvOrlando]

What are HOV?

In the city areas a HOV lane or High Occupancy Vehicle lane is a highway lane set apart for 2 or more occupants to get a quicker ride through traffic to encourage carpooling and relieve the congestion.

South of Boston they have HOV lanes which are zipper lanes, which are amazing. Instead of the lane always being there the extra lane is borrowed from the opposite route of traffic for certain rush hour times to alleviate the worst of it then then put back with the zipper machine that literally moves the highway barriers. A video is worth a thousand words so I'll share one.

 

[Snowflakey]

In the city areas a HOV lane or High Occupancy Vehicle lane is a highway lane set apart for 2 or more occupants to get a quicker ride through traffic to encourage carpooling and relieve the congestion.

South of Boston they have HOV lanes which are zipper lanes, which are amazing. Instead of the lane always being there the extra lane is borrowed from the opposite route of traffic for certain rush hour times to alleviate the worst of it then then put back with the zipper machine that literally moves the highway barriers. A video is worth a thousand words so I'll share one.

Well that is absolutely amazing! This whole experience should be eye opening. Rush traffic here is having to sit through one red light - ha ha ha, I love where I live