Thursday, June 20 is the first day of summer. If you’re like many Bostonians, you have a trip or two to Cape Cod on the calendar.
Approx. 6 million people visited Cape Cod last year, and locals know that brings crowds + bumper-to-bumper traffic. Fortunately, there are ways to get to the Cape without driving through congested roads.
CapeFLYER
All aboard, this train offers service from South Station to Hyannis with multiple daily trips on Fridays, Saturday, and Sunday through Labor Day. Round-trip fares start at $40, plus deals to ride first class in June. The full, eight-stop route takes about 2.5 hours.
Boston Harbor City Cruises Fast Ferry
From mid-May through mid-October, this ferry offers ~90-minute trips from Long Wharf to MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown. Round-trip tickets are around $100, depending on date + time.
Start in the Seaport District, end at MacMillan Pier in Provincetown.
Photo via @momentsailing
Bay State Cruise Company Ferry
Hit the water before getting to the Cape by taking this Fast Ferry from the Seaport District to Provincetown in about 90 minutes. It runs daily, and round-trip tickets are ~$120, though prices vary by date + time.
Cape Air
Don’t want to travel by land or sea? You can take a flight from Boston Logan International Airport to Hyannis or Provincetown, or neighboring islands Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Nonstop flights tend to be under an hour, though prices vary by date + seat — sites like Going or Skyscanner may help you score flight deals.
Take the bus
The wheels on these buses go round trip from Boston to the Cape. If you’re OK with hitting the road, but you don’t want to drive, Peter Pan Bus + P&B Bus depart from Logan Airport or South Station and arrive at Hyannis Transportation Center or Woods Hole. Fares tend to be $50-$70, but onboard Wi-Fi and electrical outlets will keep you entertained while traveling. Trips can be under 90 minutes, depending on number of transfers and traffic.
