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Getting to Salem - Transportation & parking tips for your visit!
- Apr 20
- 10 min read
One of the more frequent questions we get asked all the time is about traveling to Salem. It is fairly easy from November to June, but gets progressively harder from July to August. September and October can be very rough so we have decided to give some Transportation & parking tips for your visit to Salem!
You can drive to Salem but traffic is crazy in late September and October. There are two ways in and two ways out so you will be stuck in insane “LA-Level” traffic. And then you have to park!
For the best directions to Salem from your lodging, use google directions with 2 New Liberty Street as your Salem destination. That places you at the garage and next to the Visitor’s Center where you can get a map and information.
Walk to everything once you park. Do not try to move the car from one part of the city to another if you are ambulatory. Just walk it. But it is understandable if you are not ambulatory and need accessible parking.
PARKING IN SALEM
There are many options for parking in Salem but it is very limited because of the volume. There are about 4,000+ parking spots for the throngs of people who come here.
The main garage is downtown at 2 New Liberty Street. We also have a small garage at Congress Street. The MBTA garage is at 252 Bridge Street. There are several other small parking lots like the Universal Steel Lot, Church Street, Klopp Alley and Front Street lots.
There is a good amount of metered parking spaces in the downtown area. Meters run Monday through Saturday from 9 am til 6 pm (some are 8 pm near the courthouses) and Sundays from noon til 6 p.m. The City of Salem uses the Passport Parking app. Download that so you can pay by phone. You get four hours in the same spot and then have to move the car. The meters also take coins so bring change if you don’t want to use the app.
If you have a handicap parking placard, you can park in any metered on-street parking space as well as any municipal lot free of charge. Additionally, there are specific accessible spots throughout downtown Salem and the rest of the city exclusively for residents and visitors with handicap placards. These spaces are marked with blue signs, and sometimes the spaces are painted blue as well.
You can find more information about Salem garages, parking lots and rates at https://www.salem.org/travel-info/parking/
OCTOBER PARKING
There are PRIVATE PARKING LOTS that offer parking on weekends in October. Parking there helps benefit local schools and churches.
The Bentley Academy Charter School at 25 Memorial Drive offers parking on weekends in October. This location is outside of the downtown and about a 10-15 minute walk into the downtown.
The Carlton Elementary School at 10 Skerry Street offers weekend parking starting September 26th through October. It is a secure, monitored location. It is day parking only. Cash and Venmo are accepted. It is a quick stroll (5 minutes) to Salem Common and the downtown area.
St. James Church, aka the big red church, offers weekend parking at 160 Federal Street. The church is located within walking distance of the Witchcraft Memorial at Proctor’s Ledge on Pope St. It is also a 10-minute walk into the downtown.
The Catholic Center next to the St. John Paul II church offers parking too. It is located downtown at 35 St. Peter Street. It is a smaller lot so you need to get there early.
Shetland Park at 35 Congress Street offers parking on Saturdays and Sundays in October. There is no public parking allowed there during the week. They are located next to Salem Harbor and is an easy location to quickly get to the downtown.
On select weekends in October, the city will set up satellite parking at the high school, Salem State University and Salem Hospital and will then bus you into the downtown. There is a small fee but worth it. You can find that info here: https://www.hauntedhappenings.org/maps-info/parking-shuttle-information/
Don’t drive options
We highly recommend not driving in the fall unless you have a guaranteed spot at a hotel or your lodging. Salem is a very quaint walkable city. There are a lot of options to get to Salem via public transportation and being driven in.
UBER, LYFT or TAXI
You can take one of those from surrounding towns and cities into Salem. You can take one from Boston but it could be pricey. However, it can be inexpensive for a group if you are splitting it. But you could hit traffic. You might want to get dropped off outside of the downtown area like the train station, library, St. James Church, Lafayette Street or Salem State University. It could be a 15-minute walk, but that might be better than 30-45 minutes in the car and a $50+ uber ride.
SALEM SKIPPER
This is a ridesharing service serving the entire city. It works like a minibus that comes when and where you want. You can book a ride straight from your phone, get picked up in minutes, and skip the hassle of parking.
This is a good way to get around Salem if you are not too ambulatory or want to go to Salem Willows, Winter Island or Pioneer Village.
Download the app to get started. Here’s the FAQs. https://www.salemma.gov/m/faq?cat=29
MARBLEHEAD TO SALEM
There is no bus or train from Marblehead to Salem. You will need to drive or take an Uber/Lyft.
Starting the first weekend of October, Mid-Harbor Launch Moorings in Marblehead starts a ferry service. It departs Village Street Dock, Marblehead and comes to Congress Street, Salem. The times are 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm.
It departs Congress Street, Salem to Village Street Dock, Marblehead. The times are 10:15 am, 12:15 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:15 pm
The cost per person each way is $10.00 each.
LOGAN AIRPORT (BOSTON) TO SALEM
There is no easy way to do this. If you have a lot of luggage, you might want to just Uber/Lyft/Taxi. Check your apps but the cost could range from $40-$70 one way. If you have moderate luggage or are traveling very light, here are some options.
NOTE: You can find links to all of the trains, buses, subways and ferries on this blog. You will have to plan the timing of the buses and trains.
Airport to Salem via Logan Express
You can take the Logan Express Danvers bus from your terminal to the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers. Then you need an Uber/Lyft/Taxi to Salem. Or you could also take the 435 bus that stops in front of the Best Buy at the Liberty Tree Mall and comes to Salem Station.
Airport to Salem via SL3
Take the airport shuttle from your terminal to the Airport Station on the Blue Line. Wait for the Silver Line 3 (SL3) bus toward Chelsea. Get off at Chelsea and wait for the Newburyport/Rockport train (schedule below) to Salem.
Airport to Salem via subway
• Take the airport shuttle from your terminal to the Airport Station on the Blue Line. Go outbound to Wonderland Station (the end of the line) and pick up the 450 or 455 bus to Salem Station. You can Uber, Lyft or Taxi from Wonderland to Salem.
• Take the airport shuttle from your terminal to the Airport Station on the Blue Line. Take the inbound train (Bowdoin) to Aquarium Station in Boston. Walk to North Station (about 15 minutes) and take the Newburyport/Rockport train (schedule below) to Salem.
• Take the airport shuttle from your terminal to the Airport Station on the Blue Line. Take the inbound train (Bowdoin) to State Street Station in Boston. Switch to the outbound (Oak Grove) orange line to get to North Station. Take the Newburyport/Rockport train (schedule below) at North Station to Salem.
Airport to Salem via ferry
The ferries may not run if the waters are rough. Check their websites for alerts. To get to Salem from the airport via ferry, take the #66 shuttle from your airport terminal to the Water Transportation Dock at Logan Airport in Boston. That will bring you to Long Wharf in Boston. You can then get the ferry to Salem.
AMTRAK TO SALEM
If you are taking Amtrak from any points south of Massachusetts, you will most likely end up at South Station in Boston. You have several options to get to Salem from South Station.
• You can take the subway to the commuter rail. Take the red line (toward Alewife) to orange line (toward Oak Grove) to North Station. Then you take the Newburyport/Rockport train.
• You can take the subway to close to Salem. Take the red line (toward Alewife) to blue line at State Street. Then ride the blue line train all the way to Wonderland, where you can get an Uber, Lyft, Taxi or bus (see busses described above). It might be easier to walk to Aquarium Station on the blue line. It is only a 5-10 minute walk from South Station.
• You can take the Silver Line 3 (SL3) to Chelsea. Then you take the Newburyport/Rockport train (schedule below)
AMTRAK TO BACK BAY STATION TO SALEM
Before reaching South Station, the Amtrak trains will stop at Back Bay Station. You can get off there and take the orange line (toward Oak Grove) to North Station and then pick up the Newburyport/Rockport line (schedule below) to Salem.
NEWBURYPORT/ROCKPORT COMMUTER RAIL
The commuter rail runs from Boston to Newburyport and Rockport. Make sure you apply the schedule for outbound and inbound. Outbound is leaving Boston. Inbound is heading toward Boston.
In addition, make sure you get the correct train. The line splits after Beverly station (10 Park Street) so you can take either the Newburyport or Rockport train to return to Beverly. But then the train will proceed north to Newburyport or northeast to Rockport. The conductor will announce which train it is. The schedule will explain that also. Always check their website for alerts.
The cost for a commuter rail ticket from Boston to Salem is $8 each way. They do have $10 weekend passes. You can buy tickets at North Station, on their app or on the train with the conductor. They will charge more for peak travel times.
One-way, round trip, 5-day Flex Passes, reduced fare and monthly Commuter Rail passes for all zones are available on the mTicket App. Credit and debit cards are accepted. The mTicket App can be found on in the App Store and is available for iPhones and Android.
You can find general information for fares here: https://www.mbta.com/fares/commuter-rail-fares
You can find schedules and other important information for the train at
TRAIN STOPS ON THE NEWBURYPORT/ROCKPORT LINE
One trick that many tourists do is park at one of the train stations along the train line and then commute the handful of stops to Salem. Here is a list of the train stops along the line so you can plan your visit. Just remember, many people have this same idea. Go to the link above to see each train stop for parking rates and other helpful info.
The train stops for the Newburyport line are:
Boston (lots of garages)
Chelsea (no parking)
River Works (no parking)
Lynn Interim (11 Ellis St. Lynn, 329 spots; The Ellis lot has 64 spots)
Swampscott (Burrill Street & Railroad Ave, 144 spots)
Salem (252 Bridge Street, 712 spots)
Beverly (10 Park Street, 494 spots)
North Beverly (Enon & Dodge Streets, 86 spots)
Hamilton/Wenham (Bay & Walnut Roads, Hamilton 194 spots)
Ipswich (4 Peatfield Street, 170 spots; non-residents cannot park from 6 AM - 6:00 PM, M-F)
Rowley (70 Railroad Ave, 283 spots)
Newburyport (25 Boston Way, 680 spots).
The train stops for the Rockport line are:
Boston (lots of garages)
Chelsea (no parking)
Riverworks (no parking)
Lynn Interim (11 Ellis St. Lynn, 329 spots; The Ellis lot has 64 spots)
Swampscott (Burrill Street & Railroad Ave, 144 spots)
Salem (252 Bridge Street, 712 spots)
Beverly (10 Park Street, 494 spots)
Montserrat (180 Essex Street, Beverly, 117 spots)
Beverly Farms (1 Oak Street, 25 spots)
Manchester (40 Beach Street, 71 spots)
West Gloucester (290 Essex Ave, 43 spots)
Gloucester (75 Railroad Ave, 100 spots)
Rockport (17 Railroad Ave, 88 spots)
SUBWAY SYSTEM
The subway in Boston comprises five lines (Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Silver). The Blue Line will bring you the closest to Salem. The cost for a one-way ride is $2.40 and you can use your credit card for “tap to pay.” Subway fares are valid on the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue lines and Silver Line routes SL1, SL2, and SL3.
You can find more info about subway lines here: https://www.mbta.com/fares/subway-fares
The Blue Line runs from Wonderland Station in Revere to Bowdoin Station in Boston. There is a blue line stop at Logan Airport in Boston. You can take the free shuttle from your terminal to the Airport Station. Take the outbound subway to Wonderland in Revere, the northernmost point of the subway. Then take an Uber/Lyft to Salem or the 450 or 455 bus to Salem.
If you are staying in a hotel in the BOSTON SEAPORT area, you can take the SL3 Bus to Chelsea Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail (schedule above). Then you take the train up to Salem.
BUS TO SALEM
You can also take a bus to Salem. You’ll still hit traffic but you won’t have to park. The 455 bus goes from Wonderland Station (Blue Line) in Revere to Salem Station with stops in Lynn and Swampscott.
The 435 bus goes from Danvers to Salem to Lynn via Peabody Square.
The 450 Bus goes from Salem to Wonderland or Haymarket in Boston
The 451 bus goes from Salem to North Beverly
The 456 bus goes from Lynn to Salem
LOGAN EXPRESS DANVERS BUS
The Logan Express is another way to get from the airport to the Salem area. You can pick the bus up at your terminal at the airport and it goes to the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers (next to Salem). Then you can take an Uber/Lyft/Taxi to your nearby hotel or to Salem.
BOSTON FERRY TO SALEM
You can always take the ferry. It runs from Long Wharf in Boston to Blaney Street in Salem. It is just a 10-15 minute walk from Blaney Street to downtown. You can also take the trolley from the ferry dock in Salem to downtown.
AIRPORT FERRY TO BOSTON
There is no ferry from Logan Airport in Boston to Salem. You have to take a ferry from Logan Airport in Boston to Long Wharf Boston across the harbor. To do so, take the #66 shuttle from your airport terminal to the Water Transportation Dock at Logan Airport in Boston.
OTHER FERRIES
You can find additional ferries to cities along the Boston coastline in Charlestown, East Boston, Hingham, Hull, Quincy and Winthrop. There is also an on-demand water taxi that you have to call ahead and book.
BOAT MOORINGS AND SLIPS
If you have a boat and plan on sailing into Salem, there are slips available through Safe Harbor Hawthorne Cove Marina, 978-740-9890. Pickering Wharf Marina (978)210-4584 and Mariners Port Marina (781) 631-4800. All rental moorings and slips must register with the Harbormaster Department once assigned by going to our registration system. https://salemma.lynxlog.com
Sorry, no seaplane or helicopter ports available … yet.
