Welcome to Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Square is a pedestrian-friendly urban oasis with a wide variety of transportation options. Traffic congestion is common and street parking is in short supply and hard to find. Make your visit as stressfree as possible and arrive to campus via one of the many convenient MBTA options. You won’t need a car to get around once you arrive since everything is within walking distance. How to Get Here By Subway: The Mass Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA or “the T”) subway offers convenient connections throughout the city. The closest stop to Harvard University is the Harvard Square stop on the Red Line. This is located across the street from Harvard Yard. Click here for maps, schedule information, and pricing. By Bus: MBTA bus routes from Harvard Square’s bus terminal, located in Brattle Square, will bring you to all parts of the city. Buses that run through Harvard Square include the: 66, 68, 69, 71, 72/75, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, and 96. Click here for maps, schedule information, and pricing. By Bike: Many Bostonians and visitors use the Hubway to explore the city and move easily between neighborhoods. Starting at $8 for a 24-hour pass, you can easily rent bikes from stations conveniently located throughout the city, peddle to your destination, and deposit your bike at the rental rack. This is an energizing and affordable way to get around the city during nice weather. Click here for a map of the Hubway stations to find one nearest you. By Car: Parking is extremely limited around Harvard Square. There are metered parking spaces available around the square, though they are usually quite full. Click here for a list of privately run parking garages. If you choose to drive, below are general directions to Harvard Square. Driving from South of Boston: Take I-93 North to exit 26 (Cambridge/Storrow Drive) in the recently opened Big Dig tunnel. The exit ramp merges with traffic on Storrow Drive from the left. Move to one of the right lanes and continue on Storrow Drive approximately 4 miles to Cambridge/Allston. After a Doubletree Guest Quarters Hotel, take the right-hand exit to “Harvard Square - Cambridge.” Turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead. Driving from North of Boston: Take I-93 South to exit 26A (Storrow Drive/North Station). Keep left and take the underpass to Storrow Drive. Continue on Storrow Drive approximately 4 miles to Cambridge/Allston. After a Doubletree Guest Quarters Hotel, take the right-hand exit to “Harvard Square - Cambridge.” Turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead. Driving from West of Boston: Take I-90 East (Mass Turnpike) to exit 18 (Cambridge/Allston). Bear right after toll booth at end of exit ramp. Turn left after lights (before the bridge) onto Storrow Drive. Take Cambridge/Allston exit (1/2 mile ahead) and turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead.
Driving from Logan Airport: Follow the signs for I-93 and Boston. You will go through a set of toll booths ($3 for cars) before the Sumner Tunnel. Stay to the right through Sumner Tunnel. At the end of the tunnel bear to the right and follow the signs for Storrow Drive. Continue along the river on Storrow Drive West for approximately four miles. Pass the “Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge” exit and then the Doubletree Guest Quarters Hotel. Directly after the Doubletree, take the right-hand exit marked “Harvard Square - Cambridge.” Turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead. Hotel Directions If you’re staying at one of the great hotel options nearby, below is some important information about how to best get to Harvard Square. AC Hotel 10 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge MA 02140 AC Hotel by Marriott Boston Cambridge is located in North Cambridge’s Discovery Park. The easiest way to get to the HGSE Campus from this hotel is by taking the subway. The Alewife MBTA stop on the Red Line is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. You will need to take the Inbound train 3 stops to “Harvard” and exit the subway station to get to the street level. We also recommend using taxi or ride sharing services. Freepoint Hotel 220 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02138 The Freepoint Hotel Cambridge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is located in Cambridge’s Fresh Pond neighborhood and is 1.7 miles from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE Campus from this hotel is to utilize the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service (specific shuttle information, including schedule will be provided by the hotel upon check-in), or using taxi or ride share services. The hotel is also located .5 miles from the Alewife MBTA stop on the Red Line. You will need to take the Inbound train 3 stops to “Harvard” and exit the subway station to get to the street level. Porter Square Hotel 1924 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 Hotel 1868 1868 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 The Porter Square Hotel and Hotel 1868 are sister hotels and are both located in Cambridge’s Porter Square Neighborhood, about one mile away from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE Campus from both hotels is by using the subway. The Porter Square MBTA stop on the Red Line is a 2-minute walk from each. You will need to take the Inbound train 1 stop to “Harvard” and exit the subway station to get to the street level. The Harvard Graduate School of Education is also about a twenty-minute walk away down Massachusetts Ave.
Doubletree Guest Suites 400 Soldiers Field Road, Cambridge, MA 02139 The Doubletree Guest Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston-Cambridge is located along the Charles River and is a quick 1.3 miles from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE Campus from this hotel is by using the hotel’s shuttle bus, if available. This shuttle can drop you off near Appian Way, where the HGSE campus is located. In nice weather, you can also enjoy the views along Boston’s famous Charles River by walking or biking to/from the hotel. Expect this walk to take about 27 minutes. Harvard Square Hotel 110 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 The Harvard Square Hotel located in the heart of Harvard Square, just .2 miles from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE campus from this hotel is by walking. When you exit the hotel, head northwest on Mt Auburn Street, away from the square’s center. Turn right onto Story Street, left onto Brattle Street, and right onto Appian away. Expect this walk to take about 5 minutes. Charles Hotel 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 The Charles Hotel is located just .3 miles from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE campus from this hotel is by walking. When you exit the hotel, head northwest on Bennett Street, away from the square’s center. At the end, turn right onto University Road. Continue up University Road, crossing over Mount Auburn Street. Turn left onto Brattle Street, then right onto Appian Way. Expect this walk to take about 6 minutes. Sheraton Commander 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 The Sheraton Commander is located just .2 miles from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The easiest way to get to the HGSE campus from this hotel is by walking. When you exit the hotel, turn right to continue down Garden Street. After about .15 miles, turn right onto Appian Way. Expect this walk to take about 5 minutes.