Boston and cape cod

[jimf41]

If I were going to do this trip, I'd take the subway to JFK, rent a car at JFK, drive to Hyannis, return the car at Logan, subway to Custom House. But, I've driven those roads many times. But if the OP is okay with driving with navigation or is familiar with driving in a city, the trip from JFK to I-95 isn't that bad, much less stress than driving through Manhattan.

This was meant to be humorous, right?

 

[dsmrp]

I forgot to add that whatever mode you choose you will need a car on the Cape to explore and just get around. The mansions in Newport would make a great day trip as would a ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Drop the car back in PVD and take the train to Boston as you definitely won't need one there.

Another tip for you after Cape Cod return the rental car to Providence Airport and take the commuter train that runs from the airport to South Station or Back Bay in Boston, you will avoid all the traffic on the expressway. And you won't need a car downtown Boston!
Silentg

If I could throw my 2c in, these suggestions above sound the best for the OP:
train from NYC to Providence, rent car to go to cape and back to Providence, then train up to Boston. DH grew up in Cape Cod and still has family there, so we've flown both to Providence and Boston, many times. Also drove to NYC and back from cape. Mileage-wise Providence and Boston are the same distance from the Cape. It's about 80-85 miles, about 1.5 hours depending upon traffic to Falmouth or Hyannis. Much easier drive from Providence.
OP is probably used to rotaries in England, but she'll be going in opposite direction than what she's used to
Boston always seems to be having road construction and detours; I wouldn't want to drive there.

Late July is a great time to visit the Cape, but also very crowded too with other tourists and locals since it's also a lot cooler than Boston. Suggest you avoid route 28 between Falmouth and Hyannis, can be quite a slog.
We suggest taking a passenger ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Rent & ride bicycles along the bike path to Edgartown or beaches.
Chatham is also a really nice cape town with quintessential lighthouse, harbor and beach-seashore.
btw a lot of cape beaches we know of on west side, will charge for parking and lots will fill up.
Route 6A (6 is the freeway) thru Sandwich is a good drive too.
Eat a lobster roll and a stuffed quahog (clam).

Enjoy!!!

 

[Big Matt]

You are getting good local knowledge, but I agree with an earlier poster that you should take all of the potential headaches out of the equation and fly from JFK to Hyannis. The cape is really the only part of the trip where you need a car.

I would even look into hiring a car service or something like the Super Shuttle or Grooms (if it still exists) to drive you from Cape Cod to Boston. It will cost you a decent chunk of change, but it will be easy.

Vacation is for fun and you don't want to waste a lot of time with planes, trains, and automobiles. The more stops and changes from one transportation mode to another just increases your chances of having something go wrong.

 

[jimf41]

You are getting good local knowledge, but I agree with an earlier poster that you should take all of the potential headaches out of the equation and fly from JFK to Hyannis. The cape is really the only part of the trip where you need a car.

This is a pretty good option. I didn't realize Jet Blue flew JFK-HYA so cheaply, $72 with 1 checked bag. A cab to JFK is $40 flat rate and if your adventurous the A or E train will get you the airport for less than #3 PP. Take it to the end of the line and hop on the AirTrain to your terminal. The AirTrain is free.

 

[SMHarman]

Can I have dome of your free $5 airtrain tickets.

It's only free between terminals. Not when you connect to the subway.

 

[jont]

if your adventurous the A or E train will get you the airport for less than #3 PP.

Jim
That's a loooong subway ride which also goes thru some less than desirable neighborhoods. I taken that ride many times from 42nd street but I would not want to do it with family members and luggage. I think the cab is well worth the extra money. Are there any flights out of Newark? IMHO mass transit from NYC to Newark is easier.

 

[SMHarman]

Or super shuttle
Or LIRR to Jamaica.
The A is quick. The E is slow.

 

[Beaglemom3]

Confusing. I know where this, but I just point the Beaglemobile and head to the Cape. GPS ? "We don't need no stinkin' GPS" !



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[dsmrp]

Confusing. I know where this, but I just point the Beaglemobile and head to the Cape. GPS ? "We don't need no stinkin' GPS" !



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Great pic! Showed it to DH and he laughed, and remembered 95 is the old 128.
We liked seeing the I-90 signs in Boston cause we live a couple miles from the western terminus of I-90.

 

[heatherw]

Thanks everyone - er yes a bit confused too but i have 6 months to work it all out.

 

[Mamianka]

Yes, it is confusing to most people so that's why I decided to stay out of it:hysterical:

.

You and me both! I grew up near Boston, and was used to driving "in town" - and then years later, DH and I returned for four summers to Boston University to get our MM degrees. Lived with my folks on the South "Showuh". We drove into BU every day - the MBTA was for sissies, even though cars got SHOT at every so often then. DH did not believe, at first, the driving stories - until he saw for himself that "getting parking spot" sometimes meant triple parking with the hood up and a beat-up FUNERAL card on your dashboard. Mast antennas were replaced with coat hangers; many cars had been hit so often, they had doors of different colors. I was proud of him - he learned and perfected the "Boston left" - you pull out into traffic, completely STOPPING anyone coming from your left, until the right lane open enough for YOU to turn left. An automotive ballet, it is. Wicked smooth. Click and Clack would be proud. He learned all the traffic reporter lingo - creep and beep, stall and crawl - and learned that traveling on Atlantic Ave. meant that without making ANY turns, you would see your compass go northeast, north, east, southwest, and south. He learned to respect Storrow Drive. We got great educations those 4 summers -and not just college degrees - but an intimate knowledge of every Dorchester and Roxbury shortcut. We ate seafood until we could explode. And now we are conniving another way to get there this summer. My accent needs some restoration - and I now own and wear Yankees shirts. See what happens when you marry "outside your religion" - and marry a native New Yorker and Yankees fan? I now feel the need to go watch a Ben Affleck movie and watch someobody "pahk theyuh cahh" even if it's only on the TV . . .

 

[Beaglemom3]

Whoopsie. Error.

 

[Beaglemom3]

Recent highway signs: