Live Your Best Lives
  1. Travel FAQs
  2. United States
  3. Massachusetts (MA)
  4. Rockland

Closest Rail/Subway station to Rockland MA

I'm staying in Rockland for an upcoming wedding and would like to use public transit to get to Cambridge area of Boston. What is the closest/best station to plan my travel from?

Shortest / simplest answer: the closest MBTA commuter-rail station to Rockland is Abington (Kingston/Plymouth Line) — it’s about 3 miles (5–10 minutes by car/taxi) from central Rockland. If you want a direct subway (rapid transit) into Cambridge without transferring at South Station, drive/taxi to Braintree (Red Line terminal) and take the Red Line into Cambridge. Another very convenient option is the Plymouth & Brockton (P&B) bus from Rockland that goes to Boston’s South Station — from South Station you can take the Red Line to Kendall/MIT, Central, Harvard, etc.

Detailed options and pros/cons

  • Abington (MBTA commuter rail — Kingston/Plymouth Line) — closest by distance (≈3 miles). Take the Kingston/Plymouth Line train from Abington to South Station, then transfer to the Red Line northbound to reach Kendall/MIT, Central, Harvard, etc. Pros: very close to Rockland; commuter-rail seat comfort. Cons: commuter rail schedules are less frequent than the subway (check weekend/holiday schedules).
  • Braintree (MBTA Red Line terminal) — about a 10–20 minute drive from Rockland (≈9 miles). Park (or get a short taxi/ride) at Braintree and take the Red Line into Cambridge (no commuter-rail → subway transfer required). Pros: frequent subway service and direct stops in Cambridge (Kendall/MIT, Central, Harvard). Cons: farther to drive/park than Abington but better for a one-seat subway trip.
  • Plymouth & Brockton (P&B) bus from Rockland → South Station — P&B runs scheduled buses from Rockland (or nearby Park & Ride) to Boston/South Station. From South Station take the Red Line northbound into Cambridge. Pros: direct to South Station, no need to drive to a station; often a good option if you prefer a single vehicle. Cons: you’ll still need a short subway ride to Cambridge; bus schedules/frequency vary.

Practical travel tips

  • Check MBTA Kingston/Plymouth Line schedules for Abington trains (weekday vs. weekend service can differ). If your event is on a weekend, verify train times — some trains run less frequently.
  • If you prefer a no-transfer subway trip into Cambridge, drive or take a short taxi to Braintree and use the Red Line (frequent service). Parking availability and fees at Braintree vary — check MBTA parking info if you plan to leave a car.
  • If you don’t want to drive to any station, the Plymouth & Brockton bus from Rockland to South Station is a reliable door-to-Boston option; from South Station the Red Line gets you to Kendall/MIT in only a few stops. Confirm P&B pickup locations/times in Rockland.
  • From South Station take the Red Line northbound and get off at Kendall/MIT (closest to Kendall Square) or Central/Harvard depending on where in Cambridge you need to be. Park-and-ride (Braintree) vs. commuter rail (Abington) tradeoffs usually come down to convenience vs. frequency.
  • Allow extra time for transfers and check real-time alerts on the MBTA website or apps the day of travel (delays and schedule changes happen).

More Rockland Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Boston
Cambridge
rock
Central

Popular Destinations

Guanmen Mountain
Zagreb
Fengbo Pavilion
Houhai Park

Popular Travel Questions