Need advice on getting from Logan to Walpole, picking up rental car somewhere (Boston: rentals)

[transplanner07]

Hi,

I plan on visiting Boston this weekend to see relatives in the Walpole area. I need to pick up a rental car to get around, but am not sure what the best option would be, considering traffic patterns, construction, cost, and relative unfamiliarity with the Boston road system.

My plan flights are scheduled such that I would hopefully avoid most rush hour traffic (i.e. Logan --> south, early Friday afternoon, and south --> Logan late Wednesday afternoon?)

What should I do?
- Fly into Logan, rent car at airport
- Fly into logan, take logan express to Braintree, pick up a car at a nearby rental place (and reverse on way back)
- Fly into Logan, get to South Station (how?), take the commuter train somewhere (Braintree, or Randolph or Quincy??), pick up car at nearby rental place?
- any other options?

Advice would be greatly appreciated, as I need to confirm a rental car reservation somewhere in the next 24 hours or so. Ultimately my time is a little more valuable than $, and thus would like to avoid too much hassle, but I also get lost driving in Boston find it a bit stressful.

Thanks for any input!

[scarletfire]

Actually getting in and out of the airport these days is fairly easy. Even I can do it and I can't stand city driving! Bringing a good GPS device with you will help (although I find mine isn't 100% accurate in the city). I was surprised when I took my Garmin on a recent trip to CA that it worked just fine (and saved me the cost of renting one from the rental car place).

Getting to South Station and then a train seems like more of a hassle than it's worth.

If you opt for renting a car in Braintree I'd just make sure there's a rental car agency within walking distance to the Braintree Logan Express (maybe someone else familiar with that area can chime in here.)

[transplanner07]

Hmm... I just saw that the T (silver, then red) goes directly from the airport and south to Quincy and Braintree. That option should probably replace the MBTA train from South Station above. Does that make a difference?

Also, is the construction around the airport (I think big dig -related?) finished?

[holden125]

If you're renting a car anyway and time is more valuable than money, rent the car at Logan. The chance of getting lost in Boston is significantly reduced now that you don't have to take the Sumner Tunnel into town.

You'll want to follow the signs for I-90 (Ted Williams Tunnel), then while still in the tunnel take the exit for I-93 South (Exit 24 ??). The ramp divides a couple of times, but you just follow the signs for 93 South. Generally you keep to the left.

At Exit 7 on 93 South, bear right to stay on 93 South toward I-95. Don't take Route 3 for Cape Cod.

You get off at Exit 1 for I-95 South/Providence. Walpole is less than 10 minutes away from the interchange.

I'm not sure if there are car rentals near Braintree Logan Express, or in Walpole. For future reference, you can take the Silver Line from Logan direct to South Station, and get a commuter train to Walpole itself.

[janrey]

A little late but personally I fly into Providence to go up to Norwood. It's easier, the flight is cheaper from where I fly from and I rent a car at the airport.

[DreamworksSKG]

Why not just take the commuter rail to Walpole and have your friends pick you up at the commuter rail station

Just hope the Silver Line to South Station---and then just get the Commuter rail (FRANKLIN) Line from South Station?

Hope this helps :-)


If you needed a car, you could have your friend drive you to Stoughton to pick up a car at HERTZ

[transplanner07]

Thanks for all the suggestions... I ended up flying into Boston and renting a car at the airport (thanks to priceline, it wasn't too bad). A little confusing getting out of the airport, but the GPS is an absolute lifesaver *everywhere* in the Boston Metro area for those not superfamiliar with the city. The commuter rail would have been a great idea, except that I was visiting my 80-year old grandmothers and neither drive much. Will look into Providence airport next time, for sure, though. Driving in the city is a PITA if you don't have to be there. Wouldn't it be great if the rental car websites mentioned whether the rental locations were transit accessible?? Phone reps never seem to know.