Getting Around New Bedford

Getting Around New Bedford

New Bedford sits on the Acushnet River in Massachusetts' South Coast region, and its compact historic core makes it an easy city to explore on foot once you've arrived. How you get around beyond downtown depends largely on whether you're staying in the walkable waterfront area or heading out to the surrounding neighborhoods and towns.

Walking

Downtown and the waterfront are the most visitor-friendly parts of the city for walking. The compact historic layout, with its cobblestone streets, puts restaurants, bars, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum within close proximity of one another. If your plans center on the historic district and harbor, you can reasonably leave the car parked.

Beyond the downtown and waterfront zones, the city becomes much less accessible on foot, so plan on another mode of transport for anything farther out.

Public Transit: SRTA Buses

The city's public transit is provided by the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA), which runs fixed bus routes covering New Bedford and the surrounding towns. The main hub is the SRTA Terminal at 134 Elm Street, known as the New Bedford Transportation Center, which is also where intercity buses arrive downtown.

• Coverage: SRTA routes serve the city and neighboring communities, making buses the practical option for reaching areas outside the walkable core.
• Hours: Fixed routes generally run from morning until early evening, with only limited late-night service — so plan evening trips carefully.
• Contact: SRTA can be reached at +1 508-997-6767 or by email at srtaservice@aol.com.

Bus stops are concentrated along several of the city's main streets, including Mount Pleasant Street, Kempton Street, Purchase Street, Mill Street, and Union Street, so most trips within the city will start from one of these corridors.

Rail, Metro and Trams

New Bedford does not have a metro or tram system. Rail service in the region is limited, and visitors should not expect a subway-style network for getting around the city itself. For practical purposes, buses, walking, and cars cover the ground that a metro or tram would in a larger city.

Buses from Out of Town

Peter Pan Bus Lines connects New Bedford with Providence, with up to ten daily departures. These intercity buses arrive at the SRTA Terminal in downtown New Bedford, which makes for a convenient arrival point if you're continuing on by local bus or on foot into the historic district.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

For trips that don't line up with bus routes or walking distances — particularly in the evening when bus service thins out — taxis and ride-hailing services are the flexible fallback. They're especially useful for reaching the airport or outlying neighborhoods.

Cycling

Cycling infrastructure in New Bedford is developing rather than complete. Initiatives include the South Coast Bikeway and the "Blue Lane" project, and the Saulnier Memorial Bike Trail offers scenic waterfront paths. Cycling is most viable in the waterfront zones; elsewhere, riders should expect to share the road with traffic.

Getting There from the Airport

New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB) is a small regional airport mostly used for flights to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Because it's small and close to the city, it's the most convenient air arrival point if your itinerary includes those islands.

For visitors flying into larger airports, two major options serve the region:

• T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Warwick, Rhode Island — the closest major airport to New Bedford.
• Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston — a larger international gateway, but farther away.

From either of these airports, the practical way into New Bedford is by car or by intercity bus. Peter Pan Bus Lines runs service between Providence and downtown New Bedford, which pairs well with a T.F. Green arrival, since the airport is in the Providence area. If you're driving, Interstate 195, Route 140, and Route 6 all run through the city, and downtown is reached via Exit 15 ("Downtown – Route 18 South"), where you turn onto Elm Street; a public parking garage sits two blocks along on the right.

By Car

Driving is the most straightforward way to reach New Bedford and to get around outside the walkable core. The main approach routes are:

• From Boston and points north: Route 93 South to Route 24 South, then Route 140 South to Interstate 195 East, exiting at Exit 15 for Downtown and Route 18 South. Turn right at the lights onto Elm Street; the public parking garage is two blocks on the right.
• From Cape Cod and points east: Route 6 West to Route 25 to Interstate 195 West, Exit 15 ("Downtown – Route 18 South"), then right onto Elm Street to the garage.
• From Providence and points west: Interstate 95 North to Interstate 195 East, Exit 15 ("Downtown – Route 18 South"), then right onto Elm Street to the garage.

Practical Summary

• Best for downtown sightseeing: walking — the historic core and waterfront are compact and close together.
• Best for reaching outer neighborhoods: SRTA buses, remembering that service is limited in the late evening.
• Best for evenings and flexibility: taxis or ride-hailing.
• Best for regional connections: Peter Pan buses from Providence, arriving at the downtown SRTA Terminal.
• Best for island flights: New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB).
• Best for major-airport arrivals: T.F. Green (PVD) or Logan (BOS), then car or intercity bus into the city.