<p>One of DD’s favorite schools is outside of Boston (Wheaton). I’m looking at the logistics of getting her to/from there, as well as if I needed to travel there. I’m told to avoid Logan Airport and use Providence, though from our airport on the west coast, most of the flights to Providence involve 2-3 stops. What are the biggest cons with Logan? Driving into/out of? Delays on the runway because its so busy? </p>
<p>Two, I just can’t do trains/subway/taxis (yeah, I know… I don’t plan to live in a big city :-). All I’ve read tells me driving in Boston is awful. How bad is it if I simply need to rent a car at the airport and drive directly to Norton? ;-)</p>
<p>Sushi, I fly a lot, and find Logan to be one of the easier airports, have never had a problem there, and it’s FAR more pleasant than, say Newark, LAX, etc.</p>
<p>Driving/streets in Boston is another matter entirely. I always take taxis and it seems like even my taxi drivers get lost, even though my destinations are always business addresses that they should know, etc. However, if you’re planning to drive to Wheaton (never heard of it and don’t know where it is), it seems like if you rent a car, and have clear, verifiable directions, you should be fine. Maybe a car with GPS - that should do it, perhaps?</p>
<p>When we did the big college tour and then the college drop off, we flew to Logan and drove rental cars. I don’t remember it being especially better or worse than any other urban driving experience. But then I’m used to driving SoCal freeways, so it may take more to scare me than someone from say the prairies.</p>
<p>Logan has its problems, without doubt, but isn’t worse than most big international airports. Driving is hideous, but going to Norton shouldn’t be too bad, since you are going out of town, not in.</p>
<p>Logan has a bad rep but I use it constantly and have rarely had airport-related problems. Providence is definitely nicer (smaller) and closer to Wheaton but not necessarily worth extra stops. Make sure you check out Southwest, which does not show up on Orbitz, etc.</p>
<p>Interstate driving south from Boston is not a big problem (except rush hour: 4-6 PM). However, driving IN Boston is a completely different story, and best avoided.</p>
<p>Wheaton is in Norton, Mass. Which is actually sort of “halfway” between Boston and Providence. We go there annually for an event and often stay in Providence, since we like the city. So I can see why someone might suggest using Providence airport. However, if flying into Providence from your area is a pain and involves many plane changes, I don’t think you should worry about using Logan.</p>
<p>As others have said, flying into/out of Logan is pretty much the typical experience of any fairly busy major airport. Ditto driving on the interstates you will use to get to Wheaton. Wheaton’s website will undoubtedly have driving directions from Logan airport.</p>
<p>It seems to me you could allow plenty of time to get lost around Boston/Logan (JK) before you’d ever get anywhere near the time wasted with 2-3 airplane stops/layovers using the Providence idea.</p>
<p>When I moved my D to Tufts, I flew Jet Blue from Long Beach to Logan. I rented and car and had no problems with directions to Medford. It was cheap and easy. Just check your route and avoid any of the tunnels or bridges that are under construction. Get a good map if you are doing any city driving. The hotel I stayed at was great and gave me specific to-from directions to all important destinations. Don’t be afraid of Logan. If this So. Cal girl can handle Logan and the Boston roads solo, anyone can. Good luck.</p>
<p>I have flown into Logan approx 8-10 times and never had a problem with the airport, with rental cars, with getting in or out. I have never lived in the NE, and had little experience driving in especially large cities. I was anxious for the first trip or two, espeically getting around by car. I was always pleasently surprised. As an out-of-towner,I’d go with Logan rather than a 2-3 connection trip to Providence.</p>
<p>I have to admit I loathe driving in Boston. My Mom’s from the suburbs and my brother lives in Gloucester and works in the city. The main current problem is that downtown Boston because of the Big Dig bears no resemblence to any of our maps. I do think Massachusetts drivers (not just Boston ones) really are worse than the rest. This totally biased opinion based most recently on our experience driving in a snowstorm from VT to NY. Vermont no accidents. MA 8 cars (at least) off the road. CT no accidents. Gotta wonder!</p>
<p>Some of us out-of-towners are quite amused by driving in Boston. It certainly keeps you alert, and boy, is is freeing - laws are only suggestions. I thoroughly enjoyed the small dose of anarchy.</p>
<p>I used to compare driving around Boston to the Harry Potter staircases – it’s different every time I go into the city. And I will agree with Mathmom, that drivers in MA are the worst of any place I’ve lived. We still like it here, though. :)</p>
<p>What have the problems with the Big Dig tunnel created for travel from Logan, northeast of the city, via I-90 to points south like Wheaton? Any at all or is there a separate, unaffected route in to and through the city?</p>
<p>2dsdad, I believe the I-90 connector tunnel re-opened a few weeks ago, and presumably one is not taking one’s chances to drive through it.</p>
<p>My fiance and I brought his car up to the city at the beginning of the summer, so the past few months he’s been learning to drive in the city. He’s gotten a lot better! Boston driving isn’t so bad when you’ve driven around the city for a while, but the traffic, general anarchy, and confusingly connected streets are what make driving in the city so perplexing for people who aren’t familiar with it.</p>
<p>I was just in and out of Logan last weekend. There still seems to be a little detour, but for the life of me, I can’t explain it. When you leave the airport and want to connect to the Mass Pike, it is not direct like before the accident in July, but it is still very doable. Police are still directing traffic and it is a little slow as the lanes are reduced, but there is no reason to avoid it. My husband insisted on taking a “short cut” and we probably saved maybe 5 minutes (scooting around South Boston), but I wouldn’t recommend it. Actually, I couldn’t because I have no idea what he did:)</p>