Thinking of skipping the traffic and heading to Cape Cod by train? The CapeFLYER is your best-kept secret for a stress-free summer escape. This seasonal rail service runs from Boston’s South Station to Hyannis, and offers a comfortable, affordable, scenic, and surprisingly social alternative to the infamous Cape Cod car crawl.
The CapeFLYER is a seasonal train running between Boston’s South Station and Hyannis, Cape Cod, with stops in Braintree, Brockton, Lakeville, Wareham Village, Buzzards Bay, and Bourne. It operates three days a week - Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays - from the Memorial Day weekend through Labour Day.
The full ride takes roughly two and a half hours. It’s an excellent alternative to driving to Cape Cod, which has become notorious for its traffic congestion. There’s essentially one bridge, one lane in each direction, connecting Cape Cod to the mainland. It’s a literal choke point: you could be stuck in traffic for hours, especially on long weekends. The CapeFLYER is a fantastic way to skip the gridlock and enjoy the journey with a cup of coffee, a can of beer, or a glass of wine in hand.
The train is operated by the MBTA - the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Yes, it’s a commuter train, with the same single-level and double-decker cars the MBTA runs across its network, from Rhode Island to the Massatchusets-New Hampshire border.
One car has been converted into a bike car: they basically stripped out all the seats and installed bike racks instead. Bringing a bicycle onboard for free is such a fantastic option - Cape Cod is flat, shaded, and made for cycling. I can absolutely see how biking there could be a joy. Next time I’m in Cape Cod, that’s exactly what I’m doing.
There’s also a bar car (a whiteboard proudly read “bah cah,” poking fun at the Boston accent), and it was hands-down the busiest spot on the train. No surprise: that’s where people grab snacks and drinks, and strike up conversations with strangers. And trust me, some of those chats are wildly entertaining, especially when half-drunk lawyers are sharing their stories while heading to the Cape on a Friday night to kick off their weekend.
There’s even a business class car: for eight extra dollars, you get a wider seat and a free drink from a separate bar. Surprisingly, it wasn’t very crowded.
Speaking of food: it was very good! You could grab sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, and other snacks. One item was especially popular - the bar nearly ran out of it - a mystery bag: $12 for three random cans of beer and three granola bars. I agree it’s a strange combination, but who cares. If you’ve never bought beer on a train, let me tell you: a single can can easily go for $10 or more. So yeah, the mystery bag was a steal.
As of summer 2026, the one-way fare between Boston and Cape Cod in the Coach Class is $22 ($40 round-trip), but if you ride on Sunday and return the same day, the round trip is just $20. You can upgrade your ticket to the First Class for $15.00 each way. According to the MBTA’s website, there’s no need to buy tickets in advance: there are always seats available, and they even add extra cars on long weekends. Smart move. I don’t know about you, but I always stress about not catching a ride, worried it’ll be sold out.
One of the best things about this train is the scenery. That said, as a photographer, it’s always tricky to snap a good shot from a moving train. My advice: sit on the left side when heading from Boston to Cape Cod and you’ll be riding along the shore. You’ll pass serene lakes, grassy plains, charming farms, and quaint marinas. One of the highlights of the entire trip is the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. It’s a vertical lift bridge, meaning the center span rises straight up to let ships pass underneath. When it was completed in 1935, it was the longest vertical lift railroad bridge in the world, with a 544-foot center span.
Once the train crosses the bridge into Cape Cod, it rides along the canal, then zips past backyards and lush green oak groves. The final stop is right in the heart of Hyannis, at its transportation centre.
From there, it’s a short walk to Main Street’s restaurants and shops, and to the beautiful Hyannis Harbour. Not only is it a scenic spot, but it’s also the gateway to ferries departing for Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The train station in Hyannis connects you to bus routes across Cape Cod. You can choose between big Peter Pan coaches or local buses operated by the Cape Cod Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA). The latter are incredibly generous (thank you, taxpayers!) - they offer free rides on all fixed routes anywhere in Cape Cod. Since we parked our car in Boston and took the train down, we made full use of the free local buses, and we’re genuinely grateful.
The CCRTA network takes you to historic towns and villages, beaches, shopping malls, grocery stores, and more. While there are designated bus stops, you can wave down a driver pretty much anywhere, and they’ll stop - assuming it’s safe to do so. One thing I really appreciated: the driver actually waited for the train to arrive, even if it meant running behind schedule.
One day, we took a bus to Eastham with a connection in Orleans. Oh boy, it took nearly 2.5 hours to get there. But the Coast Guard Beach and the views in Cape Cod National Seashore were absolutely worth it. Plus, we got to see all the charming towns along the way. My absolute favourite was Chatham, followed closely by Harwich.
Chatham deserves its own day trip. It’s got that classic New England coastal charm: beautiful lighthouse, historic homes, and a vibe that’s just delightful.
Once at Coast Guard Beach - ranked among the top ten beaches in the U.S. - you can actually walk to Nauset Light Beach, home to another stunning lighthouse, the one featured on the iconic Cape Cod Chips bag.
I was surprised that, despite the number of beachgoers, very few people were swimming. My first guess was the cold water, which is only half the story. Yes, Cape Cod waters are always cold, but not unbearable; a quick splunge is totally doable.
The real reason? Great white sharks. Thanks to climate change and warming waters, they now frequent Cape Cod in the summer, drawn by the growing seal population. As a park ranger explained, they occasionally mistake humans for seals and attack. So if you spot seals in the water - like we did - get out immediately.
The CapeFLYER turns what could be a traffic-jammed crawl into a relaxed, scenic part of the vacation itself, complete with snacks, drinks, and scenic views worth the train ride alone. So I encourage you to leave your car home, hop on the train, and let Cape Cod’s beaches, bike paths, and charming coastal towns do the rest ∎.
Great article! Despite having a lot of family in New England I have never been to Cape Cod. If I ever go one day this is how I’ll make the trip.
Your article reminds me of a trip I made to the Cape back in the 1980s. Back then I rode on the Cape Cod & Hyannis Railroad which I boarded in Hyannis. So, this brings back memories.
The unfortunate thing about my riding the train that long ago, is I don’t know exactly where the train then went to before it headed back to Hyannis again. I remember being on the back end of the train as it passed beneath what I think was the Bourne Bridge, which looks like the bridge in one of your photos. I managed to get a picture of it.
The slightly disappointing item about the CapeFlyer is that it only operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But better that than no service at all, I say!
Lastly, do you know if there is any freight rail service on that line? I would like to think there is.