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On long summer days, there is nothing more iconic than the Charles River Esplanade in Boston. A 17-mile stretch along the Charles River that splits Boston from Cambridge, the riverside park features water activities, fine walks, and the so-very Bostonian Hatch Shell. It is a popular destination with locals and a great place to spend the day as a visitor.
Situated along the busy Storrow Drive and nestled near the bustling Back Bay neighborhood, navigating to the Esplanade can seem a little daunting but with this guide, you'll be navigating the park for some sun, lounging, and boating in no time.
Where Is The Charles River Esplanade?
The Esplanade is separated from the city by a stretch of Storrow Drive, a busy and high-speed road. There is a fence that outlines the road from the park, and several pedestrian overpasses that bridge from the Back Bay. This makes grabbing a lobster girl from Saltie Girl and walking over to the shaded waterside park easy and enjoyable.
The north boundary of the Esplanade is the Charles River itself with views of neighboring Cambridge. From the central parts of the Esplanade, you'll be able to see the Great Dome of MIT with smaller buildings of the campus dotting the river bank.
How To Get To The Charles River Esplanade?
The Esplanade is accessible in a variety of ways--by car, by foot, and by public transit, but each method has its own tips and tricks to ensure a safe journey.
By Car
There is no official parking lot if you're coming down Storrow Drive and hoping to park new the Esplanade. Instead, there are several free, 2-hour parking spots at the end of the Esplanade, where Storrow Drive begins. These spots are located behind the police stations and the science museum.
You can also park at metered spots along Charles Street, a road that runs through the Beacon Hill neighborhood and runs parallel with the eastern part of the Esplanade. Charles Street has several restaurants, a pharmacy, and some vintage shops so you're all set up to make it a day!
If want to make sure long-term parking is ensured, you can use apps like ParkWhiz to pre-pay for parking passes in and around Back Bay and Beacon Hill.
By Foot
If you've parked in any of the aforementioned spots and need to walk over to the Esplanade, you can use any of the pedestrian bridges to access the park. If you've parked by the police station, you can walk toward the Esplanade by following the series of sports fields along the river. If you're parking on Charles Street, you can access the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge via Beacon Street.
The most central bridge to the Back Bay neighborhood and the center of the Esplanade is Dartmouth Street Footbridge, located at the base of Dartmouth Street and Back Street. This bridge feeds you right to the Lagoon, right near Night Shift Owl's beer garden.
From the other side of the river, departing from Cambridge, you can take the lovely, albeit slightly longer, walk on the Harvard Bridge. This bridge is shared between pedestrians and motorists so expect it to be a bit busier than the pedestrian-only bridges on the south side of the Charles.
By Public Transit
The closest subway station (the "T" in Boston) is Charles/MGH, serviced by the Red Line. It is located at the end of Charles Street which means you can use the same access points as you would if parked on Charles Street.
The Science Park/West End T stop, serviced by the Green Line, is located right near the end of the Esplanade, near the police station and the Museum of Science. From this point, you can follow the same walking directions as if you've parked there.
Many other Green Line stops dot along the Back Bay neighborhood, running parallel to the Esplanade, and the Back Bay Station, on the Orange Line, is also walkable. These options may take double the time as the others, but it definitely takes the headache away from parking and there are arguably more restaurants to pick up a picnic from this way.
What To Do At The Charles River Esplanade?
Favorite summer pastimes at the Esplanade include sailing and rowing, and there are many boat launches along the river if you're bringing your own kayak. If you're hoping to rent something to get on to the water, Community Boating offers various ways to get out sailing, windsurfing, or paddling. Dependent on your skill level, time of year, and weather, a non-member can rent water vessels for up to two hours on a first-come, first-serve, basis.
If lounging is more of your speed, the Hatch Memorial Shell, an open-air concert venue, holds performances throughout the year. The most famous one is the Boston Pops 4th of July Concert, an instrumental concert led by world-famous conductor, Keith Lockhart. The massive, much-anticipated concert, is held alongside a spectacular display of fireworks on the most patriotic American day of the year. If you plan on attending this celebration, be mindful that it will be crowded so get started early!
For a relaxed time, Night Shift Brewing's Esplanade Beer Garden features beers and ciders from Boston-local Night Shift. On weekends, the beer garden is open late, so it's a perfect place to watch the sun go down while enjoying good drinks.