How far is Yale from Harvard, and how hard is it to travel between them?
I'm starting to look at colleges on the East Coast and both Yale and Harvard are high on my list. I know they're both Ivy League schools, but I'm not totally clear on how close they are to each other geographically.
If I wanted to visit both schools during the same trip, how far is it to get from one campus to the other? Is it an easy train or bus ride, or would I need to drive? I'm planning my college road trip with my parents and just trying to figure out the logistics, so any info on the best ways to get between these two schools (and about how long it takes) would be super helpful.
If I wanted to visit both schools during the same trip, how far is it to get from one campus to the other? Is it an easy train or bus ride, or would I need to drive? I'm planning my college road trip with my parents and just trying to figure out the logistics, so any info on the best ways to get between these two schools (and about how long it takes) would be super helpful.
6 months ago
•
92 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Yale located in New Haven, Connecticut, and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts (just outside Boston). I actually went to high school in New Haven, and my parents stayed based there when I went to Harvard. I went back and forth between New Haven and Cambridge a lot.
If you’re driving, the trip usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic, especially as you get close to Boston or around New Haven.
If you don’t want to drive, you can take an Amtrak train directly from New Haven’s Union Station (right near Yale’s campus) to Boston’s South Station. The ride is about 3 hours. Once you’re in Boston, hop on the Red Line subway for a quick 10-15 minute ride to Harvard Square, which is right in front of Harvard’s main campus. Amtrak tickets can cost anywhere from $25-$60 one-way depending on the type of train (the Acela is faster but pricier).
Another option is the Greyhound or Peter Pan bus between New Haven and Boston. The ride might take a bit longer (about 4 hours, depending on stops and traffic), but it can be more budget-friendly.
If you’re trying to see both campuses in one day, it’s possible if you start early, but most people recommend spending at least half a day at each school to get the best feel for campus life. New Haven is a smaller town, and while it has non-Yale attractions aplenty, there is a lot more to see in Cambridge and Boston (Harvard's campus is a bit larger overall as well). A sample itinerary: tour Yale in the morning, hop on a mid-afternoon train, and be in Cambridge by the late afternoon for an overnight; do Harvard, Cambridge and Boston over the course of a full day.
If you’re driving, the trip usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic, especially as you get close to Boston or around New Haven.
If you don’t want to drive, you can take an Amtrak train directly from New Haven’s Union Station (right near Yale’s campus) to Boston’s South Station. The ride is about 3 hours. Once you’re in Boston, hop on the Red Line subway for a quick 10-15 minute ride to Harvard Square, which is right in front of Harvard’s main campus. Amtrak tickets can cost anywhere from $25-$60 one-way depending on the type of train (the Acela is faster but pricier).
Another option is the Greyhound or Peter Pan bus between New Haven and Boston. The ride might take a bit longer (about 4 hours, depending on stops and traffic), but it can be more budget-friendly.
If you’re trying to see both campuses in one day, it’s possible if you start early, but most people recommend spending at least half a day at each school to get the best feel for campus life. New Haven is a smaller town, and while it has non-Yale attractions aplenty, there is a lot more to see in Cambridge and Boston (Harvard's campus is a bit larger overall as well). A sample itinerary: tour Yale in the morning, hop on a mid-afternoon train, and be in Cambridge by the late afternoon for an overnight; do Harvard, Cambridge and Boston over the course of a full day.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years