Short answer: for a domestic flight out of Boston Logan, plan to arrive about two hours before departure, and three hours for an international flight. Then work backwards from your drive time, which can be 20 minutes from Revere or more than an hour from Duxbury or Worcester County.
We drive people to Logan every day, and the most common question we get when someone books is “what time should you pick me up?” Here is how we usually work it out.
Step 1: Decide when you need to be at the terminal
- Domestic flight, checking a bag: about 2 hours before departure.
- Domestic flight, carry-on only: 90 minutes is usually fine, especially with TSA PreCheck.
- International flight: about 3 hours before departure. Most international flights use Terminal E.
- Holiday weeks and school vacation weeks: add another 30 minutes. Security lines at Logan get long the weekend before Thanksgiving, the week of Christmas and during February and April school vacations.
Step 2: Add your drive time
These are typical times outside rush hour, based on the trips we drive most often. Weekday mornings between about 6:30 and 9:30 can add 20 to 45 minutes from the south and north.
- Revere, Chelsea, East Boston: 10 to 20 minutes
- Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, Lynn: 20 to 35 minutes (Cambridge, Brookline, Lynn)
- Quincy, Milton, Braintree: 20 to 35 minutes (Quincy, Milton, Braintree)
- Salem, Peabody, Swampscott: 25 to 45 minutes (Salem, Peabody, Swampscott)
- Hingham, Norwell, Hanover, Weymouth: 35 to 50 minutes (Hingham, Norwell, Hanover, Weymouth)
- Waltham, Weston, Newton: 25 to 40 minutes (Waltham, Weston, Newton)
- Duxbury, Marshfield, Plymouth: 45 to 70 minutes (Duxbury, Marshfield, Plymouth)
- Worcester County and I-495 towns: 50 to 80 minutes
Step 3: Put it together
Say you live in Hingham and you have a 7:00 AM domestic flight with a checked bag. You want to be at Logan by about 5:00 AM. The drive at that hour is usually 35 to 40 minutes, so a pickup between 4:15 and 4:30 AM gives you a comfortable cushion.
Now say it is a 5:30 PM flight on a Friday from Plymouth. You want to be at Logan by 3:30 PM, but Friday afternoon traffic on Route 3 and the Expressway can turn a one-hour drive into an hour and a half or more. A pickup around 1:30 PM is safer.
What slows people down at Logan
- The tunnels. Almost every route into the airport goes through the Ted Williams Tunnel, the Sumner Tunnel or Route 1A. One accident can back up all of them.
- Terminal traffic. Departure roadways get crowded at peak times, especially at Terminals B and E.
- Parking. If you drive yourself, allow extra time for the garage, the walk and the shuttle bus. That is one reason many people prefer being dropped at the curb.
Coming home: let the chauffeur do the waiting
For arrivals, you do not need to guess. With our Logan Airport car service, we track your flight and your chauffeur adjusts to the actual landing time. You can be met inside baggage claim with a name sign, or at the curb. Our Logan pickup locations guide explains how each terminal works.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I get to Logan for a domestic flight?
Most airlines recommend arriving about two hours before a domestic departure, a little less if you have no bags to check and TSA PreCheck.
How early should I get to Logan for an international flight?
Plan on about three hours before departure. Most international flights leave from Terminal E.
What time does traffic to Logan get bad?
On weekdays, I-93 and Route 3 from the south and Route 1 from the north are usually busiest from about 6:30 to 9:30 AM and from about 3:30 to 7 PM. Friday afternoons and holiday weekends are the worst.
Is it faster to take a car service or the train to Logan?
For most suburbs, a car service is faster door to door, especially early in the morning or with luggage, because you skip transfers and the walk to your terminal.
If you are not sure what time to book, call or text (617) 701-7061 with your town and flight time and we will suggest a pickup time. You can also book online or read more about our Logan Airport limo service.