Directions and Parking

Here's a MapQuest map of St. John's, with driving instructions available.

Public Transportation

See the MBTA site for subway information.

St. John's is a 5-minute walk from Government Center Station (Green and Blue Lines) or Park Street Station (Green and Red Lines), and a 10-minute walk from Charles/MGH (Red Line), State (Orange Line), or North Station (Green and Orange Lines).

Parking Suggestions

Originally from the March 2003 issue of The Messenger, by Louis Tsien. Last updated in February, 2008.

Disclaimer:

The following information is based on personal observation. No guarantees made or liability assumed! Please send comments using our contact form.

Center Plaza Parking Garage:

Vehicle entrance on Somerset Street (off Cambridge Street 1 block from Bowdoin). This is the garage on the left as you drive up the hill. $12 weekday evenings (after 4pm) and all day Saturday or Sunday. They take MC/Visa/Amex.

NEW: Saltonstall Parking Garage:

This is the garage on the right as you drive up the hill. Vehicle entrance on Somerset Street (off Cambridge Street 1 block from Bowdoin). $10 weekday evenings (after 5pm) and all day Saturday or Sunday. Pay before you leave at the lobby inside; sometimes you have to hunt around to find the attendant.

Bowdoin Street:

The "No Parking" spaces directly in front of the church are not generally ticketed on Sundays and holidays (e.g. Christmas). These spaces may need to be reserved on specific occasions, such as weddings and funerals. Please do not obstruct the wheelchair curb cut, or take the single handicap space in front of the Mission House unless you have a handicap plate or placard.

There are metered spots on Bowdoin Street on both sides:

• Those on the church (west) side of Bowdoin Street are not ticketed on Sundays and holidays. Weekdays and Saturdays 8-6 the meters are enforced--$1/hour for maximum 2 hours per feed, quarters only. Evenings, these spaces are marked for Beacon Hill residents only--$40 ticket.
• With the completion of the Bowdoin Place condominiums, parking spaces are once more available on the opposite (east) side of Bowdoin Street. Meters are in effect Mon-Sat 8 AM-8 PM, $1/hr for maximum 2 hours, quarters only. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are free, no resident sticker required -- and therefore rarely open.

The "General Court" spaces uphill from the church are not ticketed on Saturday, Sunday, or weekday evenings.

Beacon Hill:

Look for "General Court" spaces along Derne, upper Hancock, and Mt. Vernon streets after hours, Sundays, and when the legislature is not in session. Except Sunday, most other spaces reserved for Beacon Hill resident stickers.

Government Center:

Some metered spaces along Cambridge Street and New Chardon Street. The meters are off all day Sunday, weekday evenings and Saturday evening. These spaces tend to fill up quickly before TD Banknorth Garden events--Bruins and Celtics games, Ice Capades, circus, etc.

There are a number of "No parking" spaces on New Chardon street after the parking meters end on the west side of the street (that is, on the right if you are driving up the hill towards the church). This area does not appear to be ticketed on Sundays.

Cambridge Street:

There are several loading zone spots on the south side of Cambridge Street (near Dunkin Donuts at the Bowdoin St. corner) that are up for grabs starting at 7pm.

Special Events:

Parking can be very tight during big TD Banknorth Garden events, and charity walks and other rallies can squeeze parking on Sundays. The TD Banknorth Garden calendar and City of Boston calendar can help you plan for this.