New Bedford is about 60 miles south of Boston and 20 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island. The MBTA Commuter Rail runs from South Station in Boston to New Bedford on the Middleborough/Lakeville line, with a journey time of about 75 minutes. By car, take I-93 south to Route 24 south to Route 140 south into downtown New Bedford; the drive from Boston takes an hour to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Parking in the historic district is metered; free parking is available at various lots a short walk from the waterfront.
Peter Pan Bus Lines runs services to New Bedford from Boston's South Station and Providence. The city has a regional bus system but no rail connection to Cape Cod or the islands; most visitors use a car for exploring the surrounding area.