Boston in 2 Days: Northeastern, BU, Boston College and Tufts

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents taking a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see four large Boston-area universities over a long weekend or school break. All four schools require you to register ahead for guided visits.[S1][S4][S9][S11]

Why this order

• Northeastern and BU sit close together in central Boston. The Northeastern Visitor Center (40 Leon St.) and the BU Visitor Center (233 Bay State Rd.) are about 1.9 driving miles apart (about 6 minutes with no traffic), or about a 1.5-mile, 32-minute walk.[S1][S6][S27][S28]
• BC and Tufts are the outer ends of the trip. BC is in Chestnut Hill, Newton, about six miles west of downtown Boston. Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus is about five miles northwest of Boston. The two are about 7.9 driving miles apart (about 21 minutes with no traffic).[S10][S11][S27]
• So Day 1 is Northeastern + BU (short hops, an easy start) and Day 2 is BC + Tufts (the longer travel day).

2. The suggested 2-day route

• Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, so weekday times will usually be longer.[S27][S29]
• T times are the MBTA's scheduled ride times for a weekday midday trip and don't include waiting or transfers.[S26]
• Our recommendation, not a school rule: book each day's two visits at least 60–90 minutes apart, end to start, to leave room for lunch, travel and early check-in. BU asks drivers to arrive 20–30 minutes early, and Tufts asks visitors to arrive 15–20 minutes early.[S5][S6][S11]

3. Campus by campus

Campus

Northeastern University

Official tour sign-up: Northeastern Campus Visit Portal: Visit our Boston Campus ↗

Where visits start

• Book a Boston-campus tour on the "Visit our Boston Campus" tab of Northeastern's campus visit portal.[S2][S3]
• Tours depart from the Visitor Center in West Village F, 40 Leon St., Boston. If you're using a rideshare, enter 40 Leon St. as the destination.[S1]

Visitor parking

• Validated parking is in the West Village Garage at 30 Leon St. If it's full, overflow parking is in the Columbus Garage at 795 Columbus Ave. Bring your ticket to the Visitor Center to be validated at check-in. Check Northeastern's visit page for current validation details.[S1]

Nearest T

• The closest stops are Ruggles on the Orange Line (about a 4-minute walk) and Northeastern University on the Green Line E, at Huntington Ave. and Opera Pl. (about a 7-minute walk).[S25][S23][S28]

What to know

• Tours cover academic facilities, university housing and Northeastern's green space. Check the weather and dress for it.[S1]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Northeastern Campus Visit Portal (all campuses) · Northeastern: Visit Campus (arrival and parking)

Campus

Boston University

Official tour sign-up: BU Admissions Events Calendar (on-campus visits) ↗

Where visits start

• Visits start at the Campus Visitor Center in the Alan and Sherry Leventhal Center, 233 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.[S4][S6]

Visitor parking

• BU says parking near its Visitor Center is limited. It has offered validated guest parking for admissions visitors at the Agganis Arena Garage (Lot A), 925 Commonwealth Ave., entered from behind the building via Buick St. or Harry Agganis Way. The garage is about a 16-minute walk from the Visitor Center, and its pay stations take credit cards only. Check BU's Directions & Parking page for the current season's arrangement and rate.[S6]
• The CAS Lot (Lot J) at 240 Bay State Rd. has no weekday visitor parking.[S6]
• There are limited City of Boston meters on Bay State Rd. and Commonwealth Ave. BU suggests the stretch between 100 and 200 Bay State Rd. Meters take credit cards, quarters or the Park Boston app.[S6]
• BU Transportation also lists the Langsam Garage (Lot B, 142 Gardner St.) and the Kenmore Lot (Lot O, 549 Commonwealth Ave.) for guests. The Kenmore Lot is unavailable during Red Sox games and other blackout periods.[S7]

Nearest T

• Boston University East on the Green Line B is about a 5-minute walk away. Cross Commonwealth Ave., go up Granby St. to Bay State Rd., and turn left. Look for the Leventhal Center's red awning.[S6]

What to know

• Tours go into several campus buildings, but not residence halls. If you can't get a reservation, BU has a self-guided mobile walking tour.[S4]

Contact

617-353-2318 · visit@bu.edu[S4]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: BU: Directions & Parking

Campus

Boston College

Official tour sign-up: BC Eagle Eye Campus Visits registration ↗

Where visits start

• Visits start at the Office of Undergraduate Admission in Devlin Hall on the Chestnut Hill campus. Advance registration is required, and BC can't take walk-ins. Despite the name, BC is in Newton, so use a Chestnut Hill (02467) address in your GPS.[S9][S10]

Visitor parking

• Navigate to 2004 Campanella Way, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, which brings you to the front of the Commonwealth Avenue Garage. Park on floors 3–6, take the elevator or stairs to the 7th-floor rooftop, and follow the signs to Devlin Hall, about a two-minute walk. Check BC's parking page for any visitor fees.[S10]

Nearest T

• Boston College is the last stop on the Green Line B. Cross Commonwealth Ave., walk up the hill to the Main Gate, follow Linden Lane to Gasson Hall (the building with the tower), and pass to its left to reach Devlin Hall.[S10][S22]

What to know

• The tour covers the Middle Campus part of Main Campus. It doesn't include residence halls, athletic facilities or the Margot Connell Recreation Center. BC also has a self-guided audio tour you can take anytime.[S9][S8]
• BC's hotel list names properties with BC visitor rates, including Hotel Commonwealth, the Colonnade, the Westin Copley Plaza and Copley Square Hotel. BC suggests asking about discounts when you book.[S10]

Contact

140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467[S9]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: BC: Visit · BC: Hotels, Directions, and Parking

Campus

Tufts University (Medford/Somerville)

Official tour sign-up: Tufts: Register for a Campus Visit ↗

Where visits start

• Check in at the Admissions Welcome Desk on the 7th floor of Dowling Hall, 419 Boston Ave., Medford, and arrive 15–20 minutes early.[S11]
• Events have no waitlists. Walk-ins can't join guided programs but can take a self-guided audio tour.[S11][S12]

Visitor parking

• Park in the Dowling Hall garage (entrance at 419 Boston Ave.) and take the elevator to the 7th floor. There's more visitor parking in the Cousens Parking Lot at 161 College Ave., about a six-minute walk to Dowling.[S13]
• Tufts lists hourly visitor parking at $2.50 an hour, with a $20.00 daily maximum. Pay at the kiosks in the parking facilities, through the Tufts Parking Portal ("hourly visitor parking"), or with the AIMS Mobile Pay app.[S13][S14]

Nearest T

• From the Medford/Tufts stop on the Green Line E, Dowling Hall is directly across Boston Ave. from the station exit. Another option is the Red Line to Davis, then the #94 or #96 bus or a 15-minute walk up College Ave.[S13]
• At Green Line Extension stations, including Medford/Tufts, you validate your fare at the fare machine: tap your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket and choose "validation."[S19]

What to know

• The campus is nicknamed "the Hill." Tours are outdoors and involve steep inclines and stairs, so contact Tufts ahead of time about any mobility needs.[S11]

Contact

617-627-3170 · undergraduate.admissions@tufts.edu[S11]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Tufts: Plan Your Visit · Tufts: Parking & Directions

4. Where to stay: one base for all four

Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

BC and Harvard both publish hotel lists, and some entries note campus-visit rates. Ask about them when you book.[S10][S15]

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

6. Things for siblings along the route

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7. Practical tips

Parent checklist

• Register for each visit before you book flights or a hotel. BU says weekend and vacation-week programs often fill weeks ahead.[S4]
• Bring a credit card if you'll park at BU's Agganis Arena Garage, where the pay stations take credit cards only.[S6]
• If you're bringing younger siblings, ask each school when you register whether they can join the tour.
• After each school, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student before the next visit blurs it.