Your first big Boston adventure: getting to Ikea

Even the world’s most experienced builders have trouble surviving Ikea sometimes

Like being leered at on the Green Line, schlepping a new life’s worth of furniture from Ikea is a rite of passage for newly-minted Bostonians. Magical as the trip may be, getting there is no walk in the park (or: swim in the fjord?). No sweat, though: we’re here to help. The Wayhome World Headquarters is steeped in Swedish Finery, and if you follow the tips we’ve compiled, your new place can be, too. So pull-up your favorite börje, read-on, and get smart on your first Boston Ikea Trip.

So close, yet so far

While Boston’s Ikea is only 20 miles away in Stoughton, MA, with limited transit options, it can feel as far as Sweden itself. When planning your trip, plan to spend at least an hour on each leg of your journey, and expect to be exhausted for the return trip.

A note on the return trip

Before we get into the nuts & bolts of travel, remember that if you purchase large items, you need to get them back to your home. If you can’t secure a big enough vehicle for the trip, you can schedule a delivery to your home right from Ikea–just head to the customer service desk after you check-out (but be ready to wait: the delivery scheduling line can be as long as the register line, which means over an hour waiting–no picnic when you’re tired). While delivery isn’t free ($59-$139, depending on your zip code), it may be cheaper than procuring a big enough vehicle to haul all your new treasure.

The ‘pants-optional’ Ikea experience

First: do you really need to make this trip at all? If you couldn’t care less about meeting your dresser before you buy it, or if you have reservations about spending an entire day in a concrete warehouse, you don’t need to go in-person. Most of the furniture you need is available online, and shipping costs just slightly more than if you’d opted for home-delivery from the physical store. So, shop in your pajamas if you like–but keep in mind: Ikea is next door to 2–3 gigantic furniture stores catering to different price-points, as well as a Home Depot, a Costco, and a Staples.

If you’re fine with shopping from home, good news: it’s pretty cheap. Flat-rate shipping ranges from $99 — $139 in the Boston area, depending on ZIP code. Commitment issues? You’ll be glad to know you can return or exchange whatever you buy online by bringing it to the store (no cost!) or arranging for Ikea to pick it up (maybe cost).

Pros

• Flat-rate shipping: you pay the same price no matter how much you buy
• No temptation of buying unnecessary goodies
• Greater selection and availability of items

Cons

• You’ll miss out on the beauty of Ikea’s elaborate home-stagings
• They won’t deliver meatballs :/
• No touchy before buying

Getting to Ikea

We get it: sometimes you’ve got to see it in-person. We’ve laid out enough solid options for getting there & back to cover most budgets.

If you have your own car

Parking at Ikea’s free, so the only expense you’ll have is gas. If you’ve ever survived a day at Ikea, you know how tiring it can be, so make sure you’ve got enough energy to safely transport yourself and your precious Swedish cargo back to Boston.

Pros:

• No one will judge you if you want to have a good cry on the way home (Wayhome World Facts #351: the Swedish tradition of weeping after an Ikea trip is known as ‘fjorkenwein’)
• You’ll save enough money to buy yourself that skogsklocka blanket you don’t need

Cons

• You run the risk of damaging your Prius trying to shove that full-length mirror into the back seat
• If you’re new to Boston driving, this may not be a great way to learn

Car sharing services

Map of Boston’s available zipcar pickup locations

Services like Zipcar or Enterprise Carshare offer inexpensive and convenient access to vehicles. Hourly rates run around $6-$9 and daily rates from about $65–85 (aside: if “sharing” always paid that well, I’d have done it a lot more as a kid). There are multiple convenient locations around the Boston area, but there’s a limited supply of vehicles. You may have to be flexible on timing or pickup location, especially if you’re hoping to rent a larger vehicle. Drivers 21 and older can register for memberships, but students can join through the university program starting at age 18.

Pros

• No need to feel excluded: options for drivers from every country and for ages 18+
• Arrange your trip with an app on your phone: no need to spend time in line or filling out paperwork
• Gas, insurance, and first 180 miles are covered

Cons

• No guarantee you’ll find vehicles at your preferred location
• Access to large vehicles can be scarce: don’t count on renting that SUV with the sweet rims
• Initial membership fee ($25-$50) can sting a little for first-time users

Uber, Lyft or a taxi

Though costly, this option offers flexibility and relieves you of the huge burden of driving yourself. A ride one way with one of these services might be as cheap as $35, or can be more than double if you’re traveling during peak times.

Pros:

• Lazy man’s dream: no need to worry about speeding tickets or logistics
• If you aren’t old enough to rent a car or don’t have US license, no problem!

Cons:

• Large vehicle orders start at around $120 and only get more expensive on weekends, rush-hour, and evenings
• Your driver may not be cool with lugging your new swag back to Boston, so be sure to call and check first

Rent a car

No car-sharing membership? No problem. Renting a car can cost less than car-sharing if you plan on keeping it for more than a day or so.

Pros:

• Rental agencies have a wider variety of vehicles, so bigger vehicles may be easier to come by
• No need to sweat a membership or annual fee

Cons

• It pays to be old here: if you’re under 25, rentals might cost extra for you (if they’re available at all). Same goes for international drivers
• You’ll have to gas it up yourself, or pay the rental company to take care of it (but get ready to pay through the nose)

Rideshares

If you’re adventurous, rideshare groups and forums help you connect with people who are interested in carpooling or splitting rentals. Check out Craigslist’s rideshare section or the Boston rideshare facebook group. If you’re in Boston for school, reach out to classmates, offer up gas money, and make some friends. While Ikea’s known to crush romantic relationships, it’s a lesser known fact that friendships started there last a lifetime.

Pros:

• Since you’re splitting the cost, this is a great way to save a few bucks
• You’ve just moved: you could stand to make a few new friends, right?

Cons:

• There’s no guarantee that you’ll find people with compatible travel needs
• Stranger danger: be sure to exercise caution and good judgment (to be extra safe, learn karate)