Top 11 Day Trips from Boston
Boston is a vibrant and historic city with a lot to see and do, but it’s also fun to get out of town and see what the surrounding areas have to offer. Fortunately, there are numerous incredible day trips from Boston that allow visitors to experience the best of New England. Within a short drive of the city, there is something for everyone, from charming seaside towns to historic landmarks and outdoor adventures. These day trips provide the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway or an immersive cultural experience.
Massachusetts is blessed with beautiful natural areas and offers a variety of unique attractions for all types of visitors. Visitors will find museums, unique attractions, and excellent restaurants in cities and towns. Waterfalls, miles of hiking trails, and peaceful beaches can be found in more remote areas of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts coast is lined with classic New England towns and quiet fishing villages. Massachusetts has a distinct history that is alive and well through its special attractions and well-preserved historic sites.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best day trips from Boston that are sure to be memorable and enjoyable.
Best Day Trips from Boston
Cape Cod National Seashore
Distance From Boston – 153 Km From The City.
Cape Cod National Seashore is known for its beauty and mystery, and it is home to a wide variety of animal and plant life. The beach is surrounded by marshes, ponds, and upland areas. The long coastline is dotted with cranberry bogs and historic lighthouses.
The Cape Cod National Seashore offers numerous opportunities for sightseeing and exploration. Hiking, biking, and relaxing on the beach are some of the activities that visitors enjoy. There are also designated areas for hunting and fishing, but these activities are only permitted during certain seasons. The management of the Cape Cod National Seashore also runs junior ranger and junior lifeguard programmes for children.
Website- nps.gov
Details-
Address: 99 Marconi Site Rd, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Phone no: +1 508-771-2144.
Nearby Attractions: Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Light Beach, Nauset Light.
Good Harbor Beach
Distance From Boston – 153 Km From The City.
Good Harbor Beach, near Gloucester, has soft white sands and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can walk out to Salt Island or enjoy boogie boarding and body surfing when the tides are right. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, lifeguards patrol the beach on a daily basis.
Restrooms, restaurants, concession stands, mini marts, and other amenities are available at Good Harbor Beach.
Website- www.gloucester-ma.gov
Details-
Address: 99 Thatcher Rd, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Phone no: +1 978-281-9785.
Nearby Attractions: Long Beach, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Fishermen’s Memorial Monument.
The Peabody Essex Museum
Distance From Boston – 22.7 Km From The City.
The Peabody Essex Museum, abbreviated PEM, houses a diverse collection of interesting and beautiful art objects. PEM began in 1799, when pilgrims brought art from Asia, Oceania, India, and other places to North America. Originally known as a “cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities,” PEM was officially designated as a museum in the early twentieth century.
The museum currently has 1.8 million items in its collection. The Peabody Essex Museum is home to 22 historic buildings as well as 400,000 books, manuscripts, and documents. The expansive campus features an impressive glass atrium as well as plenty of space for relaxing and studying.
Website- www.pem.org
Details-
Address: 161 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970.
Phone no: +1 978-745-9500.
Nearby Attractions: Cinema Salem, Salem Toy Museum, Old Burying Point Cemetery.
Old Sturbridge Village
Distance From Boston – 96 Km From The City.
Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum where visitors can experience life in the 1830s. The village includes authentic homes, a conference center, a store, a tavern, a sawmill, some barns, a church, and a gift shop/bookstore.
There are numerous dining and shopping opportunities throughout the village, as well as lodging options for visitors who wish to stay overnight. Throughout the year, Old Sturbridge Village holds special events and reenactments.
Website- www.osv.org
Details-
Address: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566
Phone no: +1 800-733-1830
Nearby Attractions: St. Anne’s Shrine, Sturbridge Flea Market, Altruist Brewing Company.
Castle Island Park
Distance From Boston – 5.6 Km From The City.
Fort Independence, a pentagon-shaped granite fort built between 1834 and 1851, is located in Castle Island Park. The magnificent structure is set on 22 acres of protected land. Castle Island Park, which is easily accessible from Carson Beach and M Street, provides visitors with beautiful views and a variety of amenities.
There are walking, jogging, and biking trails throughout the park, as well as beach areas patrolled by trained lifeguards. From Memorial Day to Columbus Day, Fort Independence is open to the public. Visitors can take a narrated tour with Castle Island Association guides or a self-guided tour at their own pace.
Website- www.mass.gov
Details-
Address: 2010 William J Day Blvd, Boston, MA 02127
Phone no: +1 617-727-5290
Nearby Attractions: Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall.
New England Day Trips: Provincetown
Distance From Boston – 185 Km From The City.
Provincetown, known as a haven for artists, is hailed as America’s First Destination due to its pilgrim heritage. The coastal town has only 3,000 permanent residents, but its summer population exceeds 60,000. It is one of the most popular destinations in the country for LGBTQ vacationers. Provincetown also has one of America’s oldest continuously operating art colonies.
Paintings, sculptures, theatrical productions, and music can all be found in Provincetown’s numerous art galleries, museums, and arts centers. In addition, the town has a few historic buildings and districts that have been carefully preserved for tourism purposes.
Website- seasaltcharters.com
Details-
Address: 307 Commercial St Ste 1, Provincetown
Phone no: (508) 240-3636
Nearby Attractions: Sea Salt Characters, Dolphin fleet whale watch.
Castle Hill
Distance From Boston – 60 Km From The City.
Castle Hill, located on the Crane Estate, is a stunning seaside mansion with immaculate grounds. Castle Hill, purchased by Richard T. Crane in 1910, was designed by some of the most prominent architects of Crane’s time. David Alder, the renowned architect, designed the 59-room mansion that now stands atop Castle Hill.
The estate offers guided and self-guided tours at various times throughout the year. During these tours, visitors can see a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, turkeys, migrating birds, and hawks. Castle Hill’s amenities include public restrooms and a snack bar. Those who wish to stay overnight can do so at the Castle Hill Inn.
Website- communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk
Details-
Address: Castle Hill Side, Huddersfield HD4 6TA
Phone no: +1 800-535-0944
Nearby Attractions: Beaumont Park, Tolson Museum, Greenhead Park.
Halibut Point State Park
Distance From Boston – 73 Km From The City.
Halibut Point State Park, which is open all year, is famous for its breathtaking seascape. The park’s coastal region is characterized by ocean-carved rock and dramatic cliffs. There are numerous opportunities for hiking, biking, bird watching, and relaxing.
Visitors can get a glimpse of New Hampshire and Maine on clear days. Visitors can take a tour of the nearby granite quarry on Saturdays between Memorial Day and Columbus Day to see how granite is sourced and cut firsthand.
Website- www.mass.gov
Details-
Address: 0 Gott St, Rockport, MA 01966
Phone no: +1 978-546-2997
Nearby Attractions: Shalin Liu Performance Center, Motif Number 1, Bearskin Neck.
The Clark Art Institute
Distance From Boston – 113 Km From The City.
The Clark Art Institute is a museum and academic research center founded in the early 1900s by Sterling and Francine Clark. The institute houses an impressive collection of American and European artists’ sculptures, paintings, drawings, and prints.
The institute’s academic center houses a library with over 230,000 books. In addition to its detailed exhibits, the Clark Art Institute hosts performances and special events on a regular basis. The institute also offers specialized educational programmes for both children and adults. Finally, the Clark Institute offers online educational programmes to families all over the world.
Website- www.clarkart.edu
Details-
Address: 225 South St, Williamstown, MA 01267
Phone no: +1 413-458-2303.
Nearby Attractions: Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williams College.
Glendale Falls
Distance From Boston – 113 Km From The City.
Glendale Falls is one of Massachusetts’s longest and most powerful waterfalls. Glendale Falls is a relaxing and scenic destination fed by more than five square miles of watershed areas. Visitors can see a variety of beautiful trees and bushes in the forest surrounding Glendale Falls, including hemlock, birch, beech, maple, shadbrush, and mountain laurel.
Several short trails in the area offer visitors unobstructed views of Glendale Falls and the surrounding woods. Glendale Falls is open all year and admission is free.
Website- thetrustees.org
Details-
Address: 126 Clark Wright Rd, Middlefield, MA 01050
Phone no: +1 413-532-1631
Nearby Attractions: Chester Theatre Company, DeVries Fine Art International, Keystone Arch Bridges Trail.
Plimoth Plantation
Distance From Boston – 113 Km From The City.
Plimoth Plantation, located less than an hour outside of Boston, is a living history museum. Plimoth Plantation, which has served as the setting for many modern films, began in 1947 with two English cottages and a small waterfront fort. Plimoth Plantation now houses a number of historic structures, including the Mayflower II, the Wampanoag Homesite, several barns, and a grist mill.
Plimoth Plantation hosts educational and seasonal events for families on a regular basis. The Plantation also collaborates with schools to provide in-class demonstrations and hands-on history lessons. Plimoth Plantation is open to the public all year.
Website- plimoth.org
Details-
Address: 137 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone no: +1 508-746-1622
Nearby Attractions: Plymouth Farmers’ Market, Long Beach, The Jenney.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame
Distance From Boston – 113 Km From The City.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors the over 300 famous players who have been inducted into the hall over its 50-year history. The 40,000-square-foot space is filled with various types of basketball memorabilia.
The Hall of Fame has a distinct sphere-shaped entryway that can be seen from a long distance away. The building hosts regular events to honor basketball’s most prominent stars and to bring basketball fans together. The Hall of Fame store sells t-shirts, hats, photos, art, basketball equipment, and other souvenirs.
Website- www.hoophall.com
Details-
Address: 1000 W Columbus Ave, Springfield, MA 01105
Phone no: +1 877-446-6752
Nearby Attractions: The Connecticut River Walk, Springfield Museums, Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Park.
Conclusion
Finally, Boston is an excellent starting point for exploring the diverse destinations of New England. From the beautiful beaches and charming towns of Cape Cod to the historic sites and picturesque scenery of Concord and Plymouth, the city provides many excellent day trip options. Visitors can also explore Salem’s supernatural history, Newport’s stunning mansions, or take a ferry to the idyllic Martha’s Vineyard. The seaside town of Rockport is a must-see for those looking for a relaxing getaway. With so many options, Boston is an excellent place to discover New England’s unique attractions and natural beauty.
