The capital of Massachusetts isn’t someplace you essentially suppose you’ll must take a day journey from, and it’s true – Boston has tons to do in the town middle. There is a wealthy historical past, artwork museums, and even the well-known Harvard University. But contemplating its prime location on the east coast, it could be an absolute crime to go to and never indulge in some journeys from Boston. The wider Boston surrounds are nicely related by trains and even higher related by highways and again roads. So guide a prepare ticket or lease a automobile and get happening a day journey.
Top Day Trips from Boston
Whether you need recent seafood or to sort out the East Bay Bike Path, these top-day journeys from Boston are certain to maintain you ticking over all through your keep. In this information, we’ll cowl Boston’s finest day journey choices – together with day journeys you possibly can attain by automobile and prepare to maintain issues accessible for everybody. Let’s get began.
Planning Your Trip To Boston Right Now?
Below are a number of the high day journey excursions from Boston. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Boston!
Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Boston:
1. Plum Island
Plum Island is a stunning day journey from Boston in the summer season months. The barrier island is simply over an hour’s drive on a foul visitors day and will get its identify from the wild plum shrubs that develop alongside its shores. It additionally earned the title ‘plum’ from the attribute purple sand that happens throughout low tide because of pinkish-tinted garnet crystals combined in with the sand.
As a day journey, it’s one of the crucial pleasant locations for a seashore day – though guests ought to keep in mind that there aren’t any on-duty lifeguards. It may not be the Boston day journey for swimming in case you aren’t assured in the water and visiting with a gaggle of sturdy swimmers.
Plum Island is barely 11 miles lengthy, so you may stroll the entire island in case you actually needed to. Otherwise, stick with organized mountaineering trails just like the Hellcat Marsh Loop Trail, which cuts by way of the Parker River National Wildlife Reserve. Plum Island wormed its method onto our information due to its quiet seashore vibe and lots of nature-immersive experiences. It isn’t as busy because the seaside cities, so excellent in case you simply wish to seashore bum for certainly one of your Boston day journeys.
2. Provincetown
Speaking of seashore days, Provincetown is a type of busier seaside cities we advocate. When you desire a day journey to someplace busy and entertainment-filled, Provincetown is the place to move. The New England city is true on the tip of Cape Cod and is known for its arts, meals, and pilgrim historical past. In 1620, Provincetown was really the location of the Mayflower’s touchdown, commemorated by the Pilgrim Monument as we speak.
However, it’s not all historical past; its seashores are the cherry on high. Race Point Beach is the most well-liked spot for sunbathing in Provincetown – so permit time to go to once you head on at the present time journey from Boston.
Provincetown is pleasant, eclectic, and splendid for an impactful addition to our high Boston day journeys. You can drive to Provincetown in round 2 hours, passing little coastal city hotspots like Plymouth and Sandwich en route. Alternatively, use public transport to achieve the World Trade Center Pier and catch the ferry in roughly a 2-hour complete journey. This is a wonderful technique to sneakily glimpse Boston from the water.
3. Peabody Essex Museum
Art lovers, put together to be blown away by this one. Peabody Essex Museum is well one of many high artwork galleries you possibly can go to from or in Boston. And this museum is only a quick drive (45 minutes) from central Boston – so simply squeezed right into a busy itinerary. If you don’t have a automobile, you even have public transport choices with a number of bus traces connecting the 2.
The glitzy fashionable artwork museum is famend for its American and Asian artwork. It has a somewhat weird assortment of artifacts and shows. Be ready for full-room shows and loads of head-tilting artwork items. A substantial part is devoted to the Salem witches, a well-known story in the museum’s city of over 20 girls who have been put to loss of life over baseless allegations of witchery.
If you go to the Peabody Essex Museum, you possibly can simply go to the Salem Witch Museum if you are there. Salem is small however mighty, with fairly a couple of high-quality points of interest, so don’t hesitate to bulk your go to to this gallery right into a full-day affair. We had so as to add it to this itinerary due to the witch component to its shows and the glitzy, complete showcasing of such an unlimited show of high quality artwork. This museum additionally makes a fantastic rainy-day journey from Boston. Day journeys aren’t only for sunny days.
4. Road Trip to Portland, Maine
Driving to Portland from Boston takes lower than a couple of hours – roughly 2 hours and 1 minute. But as a substitute of dashing as much as Portland and again, make a day journey out of the drive and deal with it as a single-day highway journey. We counsel driving by way of the gorgeous Middlesex Fells Reservation, detouring barely to cease by Salem and see all of the witch historical past, stopping for lunch at Portsmouth, after which spending a few hours absorbing Maine in scenic Portland.
In Portland, you may experience the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, go to the Portland Museum of Art, or the International Cryptozoology Museum. The final one is pleasant, with many fictional characters reveals like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.
With all these stops on the primary a part of your journey, permit round 6 hours for the primary leg to completely get pleasure from every cease. Then, your return journey ought to be about 2 hours until you cease wherever fairly for sundown and dinner. The north shore residents are fortunate to have such historic cities and delightful views on their doorstep, so make sure you get a very good style of this unimaginable stretch.
5. Salem Witch Museum
Salem Witch Museum is without doubt one of the most fascinating day journey concepts from Boston, and even higher, it’s also one of the crucial possible. It is simply an hour from Boston by automobile or a 45-minute direct prepare experience from North Station. The museum takes you again to 1692 when the Salem Witch Trials have been totally flowing. Over 200 girls stood trial for false claims of witchery, and 19 have been convicted and given a death-by-hanging sentence.
The ordeal was catastrophic and thought of one of the crucial tragic occasions in historical past. You can relive the expertise with life-size mannequins and trial scenes on the museum. You can flick through informative reveals to be taught extra concerning the girls prosecuted and about attitudes and examples of witchcraft as we speak.
The Salem Witch Museum may not be the very first thing that pops into your head once you consider a stunning weekend getaway. However, as a day journey from Boston, it highlights a massively vital part of historical past.
6. Woods Hole
Woods Hole is on the very finish of Cape Cod. In reality, it appears nearer to the islands than the mainland, regardless of being on the primary peninsula. The tiny village was as soon as a central whaling level, and you’ll nonetheless get pleasure from a extra moral model of coastal residing by strolling previous the marina and having fun with the waterfront promenade.
There is lots of science-based leisure available in this village, too; simply cease by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center. This science museum even has Titanic restoration reveals. And you possibly can reap the benefits of the day by day summer season of Woods Hole that departs from the Woods Hole Historical Museum.
Woods Hole is roughly a two-hour drive from Boston. For us, the primary draw is its complete science and marine focus. But keep in mind that the driving route all the way down to Woods Hole passes Plymouth or Blue Hills Reservation – relying in your route.
7. North Conway
North Conway is without doubt one of the furthest day journeys from Boston, taking 2 hours and 50 minutes to achieve by automobile. So why hassle? What grip does this little forest city maintain on so many guests? North Conway is a scorching spot for mountaineering, snowboarding, and waterfalls. The tiny village has extra mountaineering trails and out of doors adventures in a 10-mile radius than most cities do mixed. Head as much as North Conway early in the morning to have a full day having fun with its elegant locale earlier than heading again after dinner. It is a full day, however positively worthwhile.
Must-visits in North Conway embrace Diana’s Baths Cascade and Echo Lake State Park. The water points of interest listed here are beautiful and a fantastic early morning exercise. If it’s ski season, you may additionally spend a full day on the slopes. While catching some lovely views on a time restrict, the Conway Scenic Railroad is your finest shot.
The Nineteenth-century steam prepare whisks you round a number of the prettiest surroundings in North Conway in conventional eating automobiles. The out of doors journey in North Conway is unbeatable, so we had so as to add it to this information.
8. The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables could sound acquainted to any literature followers. The novel was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1851 and was a significant hit. And in Salem (we’re beginning to suppose that every thing good is in Salem), you possibly can go to the precise home that impressed the novel.
The House of the Seven Gables is now an up-and-running not-for-profit museum devoted to the creator, his life, and his novel. The home itself dates again to 1668 however was restored in 1910, stored in preserving with as many interval components and options as attainable. Located overlooking the water, it’s a lovely spot filled with historical past and value visiting.
The House of the Seven Gables is an hour away from Boston by automobile or an hour by prepare from North Station. If you catch the prepare, be ready for a 25-minute stroll to the precise museum from the station.
9. Nantucket
Nantucket is an island extra remoted than Martha’s Vineyard and positioned just a bit additional offshore. For an adventurous day journey, look no additional. The island has slightly city middle with these cobbled streets that you just adore regardless of your self. The complete factor has that quaint attract and ruggedness from its geographical isolation. In quick, Nantucket is an island value day-tripping and a ravishing instance of the Cape Cod area.
Nantucket’s major highlights are its waterfront cottages and conventional buildings in the primary city. You may seashore hop and leap between lighthouses, reveling in the less vacationers than you’d discover on the mainland or busier islands. It has a return ferry service that completely traces up with sufficient hours on the island to sightsee.
Besides, it’s extra a spot to expertise than tick off a great deal of particular issues. The ferry is an hour lengthy, and it takes round 2 hours to achieve Hyannis Terminal by prepare from South Station, Boston. Bring a very good guide and a few anti-motion illness tablets, simply in case.
10. New Bedford
New Bedford is without doubt one of the high day journeys from Boston. With restricted time, you possibly can take this journey certainly one of two methods: a possibility to study maritime historical past or style a great deal of scrumptious seafood. In a great world, we’d counsel staying a full day and ticking off each, but when that isn’t an possibility, prepare to select one.
First issues first, although, New Bedford is positioned on the south coast, simply exterior of Providence and Rhode Island. The metropolis was based by English Quakers and, since then, has totally revolved across the fishing trade, which ought to be simple to inform from all of the fishing boats in its harbor.
You can cease by (or leap between) the primary wharf space and all of the seafood retailers simply south of the wharves, off MacArthur’s Drive. There are loads of high-brow seafood eating places, like The Black Whale and Merrill’s on the Waterfront.
So you possibly can at all times guide in for a sundown eating expertise there, as many tables additionally include waterfront views. Otherwise, head to the New Bedford Whaling Museum to maintain issues instructional. This considerably tragic museum tells the story of the worldwide whaling trade. It offers glorious perception into the toils of those lovely mammals.
New Bedford is simply 1.5 hours from Boston or 3 hours by public transport. It is a simple day journey to prepare – whichever method you propose it. And in case you drive, then you definately’ll lower straight by way of Blue Hills Reservation which is a large plus.
11. Concord
Concord is way over only a picturesque city. Out of all of the small cities in Massachusetts, this spot is without doubt one of the final day journey choices you may select from in Boston. Concord is famed for its revolutionary battle historical past, and you’ll go to the Old North Bridge and Old Hill Burial Ground.
Old North Bridge is especially well-known and is the duplicate of the 1775 bridge the place the primary photographs of the American Revolution have been unleashed. Any historical past buffs ought to actually prioritize a visit to Concord. Honestly, there’s a lot historical past right here that it feels just like the world revolved round Concord for a very long time.
As if all that American historical past wasn’t sufficient of a draw, Concord additionally caters to a barely completely different crowd – literature followers. The city is dwelling to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, the place Little Women was written and set. You can now take excursions round the home, a completely functioning museum commemorating the creator and her work.
Ready for the actually thrilling half? Concord is barely a 40-minute drive from Boston. And from North Station, you can too take a direct prepare in simply 40 minutes. So Concord is without doubt one of the most public transport-friendly choices for Boston day journeys.
12. Polar Caves Park
Polar Caves Park doesn’t have polar bears. Instead, it cops its identify from the glacial caves fashioned in the park through the Ice Age – polar bears dwell close to glaciers, get it? There are 9 caves in complete, and also you scramble between them utilizing a mix of metallic ladders and step contraptions and a little bit of a squeeze right here and there.
Exploring caves that date again to the final Ice Age is basically thrilling. Polar Caves Park is the kind of place that you may encourage youngsters to get pleasure from but additionally get worth out of as an grownup. The caves are additionally linked by little wood trails, which is a pleasant contact and offers beautiful forest views.
Polar Caves Park is roughly an hour and 50 minutes from Boston by automobile. Getting to Polar Caves Park is a complete breeze in case you lease a automobile. You may cease at good locations en route, like Canobie Lake Park, a enjoyable theme park with rollercoasters and water rides. A day journey to Polar Caves Park is well mixed with different points of interest to interrupt up the journey time – so don’t let the drive time put you off. Polar Caves Park is without doubt one of the most unusual day journeys you possibly can take from Boston.
13. Old Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village is one other residing museum to your itinerary. The 1830s recreation is a settlement by design however an absolute time capsule by impact. The consideration to element is classy, and also you stroll by way of the ‘village’ to satisfy costumed actors who’ll cease and chat with you about what they’re doing.
The sawmill and blacksmith actors even give demonstrations. Get prepared for an extremely immersive museum expertise. You can wander in and out of historic buildings, admiring all of the positive particulars – even all the way down to garments and desk cutlery. For us, Old Sturbridge Village is well one of many high issues to do close to Boston. The consideration to element, as we stated, is second to none.
The museum is simply an hour’s drive from Boston, so a possible addition to your journey. You might squeeze Old Sturbridge Village right into a 5-6 hour slot. We counsel permitting as a lot time as attainable to spend on the museum as a result of there are masses to get entangled with, like actions and rides. It is one thing you wish to take your time with. And, in case you needed, you may incorporate it with a cease in Worcester, the closest main metropolis to Boston.
14. White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
White Mountain National Forest spans over 800,000 acres of preserved forestland, which is kind of difficult to even start to image the dimensions of. The forest has mountain views and historic websites scattered by way of its midst, so it combines mountaineering trails and points of interest to sightsee. If you’re fortunate, it’s possible you’ll even spot black bears and moose.
In summer season, White Mountain National Forest is an absolute haven for hikers; in winter, ski season takes over. In this sense, it is without doubt one of the most seasonally versatile day journeys from Boston. In summer season, we recommend heading to the forest for its mountaineering trails for a day of strolling and picnicking. While in winter, we suggest an exhilarating snowboarding day journey from Boston. Take your decide – or let your go to dates determine for you.
White Mountain National Forest is slightly below a 2-hour drive from Boston, so not a large distance to drive for a day journey. You’ll lower by way of Concord too, which makes the proper stopover level to have a good time being midway.
15. Martha’s Vineyard
Fancy consuming some wine? We hate to interrupt it to you, however Martha’s Vineyard is just not what you thought it could be. Instead of wine tastings, a Martha’s Vineyard day journey entails wildlife sanctuaries, marshlands, and loads of seashores. It is a time out for a rural, distant expertise of New England island residing.
The British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold named the island after his daughter, so you’ve gotten him to thank for the whacky identify. You can attain Martha’s Vineyard by automobile from Boston after which a fast ferry crossing. It’s one of the crucial adventurous locations to make a day journey due to the ferry component and island standing.
Top issues to do on Martha’s Vineyard embrace visiting the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs, kicking again on the seashore, and admiring the views from Aquinnah Cliffs. The island has three major cities: Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Vineyard Haven, all extremely walkable.
But in any other case, in case you carry your automobile on the ferry, you possibly can drive round all one of the best spots. The Flying Horses Carousel, Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook, and Polly Hill Arboretum are important points of interest. Put it this manner, you’ll have loads to do once you aren’t having fun with essentially the most distant sections of Martha’s Vineyard.
16. Jamestown
Jamestown is the kind of New England allure you hope to search out. The cobblestone streets give off that quintessential New England city attract and demand you to cease and take pictures in case you are social media-inclined. Regarding day journeys from Boston, Jamestown is a primary candidate in case you like aesthetic locations. And at only a 1.5-hour drive from Boston or a 2 hours 20-minute public transport journey from South Station, you’re onto a winner logistically.
Of course, it isn’t all quintessential aesthetics and cutesy cobblestones. Jamestown has a darkish historical past. Jamestown was the primary everlasting English settlement and a web site of a well-known 1622 bloodbath in which almost a 3rd of the English inhabitants was killed. The systematic seizure of Powhatan lands prompted the killings, and Opechancanough led a lethal sequence of assaults on the settlement.
When you go to Jamestown, you possibly can go to quite a few historic buildings and landmarks that tribute English and Powhatan historical past. Powhatan Indian Village and James Fort are the 2 most visited. The reality that there’s a lot historical past simply over an hour from Boston actually stands out, and Jamestown’s shut hyperlinks to early American historical past and the tragedies of New England are the primary causes we’re that includes it.
17. Cycle the East Bay Bike Path
The East Bay Bike Path is one of the best day journey you possibly can take from Boston if you wish to go biking. The 14.5-mile bike path would possibly shadow the rocky shoreline between Providence and Bristol. However, the route itself is paved and tremendous simple to navigate. While the space requires a little bit of psychological grit, the East Bay Bike Path is technically simple and beginner-friendly. So whether or not you’re a longtime highway biker or simply fancy the problem, this bike path can swing each methods.
The bike path passes by way of 8 completely different parks, a bridge, and numerous waterfronts. It is a extremely thrilling and numerous technique to embrace coastal residing, and actually eco-friendly as nicely. Not solely does it have quickly altering surroundings, however it additionally has tons of consuming and consuming choices en route – to the purpose the place individuals have began to prepare meals excursions.
You might cease at Narragansett Brewery, the Box East Bay, or the Sowams Cider Works Company, simply to call a couple of. Allow round 3 hours for a return journey with a brief, 15-minute break or a full day in case you plan to cease heaps alongside the way in which.
18. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets
Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is the biggest outlet procuring spot in New England, and one of the best half is that it’s set open air, so you possibly can benefit from the solar whilst you store. The outlet retailer has over 160 manufacturers and competitively traces as much as 65% reductions. It’s the proper place to snag a discount and solely a 50-minute drive from Boston – what extra might you need? Of the over 160 manufacturers it options, you’ll discover Gucci, Adidas, Versace, Burberry, and extra. It has a luxurious spin, however you’ll discover some high-street manufacturers, so don’t let that put you off.
Wrentham Village Premium Outlets made our checklist due to its big reductions and thrilling procuring experiences. Shopping in Boston is enjoyable, however saving cash and having all one of the best manufacturers in one handy area is tons extra enjoyable. You can deal with your self to new attire, footwear, and even jewellery.
19. Newport, New Hampshire
Newport is without doubt one of the high day journeys from Boston. In simply 1.5 hours by automobile of some hours by public transportation, you possibly can simply skip over to Newport as a day journey from Boston. Newport is a metropolis set proper on the sting of Aquidneck Island on Rhode Island. It is well-known for the America’s Cup, a worldwide well-known annual crusing regatta, that was as soon as held constantly in the town.
Newport is the proper place to embrace coastal residing in a trendier method than you’ll discover in the seaside city alternate options. Picture luxe yachts in a shiny harbor and a clifftop path (straightforwardly named the Cliff Walk) that passes Gilded Age mansion after mansion. If you desire a stylish place to benefit from the ocean or have an affinity for crusing, then Newport is the day journey for you.
Newport, Rhode Island, has loads of native historical past, and you’ll cease by its museums, which embrace The Breakers – a summer season dwelling of the Vanderbilts and a ravishing instance of the Gilded Age structure. True to its sporting core, there’s additionally the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which was the house of the first-ever US Open Championship in 1881 and is an absolute memorabilia fest. Newport provides off ‘old money’ vibes, and since it’s such a brief drive from Boston, there’s no purpose why you shouldn’t add it to your checklist.
20. Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a 7,000-acre park only a 30-minute drive or hour public transport scramble from central Boston. It is the haven of inexperienced area that everybody flocks to, particularly on a busy day, and we’d advocate visiting for its mountaineering trails and glorious picnic prospects. There are over 125 miles of mountaineering trails to get caught into, together with Burma Trail and the Blue Hills Skyline Trail. There is a chosen swimming space, too, that opens seasonally, so maintain that in thoughts on a scorching day.
Blue Hills Reservation is a surprising state park splendid for a day journey. It is someplace to sprint to and escape the inner-city chaos, with many alternatives to loosen up amongst nature. As a fast additional advice, we recommend heading to the 635ft Great Blue Hill – the place you possibly can get pleasure from views of the Boston cityscape skyline on the horizon.
And it’s additionally value mentioning that Blue Hills Reservation is simply as lovely in the autumn; in reality, a fall day journey to Blue Hills is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Boston. Especially when strolling across the state park’s lakes and seeing the orange and burnt-red reflections in the water. For us, Blue Hills Reservation is so lovely that it simply needed to make our checklist.
21. Josiah Keith House Living History Museum and Homestead
50 minute drive from Boston
Josiah Keith House Living History Museum and Homestead is the oldest home in Easton, Massachusetts. And this is without doubt one of the most uncommon day journeys from Boston. Tours can be found by appointment solely, so it’s essential to ring or e mail beforehand. Self-guided excursions aren’t an possibility. Josiah Keith House is a residing historical past museum positioned only a 50-minute drive from central Boston.
The property dates again to 1717 and has all the unique furnishings intact, so you possibly can wander by way of its rooms, getting a practical impression of earlier lives in Massachusetts. As a ‘living museum,’ it’s nonetheless a completely functioning homestead and runs a B&B service. Josiah Keith House is lived in and acts as a functioning time capsule to offer guests a glimpse of 18th-century residing.
Visiting Josiah Keith House Museum and Homestead is an absolute breeze by automobile, so be sure to lease a automobile if at the present time journey has caught your eye. It has made our checklist as a result of it gives an off-the-beaten-track expertise (not many individuals have Josiah Keith House on their Boston itineraries) and a way of immersive historical past.
FAQs: Day Trips From Boston
So, the place are you heading first in your day journeys from Boston? As now you can clearly see, Boston’s the proper launchpad for exploring Massachusetts and past. But don’t get carried away; maintain hearth for a second. Before you choose at some point journey concept, although, try these important snippets of information.
What cities are 1 hour from Boston?
Bedford, Plymouth, and Bridgewater are all below an hour away from Boston. These cities all make incredible day journeys from Boston.
What cities are half-hour from Boston?
No cities are inside half-hour of Boston, however the closest, Worcester, is round 50 minutes away. And Providence is an hour and 10 minutes away by automobile.
What cities are 4 hours from Boston?
New York City is round 4 hours from Boston by automobile – so positively checklist that as certainly one of your most bold choices for a day journey from Boston. Montreal is slightly additional at 5 hours by automobile and can contain crossing the Canadian border.
Is Boston value visiting for a day?
Yes, Boston is completely value visiting for a day due to its thriving arts scene, Boston Tea Party historical past, and delightful Charles River Esplanade. With only a day, it’s best to give attention to 2-3 points of interest in Boston and keep in the Downtown, Waterfront, and Beacon Hill areas.
What are the Best Day Trips from Boston?
Day journeys from Boston vary from healthful visits to a seaside city to indulgent journeys to get pleasure from recent seafood and whacky historic points of interest just like the Salem Witch Museum. You’ll love these day journey concepts. Take a break from the artwork galleries and inner-city points of interest in Boston and unfold your wings slightly.
Got slightly bit longer? You might attempt certainly one of our extra bold day journey concepts from Boston or perhaps a two-day getaway. There are many issues to do in New York, which is only a 4-hour drive from Boston. Within two days, you may additionally enterprise into Canada to go to Montreal or try Niagara Falls (we’ve received a information on the place to remain in Niagara Falls right here). As we stated, Boston has a great location on the east coast – so plan a day journey or an in a single day journey wherever attainable.