21 Best Day Trips from Boston in 2023

The capital of Massachusetts isn’t someplace you essentially assume you’ll must take a day journey from, and it’s true – Boston has tons to do in town heart. 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 will be an absolute crime to go to and never indulge in some journeys from Boston. The wider Boston surrounds are properly linked by trains and even higher linked by highways and again roads. So e-book a practice ticket or hire a automotive and get occurring a day journey.

Top Day Trips from Boston

Whether you need contemporary seafood or to deal with 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 automotive and practice to maintain issues accessible for everybody. Let’s get began.

1. Plum Island

Plum Island is a beautiful day journey from Boston in the summer season months. The barrier island is simply over an hour’s drive on a foul site 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 vital fulfilling locations for a seashore day – though guests ought to keep in mind that there are not any on-duty lifeguards. It may not be the Boston day journey for swimming should you aren’t assured in the water and visiting with a bunch of sturdy swimmers.

Plum Island is simply 11 miles lengthy, so you possibly can stroll the entire island should you actually needed to. Otherwise, keep on with organized mountain climbing trails just like the Hellcat Marsh Loop Trail, which cuts via 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 good should you simply need to seashore bum for one in every of your Boston day journeys.

2. Provincetown

Speaking of seashore days, Provincetown is a kind 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 truly the location of the Mayflower’s touchdown, commemorated by the Pilgrim Monument at present.

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 if you head on today 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 superb option 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 definitely one of many high artwork galleries you possibly can go to from or in Boston. And this museum is only a brief drive (45 minutes) from central Boston – so simply squeezed right into a busy itinerary. If you don’t have a automotive, you even have public transport choices with a number of bus strains connecting the 2.

The glitzy trendy artwork museum is famend for its American and Asian artwork. It has a quite 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 had been put to demise over baseless allegations of witchery.

If you go to the Peabody Essex Museum, you possibly can simply go to the Salem Witch Museum while you’re there. Salem is small however mighty, with fairly a number of high-quality sights, 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 enormous show of high quality artwork. This museum additionally makes an ideal 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 number of hours – roughly 2 hours and 1 minute. But as an alternative 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 via 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 possibly can trip the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, go to the Portland Museum of Art, or the International Cryptozoology Museum. The final one is fulfilling, 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 totally take pleasure in every cease. Then, your return journey must be about 2 hours except 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 great style of this unimaginable stretch.

5. Salem Witch Museum

Salem Witch Museum is among the most fascinating day journey concepts from Boston, and even higher, additionally it is one of the vital possible. It is simply an hour from Boston by automotive or a 45-minute direct practice trip from North Station. The museum takes you again to 1692 when the Salem Witch Trials had been absolutely flowing. Over 200 girls stood trial for false claims of witchery, and 19 had been convicted and given a death-by-hanging sentence.

The ordeal was catastrophic and regarded one of the vital tragic occasions in historical past. You can relive the expertise with life-size mannequins and trial scenes on the museum. You can flick thru informative reveals to study extra concerning the girls prosecuted and about attitudes and examples of witchcraft at present.

The Salem Witch Museum may not be the very first thing that pops into your head if you consider a beautiful weekend getaway. However, as a day journey from Boston, it highlights a massively essential 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 may nonetheless take pleasure in a extra moral model of coastal dwelling 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 benefit from the each 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 right down to Woods Hole passes Plymouth or Blue Hills Reservation – relying in your route.

7. North Conway

North Conway is among the furthest day journeys from Boston, taking 2 hours and 50 minutes to achieve by automotive. So why trouble? What grip does this little forest city maintain on so many guests? North Conway is a scorching spot for mountain climbing, snowboarding, and waterfalls. The tiny village has extra mountain climbing 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 chic locale earlier than heading again after dinner. It is a full day, however positively worthwhile.

Must-visits in North Conway embody Diana’s Baths Cascade and Echo Lake State Park. The water sights listed below are gorgeous and an ideal early morning exercise. If it’s ski season, you possibly can additionally spend a full day on the slopes. While catching some stunning views on a time restrict, the Conway Scenic Railroad is your finest shot.

The Nineteenth-century steam practice whisks you round a few 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 might 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 assume that every part 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, saved in holding with as many interval components and options as doable. Located overlooking the water, it’s a stunning spot filled with historical past and value visiting.

The House of the Seven Gables is an hour away from Boston by automotive or an hour by practice from North Station. If you catch the practice, 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 situated just a bit additional offshore. For an adventurous day journey, look no additional. The island has slightly city heart with these cobbled streets that you just adore regardless of your self. The entire factor has that quaint attract and ruggedness from its geographical isolation. In brief, Nantucket is an island value day-tripping and a wonderful instance of the Cape Cod area.

Nantucket’s foremost highlights are its waterfront cottages and conventional buildings in the primary city. You also can seashore hop and bounce 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 strains 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 practice from South Station, Boston. Bring a great e-book and a few anti-motion illness tablets, simply in case.

10. New Bedford

New Bedford is among the high day journeys from Boston. With restricted time, you possibly can take this journey one in every of two methods: a possibility to study maritime historical past or style a great deal of scrumptious seafood. In a perfect world, we’d counsel staying a full day and ticking off each, but when that isn’t an possibility, prepare to choose one.

First issues first, although, New Bedford is situated on the south coast, simply outdoors of Providence and Rhode Island. The metropolis was based by English Quakers and, since then, has completely revolved across the fishing business, which must be straightforward to inform from all of the fishing boats in its harbor.

You can cease by (or bounce 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 e-book 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 business. It gives glorious perception into the toils of those stunning mammals.

New Bedford is simply 1.5 hours from Boston or 3 hours by public transport. It is a simple day journey to arrange – whichever method you propose it. And should you drive, then you definately’ll reduce straight via Blue Hills Reservation which is a big plus.

11. Concord

Concord is way over only a picturesque city. Out of all of the small cities in Massachusetts, this spot is among the final day journey choices you possibly can select from in Boston. Concord is famed for its revolutionary battle historical past, and you may 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 had 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 totally functioning museum commemorating the creator and her work.

Ready for the actually thrilling half? Concord is simply a 40-minute drive from Boston. And from North Station, you may as well take a direct practice in simply 40 minutes. So Concord is among 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 shaped in the park throughout the Ice Age – polar bears reside close to glaciers, get it? There are 9 caves in complete, and also you scramble between them utilizing a mix of steel 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 would be able to encourage kids to take pleasure in but in addition get worth out of as an grownup. The caves are additionally linked by little wood trails, which is a pleasant contact and gives gorgeous forest views.

Polar Caves Park is roughly an hour and 50 minutes from Boston by automotive. Getting to Polar Caves Park is a complete breeze should you hire a automotive. You also can 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 definitely mixed with different sights to interrupt up the journey time – so don’t let the drive time put you off. Polar Caves Park is among the most unusual day journeys you possibly can take from Boston.

13. Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village is one other dwelling museum in your itinerary. The 1830s recreation is a settlement by design however an absolute time capsule by impact. The consideration to element is elegant, and also you stroll via the ‘village’ to fulfill 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 superb particulars – even right down to garments and desk cutlery. For us, Old Sturbridge Village is definitely 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 doable to spend on the museum as a result of there are hundreds to become involved with, like actions and rides. It is one thing you need to take your time with. And, should you needed, you possibly can 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 sort of difficult to even start to image the size of. The forest has mountain views and historic websites scattered via its midst, so it combines mountain climbing trails and sights to sightsee. If you might be fortunate, you might 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 among the most seasonally versatile day journeys from Boston. In summer season, we propose heading to the forest for its mountain climbing 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 resolve for you.

White Mountain National Forest is slightly below a 2-hour drive from Boston, so not an enormous distance to drive for a day journey. You’ll reduce via Concord too, which makes the right 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 isn’t what you thought it will be. Instead of wine tastings, a Martha’s Vineyard day journey includes wildlife sanctuaries, marshlands, and loads of seashores. It is a day trip for a rural, distant expertise of New England island dwelling.

The British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold named the island after his daughter, so you’ve him to thank for the whacky identify. You can attain Martha’s Vineyard by automotive from Boston after which a fast ferry crossing. It’s one of the vital adventurous locations to make a day journey due to the ferry component and island standing.

Top issues to do on Martha’s Vineyard embody visiting the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs, kicking again on the seashore, and admiring the views from Aquinnah Cliffs. The island has three foremost cities: Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Vineyard Haven, all extremely walkable.

But in any other case, should you convey your automotive on the ferry, you possibly can drive round all the most effective spots. The Flying Horses Carousel, Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook, and Polly Hill Arboretum are vital sights. Put it this manner, you’ll have a lot to do if you aren’t having fun with probably the most distant sections of Martha’s Vineyard.

16. Jamestown

Jamestown is the kind of New England appeal you hope to seek out. The cobblestone streets give off that quintessential New England city attract and demand you to cease and take images in case you are social media-inclined. Regarding day journeys from Boston, Jamestown is a main candidate should 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 might be 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 website of a well-known 1622 bloodbath in which practically 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 the most effective day journey you possibly can take from Boston if you wish to go biking. The 14.5-mile bike path may shadow the rocky shoreline between Providence and Bristol. However, the route itself is paved and tremendous straightforward to navigate. While the gap requires a little bit of psychological grit, the East Bay Bike Path is technically straightforward and beginner-friendly. So whether or not you might be a longtime highway biker or simply fancy the problem, this bike path can swing each methods.

The bike path passes via 8 completely different parks, a bridge, and numerous waterfronts. It is a extremely thrilling and numerous option to embrace coastal dwelling, and actually eco-friendly as properly. 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 folks have began to arrange meals excursions.

You might cease at Narragansett Brewery, the Box East Bay, or the Sowams Cider Works Company, simply to call a number of. Allow round 3 hours for a return journey with a brief, 15-minute break or a full day should you plan to cease heaps alongside the best way.

18. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets is the most important outlet procuring spot in New England, and the most effective half is that it’s set outdoor, so you possibly can benefit from the solar whilst you store. The outlet retailer has over 160 manufacturers and competitively strains as much as 65% reductions. It’s the right 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 record due to its large reductions and thrilling procuring experiences. Shopping in Boston is enjoyable, however saving cash and having all the most effective 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 among the high day journeys from Boston. In simply 1.5 hours by automotive 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 town.

Newport is the right place to embrace coastal dwelling in a trendier method than you’ll discover in the seaside city 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 may cease by its museums, which embody The Breakers – a summer season dwelling of the Vanderbilts and a wonderful 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 record.

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 mountain climbing trails and glorious picnic prospects. There are over 125 miles of mountain climbing 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 preserve that in thoughts on a scorching day.

Blue Hills Reservation is a shocking 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 further advice, we propose heading to the 635ft Great Blue Hill – the place you possibly can take pleasure in views of the Boston cityscape skyline on the horizon.

And it’s additionally value mentioning that Blue Hills Reservation is simply as stunning in the autumn; in reality, a fall day journey to Blue Hills is among 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 stunning that it simply needed to make our record.

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 among the most uncommon day journeys from Boston. Tours can be found by appointment solely, so it’s essential to ring or electronic mail beforehand. Self-guided excursions should not an possibility. Josiah Keith House is a dwelling historical past museum situated 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 via its rooms, getting a sensible impression of earlier lives in Massachusetts. As a ‘living museum,’ it’s nonetheless a totally functioning homestead and runs a B&B service. Josiah Keith House is lived in and acts as a functioning time capsule to provide guests a glimpse of 18th-century dwelling.

Visiting Josiah Keith House Museum and Homestead is an absolute breeze by automotive, so be certain that to hire a automotive if today journey has caught your eye. It has made our record 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 right launchpad for exploring Massachusetts and past. But don’t get carried away; maintain fireplace for a second. Before you choose in the future journey concept, although, take a look at 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 implausible 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 automotive.

What cities are 4 hours from Boston?

New York City is round 4 hours from Boston by automotive – so positively record that as one in every of your most formidable choices for a day journey from Boston. Montreal is slightly additional at 5 hours by automotive and can contain crossing the Canadian border.

Is Boston value visiting for a day?

Yes, Boston is totally 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 is best to deal with 2-3 sights 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 take pleasure in contemporary seafood and whacky historic sights just like the Salem Witch Museum. You’ll love these day journey concepts. Take a break from the artwork galleries and inner-city sights in Boston and unfold your wings slightly.

Got slightly bit longer? You might attempt one in every of our extra formidable 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 possibly can additionally enterprise into Canada to go to Montreal or take a look at Niagara Falls (we’ve obtained a information on the place to remain in Niagara Falls right here). As we stated, Boston has a perfect location on the east coast – so plan a day journey or an in a single day journey wherever doable.