21 Greatest Day Journeys from Boston in 2023

The capital of Massachusetts isn’t someplace you essentially assume you’ll should take a day journey from, and it’s true – Boston has tons to do within the metropolis middle. There’s a wealthy historical past, artwork museums, and even the well-known Harvard College. However contemplating its prime location on the east coast, it could be an absolute crime to go to and never take pleasure in some journeys from Boston. The broader Boston surrounds are nicely related by trains and even higher related by highways and again roads. So ebook a prepare ticket or lease a automobile and get occurring a day journey.

Prime Day Journeys from Boston

Whether or not you need contemporary seafood or to sort out the East Bay Bike Path, these top-day journeys from Boston are positive to maintain you ticking over all through your keep. On this information, we’ll cowl Boston’s greatest 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.

1. Plum Island

Plum Island is a stunning day journey from Boston in the summertime months. The barrier island is simply over an hour’s drive on a nasty 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 blended in with the sand.

As a day journey, it’s one of the crucial pleasurable locations for a seaside day – though guests ought to do not forget that there aren’t any on-duty lifeguards. It may not be the Boston day journey for swimming for those who aren’t assured within the water and visiting with a bunch of sturdy swimmers.

Plum Island is barely 11 miles lengthy, so you might stroll the entire island for those who actually wished to. In any other case, persist with organized climbing trails just like the Hellcat Marsh Loop Path, which cuts by means of the Parker River Nationwide Wildlife Reserve. Plum Island wormed its means onto our information due to its quiet seaside vibe and lots of nature-immersive experiences. It isn’t as busy because the seaside cities, so excellent for those who simply need to seaside bum for certainly one of your Boston day journeys.

2. Provincetown

Talking of seaside days, Provincetown is a kind of busier seaside cities we advocate. Whenever you need a day journey to someplace busy and entertainment-filled, Provincetown is the place to move. The New England city is correct 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 this time.

Nevertheless, it’s not all historical past; its seashores are the cherry on prime. Race Level Seashore is the most well-liked spot for sunbathing in Provincetown – so enable time to go to if you head on today journey from Boston.

Provincetown is pleasant, eclectic, and preferrred for an impactful addition to our prime Boston day journeys. You possibly can drive to Provincetown in round 2 hours, passing little coastal city hotspots like Plymouth and Sandwich en route. Alternatively, use public transport to succeed in the World Commerce Heart Pier and catch the ferry in roughly a 2-hour complete journey. This is a wonderful option to sneakily glimpse Boston from the water.

3. Peabody Essex Museum

Artwork lovers, put together to be blown away by this one. Peabody Essex Museum is definitely one of many prime 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 happen to 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 moderately 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 within the museum’s city of over 20 girls who had been put to loss of life over baseless allegations of witchery.

If you happen to 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 couple 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 factor to its shows and the glitzy, complete showcasing of such an enormous show of high quality artwork. This museum additionally makes an important rainy-day journey from Boston. Day journeys aren’t only for sunny days.

4. Street Journey to Portland, Maine

Driving to Portland from Boston takes lower than a couple of hours – roughly 2 hours and 1 minute. However 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 street journey. We recommend driving by means of the attractive 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 might trip the Maine Slim Gauge Railroad, go to the Portland Museum of Artwork, or the Worldwide Cryptozoology Museum. The final one is pleasurable, with many fictional characters reveals like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

With all these stops on the primary a part of your journey, enable round 6 hours for the primary leg to completely get pleasure from every cease. Then, your return journey needs to 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 exquisite views on their doorstep, so make sure you get a superb 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, it is usually one of the crucial possible. It’s simply an hour from Boston by automobile or a 45-minute direct prepare 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 thought of one of the crucial tragic occasions in historical past. You possibly can relive the expertise with life-size mannequins and trial scenes on the museum. You possibly can flick through informative reveals to be taught extra in regards to the girls prosecuted and about attitudes and examples of witchcraft at this time.

The Salem Witch Museum may not be the very first thing that pops into your head if you consider a stunning weekend getaway. Nevertheless, as a day journey from Boston, it highlights a massively necessary part of historical past.

6. Woods Gap

Woods Gap is on the very finish of Cape Cod. Actually, it appears nearer to the islands than the mainland, regardless of being on the principle peninsula. The tiny village was as soon as a central whaling level, and you may nonetheless get pleasure from a extra moral model of coastal dwelling by strolling previous the marina and having fun with the waterfront promenade.

There’s lots of science-based leisure available on this village, too; simply cease by the Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment Ocean Science Discovery Heart. This science museum even has Titanic restoration reveals. And you’ll make the most of the day by day summer season of Woods Gap that departs from the Woods Gap Historic Museum.

Woods Gap is roughly a two-hour drive from Boston. For us, the principle draw is its complete science and marine focus. However do not forget that the driving route all the way down to Woods Gap 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 succeed in by automobile. So why trouble? What grip does this little forest city maintain on so many guests? North Conway is a sizzling spot for climbing, snowboarding, and waterfalls. The tiny village has extra climbing trails and out of doors adventures in a 10-mile radius than most cities do mixed. Head as much as North Conway early within the morning to have a full day having fun with its chic locale earlier than heading again after dinner. It’s a full day, however undoubtedly worthwhile.

Should-visits in North Conway embody Diana’s Baths Cascade and Echo Lake State Park. The water sights listed here are gorgeous and an important early morning exercise. Whether it is ski season, you might additionally spend a full day on the slopes. Whereas catching some stunning views on a time restrict, the Conway Scenic Railroad is your greatest shot.

The Nineteenth-century steam prepare 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 Home of the Seven Gables

The Home of the Seven Gables might sound acquainted to any literature followers. The novel was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1851 and was a serious hit. And in Salem (we’re beginning to assume that the whole lot good is in Salem), you possibly can go to the precise home that impressed the novel.

The Home of the Seven Gables is now an up-and-running not-for-profit museum devoted to the writer, his life, and his novel. The home itself dates again to 1668 however was restored in 1910, stored consistent with as many interval components and options as doable. Situated overlooking the water, it’s a stunning spot filled with historical past and value visiting.

The Home of the Seven Gables is an hour away from Boston by automobile or an hour by prepare from North Station. If you happen to 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 Winery and positioned just a bit additional offshore. For an adventurous day journey, look no additional. The island has just a little city middle with these cobbled streets that you simply adore regardless of your self. The entire thing has that quaint attract and ruggedness from its geographical isolation. Briefly, Nantucket is an island price day-tripping and an attractive instance of the Cape Cod area.

Nantucket’s principal highlights are its waterfront cottages and conventional buildings in the principle city. You may as well seaside hop and leap between lighthouses, reveling within the fewer 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.

In addition to, 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 succeed in Hyannis Terminal by prepare from South Station, Boston. Carry a superb ebook and a few anti-motion illness tablets, simply in case.

10. New Bedford

New Bedford is among the prime day journeys from Boston. With restricted time, you possibly can take this journey certainly one of two methods: a chance to find out about 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 choice, prepare to choose one.

First issues first, although, New Bedford is positioned on the south coast, simply exterior of Windfall and Rhode Island. Town was based by English Quakers and, since then, has fully revolved across the fishing trade, which needs to be straightforward to inform from all of the fishing boats in its harbor.

You possibly can cease by (or leap between) the principle wharf space and all of the seafood retailers simply south of the wharves, off MacArthur’s Drive. There are many high-brow seafood eating places, like The Black Whale and Merrill’s on the Waterfront.

So you possibly can at all times ebook in for a sundown eating expertise there, as many tables additionally include waterfront views. In any other case, head to the New Bedford Whaling Museum to maintain issues academic. This considerably tragic museum tells the story of the worldwide whaling trade. 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’s a straightforward day journey to prepare – whichever means you propose it. And for those who drive, you then’ll reduce straight by means of Blue Hills Reservation which is a large plus.

11. Harmony

Harmony 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 might select from in Boston. Harmony is famed for its revolutionary conflict historical past, and you may go to the Outdated North Bridge and Outdated Hill Burial Floor.

Outdated North Bridge is especially well-known and is the reproduction of the 1775 bridge the place the primary pictures of the American Revolution had been unleashed. Any historical past buffs ought to actually prioritize a visit to Harmony. Actually, there’s a lot historical past right here that it feels just like the world revolved round Harmony for a very long time.

As if all that American historical past wasn’t sufficient of a draw, Harmony additionally caters to a barely totally different crowd – literature followers. The city is residence to Louisa Might Alcott’s Orchard Home, the place Little Girls was written and set. Now you can take excursions round the home, a completely functioning museum commemorating the writer and her work.

Prepared for the actually thrilling half? Harmony is barely a 40-minute drive from Boston. And from North Station, you may also take a direct prepare in simply 40 minutes. So Harmony is among the most public transport-friendly choices for Boston day journeys.

12. Polar Caves Park

Polar Caves Park doesn’t have polar bears. As an alternative, it cops its identify from the glacial caves fashioned within the park in the course of 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 combination 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 de facto thrilling. Polar Caves Park is the form of place you can 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 gives gorgeous forest views.

Polar Caves Park is roughly an hour and 50 minutes from Boston by automobile. Attending to Polar Caves Park is a complete breeze for those who lease a automobile. You may as well cease at sensible 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. Outdated Sturbridge Village

Outdated Sturbridge Village is one other dwelling museum to your itinerary. The 1830s recreation is a settlement by design however an absolute time capsule by impact. The eye to element is classy, and also you stroll by means of 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. Prepare for an extremely immersive museum expertise. You possibly can wander out and in of historic buildings, admiring all of the effective particulars – even all the way down to garments and desk cutlery. For us, Outdated Sturbridge Village is definitely one of many prime issues to do close to Boston. The eye to element, as we mentioned, is second to none.

The museum is simply an hour’s drive from Boston, so a possible addition to your journey. You could possibly squeeze Outdated Sturbridge Village right into a 5-6 hour slot. We recommend permitting as a lot time as doable to spend on the museum as a result of there are masses to get entangled with, like actions and rides. It’s one thing you need to take your time with. And, for those who wished, you might incorporate it with a cease in Worcester, the closest main metropolis to Boston.

14. White Mountain Nationwide Forest, New Hampshire

White Mountain Nationwide Forest spans over 800,000 acres of preserved forestland, which is kind of difficult to even start to image the size of. The forest has mountain views and historic websites scattered by means of its midst, so it combines climbing trails and sights to sightsee. If you’re fortunate, it’s possible you’ll even spot black bears and moose.

In summer season, White Mountain Nationwide Forest is an absolute haven for hikers; in winter, ski season takes over. On this sense, it is among the most seasonally versatile day journeys from Boston. In summer season, we propose heading to the forest for its climbing trails for a day of strolling and picnicking. Whereas in winter, we suggest an exhilarating snowboarding day journey from Boston. Take your choose – or let your go to dates resolve for you.

White Mountain Nationwide Forest is just below a 2-hour drive from Boston, so not a large distance to drive for a day journey. You’ll reduce by means of Harmony too, which makes the proper stopover level to have fun being midway.

15. Martha’s Winery

Fancy consuming some wine? We hate to interrupt it to you, however Martha’s Winery shouldn’t be what you thought it could be. As an alternative of wine tastings, a Martha’s Winery day journey entails wildlife sanctuaries, marshlands, and loads of seashores. It’s a time out for a rural, distant expertise of New England island dwelling.

The British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold named the island after his daughter, so you will have him to thank for the whacky identify. You possibly can attain Martha’s Winery 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 factor and island standing.

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

However in any other case, for those who deliver your automobile on the ferry, you possibly can drive round all the very best spots. The Flying Horses Carousel, Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook, and Polly Hill Arboretum are vital sights. Put it this manner, you’ll have lots to do if you aren’t having fun with essentially the most distant sections of Martha’s Winery.

16. Jamestown

Jamestown is the form of New England appeal 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. Concerning day journeys from Boston, Jamestown is a primary candidate for those who 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.

After all, 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 during 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.

Whenever 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 truth 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 principle causes we’re that includes it.

17. Cycle the East Bay Bike Path

The East Bay Bike Path is the very 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 Windfall and Bristol. Nevertheless, the route itself is paved and tremendous straightforward to navigate. Whereas 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’re a longtime street biker or simply fancy the problem, this bike path can swing each methods.

The bike path passes by means of 8 totally different parks, a bridge, and numerous waterfronts. It’s a actually thrilling and various option to embrace coastal dwelling, 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 folks have began to prepare meals excursions.

You could possibly cease at Narragansett Brewery, the Field East Bay, or the Sowams Cider Works Firm, simply to call a couple of. Enable round 3 hours for a return journey with a brief, 15-minute break or a full day for those who plan to cease tons alongside the way in which.

18. Wrentham Village Premium Shops

Wrentham Village Premium Shops is the biggest outlet procuring spot in New England, and the very best half is that it’s set outside, 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 Shops made our checklist due to its enormous reductions and thrilling procuring experiences. Procuring in Boston is enjoyable, however saving cash and having all the very best manufacturers in a single handy house is tons extra enjoyable. You possibly can deal with your self to new attire, footwear, and even jewellery.

19. Newport, New Hampshire

Newport is among the prime 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’s well-known for the America’s Cup, a worldwide well-known annual crusing regatta, that was as soon as held repeatedly within the metropolis.

Newport is the proper place to embrace coastal dwelling in a trendier means than you’ll discover within the seaside city options. Image luxe yachts in a shiny harbor and a clifftop path (straightforwardly named the Cliff Stroll) that passes Gilded Age mansion after mansion. If you would like 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 residence of the Vanderbilts and an attractive instance of the Gilded Age structure. True to its sporting core, there’s additionally the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, which was the house of the first-ever US Open Championship in 1881 and is an absolute memorabilia fest. Newport provides off ‘previous cash’ vibes, and since it’s such a brief drive from Boston, there’s no cause 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’s the haven of inexperienced house that everybody flocks to, particularly on a busy day, and we’d advocate visiting for its climbing trails and glorious picnic prospects. There are over 125 miles of climbing trails to get caught into, together with Burma Path and the Blue Hills Skyline Path. There’s a designated swimming space, too, that opens seasonally, so maintain that in thoughts on a sizzling day.

Blue Hills Reservation is a surprising state park preferrred for a day journey. It’s someplace to sprint to and escape the inner-city chaos, with many alternatives to calm down amongst nature. As a fast additional advice, we propose heading to the 635ft Nice Blue Hill – the place you possibly can get pleasure from views of the Boston cityscape skyline on the horizon.

And it’s additionally price mentioning that Blue Hills Reservation is simply as stunning within the fall; in reality, a fall day journey to Blue Hills is among the greatest issues to do in Boston. Particularly when strolling across the state park’s lakes and seeing the orange and burnt-red reflections within the water. For us, Blue Hills Reservation is so stunning that it simply needed to make our checklist.

21. Josiah Keith Home Dwelling Historical past Museum and Homestead

• 50 minute drive from Boston

Josiah Keith Home Dwelling Historical past Museum and Homestead is the oldest home in Easton, Massachusetts. And this is among the most uncommon day journeys from Boston. Excursions can be found by appointment solely, so you could ring or e-mail beforehand. Self-guided excursions aren’t an choice. Josiah Keith Home is a dwelling 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 means of its rooms, getting a practical impression of earlier lives in Massachusetts. As a ‘dwelling museum,’ it’s nonetheless a completely functioning homestead and runs a B&B service. Josiah Keith Home is lived in and acts as a functioning time capsule to present guests a glimpse of 18th-century dwelling.

Visiting Josiah Keith Home Museum and Homestead is an absolute breeze by automobile, so be sure that to lease a automobile if today journey has caught your eye. It has made our checklist as a result of it provides an off-the-beaten-track expertise (not many individuals have Josiah Keith Home on their Boston itineraries) and a way of immersive historical past.

FAQs: Day Journeys 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. However don’t get carried away; maintain hearth for a second. Earlier than you choose sooner or later journey thought, 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 Windfall is an hour and 10 minutes away by automobile.

What cities are 4 hours from Boston?

New York Metropolis is round 4 hours from Boston by automobile – so undoubtedly checklist that as certainly one of your most formidable choices for a day journey from Boston. Montreal is just a little additional at 5 hours by automobile and can contain crossing the Canadian border.

Is Boston price visiting for a day?

Sure, Boston is completely price visiting for a day due to its thriving arts scene, Boston Tea Occasion historical past, and exquisite Charles River Esplanade. With only a day, it is best to concentrate on 2-3 sights in Boston and keep within the Downtown, Waterfront, and Beacon Hill areas.

What are the Greatest Day Journeys from Boston?

Day journeys from Boston vary from healthful visits to a seaside city to indulgent journeys to get pleasure from 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 just a little.

Acquired just a little bit longer? You could possibly attempt certainly one of our extra formidable day journey concepts from Boston or perhaps a two-day getaway. There are lots of issues to do in New York, which is only a 4-hour drive from Boston. Inside two days, you might 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 mentioned, Boston has a great location on the east coast – so plan a day journey or an in a single day journey wherever doable.