The capital of Massachusetts isn’t someplace you essentially suppose 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 bask 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 practice ticket or hire a automobile and get happening a day journey.

High 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 certain 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 may attain by automobile 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 summertime months. The barrier island is simply over an hour’s drive on a nasty site visitors day and will get its title 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 probably the most 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 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 needed to. In any other case, keep on with organized mountain climbing trails just like the Hellcat Marsh Loop Path, which cuts by the Parker River Nationwide Wildlife Reserve. Plum Island wormed its approach 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 for those who simply wish to seashore bum for one among your Boston day journeys.

2. Provincetown

Talking of seashore days, Provincetown is a kind of busier seaside cities we advocate. While 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 positioning of the Mayflower’s touchdown, commemorated by the Pilgrim Monument right now.

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

Provincetown is pleasant, eclectic, and supreme for an impactful addition to our prime Boston day journeys. You may 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 Commerce Middle Pier and catch the ferry in roughly a 2-hour whole journey. This is a wonderful method 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 well one of many prime artwork galleries you may 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. When 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 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.

When you go to the Peabody Essex Museum, you may simply go to the Salem Witch Museum if you are 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 component to its shows and the glitzy, complete showcasing of such an unlimited show of high quality artwork. This museum additionally makes an awesome rainy-day journey from Boston. Day journeys aren’t only for sunny days.

4. Highway 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 highway journey. We advise driving by 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 might trip the Maine Slender Gauge Railroad, go to the Portland Museum of Artwork, or the Worldwide Cryptozoology Museum. The final one is pleasant, with many fictional characters displays 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 ought to be about 2 hours except you cease anyplace 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 style of this unbelievable stretch.

5. Salem Witch Museum

Salem Witch Museum is likely one of the most fascinating day journey concepts from Boston, and even higher, it’s also probably the most possible. It’s simply an hour from Boston by automobile or a 45-minute direct practice trip from North Station. The museum takes you again to 1692 when the Salem Witch Trials had been totally 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 probably the most tragic occasions in historical past. You may relive the expertise with life-size mannequins and trial scenes on the museum. You may flick through informative displays to be taught extra concerning the girls prosecuted and about attitudes and examples of witchcraft right now.

The Salem Witch Museum may not be the very first thing that pops into your head once you consider a beautiful weekend getaway. Nonetheless, as a day journey from Boston, it highlights a massively vital 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 may be numerous science-based leisure available on this village, too; simply cease by the Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment Ocean Science Discovery Middle. This science museum even has Titanic restoration displays. And you may benefit from the each 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 whole science and marine focus. However keep in mind that the driving route right down to Woods Gap passes Plymouth or Blue Hills Reservation – relying in your route.

7. North Conway

North Conway is likely one of the furthest day journeys from Boston, taking 2 hours and 50 minutes to achieve by automobile. 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 outside 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 elegant locale earlier than heading again after dinner. It’s a full day, however positively worthwhile.

Should-visits in North Conway embrace Diana’s Baths Cascade and Echo Lake State Park. The water sights listed here are gorgeous and an awesome 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 practice whisks you round among the prettiest surroundings in North Conway in conventional eating automobiles. The outside 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 suppose that every little thing good is in Salem), you may 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 creator, his life, and his novel. The home itself dates again to 1668 however was restored in 1910, saved in line with as many interval components and options as potential. Situated overlooking the water, it’s a stunning spot stuffed with historical past and value visiting.

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

Nantucket’s primary highlights are its waterfront cottages and conventional buildings in the principle city. You can even seashore 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.

Moreover, 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. Deliver ebook and a few anti-motion illness tablets, simply in case.

10. New Bedford

New Bedford is likely one of the prime day journeys from Boston. With restricted time, you may take this journey one among two methods: a possibility to study maritime historical past or style a great deal of scrumptious seafood. In a super 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 Windfall and Rhode Island. Town was based by English Quakers and, since then, has totally revolved across the fishing business, which ought to be straightforward to inform from all of the fishing boats in its harbor.

You may 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 may 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 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’s a simple day journey to prepare – whichever approach you intend it. And for those who drive, then you definitely’ll reduce straight by Blue Hills Reservation which is a large plus.

11. Harmony

Harmony is excess of only a picturesque city. Out of all of the small cities in Massachusetts, this spot is likely one of 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 photographs of the American Revolution had been unleashed. Any historical past buffs ought to actually prioritize a visit to Harmony. Actually, there may be 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 dwelling to Louisa Could 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 creator and her work.

Prepared for the actually thrilling half? Harmony is barely a 40-minute drive from Boston. And from North Station, it’s also possible to take a direct practice in simply 40 minutes. So Harmony is likely one of 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 title from the glacial caves fashioned within the park in the course of the Ice Age – polar bears stay close to glaciers, get it? There are 9 caves in whole, 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 actually thrilling. Polar Caves Park is the type of place that you could encourage youngsters to get pleasure from but additionally get worth out of as an grownup. The caves are additionally linked by little picket 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 hire a automobile. You can even 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 sights to interrupt up the journey time – so don’t let the drive time put you off. Polar Caves Park is likely one of the most original day journeys you may take from Boston.

13. Outdated Sturbridge Village

Outdated Sturbridge Village is one other dwelling museum on your itinerary. The 1830s recreation is a settlement by design however an absolute time capsule by impact. The eye to element is elegant, and also you stroll by 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 may wander out and in of historic buildings, admiring all of the effective particulars – even right down to garments and desk cutlery. For us, Outdated Sturbridge Village is well 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 can squeeze Outdated Sturbridge Village right into a 5-6 hour slot. We advise permitting as a lot time as potential to spend on the museum as a result of there are hundreds to get entangled with, like actions and rides. It’s one thing you wish to take your time with. And, for those who needed, 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 its midst, so it combines mountain climbing trails and sights to sightsee. In case you are 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 likely one of the most seasonally versatile day journeys from Boston. In summer season, we advise heading to the forest for its mountain 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 slightly below a 2-hour drive from Boston, so not an enormous distance to drive for a day journey. You’ll reduce by Harmony too, which makes the right stopover level to rejoice being midway.

15. Martha’s Winery

Fancy ingesting some wine? We hate to interrupt it to you, however Martha’s Winery is just not what you thought it could be. As an alternative of wine tastings, a Martha’s Winery day journey includes 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 might have him to thank for the whacky title. You may attain Martha’s Winery by automobile from Boston after which a fast ferry crossing. It’s probably the most adventurous locations to make a day journey due to the ferry component and island standing.

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

However in any other case, for those who convey your automobile on the ferry, you may 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 once you aren’t having fun with essentially the most distant sections of Martha’s Winery.

16. Jamestown

Jamestown is the type 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 images if you’re social media-inclined. Relating to day journeys from Boston, Jamestown is a first-rate 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 might be onto a winner logistically.

In fact, 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 by which practically a 3rd of the English inhabitants was killed. The systematic seizure of Powhatan lands prompted the killings, and Opechancanough led a lethal collection of assaults on the settlement.

While you go to Jamestown, you may 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 may be 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 may 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. Nonetheless, 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 might be a longtime highway biker or simply fancy the problem, this bike path can swing each methods.

The bike path passes by 8 totally different parks, a bridge, and numerous waterfronts. It’s a actually thrilling and numerous method to embrace coastal dwelling, and actually eco-friendly as nicely. Not solely does it have quickly altering surroundings, but it surely additionally has tons of consuming and ingesting choices en route – to the purpose the place folks have began to prepare meals excursions.

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

18. Wrentham Village Premium Retailers

Wrentham Village Premium Retailers is the biggest outlet buying spot in New England, and the very best half is that it’s set outside, so you may benefit from the solar when you store. The outlet retailer has over 160 manufacturers and competitively traces as much as 65% reductions. It’s the right place to snag a cut price and solely a 50-minute drive from Boston – what extra may 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 Retailers made our listing due to its big reductions and thrilling buying experiences. Purchasing in Boston is enjoyable, however saving cash and having all the very best manufacturers in a single handy area is tons extra enjoyable. You may deal with your self to new attire, footwear, and even jewellery.

19. Newport, New Hampshire

Newport is likely one of the prime day journeys from Boston. In simply 1.5 hours by automobile of some hours by public transportation, you may 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 right place to embrace coastal dwelling in a trendier approach 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. In order for you 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 embrace The Breakers – a summer season dwelling of the Vanderbilts and a phenomenal 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 offers off ‘outdated cash’ vibes, and since it’s such a brief drive from Boston, there’s no motive why you shouldn’t add it to your listing.

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 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 Path and the Blue Hills Skyline Path. There’s a designated swimming space, too, that opens seasonally, so hold that in thoughts on a scorching day.

Blue Hills Reservation is a shocking state park supreme 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 advise heading to the 635ft Nice Blue Hill – the place you may 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; the truth is, a fall day journey to Blue Hills is likely one of 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 listing.

21. Josiah Keith Home Residing Historical past Museum and Homestead

• 50 minute drive from Boston

Josiah Keith Home Residing Historical past Museum and Homestead is the oldest home in Easton, Massachusetts. And this is likely one of the most uncommon day journeys from Boston. Excursions can be found by appointment solely, so you should ring or e-mail beforehand. Self-guided excursions usually are not an possibility. 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 may wander by its rooms, getting a sensible 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 offer guests a glimpse of 18th-century dwelling.

Visiting Josiah Keith Home Museum and Homestead is an absolute breeze by automobile, so make sure that to hire a automobile if today journey has caught your eye. It has made our listing as a result of it presents 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 right launchpad for exploring Massachusetts and past. However don’t get carried away; maintain fireplace for a second. Earlier than you decide on at some point 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 underneath an hour away from Boston. These cities all make unbelievable 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 positively listing that as one among your most bold choices for a day journey from Boston. Montreal is somewhat 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 Social gathering historical past, and delightful Charles River Esplanade. With only a day, it’s best to deal with 2-3 sights in Boston and keep within the Downtown, Waterfront, and Beacon Hill areas.

What are the Finest 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 somewhat.

Bought somewhat bit longer? You can strive one among our extra bold day journey concepts from Boston or perhaps a two-day getaway. There are numerous 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 received a information on the place to remain in Niagara Falls right here). As we mentioned, Boston has a super location on the east coast – so plan a day journey or an in a single day journey wherever potential.