Idyllic coastal towns, 17th-century historical sites, and even several cities in other New England states (!) make the list of top Boston day trip options–but with a city surrounded by so many incredible places to visit, how do you narrow down the very best day trips from Boston for you?
The answer is a bit different for everyone, but we’ve been working on our quest to experience the best places to visit near Boston on and off over the last decade or so, and we have a lot of thoughts!
These Boston day trip ideas reflect our own travel tastes, which lean toward gorgeous beach towns with a historic flair–but they do deviate regularly from that description, too.
Here are our top picks for incredible day trips from Boston, MA!
Want to enjoy an amazing day trip from Boston… without comparing a bunch of different historic towns and navigating transportation?
Here are 3 excellent options that you can’t go wrong with–and we’ll expand on them all more below (plus offer details on how to visit independently, if you prefer).
Salem in a Day By Ferry — You can’t go wrong with a trip to Salem, and booking a tour means that you don’t have to do any planning.
Show up, enjoy ferry views of the North Shore, learn about the city’s witchy history, and see its most famous attractions fast!
Plymouth and the Pilgrims (Multi-Stop Experience) — Looking for that iconic American history?
This popular tour will allow you to visit the living history museum at Plimoth Patuxet (we LOVED it), see Plymouth Rock (which is better with a guide), step onto a full-size recreation of the Mayflower, and make a few other cool stops along the way–like John Adams’ birthplace.
New Hampshire Fall Foliage Day Trip — Okay, this one is even more seasonal than the usual Boston day trip–but if you’re planning a fall trip to Boston and want to enjoy the legendary foliage in New Hampshire’s White Mountains without any planning, this guided tour visits the iconic Kancamagus Scenic Byway and gets excellent reviews.
Want to take on a bit more research and take some independent day trips from Boston instead?
It’s absolutely doable, but unlike in many American cities, the first thing you’ll need to decide when it comes to these day trips is which method of transportation to use to get there!
For many of these destinations, the commuter rail, bus, rental car, and sometimes ferry all have their own pros and cons, so be sure to check the estimated times for each.
For some day trips (like Provincetown), there’s a clear winner, and for others (like Salem), how you get there and back is a matter of personal preference.
If you opt to rent a car for any of your day trips, we recommend shopping with Discover Cars!
They’ll compare prices and inclusions from multiple brands to ensure you’re getting the best deal for your trip.
Check prices + shop rental cars for your day trip(s) from Boston today!
When it comes to cool day trips from Boston, Salem–AKA Witch City–is at the top of the list!
Located just 30 minutes from Boston’s North Station (or around an hour if you take the longer-but-more-scenic ferry route), the infamous home of the 17th-century Salem Witch Trials* goes all-in on its history–but there’s plenty more to see, as well.
Top things to do in Salem include touring the House of Seven Gables, which we loved, visiting the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and Old Burying Point (if you’re familiar with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, you’ll recognize some of the names on the headstones), and checking out the Witch House, which is the last building in Salem with direct ties to the Witch Trials.
This walking tour is an excellent option for getting acquainted with Salem’s fascinating but dense history!
Looking for a living history museum? The Salem Pioneer Village is a great option.
Don’t miss the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, either!
Fair warning: if you are visiting Boston in the fall and are planning to visit Salem in October, it will be absolutely packed.
If Halloween festivities in Salem are on your bucket list, absolutely go–and if you’re just looking for a pretty historic New England town and want to avoid the crowds, strongly consider picking a different day trip.
*Nearby Danvers, Massachusetts, then known as Salem Village, was where the accusations began, and if you have a deep interest in the trials, you may want to head there as well to check out sights like the Rebecca Nurse Homestead.
Salem is very close to Boston, and as a result, you have your pick of ways to get there!
The simplest option is to take the commuter rail from North Station (30-35 minutes).
The most scenic way is to take the high-speed ferry, which runs seasonally from late May through Halloween (50-60 minutes).
If you want to combine Salem with other nearby places like Danvers or Marblehead (more on that in a bit), or visit some attractions outside the center, you could also drive.
It takes 35+ minutes to drive between Boston and Salem, heavily dependent on traffic.
Drive north from Boston, and you’ll quickly find yourself heading toward Massachusetts’ “other” Cape: Cape Ann.
And, on the coast of Cape Ann, you’ll find the idyllic town of Rockport, Massachusetts, which is home to–among many other things–“Motif No. 1”, which is said to be the most-painted view in America!
Art galleries, waterfront views, ice cream stands, and beaches make up this quintessential New England seaside town, and its small size means that a day trip is long enough to experience a decent chunk of the top things to do.
Don’t miss exploring the galleries along Bear Skin Neck, walking out onto the breakwater, admiring Motif No. 1 from many angles, and paying a visit to Front Beach!
If you want to experience a bit of quieter nature, Halibut Point State Park is a beautiful place.
If you’re driving, Rockport can also easily be combined with nearby Gloucester and/or Hammond Castle, a European-style property that will make you doubt that you’re still in Massachusetts!
You can reach Rockport from Boston on the commuter rail in about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or in 50+ minutes by car.
We drove to Rockport and used the town’s free shuttle to travel from the main parking lot to the town center, and found it extremely convenient!
The shuttle also stops at the train station, as well as some beaches.
If you know one thing about Lexington and Concord, it’s probably that Lexington is where the “shot heard round the world” was fired–in other words, where the American Revolution truly kicked off.
Today, the Lexington Green where British and American forces first faced off is an idyllic lawn, but there are lots of Revolutionary War sites to discover in these 2 towns, from Buckman Tavern (where patriots gathered to wait for the British forces), to the Old North Bridge where the British were overwhelmed in Concord, to the spot where Paul Revere was captured on his midnight ride.
Quite apart from memories of the American Revolution, Concord is also home to Louisa May Alcott’s home (Orchard House), which is a great reason to re-read Little Women before visiting!
The iconic Walden Pond, of Henry David Thoreau’s beloved book Walden, is also located in Concord and is a popular place to visit in town.
Visiting the top things to see in and around Lexington and Concord is best done by car, and it’s a quick ride–under 45 minutes to Concord, which is the further of the two (you can price out rental cars here).
You can get to Concord by commuter rail, and Lexington by a combination of commuter rail + bus, but the major attractions in the area are fairly dispersed from each other, and in some cases, from the town centers (Lexington and Concord are 20 minutes apart by car).
If you’d like to visit independently and avoid driving and/or walking too much, a guided trolley tour like this is a solid way to get an overview (though note that it’s not a hop-on/hop-off trolley).
A private tour like this is definitely a luxurious option, but a treat for history lovers who want to dive into the details and not miss a thing!
Located just a 15-minute drive or so from the much more crowded city of Salem, Marblehead makes an excellent coastal day trip from Boston!
Mazes of colorful historic homes make up much of the historic district, making Marblehead a delightful place to explore on foot.
Be sure not to miss the 17th-century Fort Sewall, views of the Marblehead Lighthouse at Chandler Hovey Park, the beautiful views from Castle Rock, or the Marblehead Museum (or part of it–it’s made up of a few dispersed museums).
Hocus Pocus fans should be sure to visit Old Burial Hill, one of a few Marblehead filming locations for the movie!
The best way to take a day trip to Marblehead from Boston is to rent a car and drive. Luckily, it’s less than an hour away!
There are no train connections to Marblehead.
You can take a combination of 2 buses into town, but it takes longer, and if you would like to visit Castle Rock and Chandler Hovey Park (and the views are gorgeous), you’ll want a car to get there.
Ask a dozen Bostonians for their favorite coastal town near Boston, and odds are at least a couple of them will say Newburyport.
All cobblestone streets and gorgeous views, this is New England charm at its best.
And, as a bonus, it’s located right on the commuter rail, making it easy to visit!
The best things to do in Newburyport include browsing the shops in and around Market Square and Tannery Marketplace, enjoying the Harborwalk and Waterfront Park, admiring the Newburyport Lighthouse (or even eating a meal on top of it, if you’re looking for a splurge), and checking out the Custom House Maritime Museum.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, you’ll find beautiful Plum Island–the northern portion of which is actually within Newburyport’s boundaries!
Top things to do on Plum Island include visiting Plum Island Beach, checking out the Plum Island Lighthouse, and strolling through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
For travelers looking to spend the day within the town center, the commuter rail is an excellent way to get to Newburyport from Boston for the day.
After arriving by train, you’ll want to take the bus downtown (or walk the 30 minutes or so each way to Market Square).
However, if you’re hoping to explore Plum Island as well, your day will be much simpler if you drive!
Yes, like Plymouth Rock!
Plymouth is set right on the seaside, and it makes a wonderful day trip from Boston for history nerds (or just people who like coastal New England towns).
Plymouth Rock itself is famously underwhelming, but we enjoyed it much more than expected–a combination of low expectations paired with an excellent (free) presentation from an on-site interpreter employed by Pilgrim Memorial State Park.
The real stars of the show, though, are the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, which include the Mayflower II (located on the water), the Plimoth Grist Mill, the 17th-century English Village, and the Historic Pawtuxet Homesite.
The final two are located in the same place and include an extremely engaging living history component!
Other things to do in Plymouth (if you have time, that is) include visiting the Pilgrim Hall Museum, admiring views from Burial Hill, touring the Jabez Howland House (the only remaining building in Plymouth that pilgrims set foot in) and visiting Brewster Gardens.
You can also potentially add a stop in Quincy to tour the John Adams home(s) at the Adams National Historical Park if you plan well (and especially if you book a tour that takes care of transportation for you).
With careful planning, you can visit Plymouth from Boston by a combination of train (commuter rail to Kingston) and bus (GARTA).
However, if you want to visit the dispersed Plimoth Patuxet Museum sites, your day will be much simpler if you rent a car and drive to Plymouth from Boston.
Alternatively, this popular organized day trip will take care of all the transportation for you, and includes your (pricey) ticket to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums!
If there’s one thing that this blog post should make clear, it’s that there are lots and lots of adorable seaside towns near Boston that can make excellent one-day getaways, and choosing between them can sometimes feel overwhelming–but for one that scratches that not-too-big, not-too-small itch, we love Hingham.
Located on the South Shore (southeast of Boston instead of northeast, like Salem, Rockport, etc.), Hingham has no international claims to fame on the tourist circuit, but it’s beautiful, historic, and offers excellent views.
Be sure not to miss World’s End, which offers Boston skyline views in an idyllic 251-acre setting designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, nor a chance to stop and admire Hingham’s small harbor.
After, head downtown to stroll, duck into shops, seek out historic buildings (you can tour the Old Ordinary, which dates to 1686!), and generally enjoy an idyllic small town atmosphere.
Don’t miss The Meeting House, AKA Old Ship Church, which is the oldest remaining 17th-century Pilgrim meeting house in the country–and it’s still hard at work as a Unitarian Universalist congregation that welcomes visitors.
If you stop at Nona’s Homemade for ice cream, we can’t recommend the cookie dough more–it may be the best cookie dough ice cream we’ve ever had!
You can technically get to Hingham from Boston using a combination of the T and bus service, and if you add in a few long walks and possible waits, even get to World’s End–but realistically, this day trip is much easier if you rent a car and drive.
Driving will also allow you to combine Hingham with another stop, which you can easily save time for.
A couple of great ones to consider would be the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy (home of the 2nd and 6th US presidents and their family), the United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum and USS Salem, or Wollaston Beach.
Want to visit Cape Cod on a day trip from Boston?
There’s exactly one way we recommend doing that: by taking the seasonal ferry from Boston to Provincetown, on the far tip of the Cape!
Provincetown, AKA P-Town, is easily one of the top coastal towns in New England, and a fantastic place to visit.
As the original landing site of the Mayflower, a popular whale-watching destination, and a traditional LGBTQ+ and artistic enclave, it is a fishing-village-turned-tourist-town with lots to offer!
Whether your interest in Provincetown’s history leans toward its 17th-century roots, its much more recent status as a hub for LGBTQ+ life, or both, the town has plenty to offer.
While you’re there, be sure to stroll down the vibrant Commercial Street (ideally both during the day and at night!), check out the soaring Pilgrim Monument that stands above the town, sample some of the many delicious restaurants, and of course, enjoy the beaches.
And, of course, no trip to the Cape is complete without enjoying one of the most classic New England coastal activities: whale watching!
There’s exactly one realistic way to take a day trip from Boston to Provincetown: take the 90-minute high-speed ferry!
Driving to the end of the Cape and back from Boston in a day is miserable at best and impossible at worst–and if you’re visiting Boston in the off-season and the ferry isn’t running, that’s a sign to opt for a different day trip altogether.
Want to tour a Gilded Age mansion without heading to Newport?
The Crane Estate, located on the North Shore in Ipswich, has you covered!
With expansive grounds and several tour options, the Crane Estate is a remarkable place to step into the 1920s–and its location in Ipswich means that a day trip there can be combined with Gloucester and/or Rockport and/or Newburyport, too.
(Or you can just stick around and enjoy Crane Beach, located on the estate).
If you’re intrigued by the mansions of Newport or the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, you’ll love the Crane Estate.
The fastest way to visit the Crane Estate from Boston is by car, which takes about an hour.
Traveling by car also leaves you flexibility to visit other North Shore/Cape Ann destinations during your day trip!
Want to see a bit of another state on a day trip from Boston?
Given the size of New England states, that is a much simpler proposition than it is in many regions of the country!
Here are a few great Boston day trip ideas that stretch beyond Massachusetts.
As the coastal escape of the wealthiest Gilded Age families, Newport is most famous today for two things: touring ridiculously over-the-top mansions and the gorgeous seaside setting that motivated people to build mansions there in the first place.
On a day trip from Boston, you can tour a mansion or two (The Breakers, built by the Vanderbilts, is the most famous), meander through downtown, admire the boats at Bowen’s Wharf, and enjoy coastal views.
Be sure not to miss a walk along the beautiful Cliff Walk!
Newport is roughly 2 hours from Boston by either train or car.
If you opt not to drive to Newport (and parking can be difficult in the summer, like in many New England cities), you may want to sign up for a narrated trolley tour that can act as a combination of sightseeing tour (it’s a great way to see the exterior of many of the homes with little effort) and transportation!
Shop trolley tours and historic home tickets in Newport today!
Small, beautiful, and known for its beaches and coastal views, Ogunquit is one of the closest Maine beach towns to Boston–and it’s worth a visit.
Top things to do in Ogunquit include enjoying coastal views as you walk along the Marginal Way until you reach the small village of Perkins Cove (yes, complete with an actual cove), visiting the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, and browsing the downtown boutiques.
The Ogunquit Heritage Museum is housed in an 18th-century home and is free to visit, making it a budget-friendly way to step inside a historic home.
And, while it’s a 15-minute-ish drive away in nearby York, don’t miss visiting Cape Neddick to admire views of the beloved Nubble Lighthouse, either!
If you’re hoping to visit Ogunquit independently, by far the best way to get there is to drive.
Ogunquit is under 2 hours from Boston, traffic dependent.
If you’d prefer a multi-stop coastal Maine trip, this well-reviewed day trip focuses on Kennebunkport, but also includes stops in Ogunquit and at the Nubble Lighthouse.
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