55 Great Day Trips From Boston (Including Trips From Boston With Kids)

Looking for some great ideas for day trips from Boston? This collection of the best day trips from Boston include classics like day trips from Boston to Salem or day trips from Boston to Cape Cod. We have also included some off-the-beaten path ideas for trips from Boston like Hingham or Lowell, one of the best short trips from Boston to take. Alternatively, visit Lake Canobie Park or Mystic Connecticut for fun day trips from Boston with kids which are also easy New England day trips from Boston.

Day Trips Around Boston

We consider short day trips from Boston as those that will take less than an hour to reach. Like any major city, Boston traffic can be brutal. The best way to reach many of these places is public transportation. For day trips, Boston commuter rail is an excellent way to get around.

Cambridge

You really can’t get closer to Boston than Cambridge which lies just a short drive across the Charles River. Cambridge is known for being the home of two world-leading universities, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There are major museums associated with these universities that are available to visit, too. Cambridge is recognisable as the filming location for many movies such as Good Will Hunting.

Getting to Cambridge:

• Cambridge is 3 miles from Boston.
• You can get to Cambridge from Boston in 15 minutes by car.
• You can reach Cambridge by train from South Station in Boston  in 20 minutes.

Concord

Concord is known for its American Revolutionary War sites commemorated at the Minute Man National Historical Park. Concord also has a rich literary tradition as the home of lots of noted early American authors including Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women).

You can visit famous author and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau’s famous Walden Pond near Concord as well. Walden Pond State Park is one of the many Massachusetts state parks near Boston that make great day trips.

Getting to Concord:

• Concord is 20 miles from Boston.
• You can get to Concord from Boston in 1/2 an hour by car.
• You can reach Concord by train from North Station in Boston in 40 minutes.

Gloucester

Located on Cape Ann, Gloucester has the distinction of being the nation’s oldest seaport established in 1623. Still a major port with fishing boats bobbing in its harbor, Gloucester has great beaches (e.g., Wingaersheek Beach), picturesque lighthouses and seafood restaurants.

Getting to Gloucester:

• Gloucester is 39 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 45 minutes by car.
• You can reach Gloucester by train from Boston in 2 hours.

Hingham

Located on the South Shore of Boston, Hingham is located on Boston Harbor. It has an interesting dockyard and a charming Main Street. Nature lovers will enjoy World’s End run by the Trustees of Reservations. Make sure to catch the views of Boston’s skyline from World’s End.

Getting to Hingham:

• Hingham is 22 miles from Boston.
• You can get to Hingham from Boston in 35 minutes by car.
• You can reach Hingham by train from South Station in Boston in 35 minutes.
• You can reach Hingham by ferry from Long Wharf in Boston in 30 minutes.
  

  Hingham, one of the wealthy South Shore towns MA.

Ipswich

Settled in 1633, Ipswich is a rural idyll close to Boston with farms, craft breweries and a fabulous beach, Crane Beach. The beautiful, Trustees of Reservations property, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, is the center of a 2100 acre estate.

Getting to Ipswich:

• Ipswich is 31 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 50 minutes by car.
• You can reach Ipswich by train from Boston in 1 hour.

Lexington

Known for being the start of the American Revolution in April 19, 1775, Lexington has a lot of colonial history and landmarks including the Minute Man statue and the 18th century Munroe Tavern.

Getting to Lexington:

• Lexington is 21 miles from Boston.
• You can get to Lexington from Boston in 30 minutes by car.
• You can reach Lexington by a subway and bus combination from Boston in 1 hour 10 minutes.

Lowell

Located in the Merrimack Valley, Lowell is known for being the heart of the American Industrial Revolution in the 19th century thanks to its booming textile industry.

In honour of that heritage, the Lowell Historical National Park is one of the Massachusetts national parks run by the National Park Service. You can take a streetcar shuttle between the collection of historical buildings of the Lowell National Park or even a canal boat tour of the facilities used by the mills.

Getting to Lowell:

• Lowell is 30 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 35 minutes by car.
• You can reach Lowell by train from Boston in 45 minutes.

Newburyport

The historic center of Newburyport is pretty as a picture. Moreover, nearby Plum Island has fabulous beaches and great hiking and birdwatching at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Newburyport:

• Newburyport is  43 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 45 minutes by car.
• You can reach Newburyport by train from Boston in 1 hour.

Plymouth

Famous for housing Plymouth Rock at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park, Plymouth is where the Mayflower Pilgrims  came onshore in 1620 to stay as settlers of a New England. There is a charming downtown, a Pilgrim Hall Museum, and a ginormous Monument To Our Forefathers.

Nearby is the very well done Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum recreating both a Pilgrim and a Wampanoag settlement from the 17th century. Nearby there is also a great Massachusetts state forest, Myles Standish State Forest with beautiful ponds and hiking trails.

Getting to Plymouth:

• Plymouth is 40 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 50 minutes by car.
• You can reach Plymouth by train from Boston in 1 hour.

Rockport

At the tip of Cape Ann, Rockport has a working fishing harbor as well as a tourist cluster of restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Hang out by the rocks sheltering Rockport harbor at the end of the day for fabulous sunset views.

Getting to Rockport:

• Rockport is 38 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 50 minutes by car.
• You can reach Rockport by a train and bus combination from Boston in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Day Trips From Boston to Salem

Settled in 1626, Salem has a long history that is most famous for its witch trials in 1692. The city has leaned into this notoriety with lots of witch and occult related attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum.

Besides the spooky stuff, there’s the excellent Peabody Essex Museum and the House of the Seven Gables made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic book. Make sure to wander around the beautiful historic center from the time Salem was a busy and wealthy maritime port.

There’s so much to do and to see in Salem that this city can make a great weekend getaway in Massachusetts itself.

Getting to Salem:

• Salem is 25 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 40 minutes by car.
• You can reach Salem by train from North Station in Boston in 30 minutes.
• Running between May and October, the Salem Ferry runs between Long Wharf in Boston and Salem takes an hour.

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets

Operated by the Simon Group, Wrentham Village Premium Outlets bills itself as New England’s largest outlet center. The outlets include both mid-market brands (like Adidas and Under Armour) and high end brands (like Burberry, Kate Spade). There’s a really large RH outlet too.

Getting to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets:

• Wrentham Village is 33 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 41 minutes by car.
• You can reach Wrentham by train and taxi from Boston in 1 hour.

One Day Trips from Boston in Massachusetts

These great day trips from Boston will take you deep into the heart of the state where you can explore different things like small town life in Western Massachusetts, maritime history at New Bedford, and rollercoaster thrills at Six Flags New England.

The majority of these trips are two-hour drives by car. Keep in mind, the longest part may be getting out of the Boston area so plan accordingly!

Amherst

Amherst is a college town noted as the home of both Amherst College and the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts. It’s young and artsy – expect lots of bookshops and coffee shops. Amherst is also the home of the famed Emily Dickinson Museum as well as the Eric Carl Museum of Picture Book Art.

Getting to Amherst:

• Amherst is 94 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 2 hours by car.
• You can reach Amherst by train from Boston in 5 hours via Springfield.

Deerfield

Historic Deerfield is a National Historic Landmark District with its collection of early American house museums. Nearby, there is the headquarters of famed candlemakers, Yankee Candle Village, where it is Christmas every day.

Getting to Deerfield:

• Deerfield is 120 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 2 hours by car.
• You can reach Deerfield by train from Boston via Springfield in 5.5 hours.

Fall River

Famous for the gruesome Lizzie Borden axe murder in the 19th century, Fall River is an industrial city that is trying to get back on its feet. It’s also the home of Battleship Cove, a huge collection of World War 2 naval ships. Not only is the Lizzie Borden house, one of the most haunted places in New England, so is nearby Freetown Fall River State Forest.

Getting to Fall River:

• Fall River is  52 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 1 hour by car.
• You can reach Fall River by train from Boston via Providence in 2 hours.

New Bedford

During the 19th century, New Bedford was a major shipping port in the world thanks to the whaling industry. This bygone era is still visible today in the architecture of the National Historic District and the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Getting to New Bedford

• New Bedford is 60 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in a little over an hour by car.
• You can reach New Bedford by train from South Station in Boston which will take an hour and a half.

Northampton

Artsy, liberal Northampton is another college town. The home of Smith College, one of the Seven Sisters, the town is known as being very LGBTQ+ friendly. Expect great restaurants, bookshops, boutiques, craft beer and coffee. Make sure to stop by Herrell’s Ice Cream & Bakery for one of the best ice-cream shops in the state.

Getting to Northampton:

• Northampton is 104 miles from Boston.
• You can get there in 2 hours by car.
• You can reach Northampton by a train and bus combination from Boston in 5 hours.

Old Sturbridge Village

Set over 200 acres, Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that recreates life in 19th century New England. Costumed guides explain and show how life would have been at the time with a collection of buildings including a gristmill, cider mill, general store, tavern, schoolhouse and residential homes.

Getting to Old Sturbridge Village:

• • • Old Sturbridge Village is 60 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.

Six Flags New England

Located in a suburb of Springfield, Six Flags New England is an amusement park in Agawam that has been around since 1870 (under different ownership). The largest theme park in New England, Six Flags New England has the usual thrill rides, roller coasters as well as a waterpark with a lazy river.

Getting to Six Flags New England:

• • • Six Flags New England is 83 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour and 45 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Six Flags New England by train and taxi from Boston in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Springfield

Springfield is known for several esoteric things – the Naismouth Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and the Springfield Armory National Historic Site (a museum dedicated to two centuries of firearms history in the USA).

Getting to Springfield:

• • • Springfield is 81 miles from Boston
    • You can get there in 1 hour and half from Boston.
    • You can reach Springfield by train from Boston in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Worcester

The second largest city in New England after Boston, Worcester is home to the excellent Worcester Art Museum. In nearby Clinton, there is also the Museum of Russian Icons, one of the hidden gems of Massachusetts. It’s also got a science museum, lots of parks and several highly-rated colleges like Clark University and Worcester Polytech Institute.

Getting to Worcester:

• • • Worcester is 47 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 55 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Worcester by train from Boston in one hour and 30 minutes.

Boston Day Trips To Cape Cod & Islands

Boston day trips to Cape Cod will require a long day. It’s totally worth it if that’s the only chance you will have to escape to this magical part of Massachusetts.

Although known as a summer vacation heaven, Cape Cod and the Islands make for a great visit in the fall. There are a lot of fall festivals that lure visitors to the Cape in the off-season.

The fastest option is obviously flying to your destination but that is also the most expensive choice. Your Cape Cod day trips from Boston will necessarily include one of the two bridges that go into Cape Cod. From our experience, the Sagamore Bridge is less congested than the Bourne Bridge.

Chatham

Chatham is a super popular beach town on Lower Cape Cod that has lots of stores and restaurants. It’s got the famous Chatham Lighthouse as well as the renowned Chatham Bars Inn Resort.

Getting to Chatham

• • • Chatham is 74 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 45 minutes by car.

Falmouth

Falmouth is a beach town in Upper Cape Cod known for having plenty of things to do, such as great beaches, the Shining Sea Bike Path and the car ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket from Woods Hole. It has a charming downtown, good restaurants and miles of beaches.

Getting to Falmouth:

• • • Falmouth is  73 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 30 minutes by car.

Hyannis

One of the villages that makes up Barnstable in the Mid Cape section of Cape Cod, Hyannis is forever associated with the Kennedy family. The Kennedy compound is located nearby at Hyannis Port and the JFK Museum.

Getting to Hyannis:

• • • Hyannis is 71 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 20 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Hyannis by plane from Boston in 35 minutes.

Sandwich

The oldest town on Cape Cod, Sandwich was settled in 1637. Sandwich has beautiful beaches, a glass museum from its days as a glassmaking center and the Heritage Museum and Gardens. Sandwich is also the start of one of the most scenic driving routes on Cape Cod, the Route 6A/The Old King’s Highway.

Getting to Sandwich:

• • • Sandwich is  58 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 10 minutes by car.

Provincetown

Located on the tip of Cape Cod in the Outer Cape section, Provincetown was actually the first place the Mayflower Pilgrims landed in 1620. Judging the land was too sandy to be farmland, they sailed onwards to eventually land at Plymouth.

Provincetown is another artsy liberal town with great food and nightlife. It’s a party town and also LGBTQ+ friendly. The beaches are excellent with access to the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Provincetown is a great place to set out on a whale watching cruise to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, an 800 mile area that stretches between Cape Ann and Cape Cod.

Getting to Provincetown:

• • • Provincetown is 117 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours and 30 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Provincetown by ferry from Boston in 1 hour 35 minutes.
    • Reach Provincetown from Boston on a 1/2 hour flight.

Day Trips to Martha’s Vineyard From Boston

Martha’s Vineyard has long been associated with presidential summer vacations (Clinton, Obama) and the Chappaquiddick Affair that ended Teddy Kennedy’s presidential ambitions. Martha’s Vineyard was also made famous in the classic blockbuster film, Jaws, which was filmed on the island.

Martha’s Vineyard a large island with 6 very different towns that range from elegant to boho casual. As such, there is plenty to do on Martha’s Vineyard for an active summer vacationsuch as beaches, kayaking  and cycling.

Getting to Martha’s Vineyard:

• • • Martha’s Vineyard is 91 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours 30 minutes by car via the Steamship Authority Ferry in Woods Hole.
    • You can reach Martha’s Vineyard by plane from Boston in 40 minutes.

Day Trips from Boston to Nantucket

Only 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, Nantucket feels a world away. Downtown is picture perfect with cobblestone streets lined with boutiques and restaurants. It’s easy to explore the island’s lighthouses, beaches and trails via bicycle.

Getting to Nantucket:

• • • Nantucket is  100 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 3 hours 30 minutes by car via the Steamship Authority ferry at Woods Hole.
    • You can reach Nantucket by plane from Boston in 45 minutes

Connecticut Day Trips from Boston

Connecticut, founded in 1636 as an escape from the harsh Puritan regime of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, has many easy day trips from Boston.

Bristol

Bristol is home to Lake Compounce, New England’s oldest amusement park. Opened in 1846, there is a theme park (with a wooden roller coaster so you feel all the jolts!) and a water park.

Getting to Bristol:

• • • Bristol is 120 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours 20 minutes by car.

Groton

Known as the submarine capitol of the world, you need to visit Groton if you have an interest in military history. The Submarine Force Museum is the home of the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus, launched in 1954. After a visit to these museums, you can hike in Bluff Point State Park or relax at Eastern Point Beach.

Getting to Groton:

• • • Groton is 105 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours by car.
    • You can reach Groton by train from Boston in 2 hours.

Hartford

Connecticut’s capitol, Hartford, can at first glance seem boring. After all, insurance capitol of the world isn’t the most exciting nickname. Hartford, however, has the homes of two American literary greats, Mark Twain (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) and Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin). The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art also has an impressive collection of art works housed in a cool faux-Gothic building.

Getting to Hartford:

• • • Hartford is 101 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 35 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Hartford by train from Boston in 3 hours 30 minutes via New Haven.

Mystic

Historic downtown Mystic could be a quintessential New England town with soaring church spire, old-fashioned drawbridge and boats moored by the water. Don’t forget to visit Mystic Pizza which was the basis of the 1988 film that shot Julia Roberts to fame.

Mystic is also home to two of Connecticut’s most visited sites, Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport Museum. Nearby Olde Mystic Village, one of the prettiest malls in New England, recreates a 19th century New England village.

There’s plenty of col things to do in Mystic for a day trip for Boston – possibly too much!

Getting to Mystic:

• • • Mystic is 100 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Mystic by train from Boston in 2 hours.

New Haven

New Haven is synonymous with Yale University. This university town also has world class museums associated with Yale. For less highbrow entertaintainment, nearby there is also the PEZ center (yes, dedicated to the candy dispenser) and Louis’ Lunch (credited with creating that most American of food options in 1900, the hamburger).

Getting to New Haven:

• • • New Haven is 138 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours 30 minutes by car.
    • You can reach New Haven by train from Boston in 2 hours 5 minutes.

Day Trips from Boston to Maine

Day trips from Boston to Maine will take you to a series of charming small towns and beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.Summer day trips to Maine from Boston invariably include the icy cold water of the Atlantic Ocean which can be a refreshing after the city heat.

Cape Elizabeth

A small town near Portland, Cape Elizabeth lies on the shore of Casco Bay. Visit Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light, in Fort Williams Park. There are other lighthouses to visit as well as the Two Lights State Park and a very nice beach at Crescent Beach State Park.

Getting to Cape Elizabeth:

• • • Cape Elizabeth is 118 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours by car.
    • You can reach Cape Elizabeth by train and taxi from Boston in 2 hours 50 minutes.

Kennebunkport

The Bush family compound put Kennebunkport on the map when it became the Summer White House during the Presidency of George H. W. Bush. Kennebunkport is a charming seaside resort town with lots of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.

Getting to Kennebunkport:

• • • Kennebunk is 90 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Kennebunk by train and bus via Wells from Boston in 2 hours 45 minutes.

Kittery

Maine day trips from Boston always pass through Kittery. Kittery, however, is worth a stop and a visit in its own right.

The southernmost town in Maine (and also its oldest), Kittery is known for its outlet malls which run along a 1 mile stretch off Route 1. Downtown Kittery is now all hipster-chic with great restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops.

Getting to Kittery:

• • • Kittery is 65 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.

Ogunquit

Ogunquit is another resort town in Maine with beautiful beaches and a charming downtown. The Marginal Way is a dramatic cliffside walk overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There are lots of restaurants, art galleries and shopping here as well.

Getting to Ogunquit:

• • • Ogunquit is 77 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Ogunquit by train from Boston in 2 hours.

Portland

The small city of Portland should be on everyone’s Maine bucket list. It has everything from a historic old port to hipster-friendly cafes and shopping. Visit the historic Victoria Mansion, sail around Casco Bay, climb the Portland Observatory and enjoy the craft beer scene.

There’s so much to do in Portland that you will want to return to Portland for a weekend visit!

Getting to Portland:

• • • Portland is 112 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 45 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Portland by train from Boston in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Wells

Another beach town in Maine, Wells has 4 miles of sandy beaches. Nature lovers will like the hiking trails at the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge. Wells is also known for its many antique shops located on Route 1. If you aren’t buying antiques, check out the collection of 80 antique and classic cars at the Wells Auto Museum.

Getting to Wells:

• • • Wells is 83 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 20 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Wells by train from Boston in 2 hours 30 minutes.

York

York, Maine’s second oldest town, has beautiful Long Sands beach as well as a Cliff Walk. Visit Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England. Check out the Museums of Old York which has the oldest jail in the USA. Hike Mount Agamenticus for fabulous views from the top.

Getting to York:

• • • York is 70 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 5 minutes by car.
    • You can reach York by train from Boston via Wells in 2 hours 10 minutes.

Day Trip to New Hampshire From Boston

As beautiful as the White Mountain National Forest is, it’s not included in this list because a car trip from Boston will realistically take at least 3 1/2 hours each way. Such a long trip does not leave you enough time to enjoy your time in the White Mountains.

Once again, we have limited our options for a day trip to New Hampshire from Boston to a maximum of a two hour drive.

Canobie Lake Park

Established in 1902, Canobie Lake Park has been amusing generations of New England kids. This theme park is great for children with over 85 rides and attractions. Included in the admission is Castaway Island water park.

Getting to Canobie Lake Park:

• • • Canobie Lake Park is 36 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 40 minutes by car.

Concord

The capitol of New Hampshire, Concord, is a small but vibrant city. In the 19th century, Concord was famous for carriage-making and for quarrying granite.

Check out Pierce Manse, the former home of the 14th President of the US, Franklin Pierce. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a cool air and space museum. There’s also a great restaurant scene and make sure to sample local craft beer at the Concord Craft Brewing Company.

Make sure to have a browse in the antique shops of Concord. You are more likely to score a good deal than in Boston.

Getting to Concord:

• • • Concord is 68 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 15 minutes by car.

Exeter

Exeter is known for being the location of one of the nation’s oldest and prestigious boarding schools, Philips Exeter Academy. It was also the capitol of New Hampshire during the American Revolution! The American Independence Museum has an original copy of the Declaration of Independence as well as lots of artefacts from the American Revolution.

Getting to Exeter:

• • • Exeter is 58 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.
    • You can reach Exeter by train from Boston in 1 hour 10 minutes.

Keene

Located in the Connecticut River Valley, pretty Keene has both a beautiful downtown and access to some wonderful outdoor spaces. Hiking and cycling are popular activities (especially to Mount Monadnack -see below) or the Cheshire Recreational Rail Trail.

Keene has a historic downtown with art galleries and antique stores. The city also has a thriving art scene boosted by two institutions of higher learning, Keene State College and Antioch University New England.

Getting to Keene:

• • • Keene is 97 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours by car.

Manchester

Nicknamed the Queen City, Manchester is actually bigger than New Hampshire’s capitol city of Concord. Things to do in Manchester include visiting the historic downtown, the Currier Museum of Art and the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Zimmerman House. Nearby Lake Massabesic is great for fishing and kayaking.

Getting to Manchester:

• • • Manchester is 53 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.

Mount Monadnack

Thousands of hikers visit Mount Monadnack every year in Southern New Hampshire. There are several trails that range from long and meandering to steep and uphill. The shortest (and steepest) hike will still take 4 hours round trip. Be rewarded at the top with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

Getting to Mount Monadnack:

• • • Mount Monadnack is 88 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours by car.

Nashua

Nashua has a charming downtown and plenty of outdoor activities on its doorstep, including at Nashua River Rail Trail, Mine Falls Park and Greeley Park. Nashua is also the home of the New Hampshire Holocaust Memorial.

Kids will enjoy visiting the National Fish Hatchery. You might also want to check out Leda Lanes for a game of candlepin bowling, a very New England game which is different from traditional bowling.

Getting to Nashua:

• • • Nashua is 46 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.
    • You can reach Nashua by train from Boston in 1 hour.

New Hampshire Beaches

Although only 18 miles long, New Hampshire’s coastline is small but beautiful. Hampton Beach is a family-friendly beach with a boardwalk. The Rye beaches are much emptier and quieter. Rye Harbor Lobster has one of the BEST lobster rolls we have ever had (and we’ve sampled a fair few).

Getting to Rye:

• • • Rye is 62 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.

Peterborough

Peterborough is another artsy town with both an arts institute and a theatre. There’s also the small but perfect Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center which has popular interactive exhibits. (There’s a summer offshoot of the Mariposa Museum in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard). MacDowell Lake nearby is great for water sports recreational activities.

Getting to Peterborough:

• • • Peterborough is 73 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 40 minutes by car.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a charming downtown area and some of the area overlooks the harbor. There are plenty of great boutiques, art galleries, cafes and restaurants that spread out from Market Square. During the summer you can visit Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.

Don’t miss the 10 acre outdoor living history museum, Strawbery Banke, near downtown Portsmouth.

Downtown Portsmouth is chock full of historic houses in both Georgian and Queen Ann styles. Dating from 1763, the Moffatt-Ladd House was home to two signers of the Declaration of Independence. Nearby, the John Paul Jones House belonged to the Revolutionary War Naval hero.

Getting to Portsmouth:

• • • Portsmouth is  62 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.

Day Trips to Rhode Island from Boston

We have limited our options for day trips to Rhode Island from Boston to a maximum of a two hour drive.

Newport

Newport is famous for its magnificent Gilded Age mansions, the summer “cottages” of the 19th century elite. Stroll along the Cliff Walk and admire the mansions and the view of the surf crashing along the rocks below. Downtown Newport has a beautiful harbor, the Touro Synagogue (the oldest synagogue in the USA) and the International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum, to name just a few attractions.

Getting to Newport:

• • • Newport is 72 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Newport by train from Boston via Providence in 2 hours 10 minutes.

Providence

Providence is home to another Ivy League university, Brown University. It’s also home to the famous Rhode Island School of Design and the fantastic RISD Museum. The city is full of great restaurants, including one of the first brewpubs in New England, Trinity Brewpub. And, in keeping with its liberal hipster vibe, great street art.

Getting to Providence:

• • • Providence is 51 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour by car.
    • You can reach Providence by train from Boston in 35 minutes.

Tiverton

The small town feel of Tiverton is very different from its nearest neighbours, Fall River or Newport. Check out the historic houses of the Tiverton 4 Corners village center. Visit one of the beaches, such as Fogland Beach or Grinnell’s Beach. Explore nature with a hike in Weetamoo Woods, Pardon Gray Preserve or the Audubon Society’s Ruecker Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Tiverton:

• • • Tiverton is 60 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 10 minutes by car.

Watch Hill

Watch Hill is a very pretty New England beach town with some enormous historic mansions (including one that is was built for a Standard Oil family member and currently owned by Taylor Swift). Near beautiful Watch Hill beach, there is a historic 1883 carousel that kids will enjoy. Check out Watch Hill Light House which was built in 1807.

Getting to Watch Hill:

• • • Watch Hill is 99 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours by car.
    • You can reach Watch Hill by train from Boston in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Wickford

You feel like you have gotten lost in time in beautiful historic Wickford with so many buildings from the late 17th and 18th century. Kayak around Wickford Harbor or just sit and watch the boating activity. This seaside town has a small town beach as well as lots of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.

Getting to Wickford:

• • • Wickford is 72 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 1 hour 20 minutes by car.
    • You can reach Wickford by train from Boston in 1 hour 45 minutes.

Vermont Day Trips from Boston

Most of Vermont is not feasible as a day trip from Boston. We have only one choice, Brattleoboro in the Southeast corner of the state, for Vermont day trips from Boston. Brattleboro though can take a little over 2 hours to reach from Boston. Vermont makes for great weekend trips from Boston to escape the city’s summer heat and in winter to go skiing.

Brattleboro

Located along the Connecticut River, Brattleboro is a mix of small town life and urban trendiness. Enjoy craft beer at the Whetstone Station with its fantastic river views. Brattleboro is known for being artsy as well and has both the Latchis Theatre and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center.

Getting to Brattleboro:

• • • Brattleboro is 115 miles from Boston.
    • You can get there in 2 hours 15 minutes by car.

Map of Suggested Day Trips From Boston

For your planning purposes, mapped out here are our suggested day trips from Boston to places in Massachusetts.

Here is a separate map of day trips from Boston to states in New England, other than Massachusetts.

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