If you have an extra day or two after enjoying your Boston itinerary, you might be looking at things to do outside the city too. There are plenty of amazing destinations worth visiting and it might be hard to pick out the best ones. I’ve got you covered with some of the best day trips from Boston, whether you want to escape the city to more natural environments, enjoy the beach vibes on the east coast, or explore other great cities and towns nearby.
Boston is a great base for day trips either by car or by public transport as it has a good network of both train and bus from the city center. To make this the best resource for you, I’ve reached out to a few fellow travel bloggers to ask for their recommendations to some of the best places to visit in New England.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you have any questions about these services or products, feel free to ask me.
Where to Stay in Boston
There are plenty of places to stay in Boston, I have listed my favorite hostels for budget travel and those who would like to connect with other travelers, as well as hotels.
HI – Boston Hostel
The perfect location right next to Chinatown and only a ten minutes walk from South Station this is a great hostel to stay at. Staff is friendly and it’s simply a great place to stay if you want to meet other travelers.
Book your stay at HI – Boston Hostel here
Boston Homestel
If you’re looking for a place to stay that really makes you feel at home, stay at this big house in a quiet area. It’s close to the train station, but also offers private parking. Staff is super friendly and it’s a great place to get to know other travelers.
Book your stay at Boston Homestel
YOTEL Boston
This modern hotel has some of the most comfortable beds in Boston. Situated in the middle of the Seaport District this is a great choice with a lovely roof top terrace, bar and restaurant. They also have facilities for disabled guests.
Book your stay at YOTEL Boston
Revere Hotel Boston Common
This beautifully decorated boutique style hotel is situated next to the Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens. The highlight is the rooftop terrace and bar.
Book your stay at Revere Hotel Boston Common here
How to go on one day trips from Boston
Boston is well commuted by both bus and train, but sometimes the easiest way is to go on a one day trip from Boston is by car.
The main bus and train station is South Station where you find frequent daily trains and buses to most places.
Best day trips from Boston
Here are the top recommendations for day trips from Boston to escape the city and emerge yourself in history, art, or nature.
Nantucket
Nantucket is the perfect day trip if you want to experience the island life, outstanding beaches or learn more about the island’s history. Top museums you should visit are Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum, Nantucket Whaling Museum (the island used to be leading in whaling worldwide), Museum of African American History, and Nantucket Lightship Basked Museum.
Make sure you go to Siasconset town, enjoy the beautiful beach, walk the Sconset bluff Walk, and see the Sankaty Head Lighthouse.
If you don’t have your car, Nantucket is perfect for biking. You can get pretty much anywhere in a short time as there are good bike trails running throughout the island.
Other places worth a visit are the beach at Surfside and Madaket on the west side of the island. In direction Madaket, you also find lovely hiking trails where there are big chances of seeing wildlife like deer.
In October they celebrate a big Cranberry Festival on the island which would be a great time to visit despite the temperatures sinking and the beach might not be very attractive at this time.
It’s easy to get to Nantucket from Boston either by bus or car to Hyannis where you get the ferry over to the island.
New York City
Who wouldn’t mind a day trip to New York City? This amazing city is only a 3 and a half hours drive away and a great one day trip from Boston.
However, to save yourself from driving in and out of the cities which might be painful if you hit traffic, it doesn’t take any longer with the train. This way you don’t have to worry about parking either.
There are plenty of things to do in New York City and if it’s your first time you’ll get a good taste of it to consider a longer trip at a later occasion.
If you want to visit a few sites during the day, one of the best tips for New York is to get a CityPASS. It doesn’t only save you money but also lets you skip the line which means you get time for more fun and less waiting during your day trip to New York City.
Stroll around Central Park, check out the city views from Top of The Rock, explore Brooklyn and cross Brooklyn Bridge and make sure you take a boat trip to see the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Providence
By Jordan of Inspired by Maps
If you love traveling by train, exploring historic neighborhoods, trying delicious food, and art, then a day trip to from Boston to Providence is a perfect idea!
While only an hour away by train from Boston. Providence has an entirely different feel. This is the small-town USA at its finest, yet with a few punching-above-its-weight surprises.
The capital city of the smallest state in America, Rhode Island, Providence is home to both Brown University and the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, and the famous WaterFire art installation held annually.
One a day trip here, you’ll discover a flourishing arts scene, lots of exciting local businesses, and a hearty dose of grit. You can get lost in the photogenic streets of College Hill, dine in style in Little Italy, or admire the movie-set like Downtown.
If it’s raining, there is still plenty to do, including exploring the eccentric Rhode Island School of Design Museum, cozying up with a good book at the Providence Athenaeum, or exploring Greek culture and food at Yoleni’s.
Providence just has so many fun things to do and really deserves it own longer trip from Boston. Still, its ease of access means we won’t blame you for just trialing it out for a day.
But I promise you, the historic facades, hip cafes, cutting edge arts scene, and friendly population will have you wanting to come back again real soon.
Cranberry bog tour
James of Travel Collecting
Cranberries grow on vines that are harvested by flooding the fields (called bogs). The vines are shaken and the fruit floats to the surface. The results are bright red berry lakes, usually surrounded by the beautiful colors of fall leaves.
Throughout October, several cranberry bogs (farms) around Boston offer tours to witness the cranberry harvest. At some, it is even possible to be a cranberry farmer for a day (or a few minutes, at least).
You can don waterproof pants, wade into the flooded field, and help scoop the floating fruit into the enormous vacuums that suck the cranberries out of the field and into waiting trucks.
The cranberry farms that offer tours also typically have picnic areas where you can relax and enjoy the surroundings, as well as selling fresh cranberries and cranberry products such as jams and candles.
Three top picks, which you will need a car to get to, are:
- Benson’s Pond in South Middleboro (a 45-minute drive south of Boston) offers tours and a ‘be cranberry bogger for a day’ experience that includes a farm-to-table dinner afterwards. They also offer bogside barbecues.
- Flax Pond Farm in Carver (55 minutes south of Boston) offers tours of their bog, as well as a picnic area and small store.
- Stone Bridge farms in Acushnet (one hour south of Boston), offers tours and the chance to wade into the bog. They also have a picnic area and store.
Cranberry bog tours are popular and the season is short, so it is recommended to book far in advance.
READ: Best hikes in northern California
Salem
By Jackie of Enjoy Travel Life
Most people think of Salem Mass. as the place to go for spooky encounters and all-things-witchy leading up to Halloween. And it is. What many people don’t know is that Salem in the summer is enchanting, too.
This historic city by the sea with cobblestone streets is a quick 45-minutes from Boston and not to be missed at any time of year.
Foodies will find fine dining, excellent seafood, chocolate, wine, and cheeses.
Art fans will love exploring the Peabody Essex Museum and Artist’s Way, a cooperative space for working artists. (Salem has a vibrant arts culture!)
Historians and literary fans will love peering up the famous “hidden staircase” from House of the Seven Gables fame at the Nathaniel Hawthorne House.
And of course, you can be sure to find plenty of healing spaces and fortune telling.
There are a number of ways to get to Salem from Boston. You can self-drive north of the city, take the bus from Haymarket Square, or take the Salem Commuter Rail from North Station.
Perhaps the best option, though, is to take the Salem Ferry from Boston’s Long Wharf for a waterfront arrival. That will give you free access to the air-conditioned, hop on/hop-off Salem Trolly, where you can explore the many riches of this amazing New England gem to your heart’s content.
Chatham, Cape Cod
By Supriya of Fun Travelog
Cape Cod has tons of lovely beaches, and it can often be hard to choose which ones to visit. Chatham, a town on the southeastern edge of the Cape makes for a great day trip from Boston.
Getting to Chatham takes about an hour and a half if there is no traffic (tip: leave early to avoid getting stuck on Sagamore Bridge). With only a day to explore, visit the Chatham lighthouse, which is right across the Chatham beach. Chatham also has a small historic downtown which is worth exploring.
Cockle Cove and Ridgevale are two other lovely beaches in the area. The Chatham beach is facing the Atlantic, where the waters can be choppy, while the other two beaches are bay side beaches, where the water is comparatively calm.
The Chatham Bar & Inn is one of the most exclusive resorts and spas in the area and is also a great place for a meal – a must-visit if you’re in the area.
Wildlife lovers can take a whale watching trip from Chatham as well. End your day trip by catching the sunset on Harding’s Beach – one of the most gorgeous spots in the area.
The best way to get to Chatham from Boston is by self-driving.
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Milford
By Pam of The Directionally Challenged Traveler
Milford is a great place to visit in New England due to its location, great personality, and access to the beach.
It’s an easy day trip from Boston, located about two hours away via I-90. The town has numerous festivals throughout the year – including the Milford Oyster Festival, Lobster Fest, Cheshire Fall Festival, and Blues, Views and BBQ!
If a beach getaway is what you’re looking for, then escape to Milford’s Silver Sands State Park. Spanning about 300 acres, the park includes a boardwalk, beach, dunes, woodland, and salt marsh.
You can even walk to the supposedly cursed Charles Island nearby at low tide between August and May. Keep an eye on the sky for a glimpse of the birds that call the park home – including heron and egrets!
For the history buff, visit Boothe Memorial Park that has 1800’s era buildings and museums. If you’re a candy-aficionado, check out the PEZ Visitor Center which is dedicated to the classic candy.
There are plenty of places to eat in Milford depending on your taste. Enjoy walking around town and exploring small shops to find handmade and unique items.
Milford, Connecticut is a lesser-known destination and if you have the time, even a great weekend getaway.
Boston day trips the responsible way!
While going on these epic Boston day trips, make sure you are acting responsibly towards people, wildlife, and the environment. There are easy steps you can do to make sure you leave no negative trace on your travels.
Read more about responsible tourism here
Wildlife
By respecting wildlife, not feeding it or attending tours that interfere with their natural behavior, you make a big difference to the planet.
However, there are many less obvious things to many, like visiting the zoo or an aquarium. These are establishments we are grown up with and that most of us see as normal and ethical.
However, the animals held captured there are far from happy and they are farther away from living a healthy life than what you might think.
An animal that should run for miles and miles a day, or normally swim several kilometers a day will get distressed when kept captive.
Unfortunately, both zoo’s and aquariums are often supposed to support conservation and research programs, but at the end of the day they turn out being an attraction for tourists and never have the chance to live the life they deserve.
While it can be educational for us, it harms the animals. In my opinion, we can educate ourselves without putting their welfare in jeopardy.
You can read more about unethical animal tourism here
Environment
The most popular part of sustainable tourism has become the environmental impact. A large number of travelers are now demanding more environmentally friendly solutions, they avoid plastic straws and bring their own reusable coffee cups.
More and more people start to pick up rubbish on top of taking their own to a trash can.
This is really great and I hope the trend continues to press the single use plastic market off the shelf.
Make sure you always carry with you a reusable water bottle too so you can fill it up on the way. It will save you lots of money too!
Here are some of my top Amazon picks:
Find the best sustainable backpacks for your Boston day trips here
Locals
The locals are often forgotten when people travel places, especially to places with a lot of tourism. Remember to be kind and act like a visitor.
Shop locally so that you leave your money to the local community where you travel. Why not fill up your reusable coffee cup at the local coffee shop instead of Starbucks?
When on a one day trip from Boston, take the advantage of buying a small memory from your trip from a local artist. You’ll support a local while you’ll take a unique memory with you back home.
If you have any thoughts about responsible tourism or these awesome day trips from Boston, drop a line in the comments below!
READ NEXT: Most epic weekend getaways from Boston
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So many cool ideas in this post! I have never seen or even heard of cranberry bogs but they look amazing!
Thank you! Yeah, they look pretty beautiful!
Fantastic post! I’ve always wanted to visit Salem…but any of the day trips you mentioned would be fun. That cranberry photo is spectacular! I’d really love to see that in person.
Thank you! Yeah, the cranberry bogs look amazing!
Awesome guide! My husband’s family is from Massachusetts and I get to go there often to visit, and there incredible palces to visit. My favorite is Martha’s Vineyard, where I also spent my honey moon. Saving this for more inspiration next time I go visit family.
Thank you! Oh, you’re so lucky to have an excuse to go there regularly:)
These are some great day trip ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
Oh I would love to visit Boston again one day as I was only there for a couple of hours. The cranberry farm tours look amazing – look at that sea of red! And would totally love to visit Salem and get my fortune told. Thank you for such a great guide with so many ideas 🙂
You’re welcome! I really hope you get to Boston again and spend enough time to go on some day trips:)
I have never been to Boston, but I would love to! All these day-trips seem very fun, especially the Cranberry Bog tour.
I hope you get there some time soon:)
All the trips look amazing especially the Cranberry bog tours! I want to visit one sometime!
I hope you do:)
So as a local from Chatham, I had a few comments on your Chatham section…it is a GREAT day-.trip location! Especially during the summer and fall. You don’t want to get stuck AT the Sagamore Bridge, and you’ll be happy once you’re ON Cape (you don’t go IN to Cape Cod)…this will help you blend in like a local 😉
Once here, Chatham Light is a MUST, and Lighthouse Beach (RIGHT across the street) is THE most popular beach. This is the site of the famous PENDLETON rescue, so be sure to look at the signs and descriptions of the Coast Guard Rescue that inspired the movie, The Finest Hours. Stroll the shops downtown and take in our town’s historic charm. Ridgevale, Cockle Cove, and Harding’s Beaches are all SOUND side (they face Nantucket Sound, not Cape Cod Bay). So they’re not as rough and a tad warmer than Lighthouse Beach! You could also visit the Atwood House, Shark Center, or the Marconi Visitors Center to see a glimpse into Chatham’s nautical past and present. You can’t get a whale watching tour out of Chatham but you CAN go on a seal tour! We have a MASSIVE colony of grey and harbor seals that call our waters home and they’re a number of yours that give you a chance to get close and see them, just beware of sharks!! Shoreside sea viewing is available at the Chatham Fish Pier via the observation deck.
Hope you come visit us all soon!
Thanks for your local insights and recommendations, Rachel! I’m looking forward to the opportunity to visit in the future.