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Boston is such an epic city to explore, with so many fun things to do and see. However, due to its fabulous location, Boston is also the ideal city to visit if you want to explore some more of New England by taking a few day trips without a car.
Without a car???
Yup, you heard that right. We all know that the USA really isn’t a world leader when it comes to public transportation but, by some miracle, Boston is surprisingly well-connected by train and bus!
I recently returned from an epic trip to Boston, and despite never once hiring a car I managed to visit some pretty epic destinations on day trips from the city.
So, if you’re wondering what the best day trips from Boston without a car are, look no further.
I spent hours and hours researching this very topic for my trip, and, since there’s no use in that research going to waste, today I’m going to share them with you!
Table of Contents
Best Day Trips from Boston Without a Car
1. Salem, MA
Probably the most popular day trip from Boston without a car is Salem. This spooky city is so famous that many people visit Boston just to take a day trip to Salem!
Salem is just a short bus, train or ferry ride away from Boston, making it quick, cheap and hassle-free to get here without a car. The city itself is very compact and walkable, so you also won’t need to hire a car once you arrive.
Salem is world-famous as the site of the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s, and the city leans into its witchy past heavily.
In Salem, you’ll find some fascinating historical attractions including the Witch House (where the judge who presided over the witch trials lived), the House of the Seven Gables and the Ropes Mansion.
Art enthusiasts won’t want to miss the the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
If you’d prefer to have a more kitschy experience, Salem certainly caters to that too. All over town you’ll find cute Halloween stores and bizarre attractions such as the Witch Dungeon Museum and the Salem Witch Village.
If you’re looking to combine history and witchy lore, you really can’t beat this haunted history walking tour.
If you’re looking for one of the best autumn or winter day trips from Boston, Salem is my top pick for you.
Getting to Salem Without a Car
You have a few options for getting to Salem from Boston without a car. The most scenic option is by taking the ferry, which takes around 1 hour and costs around $25 each way.
You could also take the MBTA Commuter Rail train from Boston’s North Station which takes around 30 minutes and costs $8 each way.
The cheapest option, though, is the 455 bus, which departs from Boston Wonderland station, takes around an hour, and costs just $1.70 each way. Salem is definitely worth visiting!
2. Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Surprise surprise! Contrary to popular belief, it’s totally possible to visit Martha’s Vineyard from Boston without a car. Sure, you’ll have to take a guided tour, but that just means that you’ll minimise the amount of time spent travelling.
In return. you’ll get far more time to explore what is arguably the most stunning of Massachusetts’ islands. Let’s be real – Martha’s Vineyard is one of the best day trips in Massachusetts, hands down.
In Martha’s Vineyard, don’t miss the cute gingerbread-cottage-style houses in Oak Bluffs, the awe-inspiring Gay Head Cliffs (including the Gay Head Lighthouse!) and the quaint mom-and-pop shops of Edgartown.
There’s no doubt, a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard from Boston will be a long day. It’ll be more than worth it though.
Martha’s Vineyard is world-famous for its epic beaches, and with 19 of them, you’ll have plenty to choose from. With so much coastline, it goes without saying that you simply have to try the seafood here.
It feels like almost every dish on the menus at Martha’s Vineyard includes lobster… Yum!
Getting to Martha’s Vineyard Without a Car
To get to Martha’s Vineyard from Boston without a car for just a day trip you’ll have to join this guided tour. Otherwise, the travel time for the day is far too long.
The good news, though, is that this is a top-rated tour that gets rave reviews and covers all of the island’s highlights!
Click here to check availability and latest prices!
3. Provincetown, Cape Cod
Cape Cod is absolutely stunning, but almost everything you read about it will tell you you need a car to visit. I am living proof that that is absolutely not true!
From Boston you can catch a high-speed ferry to beautiful, LGBT-friendly Provincetown, right on the northern tip of Cape Cod. It’s one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited.
Since Provincetown is quite a small town it’s the perfect size to explore on a day trip from Boston.
Start your visit with a trip to the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, where you can climb to the top of the 76-metre-high tower for incredible views over Provincetown, its surroundings, and the ocean.
You can’t visit Provincetown without eating at the Lobster Pot, a Cape Cod institution. Although it’s a very touristy restaurant nowadays the food here kicks ass, and the views of the beach from the restaurant are amazing.
Next up, I recommend hiring a bike for the afternoon to cycle along the coast to a few of the other top attractions surrounding Provincetown. Don’t miss Herring Cove Beach, the Provincetown Causeway and the Long Point Light Station.
Returning to Provincetown, I recommend heading to a local favourite, Fanizzi’s, for dinner.
This restaurant is right on the beach, so you’ll get some truly special views of the sunset here as you eat before heading back into central Provincetown for your ferry back to Boston.
Getting to Provincetown Without a Car
Departing from Long Wharf, Boston (near the Boston Aquarium), the ferry journey takes around 90 minutes and drops you right in the centre of Provincetown.
Ferries only run between 18 June and 10 October, so this unfortunately isn’t a year-round day trip option. Ferry tickets cost around $65 one-way or $96 return, and you can purchase them here.
4. Cambridge, MA
Okay, so Cambridge is technically a suburb of Boston as well as a city in its own right, but this makes it one of the easiest day trips to do from Boston without a car.
In fact, if you’re pressed for time you can actually explore Cambridge in half a day since it’s so quick to get here from central Boston.
Cambridge is best known for being the home of Harvard University, which was established in 1636. The university campus is stunning, and anybody is welcome to wander around and snap photos of the various impressive buildings.
There are maps scattered around in Cambridge providing directions to the various points of interest, but there’s very little information available on campus to explain the history of what it is you’re looking at, why it’s important, and what life is like for the students there.
That’s why the Hah-vard guided walking tour, run by Harvard students, is essential for any visitor to Harvard!
The tour lasts just over an hour, costs $19, and gives you an insider’s view into student life at Harvard, the history of the university, and takes you to all of the top attractions. Book your place here!
From Harvard, you can head over to MIT and again either explore on your own or take a student-led tour of the campus that inspired Nobel prize winners, astronauts and more.
If you’re visiting MIT, don’t miss the Great Dome and the Infinite Corridor, two of the university’s top attractions.
Getting to Cambridge, MA Without a Car
To get to Cambridge from Boston, take the red line on the T (Boston’s subway station). Depending on where you want to go in Cambridge, you can get off at either Harvard, Central or MIT/Kendall.
The journey takes around 20 minutes, depending on where in Boston you’re coming from. It costs $2.40 each way with a Charlie Card, the Boston public transport card, which you can get at any subway station.
5. Portland, ME
Getting to Maine on a day trip from Boston without a car can be tricky. Luckily, the city of Portland is well-connected and is an easy day trip from Boston by bus or train. It’s also got a compact downtown area, making it very walkable once you arrive.
Portland perfectly captures New England charm, offering you everything you’d want from a short trip to Maine.
Yup, we’re talking countless craft breweries, insanely delicious seafood, cute, local boutique shops and plenty of postcard-perfect lighthouses nearby.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, you’re able to take a short 15-minute ferry ride over to Peaks Island, where you can walk or cycle around for some tranquil views over the Maine coastline.
Maine is foodie heaven, so arrive in Portland with an empty stomach! If you have a craving for a certain type of food, chances are Portland will have an exceptional version of it for you to try.
Top-rated food spots in Portland include Hot Suppa, where you’ll find Southern comfort food, and Duckfat, where you’ll get to load up on incredible Belgian fries cooked in duck fat.
For something wacky, head to the Cryptozoology Museum. This is, without doubt, one of the most bizarre things to do in New England.
For just $10 you’ll get to hang out with figurines of Bigfoot, Yeti, and the Abominable Snowman. It’s weird, there’s no doubt about it, but also very entertaining if you go in looking for entertainment rather than serious scientific evidence.
Getting to Portland, ME Without a Car
Portland is actually quite well-connected to Boston by public transport, and you have two options.
Your first option is to take the direct bus with Concord Coach Lines (departures hourly, 2 hours, tickets are $20 each way).
The other choice is to take the train with Amtrak (5 departures each way per day, 2 hours, tickets $58 for a round-trip). You can check the train schedule This is one of the best Amtrak trips from Boston, so why not extend your stay in Portland?
This city one of the best weekend trips from Boston by train!
6. Newburyport, MA
If you’re looking to get out and explore Massachusetts’ glorious coastline, Newburyport is the ideal day trip from Boston without a car.
Even though Newburyport is undoubtedly a popular beach day trip, there are also a few indoor things to do. This means that Newburyport is still a decent day trip option even if it’s raining or cold.
One of these indoor attractions is the Museum of Old Newbury, housed in a huge home from the early 1800s.
It’s the perfect introduction to Newburyport’s history, but note that it’s only open Thursdays-Sundays, June-Mid-October, and you need to book tickets in advance through its website.
Another great thing to do in Newburyport is the Custom House Maritime Museum.
As well as being a historic building (the Custom House was built in a building dating back to the early 1900s), the museum is filled with a rotating selection of artefacts and exhibitions bringing Newburyport’s history to life.
One of the most popular things to do in Newburyport is to head to Plum Island Beach, two miles from downtown. Here, you can sunbathe, soak in nature, and check out the Plum Island Lighthouse.
New England’s coastline is famous for its lighthouses, which should be reason enough to pay it a visit, but this one is also a restaurant! It’s called the Rear Range Lighthouse, and it’s also apparently one of the best places to eat in Newburyport.
Getting to Newburyport, MA Without a Car
Newburyport is one of the best day trips from Boston by train. The train departs from Boston’s North Station, with the journey taking 1 hour and 4 minutes. Tickets cost $12.25 each way.
7. Hartford, CT
Hartford has got to be the best day trip from Boston for literature lovers, and it’s the perfect excuse to visit another state for the day.
The top attraction in Hartford is the fascinating Mark Twain House and Museum, home to Mark Twain and his family from 1874 to 1891. It’s definitely a bizarre-looking house.
Mark Twain’s biographer, Justin Kaplan, described it as “part steamboat, part medieval fortress and part cuckoo clock”. That isn’t even an exaggeration!
It was here that Mark Twain wrote most of his most famous books, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Nowadays, you’re able to explore the house on a 1-hour guided tour before learning more about this famous author in the museum. Tickets for the tour sell out so you’ll need to book in advance on their website.
Next up, it’s time to pay a visit to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. This building was home to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1873 until she died in 1896.
You can explore the house on interactive 45-minute guided tours where you’ll learn about Stowe’s impact on American history, and the world!
To round off your day trip to Hartford it’s worth taking a stroll in the lovely Bushnell Park, a tranquil escape from the city. Here, arching over Trinity Street, you’ll find the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch.
Getting to Hartford, CT Without a Car
To get to Hartford, CT from Boston without a car you’ll need to catch the bus from Boston’s South Station. Two companies cover this route – Peter Pan and Flixbus.
The journey takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes each way and tickets cost around $10 each way.
8. Concord, MA
If you’re a revolutionary history buff, there’s no better day trip from Boston for you than Concord, MA!
This charming small town is a delightful place to visit even without all of its revolutionary attractions, but when you throw those into the mix too you have a recipe for the perfect day trip.
Start off your day in Concord with a trip to the Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Centre. Here, you’ll get a crash course on all the information you need before setting out to explore the site of the opening battle of the American Revolution.
Wandering around Minute Man, you’ll get to see the battlefields and the most famous spots in Concord, MA. These include the North Bridge, the iconic location where the “shot heard around the world” was heard.
It was here, in the early hours of 19 April 1775, that the Concord Militia and the British first exchanged gunfire. The incident didn’t last long, but its impact was massive.
You also can’t miss the spot where Paul Revere was captured, ending his infamous “midnight ride”.
Another top attraction in the Historical Park is the Old Manse, a stunning Georgian clapboard building where both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne resided at one point.
Walden Pond is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch in Concord. It was a favourite place of author Henry David Thoreau, and you can check out the remnants of his home nearby.
I’ve already written plenty about Concord, but wait – there’s more! You should try to squeeze in a tour of Orchard House whilst you’re in Concord. This is the former home of Louisa May Alcott, and you’ll get to see the desk where she wrote Little Women.
Round your day off with a quick visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where you’ll see the resting places of some of America’s literary greats – Thoreau, Emerson, Walcott and Hawthorne.
Getting to Concord, MA Without a Car
From Boston’s North Station you can catch the direct train to Concord. The journey takes just 39 minutes and costs $9.75 each way. It’s one of the best short day trips from Boston sine it’s so nearby.
9. Rockport, MA
The small and fairly quiet coastal town of Rockport is the perfect day trip from Boston if you want to get away from the city for a while and just chill out.
Obviously, I say fairly quiet, but like anywhere else on the New England coast, it’ll still be busy on summer weekends. It’s one of the most popular weekend trips from Boston without a car for a reason!
I just mean that it’s quieter than some of the other, more famous coastal towns. For a truly tranquil experience, head to Rockport on either side of the summer season (May, June, September, or October) on a weekday.
There aren’t countless things to do in Rockport. Instead, this is the type of place where you just wander around and hang out at the beach.
The most famous building in Rockport is Motif Number 1, a red-painted wooden fishing hut overlooking the harbour. It’s so picturesque, and you won’t be able to resist snapping a few photos of it.
If you’re looking to mindlessly wander, head to Bearskin Neck, one of the hippest places in Rockport and home to many of its brightly-painted shops and restaurants.
If the weather is on your side, grab an ice cream from one of the many stalls here and sit back to people-watch. So relaxing!
Getting to Rockport, MA Without a Car
Rockport is one of the easiest Boston day trips without a car, and one of the best train trips from Boston.
The direct Boston to Rockport train departs from Boston’s North Station. The journey takes around 75 minutes and tickets cost $12.25 each way.
10. Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Manchester-by-the-Sea is everything you’d picture from a classic New England coastal town, and one of the most popular tourist destinations on Cape Ann.
You’ve probably heard of this town thanks to the critically acclaimed movie of the same name. Even if you haven’t, Manchester-by-the-Sea is still a worthwhile day trip from Boston.
One of the top things to do in Manchester-by-the-Sea is to visit Singing Beach. Although the beach is worth a visit just for its beautiful setting, most visitors flock here to witness a natural phenomenon called the singing sand.
As you walk along the sand here it will make a squeaking sound. I’d hardly call it “singing” but I guess that’s subjective!
The small indie boutiques in downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea are well worth perusing if you’re into shopping or looking for a locally-made gift. Book-lovers should head straight to Manchester-by-the-Book!
This charming bookstore sells both new and used books as well as a range of novels set in coastal New England.
For some of the best coastal views in Manchester-by-the-Sea, head out on the 2-mile Coolidge Reservation Trail, a coastal path scattered with numerous viewpoints over the ocean.
Getting to Manchester-by-the-Sea Without a Car
Manchester-by-the-Sea is super easy to get to from Boston by public transport. Simply catch the direct train from Boston’s North Station, which takes around 50 minutes and costs $10.50 each way.
11. Providence, RI
The start to any day spent in Rhode Island’s capital should involve coffee milk! And nope, I’m not just calling coffee a weird name here.
Coffee milk is actually the state drink of Rhode Island (which I didn’t know was even a thing…). It’s made by mixing coffee-flavoured syrup with milk, and tastes quite unique – definitely worth a try.
Popular spots to try this include PV Donuts, Dave’s Coffee and Bolt Coffee Company, but you’ll be able to find it all over the city.
Coffee milk consumed, it’s now time to head out to Providence’s 2.5-mile Independence Trail. Similar to Boston’s Freedom Trail, the Providence Independence Trail is a self-guided walking route.
It takes you past 20 of the city’s most important historical and architectural landmarks.
If your stomach is rumbling, look no further than Federal Hill, named one of the five best Little Italys in the USA. With over 100 restaurants, independent stores and galleries this is a fascinating area of town to explore.
Carlo Italian Bistro is one of the top-rated restaurants in Providence, and the go-to spot for authentic Italian cuisine.
Round the day off with a trip to Roger Williams Park. This huge 427-acre city park that’s one of the top places to visit in Providence.
Here, you can ride a swan boat, head out on the park’s hiking trails or visit the Carousel Village, a cool, old-fashioned circus-style attraction.
Providence is one of the best day trips from Boston in winter since the city is busy year-round, with all of its tourist attractions remaining open.
Getting to Providence, RI Without a Car
The quickest and easiest way to take a day trip to Providence from Boston is by train. The train departs from South Station and takes 35 minutes. Tickets cost $12.25 each way.
Phew, my fingers are definitely cramping up after all that typing, but there you have it – the very best day trips from Boston without a car, and many great Boston day trips by train.
I hope you have a wonderful, car-free day trip, and enjoy your stay in Boston! If you have time, it’s definitely worth squeezing a couple of these day trips into your Boston itinerary!
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