11 Amazing Massachusetts Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

The first visitors to Massachusetts in 1620 were the Pilgrims, who arrived in Plymouth on the Mayflower. Today, 19 million travelers visit the state annually, drawn by its rich colonial history, picture-perfect landscapes, and vibrant culture. The main airport in Massachusetts is Logan International Airport (BOS), located about 3 miles northeast of downtown Boston. So, if visitors are taking any of these fantastic day trips in Boston, travel time from BOS to the destination can take 15 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day.

Freedom Trail Walking Tour - Boston

Boston is a must-see historic town that played a critical role in the American Revolutionary War. A good way for first-time visitors to the city is to walk the Freedom Trail—a 2.5-mile route that takes about 90 minutes to complete. While there are guided tours of the trail available, a self-guided tour is a great way to see the 16 historic sites along the way, including Boston Common, the iconic Massachusetts State House, Faneuil Hall, and the Old North Church, where Paul Revere famously instructed a friend how many lanterns to hang in the steeple to signal how the British troops would invade Boston—"One, if by land, and two, if by sea…”

Salem

There’s probably no better time of year than autumn to plan a 40-minute drive from the airport to Salem, aka “Witch City.” Famous for the Salem witch trials of 1692, witchcraft enthusiasts, history buffs, and fans of the paranormal can spend an entire day wandering through the streets of the pretty town on the Naumkeag River. Most of the spooky landmarks are within easy walking distance of the Salem Harbor, so plan to see the Salem Witch Museum, the Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery, and the Witch House, the home of Jonathan Corwin, who played a crucial role in escalating the hysteria and ultimate execution of 20 individuals accused of practicing witchcraft.

New England Aquarium - Boston

It would be easy to spend an entire day at the New England Aquarium because there are so many fascinating exhibits to discover. The jewel in the aquarium’s crown is the four-story Giant Ocean Tank, which features a colorful sculpted reef and Caribbean reef animals. See eels, barracuda, sea turtles, and hundreds of colorful fish. A big draw is Myrtle, the green sea turtle, who has made the aquarium her home since June 1970. Get your hands wet in the Shark and Ray Touch Tank, visit the photogenic harbor seals, and explore the Amazon River and Amazon Rainforest by meeting its resident anacondas, piranhas, electric eels, and poison dart frogs. Cap off the day trip with a visit to the onsite Simons Theatre to see a rotating selection of 3D files on a giant screen.

Crane Estate - Ipswich

Within an hour’s drive of the airport, the Crane Estate is a historic estate in Ipswich, once home to the wealthy Chicago Crane family of Crane plumbing fame. Various guided tours of the estate are available and suited for different audiences, like “A Tour for Gardeners,” “A Landscape Tour of Castle Hill,” or the 3-hour “Grand Stairs to Back Stairs.” On the estate, visitors can also explore the pristine Crane Beach, one of the world’s most important nesting sites for the threatened piping plover, a sparrow-sized coastal bird found only along the Atlantic Ocean. Spend some time outside discovering the sand dunes and salt marshes on more than 5 miles of trails and boardwalks.

Franklin Park Zoo - Boston

The Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre historic Franklin Park site founded in 1912. The animals are spread out over the spacious property and grouped in exhibit areas like the Gorilla Grove, the Giraffe Savannah, Outback Trails, Tropical Forest, and others. Various events happen at the zoo throughout the day, like chats with the lion and gorilla keepers. There’s a petting zoo where younger visitors can touch friendly goats, a kid zone, a carousel, and behind-the-scenes tours that can be arranged in advance.

Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge

Old Sturbridge Village is the largest outdoor history museum in the northeast, where history buffs and their families can experience life in a 19th-century rural New England town. The village takes visitors back in time with over 240 acres of museum to explore, divided into three areas: the Center Village, the Mill Neighborhood, and the Countryside. There are 40 antique buildings restored and furnished to approximate rural life in the 1830s, including homes, a tavern, several meetinghouses, a piggery, a sawmill, and more. Sturbridge is about 90 minutes from the airport.

Fenway Park - Boston

Sports lovers and baseball fans won’t want to miss a tour of one of the most iconic ballparks in America—Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox. Called “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark,” kids and adults who love baseball will enjoy walking around the legendary stadium and hearing about its 100-year history. No park tour would be complete without taking in the view from the fabled 37-foot, two-inch-high Green Monster, the iconic left-field wall whose seats atop the wall are known to fans as the “Monster Seats.”

Harvard Museum of Natural History - Cambridge

On the other side of the Charles River, about twenty-five minutes from the airport, the town of Cambridge is home to two of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is also the location of the kid-friendly Harvard Museum of Natural History, which attracts more than 250,000 museum-goers a year—the most-visited attraction at Harvard. It is renowned for its historical collections, temporary exhibitions, and new permanent galleries. The Great Mammal Hall is very popular with children, with its skeletons of giraffes, bison, a narwhal, and whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling. Its most treasured collection remains the internationally acclaimed Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, better known as the “Glass Flowers."

Minute Man National Historical Park - Concord

Minute Man National Historical Park is a must-visit for history buffs, military enthusiasts, veterans, and families. The site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War in what is now Concord, the park was established in 1959 and encompasses 967 acres. The park has so many historic sites and monuments, so why not use the Minute Man Visitor Center as a good starting point? Points of interest inside the park include Concord’s North Bridge, the site of “the shot heard ‘round the world”—the gunfire that sparked the start of the war on April 19, 1775; the Battle Road Trail is a five-mile trail that follows the route of the Minute Men through farm fields, wetland, and forests. It will take about 45 minutes to drive to this historic site from BOS.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame - Springfield

It’s a two-hour drive from Logan International Airport to “Hoop Hall,” but legions of basketball fans make the trip to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to visit the birthplace of basketball—Springfield. Inside a dome-like structure that resembles basketball, visitors can see photographs and read short bios of the almost 300 inductees of the Hall. There are interactive games to play and thousands of pieces of basketball memorabilia on display, including LeBron James’ shoes. The Vault is its newest immersive exhibit, launched in the summer of 2024, where legendary Celtics players take visitors on an epic journey to discover the true meaning of Celtic Pride. Several restaurants and bars are onsite if dinner and drinks are in the plans.

The EcoTarium - Worcester

The EcoTarium is a family-friendly science and nature museum in Worcester, an hour’s drive from Logan. With hands-on, interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and outdoor paths, the EcoTarium is a full indoor-outdoor experience that encourages visitors to explore the natural New England environment and its animals. At the Wild Cat Station, visitors can get close to a pair of sibling cats rescued from Half Moon Bay, California, or visit Slydell and Daisy, two resident river otters. Outside, enjoy walking along the scenic trails to the ponds, stopping at the pier to spot a Great Blue Heron or turtles basking in the sun. A Japanese-style water pavilion is a great place to rest.

Day trips around “Beantown” are packed with history, nature, and culture. Visitors can explore the Freedom Trail or the Minute Man National Historical Park to see iconic Revolutionary War landmarks or visit Salem to learn about the infamous witch trials. Nature lovers might enjoy the scenic Crane Estate in Ipswich, while families can explore the interactive New England Aquarium or the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge. For sports enthusiasts, Fenway Park offers a glimpse into baseball history, and Hoop Hall in Springfield celebrates basketball legends. These destinations, all within a few hours of Boston, provide a mix of educational and fun experiences for all ages.