8 Affordable Summer Vacation Spots In Massachusetts

Massachusetts, part of the Northeastern United States, is the most populated New England state among the five others. Choose an affordable destination for the bonus of an uncrowded feel through vast, naturally beautiful state parks or a small, often overlooked town that keeps it local. Enjoy access to and from Boston, Salem, "The City of Witches, and Plymouth, "America’s Hometown," and venture into the state’s mountains and forests while provisioning in the nearby town. The celebrated Cape Cod Seashore, comprising 560 miles of coastline, offers beaches, lighthouses, seafood, and architecture. The quaint towns with colorful houses and waterfront shopping will feel luxurious while you shop for the fresh finds and local lifestyle through farmers markets and join free regular events. Here are some of the best destinations for the perfect summer getaway in Massachusetts.

Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore is a truly magical destination in the boundless expanses of some of the US's best natural vistas. With water recreation galore and small beach towns overlooked to set up base affordably, you will be within immediate access to beach crawls, lounging, and wet pursuits. Forego pricier hotspots like Chatham for budget getaways or a vacation at one of Cape Cod's camping sites, primed for access to nature trails, beaches, dunes, salt marshes, and forests.

Spend the money you save on little joys and family-friendly fun like ice cream and rounds of mini-golf in between exploring the wilder parts of Massachusetts. The state parks offer lookout-strewn trails, often leading to the expansive seashore for cooling dips post-hike. Scavenge out a spot along the 40-mile curve of the Outer Cape with its treasured unspoiled beaches and Atlantic shoreline from Orleans to Provincetown. Enjoy easy in and out into all the seclusion you desire for one-on-one time with nature on the best summer spent in the Bay State.

Manchester-by-the-Sea

This cozy Cape Ann beach town is a historic fishing village with something for every wallet for a summer along the lovely harbor shores. Having thrived from its modest roots, Manchester-by-the-Sea kept up its rustic feel, now evident in the grandeur of the olden days through the downtown architecture. Stroll the atmospheric streets for sights, shops, and charming cafes without the hike-up in prices for tourists. Forego the elegant storefronts and sailing trips for scenic and free downtown wanderings and days spent along the beaches.

Choose a summer cottage for an easygoing escape at the end of summer in the sea breeze and historic ambiance, with everything from morning strolls, lounging, and swimming until sunset to exploring Cape Ann on a coastal hike. The adorable town is less touristy, thus keeping a quiet demeanor with local costs and the best services for new faces. Find plentiful scenic beaches, like the most popular Singing Beach, with boat launches to meander around the harbor. The Coolidge Reservoir offers unmissable views of the coastline below.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard, an acclaimed Massachusetts island destination, does not have to come with all of the presumed costs. Visit for the priceless natural beauty and free photo ops of the charming, famed, colorful Gingerbread houses that frame Martha’s Vineyard’s coast. Great to visit year-round, the 87-square-mile island is the perfect way to shake off the wintertime blues, wrapped in its own kind of summertime magic.

Martha’s Vineyard is home to the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs, a must-experience for all ages atop its 1876-built, hand-painted horses as the US' oldest operating platform carousel. With many charming towns around the island, you can find a deal on an airbnb if you book early with the owners, who seek their own summertime escapes. Shop around like a local at farmer's markets, but score a table at the walk-in Sweet Life Cafe because it really is on the island.

Nickerson State Park Campground, Brewster

At only $22 a night for state residents and $70 for visitors, you can have the vacation of your dreams in the heart of Cape Cod at Nickerson State Park. The 1,900-acre park of pine and oak forests is a popular summertime destination for a variety of natural features like eight crystal-clear fresh-water ponds and nature trails for all levels of hikes. Carouse around the 8 miles of paved bike trails that connect to the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, for the most avid paddlers, and discover the nearby towns and beaches.

Choose from one of the 400 campsites with showers, restrooms, and fire rings, with access to several miles of hiking trails and waterside recreation along the banks of the kettle ponds. The destination, with an all-inclusive feel and an air of intimacy for every group, offers fun family pursuits like swimming, boating, and fishing, as well as canoeing at Flax and Cliff Ponds. Higgins Pond is replete with bird life and fish, while the nearby Cape Cod Bay is a great beachscape with cooling waters after a hike or bike ride to get there.

Newburyport

The charming beach town of Newburyport is what coastal Massachusetts dreams are made of. Vacation in style and on budget in the small-town atmosphere at the heart of the region's history and culture. The miles of pristine beaches, some 45 minutes from Boston, pack a punch for all the family fun and easy access from the Northeast. Embraced in nature on all sides, Newburyport feels like a real escape, extending adventures along leafy hiking trails and uncrowded beaches, as well as the neighboring Plum Island, which has some of the region's most stunning beaches.

The town's bustling waterfront calls for an atmospheric evening at sunset, while the North Shore is replete with seafood restaurants alongside more family-friendly beaches. Newburyport is the idyllic place to experience coastal outdoor beauty in an intimate small-town feel with free regular festivals, discounted museums, and historic sites. Take a day trip to the nearby towns of Seabrook and Salisbury, with the latter offering a budget stay at Pines Camping Area with amenities.

Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Cape Cod

Salisbury Beach, where the Merrimack River feeds the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best budget getaways in the Bay State. It is a must to experience all the picturesque views through your favorite warm-weather pursuits like swimming, boating, and camping. Book the popular Salisbury Beach Campground early, as it is the best along the whole eastern seaboard.

The scenic beach spread beckons with striking Atlantic dunes, sparking blue waves, a boardwalk, and playgrounds for wholesome fun to relax or stay active. Choose a side near The Merrimack River with boat ramps and immediate beach access to cool off post-hike. You will never want to leave Salisbury Beach after the first shoreside cookout in the evening with marshmallows at sunset and falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean.

Wells State Park

From just $17 a night, the gorgeous Welles State Park offers unforgettable summer vacations in Mother Nature's embrace. Enjoy easy access to amenities like local shops right in the town of Sturbridge, with its famous Old Sturbridge Village with strolls for sights, hotspots, and family-friendly pastimes for after-the-wild. Just over an hour’s drive from Boston, you can immerse yourself in some of the state's most scenic nature with your favorite outdoor pursuits along the park's 10 miles (16 kilometers) of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, along with a recreation area.

The nearby Walker Pond welcomes fishers and boaters in your group, as well as simple strolls along the lake. The popular 1,400-acre woodland park in Sturbridge is great for overnight camping to access nature from your doorstep, like the Carpenter Rocks, a memorable hike to rewarding vistas over the Walker Pond and sweeping views of the area. Enjoy the mild summertime temperatures of about 80 F and the common sprinkling of rain, which you will thank for the lush surroundings.

Western Massachusetts/Berkshires Mount Greylock State Reservation

This destination stands testament to the possibility for the most avid hikers in the state to get away affordably with unforgettable outdoor adventures. For just $8 a day, the campsite is part of the greater recreation area, which comprises some 12,000 acres and encompasses six different towns, so you will never run out of options for evening pursuits or places to stock up on provisions. Choose a hike for any level from over 70 miles (110 kilometers) of trails, including a 11.5-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail, including scaling Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts.

There are numerous trail-side lodges and campgrounds with all the nature ventures at hand, as well as lounging and recreation around your campsite for family-friendly pastimes. Tackle the 3,491-foot Mount Greylock for a top-of-the-world feel with views across five whole states on a clear day. Get inspiration from the backdrop of the mountainous foothills, just like the storied peak did for the writers Herman Melville and Henry David Thoreau. Pick a primitive site with the best rates and immerse yourself in woodland hikes, accessible to all in the summertime, as they are popular for wintertime treks.

Tourism in Massachusetts is extremely diverse, from primitive camping grounds to coastal communities, where even iconic coastal destinations like Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard can be enjoyed on a budget. Find history laid out from downtown sights to the waterfront and nature to trails in the footsteps of the pilgrims, including the Berkshires and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The jagged coastline offers dramatic scenery for unforgettable strolls along its jutted-out peninsula from the mainland.