If you’re planning on taking a day trip from Boston, you have plenty of choices. The area around Boston is chock full of history, beautiful nature and opportunities to relax. If you are stumped about where to go, you’re in luck. We have put together a list of 5 day trips from Boston that are just a 2-hour drive or less from the city.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is just an hour and a half away from Boston. Famous for its extravagant mansions from the Gilded Age, there’s tons to explore here. Take a stroll down Bellevue Avenue to see these luxurious estates from the outside, many of which also offer tours of the interior. Check out The Breakers mansion and Marble House if you only have time for a couple. After seeing the mansions, you can head to the beach and walk the Cliff Walk for some incredible views of the sea. If you feel like a beach day, you can also head to Easton’s Beach for a quick dip and some sunbathing.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
About 1 hour and 15 minutes southeast of Boston by car, Cape Cod is a popular vacation destination. Famous for its white sandy beaches and its cozy beach towns, there’s tons to explore here. Check out Sandwich, the cape’s oldest village. You can also visit the famous Heritage Museum and Gardens. Or catch a ferry out to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. You can also choose to relax on one of the many beaches on Cape Cod, such as the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth was the site of the first permanent European settlement in the United States. Only 45 minutes south of Boston by car, this town has been turned into a living history museum where you can discover what life was like for these settlers, known as the Pilgrims. Visit the 17th-Century English Village at Plymouth Patuxet Museums and Historic Patuxet, a recreation of a Native American village. And don’t forget to stop at Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrim Hall Museum.
Salem, Massachusetts
Just a 40-minute drive north of Boston, Salem has a unique history. This important port city is full of 18th- and 19th-century architecture originally built for sea merchants. Many of the homes are now open for tours. Salem is also famous for the Salem Witch Trials. This alone draws many visitors from far and wide, fascinated by what went on here during the late 1600s. You can visit the Witch House Museum, home of the presiding Judge Corwin. As a result, you will also find many occult shops and other spooky attractions around town.
Concord, Massachusetts
About a 40-minute drive northwest of Boston, Concord is home to rich Revolutionary War history. The site of the very first battle of the war in 1775, the Visitors Center preserves artifacts and stories to be shared with tourists. You may also want to visit the Minute Man National Historical Park and explore the Battle Road Trail, dedicated to the Battle of Concord. It was also home to many important American thinkers of the 19th century, such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott.
SIXT Rent a Car in Boston
You can find conveniently located SIXT branches in Boston, including at Boston Logan International Airport. Rent a premium SUV in Boston if you will be driving the whole family down to the beach at Cape Cod, or a sedan to check out the history of Concord or Salem. Whichever day trip you choose to go on, let us get you there in comfort and style.
