Take a drive along this scenic and varied loop, starting and ending in Boston, a friendly and bustling urban center and the largest city in Massachusetts, and venturing into two . Léa Jones/Stocksy.
End: Keene, N.H. Total Distance: 80 miles. The more than 1,500 miles of Massachusetts coastline varies from the rocky bluffs of the North Shore to the sandy beaches of Cape Cod. Cresting above the surrounding hills is Pinnacle, a monadnock that refuses to be worn down by years of erosion. Instead, taking Route 6A will make your trip more memorable. (800-454-2882) and the River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, (508-278-7604).
Historic structures along the route trace the history not only of the region but the country as a whole. The South Shore and the Cape might hog the summertime spotlight, but the cities and towns surrounding Buzzards Bay shouldn't be overlooked.
Schoodic National Scenic Byway. The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway winds along the coast and passes through New England's largest salt marsh. Scenic Route 127. Among the scenic drives that Massachusetts has, it's the most iconic. Enjoy a scenic tour on a classic schooner, lobster boat or whale watch. Along Rockwell and Notch roads through Mount Greylock, then Reservoir Road to North Adams Lanesborough to North Adams, MA Phone: This trail starts at Mount Greylock State Reservation Park Visitor Center, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough (413-499-4262). Fenwick: Head south on 154 past Harvey's Beach to the historic retreat of Fenwick (where Katharine Hepburn came for the salty breezes). The FarmCoast in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is one of the most beautiful areas of New England with spectacular scenic views of the coast and farmland.
Days 25-28 Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It starts in Gloucester, Massachusetts—the oldest seaport in the U.S.—and follows . 3. Approximate Drive Time From Boston: 1 hour . Definitely worth the drive from town to see the wonderful large homes along Ocean Avenue and former presidents' stomp. Find directions and maps for scenic drives, fall foliage and byways throughout Rhode Island along the coast, in the woods and more. After, take a stroll through downtown Brunswick, home to Bowdoin College. Discover trails with coastal views through this list developed by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Scenic Drives. Circle Lake Winnipesaukee on a special journey through the lakes region. Route 169 Norwichtown to East Woodstock, CT Phone: Length: 36 miles. This Scenic Drive is Perfect for a Fall Day Trip. It also passes through the town of Essex and features the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.
Mount Greylock Scenic Byway. This is a scenic drive to take on a Sunday afternoon.
Painters turned this fishing village into an art colony for a reason—it's an inspiration. Boston, Massachusetts, makes a great starting point for a drive along Maine's coast: Flying into Boston's Logan International Airport will grant you easy access to a variety of rental-car agencies, not to mention all that the city has to offer.Before hitting the road, spend a day or two discovering Boston's historic sites; follow the Freedom Trail to learn more about the city's . Massachusetts is blessed with an absolutely gorgeous coast peppered with plenty of with things to do and see. Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly Farms, Gloucester, Rockport, Fishermen's Memorial, Stage Fort Park, Hammond Castle, Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Drives. Drive up scenic Rte 1 in ME until you get to Acadia National Park, Cadilliac Mountain (breathtaking), first place in the US the sun comes up each day. Cities it runs through: Saunderstown, Wickford, Providence. Route 6A is the BEST Cape Cod Scenic Drive! Connecting 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury, the Byway offers scenic views with stunning infrastructure. . Continue this scenic drive in Rhode Island north until it meets Route 138 and then head east on Route 138 over . At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. Day 22: Block Island, Rhode Island. Taking a cross-country road trip along the Pacific Coast is one of the most scenic drives you'll ever take. This coastal drive will take you along the Bay State's north shore and includes just about 2 hours and 40 minutes of drive time, so you can see plenty of incredible coastal sights in a single day. . Schoodic National Scenic Byway explores a less-developed part of the rugged Downeast Maine coast. The drive finishes over the breathtaking Ocean Drive in historic Newport. 4. . To see the beautiful shores of southern Cape Cod from behind the steering wheel, follow the 63-mile stretch of Massachusetts Highway 6A, also called Old Kings . Scenic Drive Tours in Massachusetts. Request Free Visitor Guides. 978-224-2036. Approximate Drive Time From Boston: 1 hour. See more beautiful images of New England by Massachusetts photographer Jeff Folger. Travelers pass photo-worthy small towns and Colonial structures . trip to Bob's for a fish sandwich and some ice cream from Rococo's along the . Unlimited stops, edit, share, find recommended places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more. End: Bar Harbor, Maine. Cape Cod Scenic Drive, Massachusetts. Best Scenic Drives: The 10 Most Relaxing Coastal Drives In The U.S. & Canada. the leaves are blazing around the Quabbin Reservoir, the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. The scenic mansions along Bellevue Avenue is what Newport, R.I., is best known for, but around the corner is a short loop called Ocean Drive, which affords some commanding coastal views. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Maine Area. On this route that was once a Mohawk Native American footpath, there are countless scenic areas that afford the opportunity to hike, ski, kayak, or canoe to see the area in an up-close-and-personal manner. Follow along with us as we drive the beautiful Essex Coastal Scenic Byway in Massachusetts. The 90-mile roadway links 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury and features scenic views, period architecture, historic sites and recreational opportunities. At one moment, pristine beaches are in view while, at another, pastures or patches of woods dance across the landscape. 2. . This stretch of Route 1A is only about 20 miles, but readers raved about the scenic drive that hugs the craggy New Hampshire coast. Maps of the local area, with directions and suggestions for activities and adventures from a native's perspective, are available at the front desk. You'll also see some of the North East's oldest villages. Massachusetts Vacations; New Hampshire Vacations; Rhode Island Vacations . Over gentle hills, the streets will lead you to capes like Touriñán, Vilán or Fisterra - the destination of the road trip - that jut out into the tossing . Two coastal scenic drives in New England are so spectacular . Time to allow: Three hours. Coastal Rhode Island Information. Visit the Berkshires today! Artists love Massachusetts coastal towns, and Rockport in particular.
By Maurene_K. Use our Scenic Drive Finder and Road Trip Planner to easily create custom road trips. Days 17-19: The Berkshires, Massachusetts - a must-see on a New England Road Trip Itinerary.
Scenic byway of Route 122 is a 40 mile rural path running north and south from Paxton to Orange. Situated within the Essex National Heritage Area and covering 90 miles from Lynn, MA to Salisbury, MA, the Byway passes many notable historical sites, cultural districts, recreation areas, and spectacular coastal scenery. PLUS take a scenic drive in the beautiful Shenandoah National Park and camp in the woods. Distance: 27 miles. Browse through the National Park store and museum at the Salt Pond Visitor Center or simply enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while hiking or observing nature. Length: 92 miles. Start in Gloucester at the . Most people who drive from one end of Cape Cod to the other take Route 6, which is a state highway. . This pedestrian bridge connects Topsham and Brunswick, offering beautiful views of the Androscoggin River. The Byway connects ten units of the State Park system as well as numerous local and private parks and recreational attractions. . Our trip includes additional states, but the bulk of our itinerary is in six states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and . US Route 1 runs a total of 545 miles in Florida along the state's east coast. it merges into Route 6 before reemerging in North Truro and extending to the coast of Provincetown. Often snow-cloaked, the spiny summit of Mount Washington makes it the tallest peak in the northeast and the king of the White Mountain Region, an area laced with hiking trails and dotted with quaint little hamlets.
consider heading out to explore one of the U.S. or Canada's many scenic shore-hugging roads. Best Season to Drive: Spring, Summer, and Fall See this drive on google Maps. The sun sets over Route 6A, also known as Old King's Highway, in Sandwich. The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway winds its way along the coast through fourteen North Shore communities in Essex County, Massachusetts. Stop 2: Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond.
670. Your mid-coast exploration can start off in the town of Brunswick, a 30-minute drive from Portland, with a walk across the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge. Ocean Avenue. Get acquainted with the birthplace of America on a New England road trip. Travelers along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway experience the best of coastal New England. This scenic drive starts in North Creek, New York—about an hour and a half north of Albany. It's one of the most recognized coastal towns on the cape and has a rich history and plenty of outdoor activities.
as well as the trailhead for the Pecho Coast Trail. The 90-mile coastal byway guides visitors and residents on a journey of discovery though one of the country's most picturesque and historically . 3. The New England coast offers pleasant, gorgeous drives any time of year, but especially when fall foliage is at its peak of coloration. Some more well known scenic byways you may know are Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway. Celebrating one of America's most prominent shipbuilding towns, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For additional information about the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, please visit EssexCoastalByway.org.
Whether you are looking for a day trip, weekend getaway or planning a road trip, our guides provide you with the perfect scenic drive. Connecticut Coast Scenic Drive. . This trip follows both the Connecticut coast and the Connecticut River. Old Kings Highway. Grab breakfast or brunch, jump in the car and take in the beautiful autumn landscape in Central Mass. 13 Massachusetts Turkey Trots Close to Greater Boston Start your drive in Seabrook, N.H., pass through Hampton Beach . Visitor Center. Days 23-24: Newport, Rhode Island. Driving along the coast on MA 1A, you'll come to the enchanting City of Witches, which contains more history (some of it rather dark) per . Scenic byways must have one or more of the "Intrinsic qualities": archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. Four scenic drives within an hour of the city, no masks required. Through many of these towns, Route 6A is referred to as other street names .
The Bay State has played a significant historical, cultural, and commercial role in American history. . . (508) 896-3300; . 978-740-0444. Park Loop Road, which was partially financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., rambles for 27 miles around Mount Desert Island. Begin by taking Exit 66 off I-95, then Route 1 north a short way before finding 154. Route 1 to Route 186 Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor, ME Phone: 207-624-3300. Maine State Capitol. This notable mountain is rich in both nature and histo. Connecticut State Route 169 is a peaceful road through quiet villages, scenic woodlands, and quaint farmsteads amid rivers and rolling hills of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. Scheduled time: Around 30 minutes. The winding route up the coast is actually a nationally recognized drive, known as the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. To see the beautiful shores of Cape Cod from behind the steering wheel, follow the 62-mile . Discover the quaint coastal towns, famous historical landmarks, and spectacular scenic drives the area has to offer. In a relatively short time, a wide variety of scenes delights the eyes of travelers along this scenic coastal drive on Highway 77.
The New Hampshire Coastal Byway follows NH Routes 1A & 1B 22 miles from Seabrook to Portsmouth.
Created by the U.S. Congress, the area's extensive historic, cultural, and natural resources tell the story the region played in the nation's early settlement, maritime trade, and industrialization. Route 6A is the best Cape Cod scenic drive in Massachusetts, and here's a road trip guide with key attractions in each historic town along the way! New England lays claim to just one national park (and an A+ one at that), so we'd be remiss not to suggest a drive around Acadia.
Top 10 Scenic Drives in Massachusetts. Coastal scenic drives you can take in North America. By Tom0874. Find museums, theaters, lodging, restaurants, shopping, deals, and events for the entire Berkshire region. Essex Heritage provides leadership to a coalition of stakeholders developing the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. The scenic byway of Route 122 is a 40 mile rural route running north and south from Paxton to Orange.
The Byway connects ten units of the State Park system as well as numerous local and private parks and recreational attractions. Route 154 - Old Saybrook to Haddam. 7. This drive will . This 125-Mile Drive Is the Best Way to See Maine's . See below for some trails close to the coast to enjoy this beauty and variety. State it runs through: Rhode Island. " A series of small parks connected with paved well lit paths line the River on the Cambridge side with a spectacular v. ". By . Bangor , ME is breathtaking . . There are also several types of landscapes present in the area despite its small size, including coastal plains, rural hills, and the Berkshire Mountain . memorial to Barbara Bush, Mabel's Lobster Claw, Colony Beach, Arundel Beach, Cape Arundel, Blowing Cave, nearby B. The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway is a 90-mile roadway that links 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury and features scenic views, period architecture, historic sites and recreational opportunities. The whole 10-mile drive is breathtaking with many stopping for the spectacular views at Brenton Point State Park where Narragansett Bay meets with the Atlantic . Glorious scenic drives await you all throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts! .