Day Trips from Boston by Train and Ferry

October 20, 2026

The best day trips from Boston use the MBTA Commuter Rail, which runs from North Station and South Station. Fares depend on the zone, from $2.40 in Zone 1A up to $13.25 in Zone 10, and tap-to-pay does not work on commuter trains. A $10 Weekend Pass is also sold. Check the details on the MBTA commuter rail fares page .

Salem

Trains from North Station reach Salem in about 30 minutes and cost $8.00 one way (Zone 3). A seasonal ferry also runs from Long Wharf to Salem Wharf, taking about 50 minutes. Its fares change by date, so check the operator.

Peabody Essex Museum (161 Essex St): open Thursday to Monday 10 to 5 and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Adults pay $25, seniors 65 and over $23 and students $15, and visitors under 16 are free. The Yin Yu Tang house is included but needs a separate timed ticket. See pem.org .
Salem Witch Museum (19 1/2 Washington Sq N): adults $19, seniors 62 and over $17.50 and children 6 to 14 $16. Hours are 10 to 5, longer in July, August and October. See salemwitchmuseum.com .
House of the Seven Gables (115 Derby St): open daily 10 to 6. The mansion tour is $26 for adults from November to September and $31 in October. Parking is not guaranteed. See 7gables.org .
Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the Charter Street Cemetery honor the 20 people executed in 1692, so treat them as memorials rather than party stops.

October is extremely crowded in Salem. Non-resident parking fills by mid-morning on peak Saturdays, so take the train or ferry and book museums ahead.

Concord and Lexington

The Fitchburg Line reaches Concord in Zone 5 for $9.75 one way. Minute Man National Historical Park is free and open from sunrise to sunset daily. Orchard House, the Alcott family home at 399 Lexington Rd, costs $15 for adults, $12 for ages 62 and over and college students, and $8 for ages 6 to 17. Hours change in winter, and timed entry is recommended. Walden Pond State Reservation charges for parking: $8 with Massachusetts plates and $30 out of state, card only, and the lot closes when it is full. It is outside the village center, so plan how you will get there.

Plymouth

The Plymouth Line runs to Plymouth station in Zone 8 for $12.25 one way. Plimoth Patuxet Museums are open daily 9 to 5 through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Adult tickets are $35 for Patuxet alone, $44 for the Combination Pass with Mayflower II and $46 for the Heritage Pass covering all sites, both passes good for two days. Mayflower II alone is $19 and the Grist Mill $11. Confirm the Mayflower II status on plimoth.org before you plan around it.

Rockport and Gloucester

The Newburyport/Rockport Line serves Gloucester in Zone 7 at $11.00 and Rockport in Zone 8 at $12.25. Whale watches from Gloucester run seasonally, roughly mid-April to mid-October, so check the operator.

Provincetown and the Cape

Fast ferries to Provincetown leave from Long Wharf and from 200 Seaport Blvd. The crossing takes about 90 minutes each way to MacMillan Pier, and cars are not carried. Sailings are seasonal, some are limited to weekends late in the season, and fares are on the operator sites. With three hours of travel, it makes a long day, so many visitors stay overnight. Cape Cod beaches beyond Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are overnight trips as well.

Winter

Boston winters bring nor’easters and heavy snow. Check the forecast and MBTA service alerts, and expect ferries and some house museums to be closed or reduced from roughly December to March.

To compare guided excursions, browse Boston day trips on Viator .