Salem, Concord and Plymouth from Boston
Most of the towns around Boston are reached by Commuter Rail, with fares set by zone. Subway-style tap-to-pay is not accepted on commuter trains, so buy a ticket through the MBTA instead. Zone fares and ticket types are on the MBTA commuter rail page .
Fares by destination
| Town | Zone | One way |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | 3 | $8.00 |
| Concord | 5 | $9.75 |
| Gloucester | 7 | $11.00 |
| Rockport | 8 | $12.25 |
| Plymouth | 8 | $12.25 |
Salem
Salem is the easy first choice, about 30 minutes by train from North Station. From spring to autumn a ferry also links Long Wharf with Salem Wharf in around 50 minutes, though fares move with demand. Key stops:
- Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St. Open Thursday to Monday 10 to 5. Adults $25, seniors $23, students $15, under-16s free. The Yin Yu Tang house is part of the visit but has its own timed ticket. Details at pem.org .
- Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Sq N. Adults $19, seniors 62 and over $17.50, children 6 to 14 $16. Open 10 to 5, later at peak times. See salemwitchmuseum.com .
- House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby St. Open daily 10 to 6. The mansion tour is $26 for adults, rising to $31 in October. See 7gables.org .
- Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the adjoining Charter Street Cemetery commemorate the 20 people executed in 1692. Visit quietly.
October brings heavy crowds, with parking full by mid-morning on busy Saturdays. Go by train or ferry and reserve museum tickets in advance.
Concord and Lexington
Concord is a literary and Revolutionary War town. Minute Man National Historical Park has free grounds from sunrise to sunset every day. Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott lived, charges $15 for adults, $12 for ages 62 and over and college students, and $8 for ages 6 to 17, and timed entry is recommended. At Walden Pond State Reservation parking is $8 with Massachusetts plates and $30 with out-of-state plates, card only, and the lot shuts when full.
Plymouth
Plymouth is reached by the Plymouth Line train or a drive of about an hour. Plimoth Patuxet Museums open daily 9 to 5 until the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Single-site tickets cost $35 for Patuxet, $19 for Mayflower II and $11 for the Grist Mill, while the two-day Combination Pass is $44 and the two-day Heritage Pass is $46. Check plimoth.org for the current Mayflower II status.
Cape Ann
Gloucester and Rockport sit on the Newburyport/Rockport Line. Whale watches from Gloucester sail seasonally, roughly mid-April to mid-October, and operators set their own fares.
Provincetown
Two operators run fast ferries to MacMillan Pier, one from Long Wharf and one from 200 Seaport Blvd. Each crossing takes about 90 minutes, vehicles are not carried and fares are on the operator websites. Late in the season some sailings run on weekends only. A return trip in one day leaves little time ashore, so most visitors stay a night. Cape Cod beyond Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are also overnight destinations.
Cold-season note
From roughly December to March, nor’easters and heavy snow can disrupt trains, and ferries and some museums run reduced hours or close. Check forecasts and service alerts. For organised excursions, see Viator .
Read more: multi-day trips from Boston and the 3-day itinerary .