Family Road Trips from Boston: Getaways in New England and Beyond

Buckle up for the best family road trips from Boston! Sometimes the family needs to get their overnight bags together and head west (or north or south) for a family-friiendly adventure. And we have some ideas for family road trips from Boston worth the quick jaunt or the long haul. So pack up and hit the road!

Be sure to check off our expert tips with the Ultimate Road Trip Planner: How To Have the Perfect Family Road Trip. And check out some of the Best Roadside Attractions in New England along the way.

 
A family road trip from Boston can mean a trip back in time! Photo courtesy of Old Sturbridge Village

Family Road Trips from Boston - Trips in Massachusetts

1. Cape Cod

85 miles from Boston to Hyannis

The Cape makes a perfect family road trip from Boston. With miles of Cape Cod beaches for families (not to mention mini golf, ice cream, whale watches, and more!) Cape Cod has plenty of fun for families. And you can extend the road trip with a stop in Plymouth (it really does rock!) or a trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.

2. Central Massachusetts

50 miles from Boston to Worcester

From the hands-on fun at the EcoTarium in Worcester to living history at Old Sturbridge Village, Central Massachusetts is packed with family attractions and reasonably priced accommodations. And the kids will be satisfied with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg for some indoor waterpark fun!

3. The Berkshires

135 miles from Boston to Pittsfield

The Berkshires have so many fun things to do like visiting Mass MoCa and enjoying outdoor fun at Jiminy Peak Resort in Hancock. But the natural beauty of Western Massachusetts is the draw for family trips to the Berkshires. With foliage in the fall, skiing in the winter, waterfalls in the spring, and hiking the Appalachian Trail in the summer, there's always something to see and do in the Berkshires. And you can make a pit-stop at the Basketball Hall of Fame on your way out west!

 
Let the little ones take the wheel for a leg or two of the family road trip! Farm Tractor ride photo courtesy of Story Land

Family Road Trips from Boston - Around New England

4. Portsmouth

55 miles from Boston

Portsmouth, NH is a beautiful, walkable city. Family road trips from Boston to the New Hampshire coast can include visiting Water Country with kids–New England's largest water park. Downtown Portsmouth has fun shops and eateries. And the beaches of Hampton and Rye are nearby, as are outlets and more beaches in Kittery and York, Maine. 

5. White Mountain

140 miles from Boston to North Conway

New Hampshire's White Mountains have natural beauty and a host of family activities. It's packed with hiking trails, mini-golf courses, and resorts with kid-friendly amenities. The White Mountains are worth a family road trip from Boston just for the visit to Story Land, one of New England's most beloved amusement parks.

6. Maine

115 miles from Boston to Portland

With pristine beaches, water parks, hiking trails, and mini golf, there are plenty of reasons to take a family road trip to Maine. While the beaches (and lobster shacks) of Southern Maine are the easiest to get to, trips to the Downeast villages or inland to the Western Mountains are fantastic family getaways. And the cobblestone streets of Portland's waterfront–the Old Port neighborhood–are filled with fun shops and sweet treats.

7. Providence

50 miles from Boston

About an hour (with no traffic) south of Boston, a road trip to Providence promises great food and plenty of fun things to do. From the Waterfire displays and gondola rides on the water, to yummy Italian food in the Federal Hill neighborhood, there are plenty of activities and fun things to do in Providence. The Roger Williams Park Zoo is always worth the trip!

8. Newport

75 miles from Boston

Home to beaches, boat races, and plenty of places to stay, Newport is a great destination for Boston families. Newport is famous for its grand mansions (pardon me, cottages), the Cliff Walk along the shore, and the Tennis Hall of Fame. And there are plenty of family friendly festivals–from Chowderfest to St. Patrick's Day–to make Newport a road-trip-worthy destination all year long!

9. Mystic

100 miles from Boston

Southeastern Connecticut has so much family fun, it's worth multiple family road trips from Boston. A trip to Mystic means visiting Mystic Aquarium, a world-class aquarium with so much to see. Mystic Seaport is a glimpse back in time to a simpler age. When visiting, be sure to book one of the best hotels in Mystic, CT for family-friendly stays.

 
Celebrate Americana with a family road trip from Boston to Philadelphia! Oval Park photo courtesy of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

Family Road Trips from Boston - New York, Washington D.C. and More

9. New York City

215 miles from Boston

The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps. From the Bronx Zoo to the Statue of Liberty, a family road trip to New York City is sure to find something for everyone. If traffic is forgiving, Boston families can make the trip in around 4 hours. But what's the rush? A family road trip from Boston to New York City can include stops in Connecticut that include the Yale Peabody Museum and Hartford's Connecticut Science Center.

10. Philadelphia

380 miles from Boston

Feel like treating the kids to the world's best cheese-steak? How about seeing Liberty Hall and other landmarks from the American Revolution? A family road trip from Boston to Philadelphia can take as little as 6 hours–if your family doesn't need a rest stop, that is. Philadelphia has it all, including Rocky Balboa. And the toddlers on your journey will love a stop at Sesame Place!

11. Washington DC

440 miles from Boston

A family road trip to Washington DC is a classic getaway for Boston Families. Where else can you see so many classic landmarks in one place? Our nation's capital has so many free museums near DC to visit with kids, like those at the Smithsonian. And the Washington DC area has so much to offer the road-tripping family, from the sights of Arlington, Virginia to the crab shacks of Chessapeake Bay.