Massachusetts has a lot of beautiful places to visit in a relatively small area.

You can drive from Boston to the tip of Cape Cod in less than two hours if you are lucky with traffic.

Take your time and look at the views. From fresh fruits and vegetables to seafood from the ocean, the state has it all.

Massachusetts has an endless spirit of creativity and innovation and can be found everywhere. The best driving routes in the Bay State can be found here.

Make the most out of every adventure with help from our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

The Battle Road Byway

Best road trip for history and literature

Allow 1-2 days between Arlington andConcord.

This short but jam-packed drive follows the exact route British soldiers took on April 18-19, 1775, as they marched from Boston to seize a rumored cache of weapons. The start of the American Revolution was marked by a series of armed battles.

The route goes through several towns, including the Battle Green where the first shots were fired and the North Bridge where a larger skirmish took place.

The homes of the 19th century authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott are among the attractions in the area.

Autumn mist in the village of Tyringham in the Berkshires
Autumn fog in the village of Tyringham in the Berkshires, Massachusetts ©DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

The Berkshire backroads

Best road trip for a mix of nature and culture

Allow 2 to 4 days.

One of the most popular year-round recreational destinations is the Berkshire Hills. The region has a lot to offer from world-class arts and culture to brilliant fall foliage.

Take a picnic from the farmers market and go for a walk. In the summer, you can attend the Jacob's Pillow dance festival, as well as the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Clark Art Institute.

Mount Greylock State Reservation, home to Massachusetts' highest point, is one of the reasons Route 7 is the main north-south road in the area.

If you're coming in or going out of the region, you can take the Jacob's Ladder Scenic Byway between Russell and Lee.

State parks in Massachusetts are some of the best in the country.

The French King Bridge is a three-span
Cross the French King Bridge between Erving and Gill in the Pioneer Valley - but don't forget to stop for photos too © DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

The Mohawk Trail

Best road trip for dramatic views

Allow 1-2 days from Williamstown- Orange.

Stunning mountain views, rushing rivers, dense forest, rolling farmland, and idyllic small towns can be found along the Mohawk Trail. panoramic vistas reveal themselves around almost every bend, including a dramatic hairpin turn at Clarksburg.

Natural Bridge State Park, the bridge of flowers in Shelburne Falls, and the view of the Connecticut River from French King Bridge are some of the highlights along the route. The drive in the fall is amazing. On an October weekend, be prepared to share the road with others.

Lighthouses in Massachusetts are the best.

Pioneer Valley ramble

Best road trip for college towns and rural scenery

Allow 1 to 3 days from Northfield to Springfield.

Pioneer Valley is a scenic region of rolling farmland and college towns.

Getting off the highway reveals an abundance of cultural and historical delights, as well as opportunities to sample the region's agricultural bounty from some of the farm stands.

Take a tour of museums dedicated to everything from basketball to beloved children's book illustrators and see more than 800 dinosaur footprints.

There are summits on either side of the river as you travel through the valley. There are excellent hiking trails that lead to panoramic views.

If you have time, you can take a detour east of the Pioneer Valley to see the Quabbin Reservoir, which is the largest source of drinking water. There are trails and an observation tower at the south end of the lake.

ginger-haired white girl, two or three years old, pressing her face against a half-open car window in a wet Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a great destination for a road trip (even when the weather is wet) © g&l images / Getty Images

Classic Cape Cod

Best road trip for families and coastal pleasures

The round-trip from Bourne tovincetown is 128 miles.

Cape Cod is famous for its beaches, lighthouses, and seaside towns. Local bookstores, antique shops, and art galleries can be visited by visitors.

The road trip will take you past the elbow to the outer Cape where you can see a world of big skies and sandy dunes. Route 6 takes you to the Cape, but Route 6A is a more scenic route. You can catch a free outdoor movie on a village green if you go to a drive-in theater.

If you have more time, you can take the ferry from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard or the ferry from the island to the mainland.

In Massachusetts, the top things to do are.

An Asian woman looking sombre in the Burying Point cemetery in Salem
Salem, on the north coast of Massachusetts, is famous for its witch trials in 1692 and many visitors stop off at the Burying Point Cemetery © Dan Hanscom / Shutterstock

Around the North Shore

Best road trip for a bit of everything

Allow 1-2 days from Salem to Newburyport.

The coastal region north of Boston is rich in history and has beautiful ocean views. Take your time, stop to stroll along sandy beaches and rocky shores, admire lighthouse stalwarts, and discover the work of local artists.

Many of the most interesting and scenic communities can be found along the Essex Scenic Coastal Byway.

Fishing has been a way of life in the Gloucester and Rockport communities for four centuries. The fried clam is a New England original and can be found at many clam shacks.

You can take a beach walk at Halibut Cove in Rockport, Crane Beach in Ipswich, and Plum Island.

October 2020 and August 2022.