Newburyport, MA: Best Towns in the US for Roadtrips

So you’re doing a road trip from Boston to Maine, maybe to Acadia National Park, and you’re thinking about places perhaps worth the stop en route. You hear a lot about places in Maine, but surely there must be somewhere before reaching Maine, too? Maybe you’ve heard about Salem, but surely there must be somewhere else on the journey from Massachusetts?

Or perhaps you’re heading to the beach jewels of coastal Massachusetts. You’ve heard a lot about Cape Cod, naturally. Most of the conversation on that front gravitates toward Cape Cod and the Islands.

Enter Newburyport.

Tucked into the northeast corner of Massachusetts, about as far up the North Shore as you can get without hitting New Hampshire, Newburyport is ideally located for both situations. For those looking for one of their first doses of New England seaside charm, Newburyport has that in spades.

It’s a fitting prequel to Maine’s towns, but not as touristy as places like the beaches on the north bank of the Merrimack (Salisbury Beach, or Hampton Beach in New Hampshire). Nor is it as touristy as somewhere like Rockport on Cape Ann itself. For those looking for a more lengthy stay, it has plenty to offer there too. It has a strong “shop local” spirit, shopping options, a crown jewel Atlantic beach in neighboring Plum Island, and abundant ecology and outdoor opportunity in the form of the Parker River Refuge.

Outdoor Recreation Attractions in Newburyport

If outdoor recreation is what you seek, you shall find it here. Heading north from Boston, the Atlantic coastline first dips inward then juts northeast past Salem to Cape Ann, Massachusetts’ “other cape” and a fine attraction in its own right often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbor to the southeast, Cape Cod. Rounding Cape Ann, the coast encounters a long barrier island, Plum Island. Inland lies an ecologically rich area known as the Great Marsh, a birding paradise. Kayaking and fishing also flourish here. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1942 to provide habitats for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, particularly the endangered piping plover. It protects about 66-75% of Plum Island and much of the inland salt marsh. To the north of the island is the mouth of the Merrimack River. The remainder of the island is privately owned.

The town beaches of Newburyport and Newbury, both located on Plum Island, are spectacular year-round. Both are far less crowded than “the Cape.”

Town Character & Attractions

Perhaps you come seeking character, in the form of architecture and stories of the area. Located at the mouth of the Merrimack River, Newburyport was founded on the clipper trade. Many of the fastest and most navigable ships involved with the clipper trade were built in Newburyport, with this heritage recognized annually in the Yankee Homecoming festival. There’s the Clipper City Rail Trail and the Clipper City Heritage Trail in town.

The character doesn’t stop there. Newburyport is home to the best collection of Federalist (Georgian) architecture in the United States. Many historic buildings have been preserved and repurposed. The historic tannery, for example, is now a shopping complex containing many local businesses, including a bike shop for the aforementioned trails and bikes out to Plum Island, and one of the best independent bookstores you will find anywhere, Jabberwocky Books. The old fire station is now a theatre. The cornerstone of City Hall was laid by the Marquis de Lafayette on his post-Revolution tour with George Washington. There’s even a lighthouse that’s been turned into a restaurant. Parks line the Merrimack River waterfront and the smell of the sea is never more than a breeze away.

Food

There are too many local seafood places to count. If you want a local dive, the Park Lunch may be up your alley and may offer you one of your initial opportunities to taste lobster rolls. But the area really shines on the dessert front. 20 minutes from downtown, in neighboring Salisbury, is Hodgies Too. (It has locations in Newburyport and Amesbury, but the Newburyport servings are not as generous.) Hodgies is the quintessential Massachusetts roadside ice cream stand – walk up and order handmade fresh ice cream made with local New England ingredients. I’ve traveled to 3 continents and 49 US States plus a territory. Hodgies is the best ice cream place I’ve been. Honorable mention goes to Downriver on Rt 1 in nearby Essex. Something about the milk in Northeast Massachusetts. But be careful – the servings are extremely generous. A ”kiddie” is about 4 scoops, and each scoop is about 1.5-2x a normal scoop of ice cream.

Suggested Road Trip for Newburyport

If you are looking for a road trip in the region here’s a suggestion.

Branch from I-95 in the Peabody area and head to Salem. Stop at Salem Maritime National Historic Site, then head north on 1A. If you have the time, branch onto 127 and 127A around Cape Ann, then rejoin 1A in Ipswich. This branch will add Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport. Continue north through Rowley and Newbury to reach Newburyport. This should take 1-2 days to reach the city including stops in high season. From Newburyport you can take 1A north along the Seacoast in New Hampshire to Portsmouth, rejoin 95, or pick up US-1. I recommend continuing north until Salisbury at least to stop at Hodgies Too of Salisbury.

Just a sampling of the offerings of the North Shore and in Newburyport.