Sometimes, you just need to get out of Boston—to trade T rides for winding backroads, deadlines for daydreams, and city noise for a silence you can feel. I remember thinking, “If I only have a weekend, I want it to feel like a world away.” That became the rhythm behind these escapes—each one close enough for a quick drive or ferry ride, but far enough to give me room to breathe.
Best Weekend Getaways from Boston
For a luxurious coastal escape: Wequassett Resort & Golf Club - 1 hour 15 minutes from Boston
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club felt like the kind of place that knew how to exhale. From the moment I stepped onto the manicured grounds, the salt air mixed with the scent of hydrangeas, and I could feel my shoulders drop. I remember thinking, “This isn’t just Cape Cod—it’s Cape Cod turned up just enough to feel indulgent.” Everything was beautiful, but nothing felt stiff. It was barefoot elegance at its best.
What I Loved Most: Lounging by the pool as sailboats drifted across Pleasant Bay, the sky glowing soft peach in the late afternoon.
My highlights? Dinner at Twenty-Eight Atlantic was unforgettable. I had the butter-poached lobster with corn risotto and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The view, the hush, the light... it all made the meal feel like a ceremony to welcome summer.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~2 hours
- Vibe: Polished, tranquil, romantic
- Best For: Couples, special occasions, golf and spa lovers
- Cost: $$$$
- Address: 2173 MA-28, Harwich, MA 02645
For a modern island stay: 21 Broad Hotel - 4 hours (with the ferry)
There’s something about Nantucket that shifts your pace the second you arrive. At 21 Broad Hotel, that feeling came with crisp design, clean lines, and sunlit common spaces that made it hard to leave the lobby. I remember thinking, “This is the kind of modern I can relax into.” The hotel felt young, fresh, and just artsy enough to inspire a new playlist.
What I Loved Most: Biking into town for an espresso, then returning to sip it slowly on the porch, wrapped in a blanket as fog rolled in over the cobblestones.
My highlights? Breakfast in the hotel’s lounge was simple but perfect: warm mini scones, Greek yogurt with local honey, and an iced coffee that tasted like vacation. The details were small, but they added up.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive + Ferry Time from Boston: ~2.5–3.5 hours
- Vibe: Chic, modern, breezy
- Best For: Solo resets, girls’ trips, low-key romance
- Cost: $$$
- Address: 21 Broad St, Nantucket, MA 02554
Ocean Edge: Cape Cod Elegance & Bayside Calm
I drove past stone walls and wind-swept trees before turning into Ocean Edge, where a grand brick mansion stood behind blooming hydrangeas. I rolled down the window, took in the salty breeze, and thought, “This place wears history like a beach blanket—effortless and welcoming.”
What I Loved Most: Walking the quiet wooded trails in the early morning, when the only sounds were birdsong and my footsteps on pine needles.
My highlights? I had lunch at Ocean Terrace overlooking the bay—spring pea risotto that smelled like a garden after rain, and halibut drizzled with honey-truffle beurre blanc. The fish was delicate and buttery, and I lingered with my iced tea, sunlight warming my shoulders and the ocean just beyond.
Plan your getaway:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~1 hour 15 minutes southeast
- Vibe: Historic, refined, activity-rich
- Highlights: The Mansion’s classic elegance, private Bay Pines beach, indoor/outdoor pools, Nicklaus-designed golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, spa, and access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall for beaches and full resort access
- Cost: Mansion rooms from around $400/night; Villages villas from around $225/night
- Hours: Resort open year-round; dining and amenity hours vary seasonally
For classic charm: Newport, Rhode Island - Hotel Viking - 1 hour 30 minutes from Boston
Hotel Viking felt like stepping into an elegant past—ornate chandeliers, velvet drapes, and marble-topped everything. But what made it special was how comfortable it all felt. I remember thinking, “This is grand, but I don’t feel like I have to whisper.” Newport’s storied charm was just outside, but inside, it felt like a glamorous cocoon.
What I Loved Most: Watching sailboats from the rooftop bar while jazz played softly and the city lights blinked on one by one.
My highlights? Brunch at One Bellevue was indulgent—fluffy buttermilk pancakes with spiced maple syrup and thick-cut bacon, served with strong coffee in elegant porcelain cups. It was quiet luxury in a bite.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~1.5 hours
- Vibe: Gilded-age glam, relaxed luxury
- Best For: Couples, architecture buffs, spa weekends
- Cost: $$$
- Address: 1 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840
Normandy Farms: Campfire Mornings and Starry New England Nights
Normandy Farms was summer bottled up...grassy fields, laughing kids, and the scent of pine and charcoal floating on the breeze. We arrived just before dusk, the campground gently glowing with string lights and porch lanterns. Families wheeled by on bikes, dogs trotted happily on leashes, and I thought, “This isn’t just a campground—it’s a little village that wakes up each morning ready to play.”
Our tent overlooked a wooded path where chipmunks darted between the trees and early sunlight filtered through the branches like stained glass. I woke to birdsong and the smell of someone else’s breakfast—bacon and maple syrup drifting by like a personal invitation. I brewed my own coffee over a camp stove, steam rising, and just sat still for a minute, taking it all in.
What I Loved Most: How everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. It felt like childhood summer camp, but with comfier beds and hot showers.
My highlights? A late lunch from the camp café: a grilled turkey and cheddar panini on sourdough with a side of kettle chips. The sandwich was warm and toasty, the cheese just beginning to melt, and it smelled like fresh bread and campfire smoke. We ate outside at a picnic table, bare feet in the grass. Later, we swam in the indoor pool, biked a trail loop, and ended the day stretched out under the stars at an outdoor movie night.
Plan your day trip (or weekend getaway):
- Drive Time from Boston: ~45 minutes southwest
- Vibe: Family-friendly, community-oriented, nature-meets-comfort
- Highlights: Four pools (indoor and outdoor), bike park, disc golf, dog park, playgrounds, wellness center, lodge with fireplaces and games
- Best Time to Visit: May through October for full access to outdoor amenities
- Cost: Varies by site and season; tent sites from ~$50/night, cabins from ~$130/night
- Hours: Office open daily; check-in 3pm, check-out 11am; amenities hours vary
For a historic stay: Boardman House Inn
The Boardman House Inn wasn’t flashy—and that’s what made it unforgettable. Tucked into a quiet corner of East Haddam, it felt like I had stepped into the kind of New England that still writes love letters. I remember thinking, “This is the getaway I didn’t know I needed.” Everything from the antique furnishings to the creaking wood floors whispered calm.
What I Loved Most: Sitting by the window with a book as church bells chimed in the distance and mist rolled over the Connecticut River.
My highlights? Morning coffee served on delicate china, paired with a homemade scone and berry preserves. No rush. Just light streaming in and the kind of quiet you can feel in your bones.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~2 hours
- Vibe: Romantic, old-world, serene
- Best For: Couples, writers, off-the-grid rest
- Cost: $$–$$$
- Address: 8 Norwich Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
For a lakeside retreat: The Sagamore on Lake George
If you're dreaming of a classic Adirondack escape with serious luxury, The Sagamore is where it’s at. This stunning resort sits on its very own private island on Lake George—yes, really—and it’s only about a 4-hour drive from either New York City or Boston.
For a unique country escape: The Catskills - The Roxbury - 3 hours 45 minutes from Boston
Nothing prepared me for The Roxbury. It was part art installation, part fantasy suite, and 100% joyfully over the top. I remember thinking, “Why shouldn’t a hotel room feel like a movie set?” Each room had a theme, from fairytales to pop culture, and somehow it all worked—campy but thoughtful, playful but cozy.
What I Loved Most: Waking up in a room with glittering walls and feeling like I’d just stepped out of a dream. And honestly? I didn’t want to leave it.
My highlights? Grabbing coffee and pastries from the nearby cafe, then heading out for a morning hike through the misty mountains. The balance of wild nature and weird design made the weekend unforgettable.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~4 hours
- Vibe: Whimsical, eccentric, artsy
- Best For: Creative couples, quirky escapes, photo lovers
- Cost: $$–$$$
- Address: 2258 County Rd 41, Roxbury, NY 12474
Eco-friendly retreat: The Inn at Shelburne Farms, VT - 4 hours from Boston
The Inn at Shelburne Farms was a place that made me feel small in the best way—towering maples, endless meadows, and Lake Champlain stretched out like a silver mirror. I remember thinking, “This is the kind of place where you relearn how to be still.” The historic inn felt like something out of a novel, and every meal tasted like it came from a garden just around the corner (because it did).
What I Loved Most: Waking up early and walking through the dew-covered trails while the sun rose behind the barns. The silence felt sacred.
My highlights? Dinner at the Inn’s farm-to-table restaurant, where I had a roasted beet salad followed by herb-crusted lamb—every ingredient either grown or raised on site. It tasted like the land, in the best way.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Boston: ~3.5 hours
- Vibe: Sustainable, scenic, soul-filling
- Best For: Nature lovers, foodies, eco-getaways
- Cost: $$$
- Address: 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482
Conclusion: The Weekend May End, But the Feeling Doesn’t Have To
As I drove back toward Boston after each of these trips, I noticed how different I felt. A little lighter. A little slower. Sometimes full from an unforgettable meal, sometimes quiet from a peaceful hike, but always grateful I’d said yes to stepping away.
Because the truth is, you don’t need a plane ticket to feel transported. Just a map, a little curiosity, and the willingness to trade routine for something new—even just for a couple of days. These weekend getaways reminded me that sometimes the best reset is just a few hours down the road.
Jump to a Spot...
- • For a luxurious coastal escape: Wequassett Resort & Golf Club - 1 hour 15 minutes from Boston
- • For a modern island stay: 21 Broad Hotel - 4 hours (with the ferry)
- • Ocean Edge: Cape Cod Elegance & Bayside Calm
- • For classic charm: Newport, Rhode Island - Hotel Viking - 1 hour 30 minutes from Boston
- • Normandy Farms: Campfire Mornings and Starry New England Nights
- • For a historic stay: Boardman House Inn
- • For a lakeside retreat: The Sagamore on Lake George
- • For a unique country escape: The Catskills - The Roxbury - 3 hours 45 minutes from Boston
- • Eco-friendly retreat: The Inn at Shelburne Farms, VT - 4 hours from Boston