The Short And Sweet Road Trip Through Massachusetts’ Cape Ann You Can Take On A Single Tank Of Gas
Sometimes we just need to get away, change our surroundings for a bit, and gain a different perspective on life. While traveling to a foreign land can certainly help, so can traveling within our own backyards. If you’ve never explored Cape Ann, Massachusetts, we put together a short and sweet road trip to guide you. You’ll see some incredible scenery and visit some of the best of what this rocky cape has to offer.
This short and sweet trip is just over 26 miles. You can follow the route and stop at several points of interest by using our interactive map. Let’s get started!
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in the northeastern part of Massachusetts. It's comprised of the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport along with Ipswich.
Start your journey in the town of Essex at Stavros Reservation. Part of The Trustees, this reservation sits atop a hill where you're guaranteed jaw-dropping views of both Crane Beach and the Essex River estuary.
Essex, MA, USA
Stavros Reservation, 1-15 Island Rd, Essex, MA 01929, USA
A stop at the Manchester-by-the-Sea's Singing Beach is mandatory while you're in town. Walk along the sand and listen to the noises it makes under your feet. It's utterly fascinating!
119 Beach St, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944, USA
We continue our journey now to Gloucester where you can spend some time at the alluring Hammond Castle. Built in the 1920s, this castle once belonged to a prominent inventor.
Now a museum, you can take a self-guided tour and stroll its stunning grounds with water views.
After Hammond Castle, hit the road and head into town where you'll see the Fishermen's Memorial. Gloucester is a busy port city filled with beautiful beaches, excellent seafood restaurants, and gorgeous scenery. Set aside enough time to explore it all before heading off to Rockport.
A trip to Rockport would not be complete without stopping at Halibut Point State Park. Take a short, easy hike through the forest, by the quarry, and to the coast. It's so picturesque, you'll want to spend as much time here as possible.
If you would like to extend this road trip a bit further you can always head to Ipswich and stop by Castle Hill at the Crane Estate as well as Crane Beach. Are you excited to explore Cape Ann, Massachusetts? Let us know about your favorite place on Cape Ann in the comments!
Address: Essex, MA, USA
Address: Stavros Reservation, 1-15 Island Rd, Essex, MA 01929, USA
Address: 12 Tucks Point Rd, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944, USA
Address: Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944, USA
Address: 119 Beach St, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944, USA
Address: Gloucester, MA, USA
Address: 80 Hesperus Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
Address: Rockport, MA, USA
Address: Bradley Wharf, Rockport, MA 01966, USA
Address: 52 Pigeon Hill St, Rockport, MA 01966, USA
Massachusetts In Your Inbox
Thank you! You will receive your first email soon.
She's an east coast girl living in a west coast world. Melissa has worked in the entertainment industry for much of her adult life and loves photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. and to far-flung locations around the world.
