The 14 Best Picnic Spots in Massachusetts!

Who doesn’t love a good picnic? Whether it’s in the woods, by the ocean, or on a calm, clear lake—picnics are a way to relax and enjoy great food and the great outdoors. These 14 spots are perfect places to enjoy lunch outdoors in Massachusetts. So, check the weather report and head outside for a meal under the sun!

Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor, MA

A short ferry ride from Boston Long Wharf lands you at Spectacle Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. In addition to enjoying your picnic, you can swim in one of very few places in Boston Harbor where that is allowed.

Smolak Farms, North Andover, MA

Parking is free at Smolak Farms, a 300-acre farm and orchard. After your picnic, stop by their farm stand and bakery or indulge in a decadent ice cream cone.

The Bradley Estate, Canton, MA

Even though the mansion on the Bradley Estate is used for weddings and other private functions, the 90-acre grounds are the perfect spot for a picnic. Check the website for information on an educational walk around the estate—the perfect way to work off that picnic.

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport, MA

Picnic beside the Merrimack River at Maudslay State Park. The $2 parking fee is nothing once you see the wildlife, wildflowers, and beautiful stone bridge.

Minute Man National Park, Concord, MA

Enjoy 1,000 acres of history when you picnic at Minute Man National Park. Hiking trails will take you through spots where Revolutionary War battles were fought. You must take your trash away with you, as there are no receptacles on site.

Hale Education, Inc., Westwood, MA

Four ponds and 21 miles of trails make for a beautiful picnic area. Hale Reservation is also home to a day camp during the summer months, but visitors are welcome on the grounds. Located just a short drive from Boston, city dwellers love this escape to nature.

Corey Hill Outlook, Brookline, MA

Featuring a large sloping lawn and a rather grueling climb to the top, Corey Hill Outlook affords picnickers and others a fabulous view of the city on clear days. Definitely wear sturdy shoes if planning to hike to the top.

Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield, MA

Seven-hundred acres of meadowland on this former estate make for perfect picnicking at Bradley Palmer State Park. Located along the Ipswich River, there is a wading pool and designated picnic area as well.

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA

Sloping granite ledges allow very careful and agile picnickers views that sometimes reach as far as New Hampshire at Halibut Point State Park. While it’s best to picnic on the adjacent grass, this makes for an exciting (and probably even exhausting) post-lunch activity.

Westville Dam, Southbridge and Sturbridge, MA

Located between Southbridge and Sturbridge, Westville Dam has a beautiful picnic area with shelters that may be reserved for special events. A walking trail allows for exercise before you return to your picnic for dessert.

Goodwill Park, Falmouth, MA

Wooden pathways connect Goodwill Park to a freshwater public beach. In addition to a picnic area with grills, there are activities like horseshoes and volleyball.

Boston Public Garden, Boston, MA

Take a ride on the swan boats and picnic near the “Make Way for Duckling” Ducks at Boston Public Garden. Lay back and enjoy this tranquil city oasis—or people watch—as you digest.

Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

The sand “sings” at Singing Beach, in the town that now has a film named after it. Even though non-residents must park about a half-mile away, it’s worth the walk to enjoy your picnic here.

Larz Anderson Park, Brookline, MA

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Larz Anderson Park is reminiscent of a bygone era. Enjoy your picnic under the willow trees or at one of the tables with grills in the designated area.

Dust off your picnic basket and start planning your picnic fare. With this vast array of Massachusetts spots, you’ll have a picnic planned for every weekend this coming spring and summer.

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Find Picnic Spots Near You
Find Picnic Spots Near You
162 West Union Street, Ashland, MA
Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park is operated seasonally and provides opportunities for swimming,... Read More
164 Cedar St, Hopkinton, MA
Hopkinton State Park is located in the towns of Hopkinton and Ashland and includes the picturesque Hopkinton Reservoir. The park offers a variety o... Read More
205 Westboro Rd, Upton, MA
This 2660 acre forest offers visitors a natural diversity of flora and fauna accented with historically significant contributions of the Civilian C... Read More
43 Commonwealth Rd, Natick, MA
Cochituate State Park is a popular regional day use park featuring water based recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, windsurfing,... Read More
245 Upton Street, Grafton, MA
Silver Lake Beach, located at 245 Upton St., is open to both residents and non-residents from late June to late August and operated by the Town of ... Read More
287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park recalls the role of canals in transporting raw materials and manufactured goods between emerging... Read More
Hartford Street, Medfield, MA
We think it's the rich history of Rocky Woods' 491 acres, laced by footpaths and former logging roads that meander through woods and wetlands and t... Read More
198 Purgatory Rd, Sutton, MA
A unique natural landmark, Purgatory Chasm runs for a quarter of a mile between granite walls rising as high as 70 feet. Popular with picnickers an... Read More
10 North Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA
Quinsigamond State Park consists of two sites located on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester: Regatta Point and Lake Park. The 25 acre Regatta Point are... Read More
915 Walden Street, Concord, MA
Henry David Thoreau lived at Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. His experience at Walden provided the material for the book Walden, whic... Read More
96 Forest Grove Road, Waltham, MA
The Upper Charles River Reservation extends from the Watertown dam to Riverdale Park in West Roxbury. Throughout the reservation, continuous public... Read More
45 Mill St, Foxboro, MA
Covering 1,027 acres in Foxboro and Wrentham, F. Gilbert Hills State Forest is a passive use pine and oak forest.  There are approximately 23 ... Read More
Boylston St, Clinton, MA
The 4,135-acre reservoir was built between 1897-1908 by damming the South Branch of the Nashua river. Water was sent via an aqueduct to the Weston ... Read More
Elliot St, Needham, MA
Open dawn to dusk. Hemlock Gorge in Needham, Newton and Wellesley is a small 23-acre wild area along the banks of the Charles River. The park is do... Read More
12 Brainard St., Hyde Park, MA
This six hundred-acre reservation is administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Formerly the wate... Read More
670 Baker St, Boston, MA
This National Historic Landmark is 179 acres of rolling fields, woodland and wetland and was the location of the experimental society of Transcende... Read More
107 Wallum Lake Rd, Douglas, MA
Bordering both Connecticut and Rhode Island, this popular 5,907-acre state forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjo... Read More
66 Mill Street, Belmont, MA
The first reservation established by the Metropolitan Parks Commission (later the MDC) in 1893, Beaver Brook Reservation is 59 acres of open fields... Read More
Enneking, Turtle Pond, and Dedham Parkways, Hyde Park, MA
Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Enneking, Dedham and Turtle Pond Parkways wind through extensive tree covered hills, valleys, rock-outcroppings and ... Read More
1015 Truman Parkway, Milton, MA
Open year round, dawn to dusk. The DCR Martini Shell was built in 1960 as an outdoor theatre and is named in honor of Francis D. Martini, a US Army... Read More
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