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Major city · United States

Ipswich, MassachusettsIpswich

Base here 1–2 nights with a car: Crane Beach and Castle Hill are 5 mi from the station, and the town centre is walkable in an hour.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ipswich is a small North Shore town of about 13,000 people, 45–60 min by car or MBTA train from Boston. Its draw is coastal: Crane Beach, the Crane Estate at Castle Hill, Sandy Point at the tip of Plum Island, and a dense stock of First Period houses in the centre. Sights sit 5–8 mi apart, so a car decides your day. Most travellers give it one night or use it as a half-day stop between Salem and Newburyport.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for beach weather; late Sep–Oct for foliage and the Chowderfest
avoid Nov–Apr (visitor centre closed, beach facilities off, cold wind)
Airports
BOS · MHT
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ipswich, Massachusetts911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ipswich, Massachusetts, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a pastry at a local bakery$5–15
  • Sit-down mealPub main course$15–25
  • BeerDraught beer at the brewery$8–12
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30
  • Museum or sight ticketCastle Hill Great House tourabout $30
  • Budget bedMotel or chain room (Route 1 / Rowley), a night, per roomUS$110
  • Mid-range bedMotel or chain room (Route 1 / Rowley), a night, per roomUS$170
  • High-end bedMotel or chain room (Route 1 / Rowley), a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Crane BeachCastle Hill on the Crane EstateFirst Period houses and the Ipswich MuseumClams and fried seafoodIpswich Ale Brewery
Airports
BOS Boston Logan International (About 30 mi south; 40–60 min by car outside rush hour, longer in weekday traffic. No direct rail link to Ipswich — train via North Station.) · MHT Manchester-Boston Regional (About 50 mi northwest; check for your dates.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    2°C (36°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best*

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

Best: Jun–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (27°C (81°F)), coolest Jan (−7°C (19°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ipswich, Massachusetts: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

2°C (36°F)

−7°C (19°F)

10 rd

Feb

3°C (37°F)

−6°C (21°F)

9 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

−2°C (28°F)

11 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

3°C (37°F)

11 rd

May

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Jun

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

11 rd

Jul

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

10 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

16°C (61°F)

9 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

9 rd

Oct

16°C (61°F)

6°C (43°F)

10 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Dec

4°C (39°F)

−4°C (25°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: the station, downtown, Crane Beach and Sandy Point are 5–8 mi apart with no town bus. The MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line stops at Ipswich station (4 Peatfield St) on the way to Boston; the station has little shelter and parking is resident-only, so do not plan to leave a car there. A seasonal weekend shuttle has served Essex and Crane Beach in past summers — check before relying on it. Bikes work on the flat roads but Argilla Rd has no shoulder in places.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Salemgo

Door to door: 25–40 min by car; about 40 min by train

Car via Route 1A/Route 128, or MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Boston

Pair with Ipswich in one North Shore loop; Salem is the busier stop.

Newburyport

go

Door to door: 20–30 min by car; about 20 min by train

Car via Route 1A north, or MBTA train

Compact waterfront downtown for lunch and a walk.

Gloucestergo

Door to door: 30–40 min

Car via Route 133 east

Harbour town; combine with Rockport in one day.

Rockport

go

Door to door: 40–50 min by car; about 50 min by train

Car via Route 127, or MBTA train to Rockport

Best on a clear day; the station is a short walk from the centre.

Manchester-by-the-Seacaution

Door to door: 20–30 min

Car via Route 127 south

Small and quick; only worth it if you are already driving the coast.

Beverly

caution

Door to door: 20–30 min

Car via Route 128, or MBTA train

Mostly a rail and residential town; skip unless you need the train.

Peabody

skip

Door to door: 20–30 min

Car via Route 1/Route 128

Retail and business parks; no reason to add it to a short trip.

Bostongo

Door to door: About 1 h to North Station

MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line from Ipswich station

Commuter rail, roughly $10.50 one way; no station parking for visitors.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Ipswich (Market St / South Main St)

Walkable to the Choate Bridge, bakery, pub and brewery; the train station is a few minutes away. Few beds, so book early.

Argilla Road (Crane Estate corridor)

Closest to Castle Hill and Crane Beach; the Inn at Castle Hill sits on the estate. A car is required.

Rowley and Route 1

Chain motels 10–15 min north; cheaper, but you drive to everything.

Salem or Newburyport

Use a bigger town as a base and visit Ipswich as a day trip; 20–35 min by car each way.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–230 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Local inn double room1 × 1 night × US$260US$260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
Crane Beach parking, one car, in season1 × US$30US$30
Castle Hill grounds entry, non-member2 × US$10US$20
MBTA Ipswich to Boston, one way2 × US$11US$21
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$68
Trip total≈ US$375 per person per day, bed includedUS$749

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout and flights are excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a pastry at a local bakery$5–15
Fried clam or seafood plate$20–40
Pub main course$15–25
Dinner at a historic-house restaurant$20–50
Draught beer at the brewery$8–12
Crane Beach parking per car, in season$10–45
Castle Hill Great House tourabout $30
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ipswich is a low-crime small town; the real risks are coastal — rip currents and cold water at Crane Beach and Sandy Point, ticks in the woods, and deer on dark roads at night.
  • Crane Beach and Sandy Point charge per car in season and fill early on summer weekends; Sandy Point has only about 15 parking spaces.
  • Castle Hill grounds and Great House run on limited days and timed tours; advance passes are strongly recommended and there is no beach access from Castle Hill.
  • Fenced nesting areas at Sandy Point are closed for piping plovers — stay out.
  • The visitor centre is volunteer-run and closed Nov–Apr.
  • Ipswich station parking is resident-only; do not drive to the train and leave the car.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Ipswich, MassachusettsIpswich

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Ipswich; consulates-general are in Boston (for example the UK, Canada and Germany). Check your own country's Boston listing.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MBTA Ipswich → Boston North Station: about $10.50 one way, about 1 h
  • Crane Beach parking per car: $10–45 in season
  • Castle Hill grounds, non-member: about $10; Great House tours about $30

Say or show

  • Where is the beach entrance? — Where is the beach entrance?
  • Is parking included? — Is parking included?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is the walk? — How far is the walk?
  • Is the trail open today? — Is the trail open today?
  • Thank you — Thank you

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ipswich, Massachusetts. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for beach weather; late Sep–Oct for foliage and the Chowderfest · avoid Nov–Apr (visitor centre closed, beach facilities off, cold wind) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BOS: Logan to Ipswich by car or rail via North Station, with a late-arrival taxi fallback.
  2. Walking clusters with anchors: downtown and the Choate Bridge, Castle Hill and Argilla Rd, Crane Beach and Sandy Point.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and ticket rules (Castle Hill, Crane Beach, Sandy Point, Ipswich Museum, Wolf Hollow) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal shuttle and beach-parking fixtures so summer days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources