Acton, Massachusetts travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Acton is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 24,000 in the 2020 census.

Boxborough is a town with a population of about 6,000 (2020).

Maynard is a town with a population of 11,000 (2020).

Stow is a town with a population of 7,000 (2020).

1 sights · 2 places to eat · 1 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Acton

Discovery Museum

A science-focused children's museum and outdoor play area with a treehouse and orienteering course. The location is well guarded by Bessie, the large dinosaur statue and museum mascot on the front lawn.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Mar. (climate data from nearby Bedford)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 7 mi away. Directions
BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions

Acton is five miles (8 km) from I-495 and ten miles (16 km) from I-95/MA-128 or around 21 miles (34 km) from Boston. Massachusetts Routes 2, 2A, 27, 62, 111, and 119 run through the town.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

By car

Acton is five miles (8 km) from I-495 and ten miles (16 km) from I-95/MA-128 or around 21 miles (34 km) from Boston. Massachusetts Routes 2, 2A, 27, 62, 111, and 119 run through the town.

By train

The MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line train stops at the South Acton station. South Acton is a major station on the line at which many trains terminate. Besides the urban stops at Cambridge (Porter Square) and Boston (North Station Terminal), it is the only station on the line at which all trains stop. The MBTA Fitchburg Line provides service to Fitchburg, Leominster, Shirley, Ayer, Littleton, Concord, Lincoln, Weston, Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, and Boston.

Get around

By foot

Some Streets have sidewalks, and people frequently walk on the edges of streets without sidewalks. However, everything is very spread out, which makes walking difficult.

By car

This is the best option. Things in Acton are almost always accessible by driving and it does not take very long to travel between any two places in Acton by car. Businesses normally have free parking available.