Overview
Rockport is a town of 7,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts on Cape Ann. The town, once famous for granite production, got its start as an artist colony in the late 1800s. Rockport is a favorite vacation spot and day trip for many who come to enjoy the concentration of shops and galleries on Bearskin Neck, the rugged, rocky coastline or some ultra-fresh lobsters or other seafood.
10 sights · 4 things to do · 3 places to eat · 12 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rockport
Motif #1
the widely known subject of many paintings.
Halibut Point State Park
Daily dawn to dusk. Beautiful coastline views, visitor center, walking trails, and tidal pools. A renovated World War II fire tower provides a scenic view. Weekend quarry tours and granite cutting demonstrations take pla…
Paper House
Bizarre 1922 vintage house built entirely of 100,000 newspapers even housing a newspaper-covered piano. Admission: adults $3, children $1.
John Caggiano Gallery
66 Bearskin Neck (also 4 Main St.).
Cynthia Curtis Pottery
Don Mosher Gallery
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Dec. (climate data from nearby Beverly)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 28 mi away (major hub). Directions
- PSM Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, Portsmouth — 31 mi away. Directions
Interstate 95 to Route 128 to Route 127. Downtown has parking meters ($.25 per half-hour) and often has no spots. Rockport has a free parking facility, the Blue Gate Parking Lot (open June-Oct), located as you arrive on Route 127 about 1/4 mi (400 m) past the Rockport Visitor Information booth. From the parking lot, it is about a 3/4-mile walk to downtown Rockport, but a shuttle to town only costs $1 each way.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Motif #1, John Caggiano Gallery, Tom Nicholas Gallery
- Lunch Brackett's Oceanview Restaurant
- Afternoon Tidal Edge Gallery, Windhover Performing Arts Center
- Dinner The Greenery
Day 2
- Morning Halibut Point State Park, Cynthia Curtis Pottery, Square Circle
- Lunch My Place by the Sea
- Afternoon Rockport Golf Club, Tuna Hunter Charters
Day 3
- Morning Paper House, Don Mosher Gallery
- Afternoon Thistle Fine Art, North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 95 to Route 128 to Route 127. Downtown has parking meters ($.25 per half-hour) and often has no spots. Rockport has a free parking facility, the Blue Gate Parking Lot (open June-Oct), located as you arrive on Route 127 about 1/4 mi (400 m) past the Rockport Visitor Information booth. From the parking lot, it is about a 3/4-mile walk to downtown Rockport, but a shuttle to town only costs $1 each way.
By train
The commuter rail run from Boston's North Station is about a 70-minute trip and costs $7.75 one-way. Rockport's station is off Railroad Avenue, less than a mile from the center of town.
By bus
The Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA), +1 978-283-7916, runs buses from town to town on Cape Ann.
Get around
The main tourist areas are very compact and walkable. Having a car lets one explore some of the other coastal areas.
See
Galleries
See Tom Nicholas Gallery
See Square Circle
Do
Do Rockport Golf Club
Do North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center
Fishing
Buy
Eat
Eat Brackett's Oceanview Restaurant
Seasonal. Su-F 11:30AM-8PM, Sa 11:30AM-9PM. Lunch $8-20, Dinner $11-27.
Eat My Place by the Sea
Bearskin Neck. Wonderful, breathtaking spot at the very end of Bearskin Neck.
Drink
A dry town for 70 years until 2005, restaurants and inns serve liquor, but there are no bars or liquor stores.
Sleep
Motels
- Bearskin Neck Motor Lodge, 64 Bearskin Neck, +1 978-546-6677.
Inns
Stay Emerson Inn by the Sea
This charming oceanfront hotel 35 miles NE of Boston combines modern comfort with traditional graciousness. Try the popular whale watching tours. This particular in is set on a beautiful piece of property overlooking Bearskin Neck and Halibut Point. What is interesting about this particular in is that it is set in the middle of a residential neighborhood, unlike the other inns in Rockport. Not only do guest enjoy their stay their, but locals who live in the community enjoy dinners and drink there. A simply charming place to stay.
Stay Seaward Inn
Stay Yankee Clipper Inn
Bed & Breakfasts
Stay Lantana House
Stay Rocky Shores
Stay Sally Webster Inn
Go next
Boston, the White Mountains or Southern Coast of Maine are nearby destinations.
Nearby
Gloucester
City / town · 30 listings · 3 mi away
Essex
City / town · 15 listings · 8 mi away
Manchester
City / town · 17 listings · 9 mi away
Ipswich
City / town · 22 listings · 11 mi away
Hamilton
City / town · 16 listings · 11 mi away
Beverly
City / town · 16 listings · 15 mi away
Marblehead
City / town · 17 listings · 16 mi away
Danvers
City / town · 24 listings · 17 mi away
My experience
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