Overview
Spencer is a small town in the Worcester Hills of Central Massachusetts near Worcester. As a rural community, there is not much in the way of nightlife but there are many opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreation.
4 sights · 5 things to do · 10 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Spencer
Saint Joseph's Abbey
A Trappist monk community. Visitors are welcome to walk the areas in front of the church entrance but should not enter the areas of enclosure. The monks are happy to talk to visitors, and pray with or for them if asked. …
Spencer Vietnam Memorial Park
A small war memorial established in 1975 to honor three Spencer men who died in the Vietnam War. It was the first memorial of its kind in the United States.
Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
A Mass Audubon wildlife preserve on the west bank of Burncoat Pond. Has 2 miles of moderate to rugged walking trails.
Bemis Memorial Park
A park commemorating Samuel Bemis, the first permanent European settler of Spencer, and Captain Edmund Bemis, who served in the Seven Years' War. In addition to the monuments, the park has two Parrott guns used during th…
Spencer State Forest
965-acre state forest. Has miles of trails for hiking, mountain-biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The ponds and rivers are available for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. You can also horseback ride or go hu…
Moose Hill Wildlife Management Area
A nature reserve spanning across Spencer, Leicester, and Paxton. Lots of hiking areas, as well as being available for public fishing, hunting, and trapping.
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, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Nov. (climate data from nearby Wellesley)
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.
- ORH Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester — 6 mi away. Directions
- BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 39 mi away. Directions
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 41 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are no major highways through Spencer, so you will need to take either the state routes or backroads. MA Route 9 runs east-west through the center of Spencer, and MA Route 31 runs through the center of Spencer north-south. If you take MA Route 49 northbound from Sturbridge, you will intersect with Route 9 in the western part of Spencer.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $20 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Spencer Vietnam Memorial Park, Bemis Memorial Park, Spencer State Forest
- Lunch Dashboard Diner
- Afternoon Four Chimneys Wildlife Management Area, Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dinner John's Pizza
- Evening Granville's Pub
Day 2
- Morning Saint Joseph's Abbey
- Lunch Black & White Grill
- Afternoon Moose Hill Wildlife Management Area
- Dinner The Goods Bakery & Cafe
- Evening Ethier's Cafe
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
There are no major highways through Spencer, so you will need to take either the state routes or backroads. MA Route 9 runs east-west through the center of Spencer, and MA Route 31 runs through the center of Spencer north-south. If you take MA Route 49 northbound from Sturbridge, you will intersect with Route 9 in the western part of Spencer.
Get around
Traveling by car is the most practical way to navigate Spencer. A bus line does go through the town center, but outside the town center places can be far-flung.
See
See Saint Joseph's Abbey
A Trappist monk community. Visitors are welcome to walk the areas in front of the church entrance but should not enter the areas of enclosure. The monks are happy to talk to visitors, and pray with or for them if asked. Guests are also allowed to join in with mass and prayer services, and are welcome to visit the gift shop. Check the website for the hours for the gift shop, mass and prayer services, and the showroom hours for the Holy Rood Guild.
See Bemis Memorial Park
A park commemorating Samuel Bemis, the first permanent European settler of Spencer, and Captain Edmund Bemis, who served in the Seven Years' War. In addition to the monuments, the park has two Parrott guns used during the American Civil War.
Do
- Spencer Fair Annual event featuring amusement rides, games, vending booths, competitions such as tractor and livestock pulls, and live musical performances.
Outdoor
Indoor
Buy
Eat
Eat Black & White Grill
Family-owned. Booking link: https://www.opentable.com/restaurant/profile/1048327?ref=1068
Eat Savage Smash
Burger restaurant, also serves drinks
Eat Kostas Cafe Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast, brunch, and lunch
Eat Dashboard Diner
Family-owned seasonal roadside food stand. Serves hot dogs, fries, and similar. The ice cream and frosty drinks are homemade. Has call ahead, take out, and outdoor seating.
Eat Charlie's Diner
1950s-style diner with full bar. Serves American-style home-cooking.
Eat Yamato Asian Bistro
East Asian dishes and sushi, both dine-in and take-out
Eat George's Pizza
Offers dine-in, delivery, and drive-through.
Eat Zenshi Handcrafted Sushi
Sushi restaurant with dine-in and takeout
Eat The Goods Bakery & Cafe
Local bakery with dine-in, take-out, and purchase options
Drink
Drink Rapscallion Brewery & Taproom
Brewery and taproom.
Drink Ethier's Cafe
Local cafe and bar
Sleep
Stay Spencer Country Inn
There are a handful of other AirBnB/Vrbo listings for Spencer, in addition to the two listed above.
Go next
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
- The Old Sturbridge Village living history museum is nearby in Sturbridge.
- Six Flags New England amusement park is an hour away in Agawam, south of Springfield
- Rock House Reservation is in the nearby town of West Brookfield. Outdoor Trustees' of Reservations land that historically was a Nipmuc gathering site. Has some beautiful geologic deposits from the last ice age.
Nearby
Brookfields
Rural area · 24 listings · 5 mi away
Charlton
City / town · 29 listings · 8 mi away
Worcester
City / town · 126 listings · 10 mi away
Sturbridge
City / town · 50 listings · 10 mi away
Worcester Hills
Rural area · 19 listings · 12 mi away
Southbridge
City / town · 8 listings · 12 mi away
Millbury
City / town · 7 listings · 12 mi away
Quabbin
Rural area · 18 listings · 13 mi away
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