Overview
Swansea is a town near the mouth of the Taunton River in Massachusetts. Swansea is a local retail hub, with businesses lining its central artery, Grand Army of the Republic Highway (GAR Hwy, Route 6). Traveling off the main drag offers opportunities for hiking, boating, and swimming.
5 sights · 3 things to do · 7 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Swansea
Martin House Farm
This home, built in 1728, has been preserved with its original furnishings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Tours are offered, many by local high school students dressed in period attire. Tours include the farm, …
Swansea Historical Society
Local nonprofit based out of a general store built in 1810. Tours of the house can be scheduled by appointment.
Swansea Dam
Small dam on the Cole River provides a serene spot to sit. Located right next to the public library and Joseph Case High School.
Simcock Farm
This working farm offers seasonal activities including hayrides, pumpkin picking, sunflower mazes, corn mazes, and Gifford's Ice Cream.
Village Park
Nice spot for hiking. Features Abram's Rock.
Swansea Boat Ramp
Good boat launch into Mount Hope Bay for smaller craft.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Dec. (climate data from nearby Providence)
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.
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
- EWB New Bedford Regional Airport, New Bedford — 13 mi away. Directions
Both I-195 and Rt. 6 run east-west, and are major routes into Swansea from Providence and Fall River. Travelers from other areas, including Boston, must travel to one of these highways to enter Swansea.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Swansea Historical Society, Swansea Boat Ramp, Swansea Town Beach
- Lunch Plaza Pizza II
- Afternoon Swansea Marina, Swansea Dam
- Dinner Thai Taste
Day 2
- Morning Martin House Farm
- Lunch Eskimo King
- Dinner Cornerstone Restaurant & Bakery
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.
Understand
Swansea is a quiet suburb of Providence, Rhode Island and Fall River, Massachusetts. At the turn of the 20th century, trolleys connected Swansea with Providence, Fall River, and Taunton. The town is an ocean front town that has a town beach. The town also has many streams and reservoirs that are good for fishing.
Get in
By plane
- Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston is the primary international airport serving the area.
- T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Warwick (Rhode Island) is the town's nearest major domestic airport.
By car
Both I-195 and Rt. 6 run east-west, and are major routes into Swansea from Providence and Fall River. Travelers from other areas, including Boston, must travel to one of these highways to enter Swansea.
- Interstate 195 runs east-west between Providence and Cape Cod. (Exits: 5, 8)
- U.S. Route 6, 3000 mi in length, connects Swansea with bordering Somerset and Seekonk. Most Swansea businesses are on or just off of Route 6.
- MA Route 118 starts in Attleboro to the north and terminates in Swansea.
- MA Route 103 connects Swansea with Warren (Rhode Island) and Somerset's southern shore. Primary route serving south Swansea.
- MA Route 136 runs north to Rehoboth.
By train
The nearest MBTA commuter rail stops from Boston are in Providence and Attleboro.
By bus
- The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) offers daily buses from Fall River.
Get around
Swansea is most easily traveled by car. There is a SRTA bus route that provides limited stops along Route 6 and Swansea Mall Drive.
Swansea is full of bike riders, joggers, and dog walkers. The town has many bike routes on its roads. Some roads include Old Warren Rd., and Route 118. There is a major bike path in the area. The East Bay Bike Path is a 14 mile bike path that stretches from Providence to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. It passes through the city of East Providence as well as the nearby townships of Barrington and Warren.
See and do
Museums
Outdoors
See Swansea Dam
Small dam on the Cole River provides a serene spot to sit. Located right next to the public library and Joseph Case High School.
Boating and Beaches
Do Swansea Marina
This facility in Swansea's Ocean Grove neighborhood connects local boaters with Mount Hope Bay.
Do Swansea Town Beach
Small public beach offering swimming and boating. Prohibited: dogs, fires, overnight camping, alcohol.
Buy
While the Swansea Mall closed its doors in 2019, Swansea's shopping centers continue to attract traffic from the surrounding area.
Shop RK Swansea Place
Retailers include Target, Marshalls, and PetSmart. Food options: Starbucks, Five Guys, and McDonald's.
Eat
Ice cream
Eat Eskimo King
Over 350 flavors of soft serve ice cream make this roadside gem stand out. Also serving hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sundaes.
Eat Ice Cream Barn (at Baker Farm)
Farm-fresh dairy, local ingredients, and homemade waffle cones make this some of the region's best ice cream. The dairy cows at Baker Farm across the street peer over the fence at you while you eat the ice cream- it doesn't get much fresher than that.
Asian
Eat Hoy Tin
Staple for local Chinese food favorites, including Chow Mein sandwiches.
Eat Thai Taste
The region's only Thai restaurant, offering delicious Pad Thai and Southeast Asian coconut curries.
Lunch
Eat Cornerstone Restaurant & Bakery
Dinner
Eat Venus de Milo
This local landmark is the venue for almost every wedding, banquet, and benefit dinner held in a 10-mile radius of Swansea. Locally famous for its Minestrone wedding soup, along with Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish banquet meals.
Sleep
Stay Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Stay Rodeway Inn
Go next
Popular New England tourist areas around town:
- Cape Cod is located about 44 miles east of the town.
- Newport, RI is located only 23 miles south of the town. It's about a half hour drive. Ocean Drive in Newport is the home of the Newport Mansions.
- Boston is located 54 miles northeast from Swansea. It's about a 1 hour drive.
- Providence, RI is only 13 miles to the west. The ride should only take 15 minutes.
- Battleship Cove, home of the USS Massachusetts battleship, is located in Fall River, MA which is only 5 miles. The ride will only be 5 minutes.
Nearby
Somerset
City / town · 13 listings · 4 mi away
Fall River
City / town · 88 listings · 4 mi away
Warren
City / town · 15 listings · 5 mi away
Bristol
City / town · 34 listings · 6 mi away
Barrington
City / town · 30 listings · 7 mi away
Tiverton
City / town · 19 listings · 9 mi away
Freetown
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Seekonk
City / town · 22 listings · 9 mi away
My experience
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