Boston Harbor Islands National Park - Massachusetts - A National Park with 34 Islands and Campground Facilities

The Boston Harbor Islands National Park is an area where you can walk along the location of a Civil War era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, roam lush walking trails, camp under the stars or relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming, all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated in the park of 34 islands and peninsulas of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.

This 17 island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, just 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Seventeen of the islands are managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Six of the 17 islands, and Webb State Park, a 36-acre peninsula in Weymouth, are staffed. Public use every day during the summer and weekends in spring and autumn is available to visitors.

This 36-acre peninsula in Weymouth features scenic walking trails, views of the harbor, tables, grills and a picnic pavilion and served as a Nike missile site during the Cold War.

Park guests enjoy shell and slate beaches, easy hiking trails, old hayfields gone wild with myrtle, raspberry and elderberry, and old roads of historical and strong. The shade is in the picnic sites, trail benches, and the wooded paths. There are many sights of historic and scenic harbor, as Dorchester, Quincy, Hull and Hingham Bays, Blue Hills, Boston skyline, 34 islands, and outward to the Massachusetts Bay.

Resident Park Managers as well as live performers during the season visit the island and provide supervision to the area. Park Managers give island tours, and offer educational programs during special events.

Visitors must utilize all park policy. There is no drinking water or food store available on the island. Visitors are recommended to plan accordingly. Composting toilets are available. There are no pets allowed on any islands within Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Day use permits are required for groups of 25 or more and may require a fee.

Overnight camping is allowed only in designated islands, as well as grape, Bumpkin, Lovells, from late June to early September. Camping is by reservation and only charged a fee. Camping on the islands is a primitive camping experience. Weather conditions are variable and temperatures in the port are generally cooler than the mainland. No water or food available on the islands, so please plan accordingly.

Limited space is available for docking pleasure boats at Georges Island on a first come, first served basis. In all the other islands, docks are available for download only. Small strollers are available for anchoring offshore. Ferry service is available. Visitors can take the Harbor Islands Express ferry to Spectacle Island, which is only 10 minutes from Boston, and Georges Island. Tickets are available online or on the ferry kiosk at Long Wharf.