While there are cities and beach towns throughout, the Bay State also has its fair share of rural areas. While many of us may not think about visiting the rural areas around our great state, they are certainly worth checking out. On our rural road trip in MA, we will lead you to some of the best hidden gems in the smallest towns…. and the best rural towns in Massachusetts while we’re at it.

Google Maps
1. Kringle Candle, Bernardston
Kringle Candle/Google
220 South St, Bernardston, MA 01337, USA
Arbab Naseebullah Kasi/Google
Make your way to Kringle Candle in Barnardston to start this rural road trip. This flagship store offers a wide variety of candles, barware, gifts, and more. It's an incredibly fun store to explore especially the fragrance library!
2. The Montague Bookmill, Montague
The Montague Bookmill/Facebook
Old Greenfield Road, Old Greenfield Rd, Montague, MA 01351, USA
The Montague Bookmill/Facebook
Inside a historic grist mill is a store that's filled to the brim with books. Not only that but there's a cafe inside! Spend some time perusing the shelves of the Montague Bookmill and grab a coffee and a bagel while you're here.

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3. Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Hadley
Ronald Czelusniak/Google
This 260-acre nature preserve in Hadley is filled with forests, grasslands, and even a river. Go for a hike and view several of the bird and wildlife species that call this refuge home.
4. Keystone Arch Bridges, Chester
01011, Chester, MA 01011, USA
H.E. R./Google
The Keystone Arch Bridges are located within the 900-acre Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area. Here you will find two stunning arched bridges made of stone. Historically, these bridges are part of the country's first railroad mountain pass.
5. Monument Mountain Reservation, Great Barrington
01230, NEW MARLBORO, MA 01230, USA
Jens Bergner/Google
Monument Mountain Reservation is a gorgeous 503-acre area of Great Barrington. Here you will find the 1,642-foot Monument Mountain with a summit that overlooks the magnificent Housatonic River Valley.
6. Race Brook Falls, Sheffield
Race Brook Falls, Sheffield, MA 01257, USA
Adam Watkinson/AllTrails
Just off Route 41 in Sheffield is a trail that will take you to not just one but five waterfalls! Race Brook Falls is quite a hidden gem in rural Massachusetts.
7. Ashintully Gardens, Tyringham
Ashintully Gardens, Sodom Rd, Tyringham, MA 01264, USA
Anya L. Amorim/Google
Ashintully Gardens is the type of place that inspires fairy tales. Ruins of an estate, along with sculptures, dot the idyllic landscape. You won't help but become enchanted as you take a stroll.

Have you ever been to any of the destinations on our rural road trip in Massachusetts? If so, tell us in the comments! For directions, use our interactive Google Maps link.

For those of you who are looking for additional road trip ideas, check out these unforgettable road trips in Massachusetts.

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More to Explore

Rural Towns in Massachusetts

Tori Jane | December 12, 2023

What are some charming rural towns in Massachusetts?  

Massachusetts isn’t an enormous state, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t jam-packed with small towns. In fact, small towns are (almost) all Massachusetts has! If you’re looking to get away any time soon, be sure to add these small towns to your to-do list:  

  • Deerfield – This little town isn’t just small, it’s filled with history! The whole town is adorable, but downtown Deerfield is especially so.  
  • Montague – This town is wonderful for those who love to read. It’s most well-known for its wonderful bookstore.  
  • Hadley – This town is so amazingly photogenic that you’ll feel like you stepped into a painting.  

Learn more about each of these delightful small towns in Massachusetts. 

Which small towns in Massachusetts should I add to my bucket list?  

Luckily, the list of awesome small towns in MA doesn’t begin – or end – with the ones mentioned above. There are so many more that it’s tough to list them all in a couple short bullet points. However, a couple more awesome small towns in Massachusetts include:  

  • Stockbridge – This gorgeous little town is often mentioned in “most beautiful” or “most photogenic” lists, and for good reason. It’s idyllic.  
  • Adams – This adorable town is the little sister of North Adams, and it’s got all the charm you could hope for.  
  • Rehoboth – This town is great for history lovers. It’s one of the oldest towns in the state, and it’s lovely to boot.  

Learn more about all these delightful small towns in MA and more!  

What are some of the nicest small town getaways in MA? 

Looking for an idyllic getaway? Some small towns in MA seem like they were MADE for exactly that, and they’re pure magic through and through. A few options when it comes to small town getaways in MA are places like: 

  • Concord – This small town in MA is positively magical. It feels like something out of a painting.  
  • Rockport – Home to the “most painted building in the nation”, this little town by the seashore is known for its awesome shops, eateries, and more that you’ll only find here.  
  • Martha’s Vineyard – We’re pretty sure this is the most beautiful town in the world. Enough said.  

Learn more about all these amazing small-town getaways in Massachusetts.   

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