Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center: 9:30AM - 1:00PM
Miza AI
Plan your Boston Harbor Islands trip
About the Park
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush 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 on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.
Ready to explore Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area?
Take the stress out of planning. Our AI will automatically sequence your stops, find the best hotels, and optimize your driving time in seconds.
What to See & Do
Learn about Boston's "Wicked" High Tides
Learn about Boston's coastlines and King tides by taking the High Tide Trail audio tour or joining a high tide program hosted by our partners, the Stone Living Lab.
Hike Spectacle Island's Drumlins
Hike one of the drumlins of Spectacle Island to catch beautiful views of the city and harbor.
Visit One of the Boston Harbor Islands
Made up of 34 unique islands and peninsulas, the Boston Harbor Islands have something for everyone. Choose an island and plan your adventure!
Hike with a Ranger on Spectacle Island
Join a ranger for a hike on Spectacle Island!
Fort Tours on Georges Island
Join a ranger for a tour of Fort Warren on Georges Island!
Take a Lighthouse Cruise
Cruise Boston’s outer harbor to learn about navigational aids in Boston and the uses of the islands over time.
Self-Guided Tours
High Tide Trail
Join the National Parks of Boston and the Stone Living Lab on the High Tide Trail! Once known as the Shawmut Peninsula, Boston’s coastline was ringed by salt marshes and beaches. Since colonization, the coastline has been filled, moved, and transformed into the Boston we know today. Now, sea level rise due to human-caused climate change is changing the coastline once again. Follow the High Tide Trail to explore the history of Boston’s changing coastline and learn what future changes may be in store.
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park: Georges Island Tour
Welcome to Georges Island! This self-guided audio tour will help acquaint you with the history and function of the Island and Fort Warren. This audio tour is presented by the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park partnership, including the National Park Service, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, and Boston Harbor Now.
Georges Island (Isla de Georges) Visita autoguiada
¡Bienvenidos a Georges Island! Este recorrido autoguiado de audio le ayudará a familiarizarse con la historia y las funciones de la isla y de Fort Warren. Esta audioguía es presentada por la asociación de Boston Harbor Islands Parque Nacional y Estatal, incluyendo el Servicio de Parques Nacionales,el Departamento de Conservación y Recreación de Massachusetts y Boston Harbor Now.
Visitor Centers
Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center
Located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center offers visitor information and serves as a waypoint before beginning your journey to the Boston Harbor Islands.
Georges Island Visitor Center
The Visitor Center on Georges Island occupies a 1906 historic brick building that originally stored and serviced mines for the minefield located in Boston Harbor. The Visitor Center has a ranger-staffed desk, island and harbor information, a short informative movie about Fort Warren, an exhibit on the island's history, and restrooms. All are available during operating hours.
Spectacle Island Visitor Center
The Spectacle Island Visitor Center has a staffed information desk, a small island exhibit and informative island movie, and restrooms.
Peddocks Island Visitor Center
The former Guardhouse for Fort Andrews, the Peddocks Island Visitor Center is located near the dock. An information desk and seating are available with restrooms located on the lower level.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
There are many ways to enjoy Boston Harbor Islands and many ways to get there. For more information on how to get to the park by ferry, car, or private boat, please visit www.bostonharborislands.org.
Park Amenities
Operating Hours
Boston Harbor Islands
Boston Harbor Islands is a Partnership park. Operating hours and seasons vary. Visit bostonharborislands.org to plan your trip.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Little Brewster - Boston Light Looking South
Camera looking south from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. View looks toward the town of Hull across the Nantasket Roads shipping route from the island.
Little Brewster - Boston Light Looking East
Camera looking east from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. View looks toward the larger Massachusetts Bay. Times reported are Eastern, tide data is reported from NOAA station 8443970 in Boston, Massachusetts relative to the Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) tidal datum.
Little Brewster - Boston Light Looking North
Camera looking north from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. View looks toward the northern approaches into Boston Harbor, with Graves Light visible into the distance. The smaller Brewster Islands, Middle and Outer, are in the midground, with the Shag Rocks on the near right.
Little Brewster - Boston Light Looking West
Camera looking west from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. View looks toward downtown Boston in the distance, with several islands including Great Brewster and Georges Island in the midground.
Photos
A big arched door opens to the parade ground of Fort Warren.
Group of children sit on a bench on a drumlin hill on Spectacle Island overlooking Boston Harbor
view from Spectacle Island overlooking the water with a public ferry and a sailboat
a white lighthouse and other buildings on Little Brewster Island at sunset. City in the distance.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Location
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Charlestown, MA 02129
Build your Boston Harbor Islands itinerary
Tell Miza your dates, pace, and interests—get a day-by-day plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
Searching for the best hotel deals near Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area...
Planning Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.