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The Freedom Trail is arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Boston. The 16 sites of the Freedom Trail tell the story of how America gained her independence, with leading characters like Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Franklin. If you’re planning on walking the Freedom Trail, here’s a guide to the things you can see along the way.
Boston Freedom Trail Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Boston Freedom Trail start?
Traditionally the start of the Boston Freedom Trail is in Boston Common and runs north up to the Bunker Hill monument, although you could go the opposite direction or walk only a portion of the trail. Several of the stops are clustered together between Boston Common and Faneuil Hall. Check out the map below for more information.
How long does it take to walk the Freedom Trail?
Block off at least 2 hours to walk the Freedom Trail, although you can take more or less depending on how much time you spend at each stop. If you plan on going inside the buildings to take any tours or check out the museums, it could easily be 3-4 hours. The Boston Freedom Trail is about 2.5 miles end-to-end, but remember that the trail is not a loop, so you’ll spend some time getting back to Boston common after you finish the trail at Bunker Hill Monument.
Are there any hotels near Freedom Trail?
Yes! There are lots of options right around Boston Common including Boston Park Plaza, Hyatt Regency Boston and Omni Parker House to name a few. We decided to stay in Cambridge for our trip, which was quite a bit cheaper than this area. We traveled from the Kendall T stop to the Park Street Stop right at the edge of Boston Common on the Red Line.
Where do I park for the Boston Freedom Trail?
If you are planning on driving into the city instead of taking other transportation, you will most likely need to find a parking garage as there is limited street parking around Boston Common. Luckily there are tons of options around the area, but do your research to find the best ones. You can use a parking app to find the cheapest rates.
Do I need a Freedom Trail Tour Guide?
Considering this is a self-guided Freedom Trail post, the answer is no! Because the Freedom Trail follows a brick line through the city it’s very easy to navigate, however if you are looking to learn more about the history of the buildings along the trail there are guided tours available. Be aware that most walking tours will not visit all of the sites and that some sites along the way charge admission fees which are not included in the cost of the tour. If you are looking for something in between, there are also interactive Boston Freedom Trail apps available for iTunes and Android.
Freedom Trail Markers
Sites along the Freedom Trail are designated by these markers. The trail itself follows a brick pathway, although you don’t necessarily need to follow it if you have a map. The path sometimes meanders a bit through the city and isn’t always the most direct route (especially further north), however if you don’t have a map, following the red brick road and looking for these medallions on the sidewalk are all you need to walk the trail.
Boston Common
Typically your first stop on the Freedom Trail will be Boston Common. Created in 1634, the park is the oldest in the United States and is the southernmost location on the trail. Most of the guided tours start from the visitor center in the Common and visit the sites around the Common. In the winter, you can find people ice skating on Frog Pond, or in the summer having picnics and strolling through the park.
Massachusetts State House
The Massachusetts State House is the Capitol building and both the governor and legislative bodies of Massachusetts have their chambers here, right across the street from Boston Common. The State House isn’t open on weekends so we weren’t able to tour inside, but it is open during the weekdays during regular working hours. If you do come during the week, you can take a 30-45 minute guided tour of the MA State House. The most notable part of the tour is the “Sacred Cod”, which hangs in the House of Representatives Chamber to represent the importance of the fishing industry to Massachusetts.
Park Street Church
Park Street Church sits right on the corner of Boston Common, just down the street from the MA State House. It was founded in 1809 and at the time it was built was the tallest building in Boston. The church still offers services every Sunday and is open to visitors in the summer.
Granary Burying Ground
Granary Burying Ground resides directly adjacent to Park Street Church. It is the final resting place of the parents of Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and one of the victims of the Boston Massacre. Many of the tombstones are actually right on top of one another, showing that there are multiple people buried on that particular plot, typically families who couldn’t afford additional space. Thousands of people were laid to rest on this relatively small piece of land.
Kings Chapel
After quickly hitting the first four stops on the Freedom Trail, Kings Chapel is a short walk away as you move out of the Boston Common area and north towards Faneuil Hall. While it is free to enter, the site does suggest donating a few dollars to walk around inside the chapel. The pews themselves were more like small boxes with plush seating, much different from what I’m used to. They also had easels set up with posters discussing the people who attended church there. It was a great quick history lesson. If you decide to go inside, plan around 10-15 minutes. There is also a smaller graveyard attached to the church and a crypt below that is the final resting place for around 120 people.
Latin School and Benjamin Franklin Statue
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin to me is synonymous with Philadelphia. However, he was born and spent the first 17 years of his life in Boston, including attending the Latin School: America’s first public school. His statue can be found outside the school detailing some of his many accomplishments. While he (and several other famous revolutionists) attended school here, he was also a dropout. The school still exists today, but has been relocated out towards Fenway Park.
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Old Corner Bookstore
A short walk away brings you to the Old Corner Bookstore and Old South Meeting House. The Old Corner Bookstore is Boston’s oldest commercial building. Popular works such as Walden, The Scarlet Letter, and Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, were published by Ticknor and Fields, who were the original residents of the building. Today the building is still used for commercial purposes, currently housing a Chipotle. I find it a shame that the space wasn’t able to be preserved as it was, but I suppose leasing the space is better than knocking such an old building down to make way for newer establishments.
Old South Meeting House
The Old South Meeting House is just a stone’s throw away from the Old Corner Bookstore. One of the unique things about Boston is the mix between all of these old buildings and the new skyscrapers that surround them. The Old South Meeting House is no exception. According to the Freedom Trail website, Old South Meeting House is one of the first buildings to be saved in the United States for its historical importance. It was going to be torn down, likely to be replaced by one of the larger modern buildings behind it. During the American Revolution, it was a meeting place for debates, including one over the controversial tax on tea which led to the infamous Boston Tea Party.
Old State House
Inside the Old State House lies the Old State House museum. While there is a small fee to enter, there are tons of artifacts from the Revolution and exhibits on the history of the building and the area. Tours are also available; check out the options here.
Boston Massacre Site
On March 5, 1770, five men were shot and killed by British soldiers in a small area outside the Old State House. The incident caused such public outcry that the British forces retreated from Boston and the soldiers who shot at civilians were tried for murder. This was the start of the tensions that would lead many to join the fight for independence from British rule. Reenactments are done every year to commemorate the event.
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall is now a huge tourist destination right in the heart of Boston. The entire marketplace is filled with shopping and dining options and is a great place to take a short break on your Freedom Trail walk. By now you will have visited over half the stops on the trail, however you are only a few blocks from where you started. Many people choose not to continue on the rest of the trail north, and the 90 minute Freedom Trail Tours typically stop here as well. The distance between the stops get significantly longer after this point, with Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution all the way to the north across the river. We stopped here on our day trip to Boston for Magnolia Bakery goodies and to pick up a postcard.
If you are collecting stamps to the national parks in your passport booklet, here is the place to pick up all the ones in the area. We got ours for the Boston National Historical Park, which comprises the entirety of the Freedom Trail.
Paul Revere House
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Paul Revere is famous for his midnight ride, but he was also a popular silversmith and involved in the community. According to the Paul Revere House website, his great-grandson purchased the home in the early 1900’s to ensure it wouldn’t be torn down. Ninety percent of the structure of the house is original along with several pieces of furniture that belonged to Paul Revere’s family. You can view the house museum and courtyard for a small fee that must be paid in cash. Hours vary slightly depending on the season so check out the Paul Revere House hours and prices before planning your visit.
Old North Church
“One if by land, two if by sea” goes the story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride to warn of the British troops’ arrival in Boston. The lanterns were to be hung in the steeple of the Old North Church before Revere and a few other riders made their way to Lexington forever immortalized in Longfellow’s poem The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. You can read the poem in its entirety here. Tours are offered inside the church for a fee, but we were too late in the day to attend one. You can check the availability for the Old North Church Behind the Scenes Tours here.
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
The third burying ground on the Freedom Trail, Copp’s Hill houses some of the North Boston residents including Edmund Hartt, builder of the USS Constitution. There is not too much to see at this site so it is pretty quick to pass through on your way across the river.
USS Constitution
The USS Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” and for good reason. Even though it was made of wood, it was famous in the War of 1812 for cannons not being able to pierce its hull. The ship is the oldest in the US Navy, one of six original ones commissioned by President George Washington. There are a limited number of tours on the boat, and a very nice USS Constitution Museum for all ages with interactive displays showing how the ship was built. This site is a bit unique in that it is post-Independence. The ship wasn’t built and successfully launched into Boston Harbor until 1797, well after the Revolutionary War. However, it was still an important part of protecting America by sea, as up until this point the withdrawal of British troops meant there was no Navy to protect the shores.
Bunker Hill Monument
The Bunker Hill Monument is the last stop on the Freedom Trail walking tour. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first time colonial troops faced off against British Redcoats in late 1774. While the British won the battle, their losses were quite significant. Learn more about the Battle of Bunker Hill here. You are free to walk up the 294 stairs to the top of the monument during the day. The monument itself took 17 years to build as it was quite expensive, but was finally dedicated as a national monument in 1843.
How Do I Get Back to Beginning of the Freedom Trail?
Once you reach Bunker Hill, you are quite a few miles away from where you started (and likely where you parked your car). There are a couple of options for getting back to the Boston Common area. These include getting an Uber or taxi, walking the whole way back to Boston Common, or you could do what we did and walk back across to the North Station T stop and ride the green line back down to the Park Street Station.
Other Things to Do Along the Boston Freedom Trail
- Check out the “Make Way for Ducklings” Statue in the Boston Public Garden
- Grab dinner at Giacomo’s in Little Italy and stop by Mike’s Pastry for cannolis
- Grab a beer at nearby Rock Bottom Brewing or the North End Beerworks before heading back to Boston Common
- Satisfy your sweet tooth at Magnolia Bakery in Quincy Market while you pick up a souvenir
Boston Freedom Trail Map
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