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Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, MA

Photo: Dclo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Plymouth Rock

79 Water St · Plymouth, MA

Why you should go…

Plymouth Rock sits at the edge of Plymouth Harbor in Pilgrim Memorial State Park, sheltered by a Roman Doric portico designed by McKim, Mead and White. You look down through the columns at a tide-washed granite boulder inscribed with 1620, the year the Mayflower Pilgrims arrived. Only about a third of the original stone remains, since it broke during a 1774 move and visitors chipped off souvenirs. The waterfront park around it has harbor views and historic monuments.

  • #pilgrims
  • #historic landmark
  • #state park
  • #waterfront
  • #mayflower

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Plymouth Rock, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Captain John Boats

    $50+

    Plymouth-based whale-watching fleet running trips to Stellwagen Bank since 1946.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Plimoth Patuxet Museums

    $25–$50

    Living history museum recreating 17th-century Plymouth and Wampanoag life.

    2.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Water Wizz

    $25–$50

    Cape Cod water park with slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cape Cod Canal Region

    Free

    Gateway towns of Bourne, Sandwich, and Wareham anchored by the historic Cape Cod Canal.

    15 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Onset

    Free

    A Cape Cod Canal-area beach village known for its bandstand, beach, and free summer events.

    16 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Sandwich

    Free

    The oldest town on Cape Cod, with historic mills, museums, and quiet beaches.

    16 mi awayMore like this