City walk Massachusetts — Boston, USA

Boston's Freedom Trail: Following the Red Line

A single day tracing the red line of the Freedom Trail, from Boston Common through the old town to the North End and across to Bunker Hill and USS Constitution.

Duration: 1 day
Distance: 4 km
Difficulty: Easy
Best season: May–October

The Freedom Trail is a walking route about 2.5 miles long, marked by a line of red brick and paint set into the sidewalk, that links sixteen sites central to the American Revolution. You simply follow the red line from Boston Common through the oldest streets of the city to the North End, then across the river to Charlestown.

It is one of the most rewarding history walks in the country, and one of the easiest to navigate — the line does the work, so you can look up at the buildings rather than down at a map. The going is flat until the very end, where a climb to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument is optional.

Getting there. Park Street Metro station opens right onto Boston Common where the trail begins; from Logan International Airport it is about 20 minutes on the Blue and Green lines, or a short ride on the Silver Line bus.

Permits & tickets. The trail itself is free and always open, and most stops — the burying grounds, the churches, the meeting halls — can be seen without a ticket. A few interiors, such as the Paul Revere House and the Old State House museum, charge a small admission. Boarding USS Constitution is free but requires a valid photo ID for adults and a short security screening run by the U.S. Navy.

Good to know:

This is genuine New England: winters are cold and often snowy, so late spring through autumn makes for far better walking.
The Charlestown leg, including Bunker Hill and the Navy Yard, adds real distance — leave time or pick it up by ferry across the harbor.

Download waypoints (GPX) Points of interest in walking order — not a trail trace.

Day by day

DayDistanceAscentDescentWalking time

Day1 Hardest dayThe red line from the Common to Charlestown

Distance4 kmAscentNot recordedDescentNot recordedWalking timeNot recorded

Day 1

The red line from the Common to Charlestown

Boston Common → USS Constitution, Charlestown Navy Yard 4 km

Navigate this day

Follow the red line north and east from Boston Common through the old town and the North End, then across the river to Bunker Hill and the Navy Yard.

Segments

Boston Common 0.3 km Map

Park Street station → Boston Common visitor center

Park paths

Start on Boston Common, the oldest public park in the country, in use since 1634 and once a cattle pasture and militia training field. The Freedom Trail's red line begins here at the visitor center. Free and open daily; allow about 20 minutes to find your feet.
The Massachusetts State House 0.2 km Map

Boston Common → Massachusetts State House

City sidewalks and a short rise

Climb Beacon Hill to the State House, seat of the Massachusetts government, its golden dome a landmark above the Common. Designed by Charles Bulfinch and opened in 1798, it stands on land once owned by John Hancock. Free guided tours run on weekdays; about 20 minutes from outside.
Granary Burying Ground 0.3 km Map

Massachusetts State House → Granary Burying Ground

City sidewalks

Follow the line down to the city's third-oldest cemetery, founded in 1660 on Tremont Street. Here lie Revolutionary figures including Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and the victims of the Boston Massacre. Free and open; about 20 minutes among the old slate stones.
Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market 0.6 km Map

Granary Burying Ground → Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market

City sidewalks

Reach Faneuil Hall, the marketplace and meeting hall opened in 1742 and nicknamed the 'Cradle of Liberty' for the revolutionary speeches made inside. Beside it, the long granite halls of Quincy Market, built in 1826, now hold food stalls and shops. Free to enter; a good 45 minutes, longer if you eat.
Paul Revere's House & the Old North Church 0.8 km Map

Faneuil Hall → Old North Church, North End

Narrow North End streets

Wind into the North End to the Paul Revere House, the patriot's former home and the oldest surviving building in downtown Boston, then on to the Old North Church of 1723, the city's oldest standing church, where the signal lanterns of Revere's ride were hung. The house charges a small fee; the church is free to enter. About 50 minutes for both.
Bunker Hill & USS Constitution 1.8 km Map

Old North Church → USS Constitution, Charlestown Navy Yard

Bridge crossing, streets and monument steps

Cross the Charlestown Bridge to the Bunker Hill Monument, a granite obelisk on Breed's Hill marking the 1775 battle, with an optional climb of its inner staircase. Finish at the Charlestown Navy Yard aboard USS Constitution, 'Old Ironsides', the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Both are free; boarding the ship needs photo ID and a short screening. Around 90 minutes with the walk.