The Freedom Trail
A red line through Boston links 16 places where the American Revolution began.
Photo: Ingfbruno · CC BY-SA 3.0
Freedom Trail guide: Boston Common, the State House, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, Old North Church, USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, tours and tips.
What to expect
The Freedom Trail is a 4-kilometer path through central Boston, marked by a red line in the sidewalk, that links 16 historic sites from the colonial and revolutionary years.
It begins at Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States, and passes the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, the Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere and John Hancock lie, the Old State House, where the Declaration of Independence was read to Bostonians in 1776, and Faneuil Hall.
In the North End, the trail passes the Paul Revere House, the oldest house in downtown Boston, and Old North Church, where two lanterns were hung on April 18, 1775. It then crosses into Charlestown to USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument.
Walking it is free; some sites charge admission, and guides in colonial dress lead paid tours from Boston Common.
Freedom Trail: top things to do
- 1Old North Church
- 2The Paul Revere House
- 3USS Constitution
- 4The climb up the Bunker Hill Monument
Freedom Trail: best time to visit
April to October; September and October bring fall color and smaller crowds.
Insider tips
- Plan three to four hours with stops.
- Start at the Boston Common visitor center and pick up a map.
- Take the ferry from the Charlestown Navy Yard back downtown instead of walking.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance | Free |
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Walking the trail is free; the Paul Revere House and Old North Church charge small entry fees, and guided tours are paid.
Checked Oct 28, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
365 gas stations within 20 km
- 1.7 km Southie Gas open 24 hours · diesel
- 1.8 km Shell open 24 hours
- 2.2 km Shell
- 2.3 km Gulf
- 2.4 km Speedway
- 2.5 km Shell
- 1.6 km ChargePoint Fast chargers (ChargePoint)
- 1.7 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 1.8 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 3.1 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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