Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport

Embark on a picturesque driving tour along the New England coastline, exploring charming fishing towns, iconic lighthouses, and learning about the tragic tale of the Perfect Storm.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Gloucester Visitor Center at Stage Fort Park - Our Cape Ann adventure kicks off at the Gloucester Visitor Information Center, where we’ll take in stunning views of the waterfront.

Note: This 24-mile tour highlights Cape Ann’s key attractions in 1-2 hours.

  • Tablet Rock - Before we start our drive, we’ll visit the impressive Tablet Rock. In 1907, a plaque was unveiled here to honor the area’s first settlers.
  • Stage Fort Park - We can also opt to stroll around this area before driving, enjoying the park’s, ocean’s, and city’s spectacular views.
  • The Fishermen’s Memorial - Our scenic drive along Cape Ann’s harbor begins after we cross the canal. First, we’ll see the iconic Fisherman’s Memorial. As we proceed, we’ll delve into Cape Ann’s fishing heritage and the famous movie “The Perfect Storm.”
  • Gloucester HarborWalk - Here, we can choose to pause and explore Cape Ann’s Harborwalk. The path features 41 granite slabs that tell pieces of the town’s long, quirky, and sometimes somber history. These “story moments” were created by volunteers eager to showcase Gloucester’s essence. Together, they form a mosaic of this unique place.
  • Cape Ann Whale Watch - Cape Ann and Gloucester’s whale-watching industry promises whale sightings on every trip. Their boats often take passengers to a marine wildlife preserve, considered one of the world’s top five whale-watching spots!
  • Niles Beach - As we drive along Cape Ann’s scenic waterfront, we’ll encounter various beaches. We can stop at one or more to learn about each one’s unique features.
  • Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House - Beauport, also known as the Sleeper–McCann House, Little Beauport, or Henry Davis Sleeper House, is a historic home nestled on the Cape Ann waterfront. As we drive, we’ll explore more of Cape Ann’s history.
  • Eastern Point Lighthouse - In the early 1800s, Gloucester’s maritime trade was thriving. Ships trading with China or India were making huge profits, and captains were increasingly worried about losing their valuable cargo in shipwrecks. Enter: lighthouses!
  • Thacher’s Island - Thacher Island is a small island off Cape Ann on the Massachusetts coast. Part of the Town of Rockport, it was the site of several naval skirmishes that helped secure a victory for the colonists.
  • Cape Ann Light Station - Annisquam Harbor Light Station is a historic lighthouse on Wigwam Point. As we approach, we’ll learn about shipwrecks, shipping, fishing, and maritime trade.
  • Motif #1 - Our journey brings us to “the most painted building in America”!
  • Bearskin Neck - This area was once home to many bears, but don’t worry—they’re long gone. According to legend, a bear was caught by the tide and killed in 1700, giving the place its name.
  • Rockport - Our scenic drive now takes us from Gloucester into Rockport. We’ll learn more about Rockport and the region as we go.
  • Rockport Granite Pier - Granite Pier is one of Rockport’s oldest piers. It was once used to load ships with granite for transport. As we explore the pier and nearby beaches, we’ll gain insight into Cape Ann’s past and present. Our drive then continues along Halibut Point and Harvey Reservation.
  • Halibut Point State Park - Halibut Point State Park and Halibut Point Reservation are adjacent conserved lands on Cape Ann in Rockport, Massachusetts.
  • Front Beach - Front Beach is a lovely sandy beach on Sandy Bay in Rockport. It’s enjoyed by visitors year-round, from warm summer days to bright winter mornings.
  • Plum Cove Beach - Located on Washington Street in the city’s northern section, this small, quiet beach has been a favorite for families in Lanesville for years. It’s great for small children due to its compact size. Parking is limited to vehicles with a current City of Gloucester beach sticker.
  • Harvey Reservation - Harvey Reservation is one of the best spots on Cape Ann to watch the sunset. This small area offers a short trail, a granite bench, and a perfect spot for a seaside picnic.
  • Goose Cove Reservation - Our scenic drive along Cape Ann loops back to our starting point! We’re almost back at the Gloucester Visitor Information Center.
What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Discover the natural beauty of New England’s most picturesque coastline with this narrated driving tour. Hear the tragic tale of the Perfect Storm and how that fateful day still reverberates along this coast. Cruise past perfect beaches, explore the history of quaint fishing towns, visit iconic lighthouses, and learn why the locals find the call of the sea so impossible to resist.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
Gloucester Visitor Center at Stage Fort Park
Hough Avenue
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.9
(82 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Iamjuliat
Aug 10, 2024
Great app to get the most of Gloucester/Rockport! - Excellent tour! It was a great way to see the Gloucester and Rockport! We wouldn’t have even thought to drive to the spots pointed out - so many gorgeous gems! The only thing that was left out was the Hammond Castle, which was a beautiful visit, but that was a quick drive nearby other stops in Gloucester. The app was easy to use, we didn’t run into any issues. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Se643
Aug 10, 2024
Great way to Tour Rockport and Gloucester at your leisure - My family enjoyed the driving tour and so many points of interest and sites we would have missed. An inexpensive way to tour on your own schedule. I definitely would recommend it year around. We enjoyed the Coast line and beautiful homes and tips we would not have known on our own. Great short day trip from Boston to Rockport and Gloucester. This tour could take 2 hours (more or less depending on your stops).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scherlyn
Jul 26, 2024
Great Guided Audio Tour of Gloucester, Rockport & Cape Ann - This is such a great guide tour! We saw so many beautiful things we never would have seen, at our own pace. Highly recommend!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allison_s
Jun 21, 2024
Excellent app! Worth the money - What a great way to see and learn about two iconic beach towns! The app was super simple to download and it cued perfectly as we drove.
Review provided by Viator
Donna_f
Nov 2, 2023
Saw more and learned the history behind each site - The actual tour was fantastic!! We had an issue launching the app and had to call and download a different one. It took us half an hour to get that done. Had that not happened we would give it a five star. Loved the fact that you could stay as long as you like at one place. We were able to get good pictures because we had the time.
Review provided by Viator
Marsha_p
Sep 14, 2023
Beautiful scenery and fabulous homes to see as you drive along the roads only locals know. - There was guite a bit of information about the history of the area which we enjoyed. Unfortunately due to traffic and few places to pull off the road, some of the locations were barely visible.
Review provided by Viator
Deepa_g
Jul 7, 2024
Meh - but did the trick - Some good history. When the app synced with where we were, it was great, but that only happened once. Wish it synced with Android auto. It's impossible to use this as a solo person. You need two people to coordinate driving and queuing the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Vivian_h
May 5, 2024
no depth of information- The narrative was superficial and lacked any color or entertainment - Struggling to start the darn thing, I needed to call the support line- they were great solved the issues quickly
Review provided by Viator
Sandypc5479tc
Jun 1, 2024
Horrible app and can't connect to your vehicle (per the IT team) - Horrible. We worked on it for a couple of hours, worked with the IT people (they were nice), downloaded it twice and never got it to work for more than a few minutes. Also, the IT lady advised that it cannot be connected to the car so we had to try to run it just from our phone. Almost ruined our one day in Gloucester and we ended up seeing very little.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janie_l
Nov 6, 2023
Crap - Could not get it to work. A rip off. It was complicated to get it to work. How can you continue to say that it is a waste of money.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Traveler
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today