New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England… nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the sea." H. Melville, "Moby-Dick"
About under an hour from Providence, 1.5 hours from Boston and 2 hours from Hartford by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is an urban national park and is fee-free. There is no cost to visit the Visitor Center or walk through the historic downtown area. However, some partner sites and local businesses located within the park may charge their own entrance fees. Please check directly with those locations for current pricing and hours.
Parking: While the park does not have designated parking areas, paid street and garage parking are available through the City of New Bedford.
Hours
| New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park | Daily · Sunrise to Sunset |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Visitor Center & Park Garden ↗Passport stamp
Discover the vibrant heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park at the National Park Visitor Center. Immerse yourself in a brief orientation and gather all the essential materials before embarking on your journey to explore the park, its diverse partners, and the rich tapestry of…
No campgrounds or webcams in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Nathan & Polly Johnson Virtual Tour10-30 Minutes
Nathan and Polly Johnson House Virtual Tour You will learn about the important history of this house and the role it played in many African Americans’ lives in New Bedford and far beyond.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a New Bedford Junior Ranger
Welcome to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s Junior Ranger program! The park is excited to have you become a steward and help continue to preserve and protect your national parks.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- 09:00 AM · runs through Nov 29 · freeLocated at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts, the Visitor Center is situated within the New Bedford…
- TALK: New Bedford Families of the Underground Railroad10/1506:00 PM · freeThe talk is at the visitor center Makerspace, second floor. The main entrance is located at the top of the front steps on William…
- WALKING TOUR: Secrets on the Hill with the 1850s Ladies10/1704:00 PM · freeWalking Tours begin at the Visitor Center. A ranger or volunteer will meet visitors either inside the Visitor Center or Outside…
- TALK: Women on Whaleships10/2206:00 PM · freeThe talk is at the visitor center Makerspace, second floor. The main entrance is located at the top of the front steps on William…
- TALK: The Fall of Whaling and the Rise of Industrialization in New Bedford10/2906:00 PM · freeThe talk is at the visitor center Makerspace, second floor. The main entrance is located at the top of the front steps on William…
- FILM: Into the Deep: America, Whaling, & The World, a Ric Burns film for PBS11/0506:00 PM · freeThe film is at the visitor center Corson building. The main entrance is located at the top of the front steps on William Street.
News
- National Park Service Announces Laurel Racine as Superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park ↗2026-04-16
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The National Park Service has selected Laurel Racine as superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts. Racine assumed her new role on Feb.9, 2026.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New England
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Weather & climate
In New Bedford, Massachusetts, you’ll experience all four seasons in their full glory! Summers are warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 56°F to 83°F, perfect for enjoying the coastal breeze. As the year turns, fall brings crisp, cool weather, with temperatures between 30°F and 70°F, offering the ideal backdrop for stunning autumn foliage. Winters are chilly, with temperatures ranging from 20°F to 45°F, occasionally bringing snow to the scenic city. By spring, the weather begins to warm up again
Questions people ask
Does New Bedford Whaling charge an entrance fee?
No. New Bedford Whaling is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at New Bedford Whaling?
Standard hours are Sunrise to Sunset, every day.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is New Bedford Whaling?
16,089 recreation visits in 2025, number 335 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at New Bedford Whaling?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was New Bedford Whaling established?
1996.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at New Bedford Whaling?
In New Bedford, Massachusetts, you’ll experience all four seasons in their full glory! Summers are warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 56°F to 83°F, perfect for enjoying the coastal breeze.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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