Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

About Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a wild ocean place near an urban world, sits east of Boston, Massachusetts between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. Historically important as a fishing ground, the sanctuary now reigns as a premier whale watching destination and continues to support commercial and recreational fishing. Its shipwrecks serve as time capsules of our nation's maritime history. Visitors can enjoy this wild ocean near an urban area by whale watching, bird watching, diving, and fishing.

How to Get There

The sanctuary is an 842-square-mile area at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, about 25 miles east of Boston. The sanctuary stretches from three miles southeast of Cape Ann to three miles north of Cape Cod.

Plan Your Visit to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Heading to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)