New Bedford



New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production.

New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball and has a population of about 11,0000 (2020).

Understand
New Bedford is a city of 101,000 people (2020), many of Portuguese (particularly Madeira) or Cape Verdean ancestry, still with a great many off the boat immigrants from both. The city has gone through strongly contrasting cycles of poverty and wealth, from its relatively late (by Southeast Massachusetts standards) settlement and foundation, to the peak of the whaling industry, its growth as a textile city in the 20th Century, and the subsequent crash brought on by rapid mill closure in the latter 20th century. It's been known as one of the rougher, seedier locales of New England for a number of decades now, but it's strongly on the upswing since the historic center was declared a federally protected historic site in 1996.

While you'll still find plenty of slums, projects, and tenements throughout the city, you'll also find the waterfront full of narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways, historic 18th- and 19th-century buildings, and upscale restaurants and museums. It's also one of the only fortified cities in the U.S., featuring an impressive (and walkable) gated harbor wall that runs from the South End cove across the mouth of the Acushnet river to neighboring Fairhaven. Additionally, there are pockets of grandeur in most parts of the city, with a long stretch of Victorian mansions on County Street that features some truly jaw-dropping architecture, akin to Newport's humbler dwellings. Though the downtown is perfectly safe at night these days, many neighborhoods are still dangerous and walking through them is not advised.

By plane

 * T.F. Green Airport in Warwick (Rhode Island).
 * Logan International Airport in Boston.

By car
Route 93 South (13 miles). The highway forks in Braintree; stay right. Sign reads: "93 South, Dedham-Providence." (3 miles). Take exit 4 onto Route 24 South. This is a left lane exit (24 miles). Take exit 12 off Route 24 onto Route 140 South (19 miles) until Exit 2E: Interstate 195 East (1.3 miles) to Exit 15: Downtown - Route 18 South (1.1 miles). Turn right at lights onto Elm Street. Public parking garage two blocks on right.
 * Interstate 195, Route 140 and Route 6 run through the city.
 * From Boston and points north:

Route 6 West to Route 25 to Interstate 195 West, Exit 15: "Downtown - Route 18 South". Turn right at lights onto Elm Street. Public parking garage two blocks on right.
 * From Cape Cod and points east:

Interstate 95 North to Interstate 195 East, Exit 15: "Downtown - Route 18 South". Turn right at lights onto Elm Street. Public parking garage two blocks on right.
 * From Providence and points west:

By bus
Peter Pan Bus Lines has up to ten daily departures from Providence. Buses arrive at the SRTA Terminal in downtown.

By bus

 * Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA), 134 Elm Street New Bedford Transportation Center, (email: srtaservice@aol.com)

New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park



 * Waterfront Visitor Center, Wharfinger Building at Pier 3 take pedestrian overpass on Rodman St. An exhibit interprets present-day commercial fishing and the building's past as the city's seafood auction. Start your waterfront adventure here by taking a self-guided tour of the working waterfront, a harbor tour at noon, 2PM, or 4PM (fee) or a ferry ride to Martha's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk island (fee).
 * Waterfront Visitor Center, Wharfinger Building at Pier 3 take pedestrian overpass on Rodman St. An exhibit interprets present-day commercial fishing and the building's past as the city's seafood auction. Start your waterfront adventure here by taking a self-guided tour of the working waterfront, a harbor tour at noon, 2PM, or 4PM (fee) or a ferry ride to Martha's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk island (fee).

Do

 * Balloon Adventures of New Bedford, see Dartmouth.
 * Go to East or West beaches on Rodney French Blvd.
 * Go to East or West beaches on Rodney French Blvd.
 * Go to East or West beaches on Rodney French Blvd.
 * Go to East or West beaches on Rodney French Blvd.
 * Go to East or West beaches on Rodney French Blvd.

Events

 * New Bedford Roots and Branches Festival - July
 * New Bedford Roots and Branches Festival - July

Eat

 * The Baker - New Bedford, 562 Pleasant St, +1 774-202-1901; Great cheap eats. Breakfast, sandwiches, variety of entrees.

Sleep


Try nearby towns for other hotels and motels.

Consular services

 * 🇵🇹 Portugal

Go next
Fairhaven and Westport are neighboring towns. Boston, Cape Cod and Newport are popular tourist destinations.
 * Visit Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket by ferry.