Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport
Description
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/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our Cape Ann excursion begins at the Gloucester Visitor Information Center. We'll get our view breathtaking views of the waterfront from this point. Note: The tour is over 23.5 miles long, with more than 43 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Instead of setting off on our drive right away, we'll first check out the most striking feature of the scenery: the massive Tablet Rock. In 1907, the plaque the rock was unveiled to Commemorate the first settlers in this area.
We can also choose to walk around this area before our driving, admiring the amazing views of the park, the ocean, and the city.
Our drive along Cape Ann's scenic harbor begins once we cross the canal. First, we'll admire Cape Ann's most famous momument: the Fisherman's Memorial. As we continue, we'll learn about the significance of fishing in Cape Ann's past — and the famous movie about it, "The Perfect Storm".
Here we can choose to pause again to explore Cape Ann's Harborwalk. Along the path are 41 granite slabs containing pieces of the town’s long, odd, sometimes sad history. These “story moments,” as they are called, were put together by teams of volunteers eager to show the world what Gloucester is made of. Taken together, they form a mosaic of this strange, beautiful place.
Cape Ann and Glouchester’s whale watching industry guarantees whale sightings with every voyage. Their boats often take passengers to a marine wildlife preserve that’s been called one of the top five whale-watching destinations in the entire world!
As we drive along scenic Cape Ann's waterfront, we'll discover beaches both big and small. We can choose to stop at one, some, or all, as we learn more about what's unique about each one.
Beauport, also known as Sleeper–McCann House, Little Beauport, or Henry Davis Sleeper House, is a beautiful historic home tucked away on the Cape Ann waterfront. As we drive, we'll dive back into Cape Ann's history.
During the early 1800s, maritime trade in Gloucester was booming. Ships traveling between these ports and China or India were turning enormous profits, and captains started to become especially anxious at the prospect of losing their extremely valuable cargo in a shipwreck. Enter: lighthouses!
Thacher Island is a small island off Cape Ann on the Massachusetts coast in the United States. It is a part of the Town of Rockport. It was a place where some naval confrontations, both minor and major, took place, which helped secure a victory for the colonists.
Annisquam Harbor Light Station is a historic lighthouse on Wigwam Point. As we approach, we'll learn more about shipwrecks, shipping, fishing, and maritime trade.
Our brings us to "the most painted building in America"!
This land was once home to a large number of bears, but don’t worry! They’re long gone now. According to legend, one such bear was caught by the tide and killed in 1700, which is how this place got its name.
Our scenic drive along Cape Ann now leaves Gloucester and brings us into Rockport. We'll learn more about Rockport and the region as we drive.
Granite Pier is one of the Rockport’s oldest piers. As you might have guessed, this used to be where ships would be loaded with granite for transport. As we explore the pier and nearby beaches, we'll get a better understanding of the Cape Ann of days past, and that of the present. Our drive then continues along Halibut Point and Harvey Reservation.
Halibut Point State Park and Halibut Point Reservation are adjacent parcels of conserved, oceanside land located on Cape Ann in the town of Rockport, Massachusetts.
Front Beach is a beautiful sandy beach on Sandy Bay in Rockport. From warm summer days to bright winter mornings, this beach is enjoyed by visitors
Located on Washington Street in the northern section of the City, this small, quiet beach has been enjoyed by families in Lanesville for many years. It is a great place to bring small children due to the small confines of the beach. Parking is limited and restricted to vehicles with a current City of Gloucester beach sticker.
Harvey Reservation is one of the best spots on Cape Ann to sit and watch the sunset. This small reservation offers a short trail, a granite bench, and a terrific spot for a seaside picnic.
Our scenic drive along Cape Ann has finally looped back to Stop 1! We're nearly back at the Gloucester Visitor Information Center.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Reviews(108)
It was good, although once the display stopped for some reason. I then played with my phone and I got it to continue.
Jay, thank you for taking my Cape Ann GPS driving tour in Gloucester and Rockport. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, though I’m sorry the display stopped briefly and you had to adjust your phone to continue. At the moment, full map/navigation does not work through Apple CarPlay, but audio playback does work through the car stereo and Apple CarPlay, and full navigation integration has already been requested from Apple and is awaiting approval. If you want more, check out my Self-Guided Tours Bundle—including the Freedom Trail, Salem, and Plymouth. Happy exploring!
The Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport was wonderful. Experienced a few routes I had never taken before. New vista experience was so much fun. The adventure was very rewarding and the commentary was interesting and was set at a great pace. The only suggestion I have is to stress, downloading both apps before you travel and be sure to engage with internet access before you drive to your start point. Attempted the tour a few days before and was unsuccessful. Lessons learned.
Michele, thank you for taking my Cape Ann tour. What can I do to earn five stars next time? Also, you mention two apps — did TripAdvisor ask you to download their app before downloading mine? If you can tell me when/where they said this, I will change my instructions to clarify what to do at that step. Regardless, I’m so glad you enjoyed the new routes, views, commentary, and pace of the adventure. If you're interested in more Massachusetts tours, check out my tours of Boston’s Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
This was a great way to see the Cape Ann area. The ladies at the “Glosta” Visitors Center were also very helpful. I liked the way the tour told us to drive past certain signs to see hidden gems.
Tammy, I’m glad you enjoyed my Cape Ann GPS Driving Tour and that it helped you discover Cape Ann's beauty, with helpful staff at the “Glosta” Visitors Center enhancing your experience. I’m happy you appreciated the hidden gems and the tips for uncovering spots you might miss. If you want more, check out my Self-Guided Tours Bundle—including the Freedom Trail, Salem, and Plymouth. Happy exploring!
My wife and I did this self-driving audio tour while visiting Cape Ann, and it was one of the best parts of our trip. The narration was engaging, easy to follow, and felt like having a local guide along for the ride. We loved being able to explore Gloucester and Rockport at our own pace, stopping whenever we wanted to enjoy the coastal views and take photos. The stories added just the right amount of history and local insight, making the experience much more meaningful. If you're looking for a relaxing and scenic way to discover Cape Ann, this tour is absolutely worth it.
James, I’m glad you and your wife enjoyed my Cape Ann GPS Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport. It’s great the narration felt like having a local guide and helped bring the area’s history to life. I’m happy you explored at your own pace, stopped for photos, and enjoyed the scenery. If you're interested in more Massachusetts tours, check out my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, including the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
The whale watching tour we had booked was canceled due to "heavy fog and high seas." Tripadvisor/Viator refunded our money, no problem, but we had spent the night in Rockport and still were looking to get something out of the trip. Rockport is very cute -- filled with artisan shops selling original paintings, prints, ceramics, glassware and jewelry, which was much more interesting than tourist shops filled with dreck made in China. We followed the tour around the island, and it was fun, interesting and beautiful, with the azaleas, rhododendrons and other spring trees in full bloom. One of the lighthouses was no longer open to the public, which was disappointing. The only other downside I would note was that my sister uses a walker and has pretty serious mobility issues, and most of the shops, the cobblestone streets and tour sites were not handicapped friendly, much less truly accessible.
Jane, I’m glad you enjoyed the Rockport GPS Audio Tour and made the most of your trip despite the whale-watching cancellation. It’s great you explored the town, found local shops, and saw spring blooms. I appreciate your feedback on lighthouse access and accessibility challenges. Many parts of Rockport are historic, with streets, shops, and sites that can be difficult for visitors with mobility issues. If you want to explore more of Massachusetts, consider my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
We’ve done other self-guided tours in different areas. This Cape Ann guided tour was probably the best- the hardest part for us has been the directions and accuracy with what the tour guide is saying and where we’re are on the tour. But this one was so very easy to use- the gps set up aligned with the stories. We never got off track. It was fun!
Amy, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Cape Ann GPS Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport! It’s wonderful to know this was one of your best self-guided tour experiences and that the GPS aligned well with the stories so you never got off track. Once travelers reach the starting point and follow the route, everything should work smoothly, and I’m happy that was your experience. If you're interested in exploring more of Massachusetts, consider my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
It is super easy and super fun and very informative. We could not finish the tour the first day, but we easily picked it up on day two. That was a great feature
Joanne, I’m really glad you found my Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport super easy, fun, and informative. It’s great to hear that you were able to pause after day one and then pick it right back up on day two. If you're interested in exploring more of Massachusetts, consider my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
This self guided tour exceeded our expectations. It was easy to download and setup. The app provided turn instructions in addition to lots of great info about the sights we were seeing. Whenever we made stops and quit the app, it easily picked right back up where we left off and continued the tour. Would highly recommend.
James, I’m so glad you enjoyed my Cape Ann Driving Audio Tour and that the download, setup, and turn-by-turn directions made everything smooth for you, even after your stops. Thanks for sharing your experience! If you’re exploring more of Massachusetts, you might also like my Massachusetts Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more.
Very organized and easy to follow. Led us to very scenic roads that we would not have found otherwise
Ankit, I’m so glad you enjoyed my Cape Ann Driving Audio Tour in Gloucester and Rockport. It’s great to hear you found the tour well-organized and easy to follow, and that it helped you discover those beautiful scenic roads off the beaten path. If you're interested in exploring more of Massachusetts, consider my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
Very easy to use, we’d have never taken the path to see all the beautiful scenery without this tour.
Leslie, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my Cape Ann Self-Guided Driving Tour in Gloucester and Rockport. It’s great to know that the tour helped you discover all the beautiful scenery you might have missed otherwise. If you're interested in exploring more of Massachusetts, check out my Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle, which includes the Freedom Trail, Salem, Plymouth, and more!
