Ashland (Massachusetts)

town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Ashland is a city of 19,000 in Massachusetts approximately 25 miles west of Boston. Ashland was the original starting point of the Boston Marathon.

Holliston is a town with a population of 15,000 (2020).

Hopkinton is a town with a population of 19,000 (2020). It is notable as the starting place of the Boston Marathon.

Sherborn is a town with a population of 4,000 (2020).

Understand

Get in

From Route 495: Take exit 21A (West). Follow through Hopkinton center where the road merges with Route 135. Ashland center is about 3.5 miles from the exit. From Route 9: Go south on Route 126 to Framingham center (about 2 miles). Turn west on Route 135. Ashland center is about 4 miles from Framingham center. The towns are also reachable by Route 16 for points east and west, and Route 126 for points north and south.

Get around

See

Do

  • Ashland State Park, ☏ +1 508 435-4303. Rte. 135. Seasonal. 470 acres with swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing, bicycling and hiking. Wheelchair access to the boathouse and by ramp into the pond. 
  • 🌍 Hopkinton State Park, 164 Cedar St, ☏ +1 508-435-4303. 8AM-6:30PM daily. Bicycling, non-motorized boating, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and swimming on 1450 acres. Group area that includes a pavilion, playing field, restrooms, picnic tables, and a large grill is available by reservation during the summer. Free, parking $8, non-resident $30. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 🌍 Lake Winthrop, Norfolk Street (Holliston), ☏ +1 508-429-2149. 24 hours daily. Tiny Lake Winthrop has several small unstaffed parks and remains open year round. Pleasure Point, just off Winthrop Street features a small beach and a boat launch onto the lake. Stoddard Park features a beach, a gazebo, playing fields and trails leading to Patoma Park. Free, small parking fee in season. (updated Oct 2022)
  • Slot Car Racing at Modelville Hobby, 280 Eliot Street, ☏ +1 508 881-7616. Two 8-lane slot car tracks for 1/32nd and 1/24th scale cars. 

Buy

  • The Ashland Massachusetts Farmers Market (Farmers Market), 125 Front Street. June 9-October 20: Sa 9AM-1PM. The Ashland Farmers' Market (AFM) is a non-profit, community-based, producer-only, farmers market, started by a group of Ashland volunteers 

Eat

  • Burnam's Supper House, 366 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 508 881-9892. 
  • Carbone's Restaurant, 280 Cedar St (Hopkington), ☏ +1 508-435-3465. M-Sa 4-9PM. (updated Oct 2022)
  • Cherry Blossom, 80 Union St, ☏ +1 508 881-8222. 
  • John Stone's Public House, 179 Main St., +1 508-881-1778, . was built in 1834 by John Stone to take advantage of the new railroad. The pub is reputed to be haunted .
  • Oregon Club, 117 Oregon Road, ☏ +1 508 875-9050. Hours: Tu-Th 5-9PM, Sa Su 5-10PM. Entrees $20, sides $5". Opened in 1922 as a prohibition era speak easy hosting several legendary local figures. 
  • Mexico City Taqueria, 1 W Union St, ☏ +1 508 881-3500. 11AM to 9:30PM. Family-owned restaurant serving authentic Mexican dishes, beer, wine and margaritas (updated Jan 2017)
  • Erica’s Ristorante, 78 Front Street, ☏ +1 508 881-1982. Opens at 4PM. Closed Sundays. Eclectic Italian. 82-seat dining room, and a bar area that can accommodate 60. There is also patio space and a private room that can hold 45. (updated Feb 2017)

Drink

  • TJ Spirits, 355 W Union St (Rt 135), ☏ +1 508 881-1565. A Rural pub with lots of outdoor seating (smoking allowed). Caters to a very mixed local crowd. 
  • Ashland Ale House, 23 Pond Street, ☏ +1 508 861-7780. Su-W 11:30AM - midnight , Th-Sa 11:30AM - 1AM. Casual family restaurant and pub serving lunch and dinner. Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. (updated Feb 2017)

Sleep

Go next

  • Boston - 90 East. About 40-80 minutes away.
  • Portsmouth NH - 495 North to 95 North. About 1 hour 15 minutes away.
  • Cape Cod - 495 South. About 1-2 hours away.
Routes through Ashland
Worcester ← Southborough ←  W  E  → Framingham → Boston


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