Plymouth district, Massachusetts, United States

Places to visit near Onset

Onset is a town in Plymouth district, Massachusetts, United States, home to about 1,573 people. Within 50 km by road there are 224 places to visit — 125 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 22 wildlife, forests & gardens, 17 hill stations & viewpoints and 17 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Union Pond (3 km), Spectacle Pond (4 km) and Mill Pond (4 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Onset on the map

Onset, Massachusetts
Onset, Plymouth district, Massachusetts, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Onset at a glance

Location
Plymouth district, Massachusetts, United States
Population
about 1,573
Coordinates
41.7418° N, 70.6578° W
Places within 50 km
224 (224 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens

Top places to visit near Onset

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Onset: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Onset

Things to see near Onset, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Onset

141 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Union Pond (3 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Massachusetts →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Onset

33 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Lyman Reserve (4 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Massachusetts →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Onset

26 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Pine Hill (11 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Pine Hill · viewpoint · Barnstable · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Telegraph Hill · viewpoint · Barnstable · ~20 km · Must-see
  • Swifts Hill · viewpoint · Barnstable · ~24 km · Must-see
  • Riddle Hill · viewpoint · Barnstable · ~26 km · Must-see
  • Wills Hill · viewpoint · Barnstable · ~28 km · Must-see
  • Watson Hill · viewpoint · Plymouth · ~29 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Massachusetts →

Beaches & coast near Onset

26 beaches & coast within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Bird Island Light (12 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Massachusetts →

Forts & heritage near Onset

19 forts & heritage within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Parting Ways Cemetery (29 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Massachusetts →

Parks near Onset

15 parks within 100 km of Onset. The closest is Former King Richards Faire (20 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Massachusetts →

A one-day trip from Onset

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 13 km on the road.

  1. Start in Onset
  2. 3 km Union Pond · lake, Plymouth
  3. 1 km Mill Pond · lake, Plymouth
  4. 1 km Spectacle Pond · lake, Plymouth
  5. 1 km Sandy Pond · lake, Plymouth
  6. 3 km Lyman Reserve · nature spot, Barnstable
  7. 4 km Back to Onset

Plan a longer trip from Onset — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Onset

No traveller has reported from around Onset yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Onset

    All places near Onset by distance

    Within 15 km of Onset

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Onset by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs125141Union Pond (3 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens2233Lyman Reserve (4 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints1726Pine Hill (11 km)
    Beaches & coast1726Bird Island Light (12 km)
    Forts & heritage1319Parting Ways Cemetery (29 km)
    Parks715Former King Richards Faire (20 km)
    Museums1014Heritage Museums & Gardens (16 km)
    Churches914Old Indian Church (25 km)
    Other attractions26Falmouth Road Race (29 km)
    Buddhist sites11Wat Nawamintararachutis (44 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Martha's Vineyard (49 km)
    Caves01King Phillip's Cave (59 km)

    Onset: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Onset?

    Union Pond (lake, about 3 km), Spectacle Pond (lake, about 4 km), Mill Pond (lake, about 4 km), Lyman Reserve (nature spot, about 4 km), Sandy Pond (lake, about 4 km), Glen Charlie Pond (lake, about 7 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Onset?

    224 places on Spotwander: 125 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 22 wildlife, forests & gardens, 17 hill stations & viewpoints, 17 beaches & coast, 13 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest lake to Onset?

    Union Pond, about 3 km by road; Spectacle Pond (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Onset?

    Lyman Reserve, about 4 km by road; Barnstable County Hospital (10 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Onset?

    Pine Hill, about 11 km by road; Telegraph Hill (20 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Onset?

    Start in Onset, visit Union Pond, then Mill Pond, then Spectacle Pond, then Sandy Pond, then Lyman Reserve, and drive back — about 13 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Onset?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Towns near Onset

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Onset’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Onset on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.