Merrimack Valley is a region northwest of Boston in Massachusetts. It consists of several towns in Middlesex and Essex Counties.

Cities

• 1 Haverhill — This former industrial mill town is experiencing a renaissance of sorts and has a long, rich history.
• 2 Lawrence — A bustling, majority-Spanish city with strong ties to the labor movement. Lawrence has been getting safer for the past decade, and visiting during the day is generally safe if you exercise common sense, but travelers should still be careful.
• 3 Lowell — This gentrifying mill town skillfully combines museums and galleries with an infusion of Cambodian culture. Its many historic mills, canals, and factory buildings have been preserved within Lowell National Historical Park.

Towns

• 4 Amesbury — A quiet residential community along the Merrimack River. A highlight is its beautiful historic downtown, filled with cute independent shops.
• 5 Andover — Just outside of Lawrence, desirable and family-oriented Andover features a nice art museum, locally-owned boutiques, and a surprising variety of restaurants.
• 6 Billerica — A blue-collar town with a large number of stores and restaurants. Though not quite cosmopolitan, the uniqueness of this town can be found in the strong preservation of traditional Boston-area dialectal nuances, customs, and lifestyles, a quality which could be said to have its own charm.
• 7 Groton — Nature abounds and amenities are scarce in this quiet area; there are numerous hiking opportunities, and the town has some very nice farms and rustic shops, as well as an expansive, historic library.
• 8 Groveland — Close to Haverhill, but a serene break from the activity of the city.
• 9 North Reading — A pleasant town with historical architecture; it is quiet, yet it is in a convenient location: close to the upper Merrimack Valley, yet within a short distance of I-95, the Burlington Mall, the picturesque North Shore, and Boston itself.
• 10 Shirley — A fairly rural area that nonetheless offers a commuter rail connection to Boston.
• 11 Townsend — You'll find more trees than people at the far western end of the Merrimack Valley.
• 12 Tyngsborough — Quiet and wooded towards the south and west of the town, but an extensive shopping district can be found near its border with New Hampshire.
• 13 Westford — A peaceful but fast-growing commuter suburb on I-495. A very safe place to raise a family; known for its high-quality school system. Nashoba Valley Ski Area and The Butterfly Place are popular attractions.
• 14 Wilmington — A quiet commuter suburb with excellent access to shopping, jobs both to the north and south, and public transportation.

Get in

Take the commuter rail from Boston's North Station, or travel along I-93 or Route 3. Traffic can be quite heavy on the highways, especially during rush hour, so consider the commuter rail.

By public transit

• MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), ☏ +1 617-222-3200, +1 617-222-5146 (TTY). Varies, 5AM-1AM daily. One of the busiest rail systems in the United States, the MBTA Commuter Rail runs the Lowell Line, Haverhill Line, and Fitchburg Line which provide service to the area. Please see Boston § By public transit for additional information. Bus $1.70, subway $2.40, commuter rail $2.40-13.25, ferry $2.40-9.75.  
• Flightline, ☏ +1 603-893-8254. Runs shuttle vans to Logan, Bradley, MHT, Portland, and TF Green airports. From $30 per person. 

Get around

You'll need a car for travel, especially the case on weekends.

By public transit

• LRTA (Lowell Regional Transit Authority), ☏ +1 978-452-6161. M-Sa 6AM-6PM. Provides bus service in the Lowell area. Most buses are based out from the Lowell Commuter Rail Station, you can connect between transit services there. 
• MVRTA (Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority), ☏ +1 978-469-6878. M-Sa 6AM-6PM. Runs free buses daily throughout the Merrimack Valley as well as a limited number of routes connecting to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach on the North Shore. (updated Sep 2024)

By bicycle

Merrimack Valley has a variety of high quality cycling options. The fantastic Bruce Freeman Rail Trail connects Concord with Lowell, and is probably the most popular. The beautiful Nashua River Rail Trail connects through Groton on its way into New Hampshire. A section of the East Coast Greenway (or US Bicycle Route 1) passes through Groveland on its way to Newburyport. Finally, the Methuen Rail Trail starts in Lawrence and continues north to the outskirts of Manchester (New Hampshire). There's also tons of great mountain bike trails within the region's several State Forests.

Do

Events

• Lowell Folk Festival — Last full weekend of July, Lowell. The oldest and second-largest folk festival in America, and it's free to boot. The festival features three days jam packed with traditional music and dancing, local artisan demos, parades, and street food.
• Bread and Roses Festival — First Monday in September, Lawrence. Celebrate the true meaning of Labor Day at the site of the famous workers' strike of 1912. Hundreds of vendors set up shop for one day, offering ethnic foods and artisan crafts. Informational booths detail everything from history and labor relations, to modern social justice movements.

Eat

The Merrimack Valley has a rich array of family-owned establishments. It is a hub for authentic cuisine from several Latin American countries (especially in Lawrence and Haverhill), and Methuen in particular has a storied legacy of Lebanese and other Middle Eastern shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Examples of well-known options for Middle Eastern cuisine include George's Bakery (Methuen) and Shadi's Restaurant (North Andover). There are lots of Italian restaurants as well, as there is a significant Italian population in the area. Borrelli's in Methuen has long been a favorite for locals' holiday celebrations (as well as everyday occasions), and Fisichelli's Pastry Shop in Lawrence provides wonderfully fresh sweet treats combined with warm, personal service. And, of course, there are endless options for pizza. A convenient and delicious option for train travelers is Depot House of Pizza in Andover, which is situated right next to the commuter rail station in Andover Center (which is walkable and safe and has charming shops and restaurants). In short, it is hard not to find great food in this region, and the families who own these restaurants are down-to-earth and friendly as a rule. They tend to remember those who frequent their businesses, and it is common for business owners to develop genuine personal connections with their customers.

Stay safe

The Merrimack Valley is safe for the most part, but Lawrence and Haverhill have their share of violence, especially muggings and assault. Areas to avoid are usually easy to spot (broken windows, poor lighting, trash on the streets), but be on your guards at night.

Go next

• North Shore — A charming collection of wealthy towns and fishing villages; this region's many beaches make it a notable summer destination.
• MetroWest — As the name implies, this is a collection of commuter suburbs and superb historic attractions just west of Boston.
• Greater Boston — The most populated region in New England, this is the urbanized collection of towns that tightly surround the eponymous city.
• Merrimack Valley (New Hampshire) — Comprising the three largest cities in the State (including the capital), this is as crowded as New Hampshire gets.
• Seacoast (New Hampshire) — New Hampshire really makes the most of its only outlet on the sea.

Merrimack Valley