Peddocks Island
Peddocks Island
4
About
Close to the mainland, Peddocks Island is one of the largest and most diverse islands in the harbor—featuring historic structures, hiking trails, unique geologic features, and even solar energy installations. One area is also still home to active cottages that serve as private residences. Hike around an island that has been home to American Indians, militiamen, prisoners of war, farmers, summer vacationers, and others. Explore an island that was home to Fort Andrews from the early 1900s through World War II.
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The area
Neighborhood: Downtown
The largest area of the city, Downtown is rich with historical and iconic sites in Boston. Stroll through one of Boston’s most famous green spaces, the Boston Public Gardens, check out and make way for duckling statues, picnic under a beautiful tree overlooking the pond, and walk over the iconic footbridge where, during summer time, you will catch a swan boat toting children and eager tourists through the pond. Have your camera ready to capture its peaceful beauty in the middle of a bustling city. Continue on through the Gardens and take in some open green space at the Boston Common, where you can spend time throwing a frisbee, sitting on a park bench, or, in the winter time, skating on the frog pond. Head north from the end of the Common to see the golden dome of the State House, and travel through government center to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, both a historic and popular destination worth a quick visit for a first time to Boston. Head to Long Wharf to visit the Aquarium, or catch a boat to Charlestown or even Cape Cod.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
29 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
6
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Chickfish
Boston, MA69 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
This was in all aspects a 5 star adventure (minus the mosquitoes). From the Ferry captain to the park ranger to the care taker. Everyone was so accommodating, and friendly. We stayed in a yurt, which had 2 fans, a large table and bunk beds. The islands history was fascinating, basic info was provided, however more in depth was available though the visitor center and the employees. I have to give a shout out to Paul, who truly cares about all visitors and this island. Highly recommend this trip to anyone, from adults, to college kids, to families with young kids
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charmagne88
Massachusetts traveller72 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
We stayed in one of the yurts here. The first thing I would have done differently is to take a direct boat from Boston to Peddocks. We took a ferry to Georges Island and then we had to wait for 45 minutes for the ferry to Peddocks island. It turns out we chose the hottest day of the year (so far) and don't let being on an island fool you it was extremely hot and humid. Once we got to Peddocks we checked in at the visitors center. The visitors center has flush toilets and sinks. We were told the water was safe to drink. We then had a five minute walk to the yurts and campsites.
One issue with the yurts is that they are round with open flap windows and the tent sights were near by so there wasn't a lot of privacy. From every window I could see a tent. On the way to the yurt there was a composting toilet that smelled awful but you couldn't smell it at the yurts.
Inside the yurt was 2 bunk beds. The bottom bunk was a full size bed and upper bunk was a twin. There was also a floor lamp and a large floor fan which made us very happy. Plus 2 electric outlets. The floor was made of plywood. So I would recommend slippers or slip on shoes. There was also a large table in the yurt with 2 large benches. Outside was a grill and a picnic table. Near the yurts and camp site was a scenic overlook. It was beautiful. There was also a hand pump near the yurts for water, which we boiled before we used it.
We went down to the beach which was near the visitors center , chapel and the colorful adirondack chairs. The water was cold but on the hottest day of the year very refreshing. Its a very rocky beach, so I would suggest (I know they are ugly) water shoes. Because then you could go out a bit easier in the water and you could save your feet the pain of walking on the rocks. Anyway beach was great very quiet and relaxing.
Then we walked around the island saw some ruins, saw some cottages etc. I would have liked to visit for a few hours instead of over night because that was really all there was to do.
I did not see any showers but we did make use of the flush toilets and sinks in visitor center. That is open until 930pm. After that I guess its composting toilets.
Slept pretty well although you are under a flight path to and from logan. Woke up at 530am due to a boats horn and then again at 6am because it was sun up and bright in the yurt. That was actually ok because we were able to eat breakfast, pack up and head to dock by 9am to catch the direct ferry back into Boston. The direct ferry are either 930am or 5pm. Although there are ferrys that come in between those hours and drop you off on georges island and you have to wait for next ferry to boston.
All in all I am glad we tried it but I don't think I would go back there really isn't much to do.
One issue with the yurts is that they are round with open flap windows and the tent sights were near by so there wasn't a lot of privacy. From every window I could see a tent. On the way to the yurt there was a composting toilet that smelled awful but you couldn't smell it at the yurts.
Inside the yurt was 2 bunk beds. The bottom bunk was a full size bed and upper bunk was a twin. There was also a floor lamp and a large floor fan which made us very happy. Plus 2 electric outlets. The floor was made of plywood. So I would recommend slippers or slip on shoes. There was also a large table in the yurt with 2 large benches. Outside was a grill and a picnic table. Near the yurts and camp site was a scenic overlook. It was beautiful. There was also a hand pump near the yurts for water, which we boiled before we used it.
We went down to the beach which was near the visitors center , chapel and the colorful adirondack chairs. The water was cold but on the hottest day of the year very refreshing. Its a very rocky beach, so I would suggest (I know they are ugly) water shoes. Because then you could go out a bit easier in the water and you could save your feet the pain of walking on the rocks. Anyway beach was great very quiet and relaxing.
Then we walked around the island saw some ruins, saw some cottages etc. I would have liked to visit for a few hours instead of over night because that was really all there was to do.
I did not see any showers but we did make use of the flush toilets and sinks in visitor center. That is open until 930pm. After that I guess its composting toilets.
Slept pretty well although you are under a flight path to and from logan. Woke up at 530am due to a boats horn and then again at 6am because it was sun up and bright in the yurt. That was actually ok because we were able to eat breakfast, pack up and head to dock by 9am to catch the direct ferry back into Boston. The direct ferry are either 930am or 5pm. Although there are ferrys that come in between those hours and drop you off on georges island and you have to wait for next ferry to boston.
All in all I am glad we tried it but I don't think I would go back there really isn't much to do.
Written July 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler
Boston, MA32 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
Stayed overnight here in one of the new yurts in July 2013. The yurts are awesome. There's two sets of bunk beds with full size beds on the bottom. Each yurt has two picnic tables (one inside and one outside) and a grill. It's definitely waterproof. There's electricity in the yurt and running water nearby. Bathrooms are composting toilets. When packing, keep in mind that it is a good 10 minute hike from the ferry landing to the campground. And it's uphill. They do have carts you can borrow though.
From what I understand, Peddocks has undergone numerous improvements over the last several years while closed to the public. The old guard house is now a visitor center, complete with handicapped access, running water and real bathrooms. They've torn down many of the most decrepit and dangerous buildings - including many shown in reviewers' photos on this site. Several buildings remain though including the chapel, 2 of the enlisted barracks, the bakery, the fire station, the PX, the quartermasters building and several others. Take a tour with the rangers and they'll tell you all about the big guns that used to be there, what they were for and the Italian POW's that lived there during WWII. They were in the process of refurbishing the chapel when I was there. Apparently it's the first of many they are hoping to restore.
Also take a walk to the other end of the island and back and you'll go through a lively community of summer cottages with very friendly people living there. Round trip from the campground was about 4.5 miles and took us about 3 hours - that included lots of photo stops and chats with people along the way. You'll also find a good swimming beach and great views of the shore and the Boston skyline.
There's also a scenic overlook up at the campground and another one behind the quartermaster's building. That's also a good spot for a sunset campfire overlooking the Boston skyline.
From what I understand, Peddocks has undergone numerous improvements over the last several years while closed to the public. The old guard house is now a visitor center, complete with handicapped access, running water and real bathrooms. They've torn down many of the most decrepit and dangerous buildings - including many shown in reviewers' photos on this site. Several buildings remain though including the chapel, 2 of the enlisted barracks, the bakery, the fire station, the PX, the quartermasters building and several others. Take a tour with the rangers and they'll tell you all about the big guns that used to be there, what they were for and the Italian POW's that lived there during WWII. They were in the process of refurbishing the chapel when I was there. Apparently it's the first of many they are hoping to restore.
Also take a walk to the other end of the island and back and you'll go through a lively community of summer cottages with very friendly people living there. Round trip from the campground was about 4.5 miles and took us about 3 hours - that included lots of photo stops and chats with people along the way. You'll also find a good swimming beach and great views of the shore and the Boston skyline.
There's also a scenic overlook up at the campground and another one behind the quartermaster's building. That's also a good spot for a sunset campfire overlooking the Boston skyline.
Written July 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karascorner
Hartford, CT114 contributions
Peddock's Island is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. You get there via an inter-island shuttle that you pay an extra charge for on top of your Georges Island ferry charge to get to it.
Prior to planning my boyfriend and I's visit, I had looked at some information from the national parks service website, as well as checked the 1 and only review on TripAdvisor. During my research I found out that the island was home to a few summer cottages, there was a visitor center, a chapel, and an old military fort called Fort Andrews. Now, with that being said... having already been to Georges Island and seeing Fort Warren (see my review about Georges Island) I figured this would be another cool military fort to explore the insides of. So thinking it would be a fun and interesting island to visit, my boyfriend and I planned to make our trip to the island...
And folks, quite honestly, I wish I had known what I found out after docking at the island before getting there as I probably would not have gone (as it was not what I was hoping or expected). I definitely feel that the information I read prior to our trip was misleading.
So let me just list some straight facts about the island.
There is a “DANGER: ASBESTOS” sign on the dock as you enter the island--the vast majority of the remains of Fort Andrews have signs everywhere saying this as well. You can not explore the insides of Fort Andrews due to the asbestos hazard and the buildings being completely run down. The remaining rundown buildings have numbers spray painted on them so that you can read about what they were while referencing a self-guided tour pamphlet you can pick up from the Visitors Center. It appears as though there may have been self-standing markers in front of the buildings at one point in time but nothing sits atop them now.
There is no electricity.
There is no running water. (Make sure you pack plenty of your own to drink).
It has a carry-on, carry-off policy which basically means if you create trash you have to take it off the island with you.
Alcohol is not allowed on the island, nor are pets.
Fireworks are prohibited as well.
There are no picnic tables, grills, or snack bar.
I'm not sure if camping is allowed on the island, and if it is, whether or not a permit is required.
I saw a few people fishing on the shore.
Some paths on the island are paved, others are more like narrow trails for scenic hiking and experiencing the islands’ diverse wild and plant-life.
The beaches we saw are pretty much all rocks, don't expect to lay a blanket down and relax in the sand. The shore is littered with broken mussel shells, crab remains, and jellyfish baking in the sun among the rocks (to be expected)... which leads me to what I found to be disappointing. There was plenty of random garbage that has washed upon it from the harbor. Cracked buoys, lots of plastic bleach and detergent-like bottles, furniture cushions, and car parts to name a few (see my photos). Apparently the garbage is a known problem of the island and visitors and volunteers are relied upon for its removal.
The few cottages we saw looked pretty run-down on the outside and nearly completely hidden by plants and vegetation due to a lack of maintenance. I'm not sure if people own or rent them out during the summer.
The chapel on the island has run down, the paint is chipping and peeling, and windows are broken. You cannot go inside. According to a presentation board in the Visitor center it was last painted in the 1980's by a group of volunteers. The photos of which made it seem like it was still in operable condition at the time. I can only wonder when it was stopped being used.
I saw a couple solar-powered port-o-potties behind the visitor center.
The Visitors Centers' is small and contained in one room. I only spotted 2 park rangers on the island if you had any questions. Information displayed in the center looks like many school kids projects with the way that some of the posterboards are. There are only a couple professional plackards but there are quite a few artifacts from the island on display but not in the way you would expect from a museum. There is no lighting inside so you rely on natural light from the windows of the building. It didn't seem very visitor friendly. It'd be nice to see some investment in improving the visitor center as it does not leave a very good impression. The island looks like nature is reclaiming it. I question whether or not any restoration or repair efforts have been made within the past 15 years, or if there will be any type of investment into it.
Would my boyfriend and I visit the island again? Probably not, for the simple fact that it was not what we had expected we would be getting ourselves into; even though it was interesting to go from wooded trails, to rocky beaches, to a fort in ruins. Would I recommend it to a friend? No, many of them are too dependent on technology. Would I recommend it to others? If you're prepared ahead of time and know the above information, sure, knock yourself out. If someone is pretty independent and looking for a very “do it on your own” place, this would be it. There are lots of areas to explore—except the insides of Fort Andrews. Just make sure you bring some good sneakers as there is lots of walking to do. However, if you want a little bit more adventure with better facilities (toilets, snack bar, picnic area, a water fountain) I would highly recommend going to Georges Island to explore Fort Warren instead (but bring a good and very bright flashlight though!).
Prior to planning my boyfriend and I's visit, I had looked at some information from the national parks service website, as well as checked the 1 and only review on TripAdvisor. During my research I found out that the island was home to a few summer cottages, there was a visitor center, a chapel, and an old military fort called Fort Andrews. Now, with that being said... having already been to Georges Island and seeing Fort Warren (see my review about Georges Island) I figured this would be another cool military fort to explore the insides of. So thinking it would be a fun and interesting island to visit, my boyfriend and I planned to make our trip to the island...
And folks, quite honestly, I wish I had known what I found out after docking at the island before getting there as I probably would not have gone (as it was not what I was hoping or expected). I definitely feel that the information I read prior to our trip was misleading.
So let me just list some straight facts about the island.
There is a “DANGER: ASBESTOS” sign on the dock as you enter the island--the vast majority of the remains of Fort Andrews have signs everywhere saying this as well. You can not explore the insides of Fort Andrews due to the asbestos hazard and the buildings being completely run down. The remaining rundown buildings have numbers spray painted on them so that you can read about what they were while referencing a self-guided tour pamphlet you can pick up from the Visitors Center. It appears as though there may have been self-standing markers in front of the buildings at one point in time but nothing sits atop them now.
There is no electricity.
There is no running water. (Make sure you pack plenty of your own to drink).
It has a carry-on, carry-off policy which basically means if you create trash you have to take it off the island with you.
Alcohol is not allowed on the island, nor are pets.
Fireworks are prohibited as well.
There are no picnic tables, grills, or snack bar.
I'm not sure if camping is allowed on the island, and if it is, whether or not a permit is required.
I saw a few people fishing on the shore.
Some paths on the island are paved, others are more like narrow trails for scenic hiking and experiencing the islands’ diverse wild and plant-life.
The beaches we saw are pretty much all rocks, don't expect to lay a blanket down and relax in the sand. The shore is littered with broken mussel shells, crab remains, and jellyfish baking in the sun among the rocks (to be expected)... which leads me to what I found to be disappointing. There was plenty of random garbage that has washed upon it from the harbor. Cracked buoys, lots of plastic bleach and detergent-like bottles, furniture cushions, and car parts to name a few (see my photos). Apparently the garbage is a known problem of the island and visitors and volunteers are relied upon for its removal.
The few cottages we saw looked pretty run-down on the outside and nearly completely hidden by plants and vegetation due to a lack of maintenance. I'm not sure if people own or rent them out during the summer.
The chapel on the island has run down, the paint is chipping and peeling, and windows are broken. You cannot go inside. According to a presentation board in the Visitor center it was last painted in the 1980's by a group of volunteers. The photos of which made it seem like it was still in operable condition at the time. I can only wonder when it was stopped being used.
I saw a couple solar-powered port-o-potties behind the visitor center.
The Visitors Centers' is small and contained in one room. I only spotted 2 park rangers on the island if you had any questions. Information displayed in the center looks like many school kids projects with the way that some of the posterboards are. There are only a couple professional plackards but there are quite a few artifacts from the island on display but not in the way you would expect from a museum. There is no lighting inside so you rely on natural light from the windows of the building. It didn't seem very visitor friendly. It'd be nice to see some investment in improving the visitor center as it does not leave a very good impression. The island looks like nature is reclaiming it. I question whether or not any restoration or repair efforts have been made within the past 15 years, or if there will be any type of investment into it.
Would my boyfriend and I visit the island again? Probably not, for the simple fact that it was not what we had expected we would be getting ourselves into; even though it was interesting to go from wooded trails, to rocky beaches, to a fort in ruins. Would I recommend it to a friend? No, many of them are too dependent on technology. Would I recommend it to others? If you're prepared ahead of time and know the above information, sure, knock yourself out. If someone is pretty independent and looking for a very “do it on your own” place, this would be it. There are lots of areas to explore—except the insides of Fort Andrews. Just make sure you bring some good sneakers as there is lots of walking to do. However, if you want a little bit more adventure with better facilities (toilets, snack bar, picnic area, a water fountain) I would highly recommend going to Georges Island to explore Fort Warren instead (but bring a good and very bright flashlight though!).
Written July 7, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zippy608
Gold Canyon, AZ2,077 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
I wish that I had known about this island when the previous reviewer visited because I would have gone in a heartbeat. Since March of this year, the buildings of Fort Andrews have been undergoing a construction and stabilization project. Sadly, some of them are now gone. In an effort to preserve the fort for future generations 12 of the buildings have been demolished and 12 of them have been stabilized. Work is being done on the remaining 12 buildings so that they will hopefully be open to the public in the next 2 years.
My husband and I chose to take the ferry from Hingham as opposed to Boston because that gave us more options as far as return ferries from Peddock's. The ferry was $15.00 per person round trip. There were 2 rangers on the island who were very friendly and eager to answer any questions that we had. We took a 1 hour ranger guided tour, but for the most part we were on our own. There are free brochures for a self guided tour of the fort and the site history. All the buildings are boarded up so you cannot go inside or even look in the windows. The visitor's center is currently closed for construction, but will hopefully be opened by next year. There are port o potties and a spicket with potable water, but we had brought plenty of bottled water. There is no food available so you should bring your own. There are picnic tables and camping is allowed on the island. Also, bring bug spray because there were quite a few mosquitos. There were families with kids, but I am not sure that kids would find find it interesting enough. There is not much else to do there other than walk along the rocky beach. We spent about 4 1/2 hours walking around and exploring the fort area alone and never even made it to the other side of the island to see the cottages.
The buildings that are left are pretty cool to see. Most were built between 1904 and 1912. Some of the buildings that are left standing are: Barracks,Stable,Guardhouse,Bakery,Fire House,Gymnasium and the Quartermaster Storehouse. There are also several gun batteries to see as well as the parade ground. The only surviving woooden structure is the 1941 post chapel which will also be fixed up and re-opened in the future.
Fort Andrews was alive from the early 1900's through World War 2. It even housed 1500 Italian POW's from 1944-1945. The fort was deactivated in 1946 and now it is a ghost town. If you are interested in forts or military history then I recommend visiting Peddock's Island. I love this kind of history and the ONLY reason that I didn't give it the highest rating is because you cannot go into the buildings.
My husband and I chose to take the ferry from Hingham as opposed to Boston because that gave us more options as far as return ferries from Peddock's. The ferry was $15.00 per person round trip. There were 2 rangers on the island who were very friendly and eager to answer any questions that we had. We took a 1 hour ranger guided tour, but for the most part we were on our own. There are free brochures for a self guided tour of the fort and the site history. All the buildings are boarded up so you cannot go inside or even look in the windows. The visitor's center is currently closed for construction, but will hopefully be opened by next year. There are port o potties and a spicket with potable water, but we had brought plenty of bottled water. There is no food available so you should bring your own. There are picnic tables and camping is allowed on the island. Also, bring bug spray because there were quite a few mosquitos. There were families with kids, but I am not sure that kids would find find it interesting enough. There is not much else to do there other than walk along the rocky beach. We spent about 4 1/2 hours walking around and exploring the fort area alone and never even made it to the other side of the island to see the cottages.
The buildings that are left are pretty cool to see. Most were built between 1904 and 1912. Some of the buildings that are left standing are: Barracks,Stable,Guardhouse,Bakery,Fire House,Gymnasium and the Quartermaster Storehouse. There are also several gun batteries to see as well as the parade ground. The only surviving woooden structure is the 1941 post chapel which will also be fixed up and re-opened in the future.
Fort Andrews was alive from the early 1900's through World War 2. It even housed 1500 Italian POW's from 1944-1945. The fort was deactivated in 1946 and now it is a ghost town. If you are interested in forts or military history then I recommend visiting Peddock's Island. I love this kind of history and the ONLY reason that I didn't give it the highest rating is because you cannot go into the buildings.
Written August 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NancyLee58
Hull, MA27 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
The ferry to the island was $17 round trip. We stayed for 2 nights in tent section 5. This section was the best for tent camping. The others were not as good. Stay away from 6 as it is nearby the composting toilets. You should also beware that the Yurts and the tent site we were on is up an incline. They do provide wheel barrows to tote your gear but we had a lot of stuff and that made it difficult. The overlook views are stunning.
I wish we had known you can take the ferry inter-island for free. If we had known that we would have gone to Georges Island for lunch and returned. There is no food or ice for purchase. There is water.
Fires are only allowed on the beach and it is no where near the camp sites. Also, the grills available at the camp sites are very close to the yurts so it is awkward if you are tent camping to use them. There are benches and grills down by the pier and the welcome center.
Fort Andrews was built on this island in the 1904. A lot of the buildings are still standing but are not opened to the public due to asbestos. Such a shame you can't go inside to see how they lived. There are plaques near each building that describe what it was used for. I loved the little chapel but we couldn't go in there either but you can rent it out for functions. All very interesting. I may go back as a day trip.
I wish we had known you can take the ferry inter-island for free. If we had known that we would have gone to Georges Island for lunch and returned. There is no food or ice for purchase. There is water.
Fires are only allowed on the beach and it is no where near the camp sites. Also, the grills available at the camp sites are very close to the yurts so it is awkward if you are tent camping to use them. There are benches and grills down by the pier and the welcome center.
Fort Andrews was built on this island in the 1904. A lot of the buildings are still standing but are not opened to the public due to asbestos. Such a shame you can't go inside to see how they lived. There are plaques near each building that describe what it was used for. I loved the little chapel but we couldn't go in there either but you can rent it out for functions. All very interesting. I may go back as a day trip.
Written July 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pigsflew
Seattle, WA3 contributions
When I was younger I went camping almost every year. One year we went with a friend's family, rented a sailboat and went out to Peddock's, where we camped for three days or so, and I think of all my camping experiences, this was the best. The island is absolutely gorgeous.
Written August 27, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slamin g
5 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We really wanted to love our camping experience, it was just too hot to do much. We arrived by ferry and the hiking to the campground is about 15 minutes with all your luggage UPHILL! It was very hot over 90 degrees and slim to no breeze, so you can imagine hiking up hills already struggling with luggage and kids. Once we reached the top we just decided not to venture far. We used the wheel barrows at the dock to help with our hike uphill and we still struggled. The road is very rocky and only partly paved.
We had yurt #4 and tent site #4 for our party of 7 for one night. The tent site had no electricity. The Yurt had electricity, a floor fan and a lamp. The lamp did not work, wasn't aware we had to bring bulbs or maybe it was just not working. We wiped down the beds and table after the last guest as we weren't sure if there was a housekeeping crew, nor did one show up after we checked in. Not sure how often the Yurt's are maintained as we had an inoperable lamp, under the bunks were filthy and only one outlet worked although there were 2. I expected these issues with a tent site not a yurt. I mean why offer better accommodations if they really aren't better. After all you are charged a lot more to rent a yurt I should be fully operationally.
It looked like the Yurts had the grills. If you had a tent site then you would have to use a grill in front of a yurt which could be kind of awkward cooking in front of strangers. There were a couple of water fountains and faucets around the camp site. This was my third time camping. My other times our tent sites had an electrical outlet and a water faucet to ourselves. So Peddocks has a different setup where water and grills are for the community first come first serve and electricity are for the yurts.
A big disappointment was the compostable toilet near the campground. I read other reviews that said it was squeaking clean. Well not the case with our visit. The outside looks so nice and clean, but when you open the door, WATCH OUT!. There were black flies and smelled of strong urine and feces, it was super hot in there too. They have a record hanging up of the last time it was cleaned. Well, the toilet was last cleaned on 7/6/18 then again on 7/11/18, except that it was now 8/3/18 when we were camping!!!!!! Not sure why the cleaning just suddenly stopped during the busiest time of the season. We would walk to the Welcome Center to use that bathroom, which was very clean and smelled great. The Welcome Center's last cleaning was 8/1/18, which was fine with us as it was only 8/3/18. But still quite a walk in sweltering heat if you don't want to use a bush. We told the Park Ranger about the dirty bathroom, but she didn't seem to work on that part. The Ranger just said she would let "Operations" know.
The yurt would have been great if everything was working in it. Hopefully it wont be as hot when you visit. The yurt is even hotter than outside even with the windows open. And the floor fan does not help in that heat. We were thankful when the sun went down.
They call it luxury camping, I guess if they properly maintained it. Just not sure how often the place is cleaned as there are mattresses in the yurts. I would think mattresses would have to be maintained every so often for bugs and sanitation. And yes there is a lot of airplane noise, but we live in Boston so nothing we aren't use to. Its just louder when you are living in a tent.
I would try it again on a cooler day, after I hear the maintenance issues have been resolved.
We had yurt #4 and tent site #4 for our party of 7 for one night. The tent site had no electricity. The Yurt had electricity, a floor fan and a lamp. The lamp did not work, wasn't aware we had to bring bulbs or maybe it was just not working. We wiped down the beds and table after the last guest as we weren't sure if there was a housekeeping crew, nor did one show up after we checked in. Not sure how often the Yurt's are maintained as we had an inoperable lamp, under the bunks were filthy and only one outlet worked although there were 2. I expected these issues with a tent site not a yurt. I mean why offer better accommodations if they really aren't better. After all you are charged a lot more to rent a yurt I should be fully operationally.
It looked like the Yurts had the grills. If you had a tent site then you would have to use a grill in front of a yurt which could be kind of awkward cooking in front of strangers. There were a couple of water fountains and faucets around the camp site. This was my third time camping. My other times our tent sites had an electrical outlet and a water faucet to ourselves. So Peddocks has a different setup where water and grills are for the community first come first serve and electricity are for the yurts.
A big disappointment was the compostable toilet near the campground. I read other reviews that said it was squeaking clean. Well not the case with our visit. The outside looks so nice and clean, but when you open the door, WATCH OUT!. There were black flies and smelled of strong urine and feces, it was super hot in there too. They have a record hanging up of the last time it was cleaned. Well, the toilet was last cleaned on 7/6/18 then again on 7/11/18, except that it was now 8/3/18 when we were camping!!!!!! Not sure why the cleaning just suddenly stopped during the busiest time of the season. We would walk to the Welcome Center to use that bathroom, which was very clean and smelled great. The Welcome Center's last cleaning was 8/1/18, which was fine with us as it was only 8/3/18. But still quite a walk in sweltering heat if you don't want to use a bush. We told the Park Ranger about the dirty bathroom, but she didn't seem to work on that part. The Ranger just said she would let "Operations" know.
The yurt would have been great if everything was working in it. Hopefully it wont be as hot when you visit. The yurt is even hotter than outside even with the windows open. And the floor fan does not help in that heat. We were thankful when the sun went down.
They call it luxury camping, I guess if they properly maintained it. Just not sure how often the place is cleaned as there are mattresses in the yurts. I would think mattresses would have to be maintained every so often for bugs and sanitation. And yes there is a lot of airplane noise, but we live in Boston so nothing we aren't use to. Its just louder when you are living in a tent.
I would try it again on a cooler day, after I hear the maintenance issues have been resolved.
Written August 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lirwin13
Beverly, MA1,142 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
I visited Peddocks Island on a very hot day in August. I arrived on the early ferry from Boston and set out to hike the island for a couple of hours. The ranger was able to give me a small map to carry with me. I visited the scenic overlook (though it was overgrown with trees) and then hiked through Fort Andrews to the Crab Alley cottages. The cottages are very quaint and the shade provided a nice respite from the sun. There is not a lot of shade on the rest of the island, so be sure to bring sunblock! It was a great way to pass a couple of hours, and the informative plaques helped to provide the history of the island.
Written August 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
plasma40
Boston113 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
I visited the island in 2001 (Sept 9th to be exact, cue foreboding music), and found it to be underwhelming; derelict buildings, no information, some old picnic tables, two gravelly beaches with views of Hull or the Deer Island treatment plant, tumbledown cottages tucked away in the weeds.
Eleven years later and at first glance, it looks the same, but there are changes afoot. There are now rangers there to greet visitors and you might stumble on a walking tour (don’t believe the website that says there is one at 1:30; call ahead). There are now restrooms (very nice ones I might add). Any day now, there will be an open visitor center (this August? next season?). In August there will be yurt camping available. Soonish there will be interpretive signs in front of the derelict buildings (the remains of Fort Andrew, which has been stabilized with boarded up windows, no interiors are available for exploring).
I took off across the island to find the cottages but the heat and voracious mosquitoes cut my walk short. There is frequent free water taxi service from Georges island (you can also get there from Hull or Hingham, check the Boston Harbor Islands website for more info: www.bostonharborislands.org).
Would I recommend a visit? If you’ve already been to Georges and want to explore a new island, go to Spectacle. If you’ve done both and want to go off the beaten path, call to find out when the visitor center is opening, cover yourself in bug spray and go for it. On a weekday, you’ll have the place to yourself. Maybe on the weekend too.
Eleven years later and at first glance, it looks the same, but there are changes afoot. There are now rangers there to greet visitors and you might stumble on a walking tour (don’t believe the website that says there is one at 1:30; call ahead). There are now restrooms (very nice ones I might add). Any day now, there will be an open visitor center (this August? next season?). In August there will be yurt camping available. Soonish there will be interpretive signs in front of the derelict buildings (the remains of Fort Andrew, which has been stabilized with boarded up windows, no interiors are available for exploring).
I took off across the island to find the cottages but the heat and voracious mosquitoes cut my walk short. There is frequent free water taxi service from Georges island (you can also get there from Hull or Hingham, check the Boston Harbor Islands website for more info: www.bostonharborislands.org).
Would I recommend a visit? If you’ve already been to Georges and want to explore a new island, go to Spectacle. If you’ve done both and want to go off the beaten path, call to find out when the visitor center is opening, cover yourself in bug spray and go for it. On a weekday, you’ll have the place to yourself. Maybe on the weekend too.
Written July 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How is it for activities like Star Gazing?
Written July 26, 2018
Boston Harbor Now
Boston, Massachusetts
You can gaze the stars during the summer nights, there are campings on Peddock's Island. That's also a good place to observe birds, deers, and turkeys. The Boston Harbor Islands have a rich biodiversity.
Written May 20, 2019
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