Quabbin Reservoir
Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. Head to Petersham to see it. For a second stop, Springfield Armory is 23 mi away.
A lake inside Petersham
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 14°. When to go ↓
Barre is the nearest base
Barre is 10 miles northeast, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Boston
Boston is about 66 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Highs and lows by month
Use the months below to time a visit to Quabbin Reservoir.
Quabbin Reservoir
Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. Along with Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, 65 miles (105 km) to the east, and 40 other cities and towns in Greater Boston. The Quabbin also supplies water to three towns west of the reservoir and serves as a backup supply for three others. By 1989, it supplied water for 2.5 million people, about 40% of the state's population at the time. It has an aggregate capacity of 412 billion US gallons (1,260,000 acre⋅ft; 1.56 km3) and an area of 38.6 square miles (100 km2).
- Type
- Lake
- Area
- 39 square miles
- Elevation
- 522 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 44K a year
Where to base yourself for Quabbin Reservoir
For a bed close by, look to Amherst Town (12) and Sturbridge (24).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Quabbin Reservoir | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersham | in town | — | 1 1 inn or B&B | 1,242 | $392K | — |
| Amherst Town | 11 mi west | 15 min | 12 4 hotels · 8 inns & B&Bs | 40,920 | $485K | A− |
| Sturbridge | 21 mi southeast | 30 min | 24 13 hotels · 3 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 10,120 | $426K | B− |
| Hadley | 14 mi west | 20 min | 9 8 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 5,213 | $511K | D |
| Barre | 10 mi northeast | 15 min | 5 1 hotel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 2 campgrounds | 5,641 | $394K | B− |
| West Springfield Town | 24 mi southwest | 35 min | 23 17 hotels · 4 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 28,829 | $322K | D |
| Springfield | 21 mi southwest | 30 min | 14 13 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 154,702 | $245K | D |
| Northampton | 19 mi west | 30 min | 11 7 hotels · 1 motel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 31,047 | $430K | C |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
More near Quabbin Reservoir
Within 62 miles you can add these well-known places.
Big draw32 mi LakeLake Chaubunagungamaug
Big draw56 mi Stadium & arenaGillette Stadium
Big draw61 mi Stadium & arenaFenway Park
123 mi National Historic SiteSpringfield Armory National Historic Site14K visitors a year
Big draw61 mi MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum
49 mi LakeWalden Pond
36 mi MountainMount Monadnock
227 mi Theme parkSix Flags New EnglandPhoto credits
Lake Chaubunagungamaug: Bree from Worcester, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gillette Stadium: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fenway Park: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Springfield Armory National Historic Site: National Park Service, Public domain · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Sean Dungan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Walden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Six Flags New England: Canadaolympic989, Public domain
A visit to Quabbin Reservoir: questions
Is Quabbin Reservoir in Petersham?
Yes. It’s inside Petersham, MA.
When is the best time to visit Quabbin Reservoir?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–82°.
How far is Quabbin Reservoir from Boston?
About 66 miles east of Boston, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Quabbin Reservoir?
Worcester Regional (ORH), about 23 miles away. The nearest big hub is Bradley (BDL), about 35 miles.
Where should I stay near Quabbin Reservoir?
Amherst Town (11 mi, 12 places to stay), Sturbridge (21 mi, 24 places to stay) and Hadley (14 mi, 9 places to stay).
What locals in Petersham say
Start the conversation in Petersham’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.