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Pilgrim Memorial State Park: Visiting Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II

Writer: Mischa Francis Velasco
Mischa Francis Velasco
2 hours ago
2 min read

Pilgrim Memorial State Park is the heart of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Right on Plymouth Harbor, this small waterfront park is home to Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and some of the town's most important statues and memorials.


The park was created in 1920 to mark 300 years since the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. Today, it's free to visit and open from sunrise to sunset, making it the perfect place to start exploring America's Hometown.


Plymouth, MA Plymouth Rock

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF PLYMOUTH:


The Plymouth Historic Pilgrim Walking Tour is a self-guided GPS audio tour that starts at the Mayflower II in Pilgrim Memorial State Park and ends at the Jabez Howland House.


Along the way you'll learn:

  • How the Mayflower II sailed across the Atlantic in 1957

  • Why historians doubt the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock

  • How Massasoit's peace treaty helped the Pilgrims survive

  • Which house is the last one where Pilgrims actually lived


The walk takes a little over an hour.




WHAT TO SEE IN PILGRIM MEMORIAL STATE PARK:


  • Plymouth Rock—The famous rock sits under a granite portico built in 1921. Legend says it's where the Pilgrims first stepped ashore, though historians aren't sure. The story came from a local elder more than a century after the landing.


  • Mayflower II—A full-size replica of the Pilgrims' ship, built in England and sailed to Plymouth in 1957. Tickets are $19 for adults.


  • Pilgrim Mother statue—A tribute to the women of the Mayflower, many of whom didn't survive the first winter.


  • William Bradford statue—Honoring the longtime governor of Plymouth Colony.


  • Coles Hill—Just above the park, see the statue of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader, and the colony's first burial ground.


  • Frazier State Pier—Walk out over the harbor for great views of the waterfront.


HOW TO VISIT PILGRIM MEMORIAL STATE PARK:


  • Hours—Open every day from sunrise to sunset.


  • Cost—The park and Plymouth Rock are free.


  • Parking—Nearby parking is limited to two hours, with meters from April through November.


  • Accessibility—Paved paths lead to Plymouth Rock, the gardens, and the statues, with accessible parking and restrooms.


TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT:


  • Come early. The park gets busy in summer and around Thanksgiving.

  • Buy Mayflower II tickets ahead. You can get them online or in a combo pass with Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

  • Check the season. The Mayflower II and many nearby museums close for the winter.

  • Walk up to Coles Hill. It's just across the street and adds an important part of the story.


PLAN YOUR TRIP:


Want the full breakdown—where to eat, where to stay, and the best things to do in Plymouth, Massachusetts? Our Plymouth travel guide covers all of it.


Check out our Plymouth travel guide to plan your trip.

 
 
 

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