New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city of 100,998 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts, founded in 1640.
Why visit New Bedford
Townapedia lists 79 museums and landmarks, 92 parks and trails, 137 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Buttonwood Park Zoo, AMC Dartmouth Mall 11, Fort Phoenix and Fairhaven Town Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 21°F.
Weather in New Bedford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About New Bedford
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Acushnet River abutting Buzzards Bay. At the 2020 census, New Bedford had a population of 101,079, making it the state's ninth-largest city. It is included in both the Providence metropolitan area and the greater Boston combined statistical area.
From the Wikipedia article New Bedford, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Buttonwood Park Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 2.3 mi
Zoo in Massachusetts, United States
Clarks Point Light
Lighthouse · 5.1 mi
Lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States
Fairhaven Bridge Light
Lighthouse · 1.9 mi
Lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States
Lincoln Park
Monument and historic site · 5.7 mi
Amusement park located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
New Bedford – Fairhaven Bridge
Bridge · 1.9 mi
Bridge in United States of America
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
School · 4.2 mi
University in the United States
Coastal Foodshed - Curbside Pickup Point
Farm and orchard · 3.5 mi
W Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford
We 14:00-17:00
Museums and landmarks79
Fort Phoenix
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
American Revolutionary War-era fort located at the entrance to the Fairhaven-New Bedford harbor in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
Fairhaven Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Town Hall in Fairhaven, Mass built in 1892
40 Center Street, Fairhaven
New Bedford Fire Museum
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Firefighting museum in MA, United States
49;51 Bedford Street, New Bedford
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
National Historical Park of the United States
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
Monument and historic site · 1.9 mi
National Park Service Federal Building
33 William Street, New Bedford
Acushnet Heights Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Bradford Smith Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Butler Flats Light
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States
Buttonwood Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Central New Bedford Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
County Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Dawson Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
67 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds92
Dodge Reserve
Hiking and trails · 3.8 mi
The Dodge property is made up of a variety of habitats, from upland oak and laurel forest to the east, to the central cattail marsh and...
Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth
sunrise-sunset
Paskamansett Woods
Park · 3.4 mi
The 11-acre Paskamansett Woods Reserve, along with a trail easement on a portion of Gidley Woods, provides trail access from Chase Road...
Chase Road, Dartmouth
Mo-Su 06:00-18:00
Camara Field
Park · 3.1 mi
Pitch soccer field with off-street parking and lights
dawn-dusk
Captain Paul Cuffe Park
Park · 2.0 mi
18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford
sunrise-sunset
80 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes137
Cork Wine and Tapas
Restaurant · Wine, Tapas · 2.0 mi
Cork Wine & Tapas is a tapas bar and full-service restaurant located at 90 Front Street in historic downtown New Bedford, MA.
90 Front Street, New Bedford
Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-01:00; Su 11:30-22:00
Antonio's Restaurant
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
Portuguese cuisine, seafood
267 Coggeshall Street
Mo, We-Su 11:30-21:00
Brick Pizzeria Napoletana
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.0 mi
163 Union Street, New Bedford
Mo-Sa 11:00-19:00; Su 12:00-20:00
G’s Kitchen
Restaurant · Haitian, Caribbean · 3.6 mi
812 Brock Avenue, New Bedford
Mo-Th 11:30-20:00,Fr-Sa 11:30-21:00
Jimmy's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.7 mi
757 Brock Avenue, New Bedford
Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 11:00-21:00; We,Sa 16:00-21:00; Su off
Moby Dick Brewing Co.
Bar and pub · American · 2.0 mi
16 S Water St
Mo-Th 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 12:00-20:00
PLAY Arcade
Bar and pub · American · 2.0 mi
34 Union St
We-Fr 17:00-00:00; Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Quahog Republic Whaler's Tavern
Restaurant · Seafood · 2.0 mi
24 North Water Street
Su-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-01:00
Riccardi's Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza · 1.8 mi
901 Hathaway Road, Dartmouth
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
125 more on the map.
History
Before the 17th century, the lands along the Acushnet River were inhabited by the Wampanoag Native Americans, who had settlements throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Their population is believed to have been about 12,000.
On May 15, 1602, English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold in the ship Concord landed on Cuttyhunk Island while exploring New England. From there, he explored Cape Cod and the neighboring areas, including the site of present-day New Bedford. Gosnold left and settled in the Jamestown Colony of Virginia.
From the History section of New Bedford, Massachusetts on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Residence Inn New Bedford Dartmouthh
Motel and hotel · 2.6 mi
181 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth
Churches and places of worship18
Unitarian Memorial Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
102 Green Street
First Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Center Trinity United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 1.8 mi
230 Elm Street, New Bedford
New Bedford First Church of the Nazarene
Church · Nazarene · 1.6 mi
764 Hathaway Road, New Bedford
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish
Church · Catholic · 1.5 mi
359 Tarkiln Hill Road
Shopping35
Gas and EV charging23
Schools, colleges and libraries111
Millicent Library
Library · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
45 Center Street, Fairhaven
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
School · 2.0 mi
1121 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford
Healthcare11
Map of New Bedford
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 21°F | 3.7 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 22°F | 3.0 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.8 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.3 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 3.6 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 3.6 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.6 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 33°F | 4.3 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 4.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Bedford Muni Ap (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Bristol County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-05-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2022-04-18: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-06-25: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Acushnet Center 2 mi northeast, about 4 min by car
- Smith Mills 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Bliss Corner 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Mattapoisett Center 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Fall River 9 mi northwest, about 14 min by car
- Providence 27 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
- Brockton 29 mi north, about 47 min by car
- Quincy 42 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Boston 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cambridge 50 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- New Bedford, Massachusetts-view from harbor, C. Pesch; original uploader was Kevin Saff at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Fort Phoenix, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), CC0
- New Bedford Fire Museum, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Unitarian Memorial Church, Fairhaven MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Vistor Center 2006, Rolf Müller, CC BY-SA 3.0
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