Charlton is a small town in Central Massachusetts located outside of Worcester. Charlton is primarily a bedroom community, though there are a number of businesses in the center of town and especially along the Route 20 corridor.

Understand

Charlton Common

While being relatively rural itself, it's still within 50 mi (80 km) of major cities like Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Hartford and Providence.

Name

In 1754, the state legislature finally agreed to take part of Oxford and split off from it a portion to form what is now the town of Charlton (though it wouldn't take effect until the beginning of 1755). The legislature, as was their custom, left the name of the town blank in the bill, so that it would be filled in by the governor. However, governor William Shirley was away, so it fell to lieutenant governor Spencer Phips to choose the name. Most likely, he named it after Sir Francis Charlton, who was a relative of his daughter's husband. However, some think that it may have been named after King Charles. (There is no shortage of Charleston and Charlestown places elsewhere named after the king, which sometimes are easy to confuse with Charlton's name.) As a footnote explaining the possible origins of the name in Charlton Historical Sketches by Rev. Anson Titus Jr. in 1877 says, "However the name came, we are not ashamed of it."

History

Charlton, like much of the area around it, was primarily a farming community from when it was formed, through the 1800s and early 1900s. Some streams provided enough water power to operate mills. There are still places in town that do small-scale farming, but land started to be more developed into housing during the latter part of the 1900s and into the 2000s. Much farmland has returned to being forest, leaving lines of stone walls behind that run through the woods. Today, the town still very much has a rural character despite being fairly close to more urban areas.

Get in

By car

• From the west: Take I-90 East to Exit 78 for I-84, then take Exit 6A onto US-20 East into Charlton.
• From the southwest: Take I-84 East to Exit 6A, then take US-20 East into Charlton.
• From the east: Take I-90 West to Exit 90 onto MA-12 South. From MA-12, take US-20 West into Charlton.
• From the northeast and southeast: Take I-290 or I-395 to Exit 11B, then take US-20 West into Charlton.

By train or bus

• 1 Union Station, 2 Washington Sq, Worcester. The closest public transportation hub to Charlton.  
  • Amtrak has daily service to Worcester on the Lake Shore Limited line.
  • The MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester line can bring you from Boston to Union Station.
  • WRTA Bus Route 29 has a couple stops in Charlton on its way between Worcester and Southbridge.
• If coming up the Amtrak Northeast Regional route, it may make sense to get off at the Hartford, Windsor Locks, or Springfield stations and take a car or rideshare from there.

By plane

• 2 Worcester Regional Airport, 375 Airport Dr, Worcester, ☏ +1 508-859-5550. This regional airport is about 20 minutes away from Charlton, and while it only has a few flights daily it's much more convenient to drive to than the larger airports that are further away. A rental car is probably the easiest way to get around once in the area, but a cab or rideshare could also get you from the airport into Charlton. Bus service is also available by taking WRTA Bus Route 2 from the airport to Union Station, and then transferring to Route 29 to get into Charlton.  
• 3 Bradley International Airport, Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, ☏ +1 860-292-2000. This airport outside of Hartford is less than an hour's drive from Charlton.  
• 4 Boston Logan International Airport, toll-free: +1-800-235-6426. This major airport in Boston is about an hour's drive away, longer when there's traffic (and you should expect there to be traffic). However, it has the most airlines and destinations of the nearby airports. While again a rental car is probably the easiest way to get around, one can take the MBTA Framingham/Worcester commuter train from Boston into Worcester's Union Station and then take a cab, rideshare, or WRTA Bus Route 29 from there to get into Charlton.  

Get around

Charlton is primarily built around car access, with most destinations having plentiful free parking. There are few sidewalks in many parts of town, and no separated bicycle lanes, which makes walking and bicycling challenging, though it's still possible for short distances.

See

• 1 Charlton Center Historic District (on Main St from Muggett Hill Rd to Masonic Home Rd and adjacent roads). The historic center of the town includes the first architect-designed building in the center, the Shingle-style Overlook Hotel designed by Worcester architect George H. Clemence, and the 1905 Colonial Revival Town Hall designed by Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain. The town hall site is also home to a number of memorials to the town's military. The district features various Federal and Gothic Revival houses, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 2 Bay Path Cemetery (corner of Dresser Hill Rd and Muggett Hill Rd). includes the grave of famed entertainer John "Grizzly" Adams (updated Oct 2024)
  • 3 John Spurr House, 27 Main St. The house was built in 1798 and added to the National Historic Register in 1976. (updated Oct 2024)
• 4 Northside Village Historic District (on Stafford St, Northside Rd, and Cemetery Rd). (updated Jun 2017)
  • 5 Rider Tavern, 255 Stafford St, ridertavern@yahoo.com. by appointment. A large three-story wood-frame building, the tavern was built c. 1797, and was for many years an important stop on the stagecoach road. It is open for guided tours in the summer and special events. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. (updated Oct 2024)
  • 6 Militia Lot (corner of Stafford St and Northside Rd). Park with historical markers on the lot where Charlton's militia trained. Free. (updated Oct 2024)
  • 7 Number 2 Schoolhouse (Northside School), 145 Northside Rd. Tours of interior by appointment. Preserved one-room schoolhouse used from 1849 through 1949. (updated Oct 2024)
• Charlton Woolen Mill, an historic landmark

Do

• 1 508 International, 219 Brookfield Rd, ☏ +1 508-434-6335. Motorsports track and adventure sports venue (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Buffumville Lake Park (Old Oxford Rd and North Buffumville Shore Rd), ☏ +1 508-248-5697. The park offers picnic tables and grills, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a swim beach (no lifeguards, swim at your own risk), a nature trail and hiking trail, a boat ramp, and two picnic shelters. Unreserved shelters are available for use on a first come, first served basis. Interpretive programs are provided by Park Rangers. The recreation area is open from third weekend of May through the second weekend of September from 8AM to 8PM. During the rest of the year, you are invited to walk into the park during daylight hours. There is also a 30-hole disc golf course. (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary, 56 Capen Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-5516. Visitor Center open M–F 10AM–4PM; Walking trails open dawn–dusk. Family-friendly place with variety of walking trails and nice place for a picnic. Visitor Center allows you to see them taking care of several animals. Walking trails interconnect with the neighboring Tree House Brewing Company trails. Free. (updated Oct 2024)
• 4 Charlton Arts & Activities Center, 4 Dresser Hill Rd. Variety of programs throughout the year in art, drama, and dance, plus special and annual events. (updated Oct 2024)
• 5 Heritage Country Club, 85 Sampson Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-5111. Golf course and driving range. Open to non-members. (updated Oct 2024)
• 6 Little River Conservation Area (Rich-Turner Mill Ruins), Fulling Mill Dr. dawn–dusk. Short hiking trail along Little River that lets you visit the ruins of a historic fulling mill. The trail interconnects with the Buffumville Lake trail system and Midstate Trail. Free. (updated Oct 2024)

Events

• Earth Day Festival, last weekend of April. Town-wide cleanup effort followed by activities and vendors on the Town Common.
• Memorial Day. Annually includes a parade to the Town Common.
• Blueberry Festival, late July, at the Charlton Arts & Activities Center.
• Old Home Day, Labor Day weekend, on the Town Common. Charlton's biggest event of the year includes booths from local companies and non-profit organizations alongside such activities as foot races, live music, a frog jumping contest, fireworks, and a parade.
• Trunk-or-Treat, late October, at the Charlton Arts & Activities Center.

Buy

• 1 Birds Nest & Lavender, 131 Carpenter Hill Rd, ☏ +1 774-230-9308. Gift shop. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Fay Mountain Farm, 12 Cemetery Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-7237. Local farm offering apple picking, blueberry picking, meat, cheese, and other produce. (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 Ted's, 27 Worcester Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-5538. Primarily a package (liquor) store, but also offers fresh produce, a full-service deli, and a butcher shop. (updated Oct 2024)

Eat

Breakfast and brunch

• 1 Dad's, 417 Worcester Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-9774. Offers a cheap but great breakfast. Dad's is a quaint diner with great service, amazing food and great service. Breakfast lunch and dinner served. Hours vary. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Kozy Corner Café, 109 Masonic Home Rd Unit 2, ☏ +1 508-434-0354. Family café serving coffee, breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 Sturbridge Coffee Roasters, 7 Brookfield Rd, ☏ +1 508-434-0201. Shop for freshly-roasted coffee with light breakfast and lunches available (updated Oct 2024)
• 4 Yankee Diner, 16 Worcester Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-7370. A classic local diner (updated Oct 2024)

Lunch and dinner

• 5 Charlton House of Pizza & Seafood, 109 Masonic Home Rd Unit 1, ☏ +1 508-434-1666. Located in the center of Charlton, offering pizza, calzones, seafood, and subs. (updated Oct 2024)
• 6 Family House of Pizza & Seafood, 105 Masonic Home Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-0666. Located in the center of Charlton, offering seafood, pasta, subs, salads, and homemade pizza. (updated Oct 2024)
• 7 Ronnie's Seafood, 208 City Depot Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-5024. Open seasonally for great fried seafood and ice cream. (updated Oct 2024)

Bakery and desserts

• 8 Francesco's Italian Bakery, 14 Power Station Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-9900. Cakes, pastries, cookies, bread, lunches, and other goodies. (updated Oct 2024)

Drink

There are not many bars in Charlton, but Worcester and other neighboring towns have several options.

• 1 Charlton Beagle Club, 103 Bond Rd, ☏ +1 508-248-5778. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Quarter Keg Pub, 443 Worcester Rd, ☏ +1 508-434-0025. (updated Nov 2024)
• 3 Tree House Brewing Company, 129 Sturbridge Rd, ☏ +1 413-523-2367. Tree House is widely considered one of the best craft breweries in the world. They specialize in New England IPAs and have an expansive taproom and large outdoor beer garden and picnic area. (updated Aug 2022)

Sleep

There are no hotels in Charlton, but Sturbridge and Auburn have several options.

Connect

• 1 Charlton Public Library, 40 Main St, ☏ +1 508-248-0452. Offers public computer access and Wi-Fi, along with the usual library amenities (updated Oct 2024)

Go next

Neighboring towns

The neighboring towns each have plenty of things to see and do as well.

• Sturbridge to the west
• Spencer to the north
• Southbridge to the southwest
• Dudley to the south
• Oxford to the east

Larger cities

If looking for more populated places instead, you might consider any of these, which are all a half-hour to an hour drive away depending on what part you're going to:

• Worcester, the closest city, has plenty to do.
• Boston, is a large, exciting, and bright city.
• Hartford, Connecticut.
• Springfield in the Pioneer Valley.
• Providence, Rhode Island.

Beyond

For somewhere further away, consider heading to one of these:

• South to the beaches of South County, Rhode Island.
• North to the mountains in New Hampshire.
• West to the Berkshires.
• East to Cape Cod.

Routes through Charlton

Springfield ← Sturbridge ←

W  E

→ Oxford → Worcester