Massachusetts is a beautiful state with lots of hills and coastal lowlands. Flying drones here is a lot of fun because you have the chance to capture green landscapes, stunning beaches, and historical New England sites.
So in this post, we’ll give you our top 7 picks for places to fly drones in Massachusetts. But before we do, let’s go over the drone laws you need to know to fly here legally.
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Drone Laws in Massachusetts - U.S. Federal Drone Laws
To fly drones in MA as a hobbyist, you need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if it weighs more than 0.55 lbs and pass the The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). It checks that you know all the rules of recreational drone flying, including flying at or below 400 feet and requesting special Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) authorization to fly in controlled airspace.
If you plan to fly your drone commercially (for money), you’ll need to be at least 16 years old and still register your drone with the FAA. Registration costs $5 and is good for 3 years. You’ll also need to learn FAA’s Part 107 rules for small drones and pass a knowledge test to become FAA certified.
NOTE: This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
Local and State Drone Laws for Massachusetts
On top of the federal drone flying rules, there are some regulations specific to the state of Massachusetts you should know. For example, you can’t take off, fly, or land a drone anywhere within lands or waterways run by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
Some cities and towns within MA have their own local drone flying rules as well. For example, the City of Holyoke makes it illegal to fly drones over private or government property without consent. And Cape Cod Canal falls under the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) water resource development projects, where flying a drone is prohibited without prior authorization from the District Commander.
No matter where you go, it’s always good to double check the local flying regulations so you don’t run into any problems.
Now let’s dive into our top 7 places to fly drones in Massachusetts:
The Best Places to Fly a Drone in Massachusetts
Video Credit: McKeown Aerial Imaging
1. Worcester
First on our list is Worcester. It’s a large city in central MA that has several great spots for drone flying. Keep in mind that Worcester does not allow drones to be flown directly from within city park boundaries, but there are often places nearby that would serve as as a takeoff and landing zone where you could give a good view of the parks even blow the AGL limits.
In the middle of the city, you can fly at a quaint historic park called Elm Park. It covers 60 acres and has beautiful big trees and a large pond crossed by two iconic footbridges that make for some great aerial photos. At the south-east corner of the park, there’s also an impressive white church building called St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral that could make for some good footage.
If you head 5 minutes to the north by car, you’ll reach Salisbury Park Bancroft Tower. It’s a 56-foot (17-meter) natural stone tower built in 1900. But it looks much older as it’s modeled after a medieval structure. If you can’t get to Europe, this might be your next best opportunity to film something that looks this old.
On the north-east side of the city, you can visit Green Hill Park. It’s the largest park in the city at about 480 acres. It’s full of trees and includes a 30-acre pond. Just make sure you don’t fly too close to the golf course on the north side of the park or your drone might get hit by a golf ball!
On the outskirts of the city you can also check out Wachusett Reservoir. It’s fed by the Quinapoxet and Stillwater rivers and covers roughly 7 square miles. It offers plenty of great places to fly your drone above the water and the dense trees that surround it.
If you are interested in spectacular water vistas, Indian Lake is on the north edge of Worcester and has plenty of wildlife to see and Lake Quinsigamond is to the far east side of the city. Both have large open areas of water to explore.
The Worcester Regional Airport (KORH) sits at the edge of the city, so most of Worcester is within class D airspace. That means you’ll need LAANC approval to fly your drone here.
Video Credit: Caz usa
2. Plymouth
Next up, Plymouth is a coastal town that sits south of Boston along Cape Cod Bay. Here, you can fly over the National Monument to the Forefathers that commemorates the Mayflower pilgrims. It’s 81 feet (25 meters) tall and the largest solid granite monument in the world. It can definitely make for some unique drone photography.
From there, if you head east toward the ocean you’ll reach Pilgrim Memorial State Park. It’s got a Mayflower ship replica and a greek column structure that looks great from above.
For some beach views, go to Plymouth long beach or Squish Head. These are narrow stretches of beach that extend far out into the bay. You’ll also find an old lighthouse on Gurnet Point, a peninsula off of Squish Head. It’s got great charm and is excellent for flying over.
Luckily, you don’t need to worry about special flight restrictions in Plymouth because the whole city is in class G airspace.
Video Credit: TeBe Photographs
3. Nantucket
If you want to get off the mainland, check out Nantucket. It’s a little island 30 miles (50 km) off Cape Cod. You can get there by ferry or by plane via the Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK). Of course, this also means most of the island is in class D airspace, so LAANC approval is needed to fly drones here.
The island is full of charming areas, including cobblestone harbors and cedar shake homes. We also recommend checking out the historic Brant Point Lighthouse for some great lighthouse shots or Jetties Beach for some great views of the ocean.
Video Credit: Kevin Murphy
4. The Berkshires
If you prefer to stay inland, check out the Berkshires. It’s a rural mountain region in western MA with tons of trees that turn beautiful colors in the fall. It’s a great place to get some stunning nature footage.
Just be aware that some locations may fall within land run by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) where flying drones is illegal. And some areas may overlap with the Appalachian trail where flying drones is also not allowed.
Video Credit: Lyes Taleb
5. Horn Pond Recreation Area
Next, the Horn Pond is a 102-acre pond along the Aberjona River in Woburn, MA. It’s just outside of Boston and offers some great water views that look especially stunning at sunset. We recommend launching your drone from Lion Park or Ice House Park where you’ll also find good parking.
This area is in class G airspace, so you won’t have to worry about special flying restrictions. But you’re still close to civilization so watch out for people and nearby aircraft.
Video Credit: johnnycoax
6. Lowell
Lowell is a big city to the north-west of Boston. The Merrimack River runs through it and offers some impressive aerial views, especially at Pawtucket Falls. Here, you can record the rushing water drop a total of 32 feet in a little under a mile. It’s a captivating sight.
If you prefer some stiller water shots, you can also fly over the Concord River that breaks off from The Merrimack River. We recommend launching your drone from Sweeny Park on the west of the river or Muldoon Park on the east side. Both are close to the Lowell Cemetery which is full of colorful trees as well.
Just be aware that some parts of the city are within Lowell National Historic Park where flying drones is illegal.
Video Credit: Caz USA
7. Townsend
Townsend, Massachusetts is a beautiful town that offers many recreational opportunities, and is a great place to flying a drone since the entire town is location within a Class G airspace with no flight restrictions. The town is surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills, which make for stunning aerial footage. The Squannacook and Nashua Rivers also flow through the town, providing scenic views from above. Townsend State Forest is a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking, and its expansive open spaces make it an ideal location for flying a drone. Additionally, the town’s historic architecture and charming downtown area offer unique and interesting subjects to capture from the air. Overall, Townsend’s natural beauty and varied landscapes make it a great destination for drone enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys outdoor activities.
Some great places to fly are:
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Townsend State Forest: This beautiful state forest offers plenty of open spaces and scenic views to explore with your drone.
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Harbor Pond: This picturesque pond provides a tranquil setting for capturing stunning aerial footage of the water and surrounding landscape.
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Squannacook River: Follow the winding river as it flows through Townsend and capture some amazing footage of the trees and wildlife along its banks.
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Townsend Ridge Country Club: Take your drone to new heights and capture some incredible shots of the golf course and surrounding area.
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Spaulding Memorial School: With plenty of open space and a large sports field, this school provides a great location for capturing aerial footage of kids playing sports or flying kites outside of normal school hours.
Connecting with Drone Pilots in Massachusetts
Well, there you have it! The best places to fly drones in Massachusetts. If you want to find more, consider connecting with drone pilots in the area. They’ll know plenty of other spots to check out and might even share some hidden gems with you. You can meet other MA drone pilots by joining the Massachusetts Drone Club on Facebook or the Boston Drone / UAV Club.
And if you ever need any professional drone services in Massachusetts, The Drone Life can help. Our expert drone pilots are FAA licensed and highly experienced at everything from construction progress monitoring to solar farm inspections. So feel free to reach out and schedule a free consultation today.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
