3 Of The 8 Most Populated States Are In New England

With school back in session and fall commuting routines in full swing, it may feel like traffic has gotten worse. Well, in the Northeast, there may be an additional reason behind that. Daily Passport recently detailed that three of the eight most populated states in the country are in New England.

"While regions like the Great Plains are home to vast, open expanses of land, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are a much different story, as residents of these regions often find themselves packed inside major cities and towns with comparably small land areas," Daily Passport explains.

But just how packed? Macrotrends reports there are approximately 339 million people in the United States. That is already a .05% increase from 2022. For perspective, Macrotrends reports there were 335 million people in 2020.

Daily Passport report on the most densely populated states shows that the top eight are all on the East Coast. In fact, six of them are north of Delaware.

The Constitution State has 3.6 million residents across a geography of just over 5,000 square miles. Connecticut Demographics reports the cities in the state with the most people are Bridgeport (148K), New Haven (138K), and Stamford (136K).

"Encompassing 10,554 square miles of area, Massachusetts’ population density comes in at 901.2 people per square mile, with the majority of Massachusetts’ 7 million residents found in the capital city of Boston," Daily Passport states. According to World Population Review, approximately 976,000 of those people are located in the top three cities of Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.

The smallest state in the country is the second most densely populated. Approximately 1.1 million people live across the 1.5 million square miles in the Ocean State. Almost 1/3 of the state's population is packed into the major metros of Providence, Warwick, and Cranston.

If you are wondering which state is the most populated, it is New Jersey.

As much as I love my south shore area of the Northeast, sometimes there is nothing better than a quick pause. We are fortunate in New England that there are so many great options that are a short drive away. It's not hard to embark on that perfect weekend getaway escape.

With summer coming to a close and the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities kicking into overdrive, here I will look at some of the best places for a weekend getaway in New England based upon all of those I have visited.

Many factors can be considered when nailing down that perfect two-day plan. We, of course, are graced with all four seasons of the year, so depending upon when you are traveling, different activities may be available to you. Then again, perhaps you don't want any activities at all.

Food options are important to me. However, I don't make trip plans based around what place has the best restaurants. I tend to lean towards exploring the local area in hopes of tripping across a local gem.

Driving distance is another thing I heavily weigh. Although I don't mind the occasional long road trip, my preference is to maximize my time on a weekend adventure. Therefore, time in the car is ideally under four hours. Cost is always a factor.

Lastly, I must preface this list by stating I am an outdoorsman. A good book or movie can certainly do the trick. I always opt for great ocean waves, a rope swing, or mountain over an extra hour of sleep.

In recent years, I have been to each of the places on this list over various months of the year. They each have their own unique characteristics. Their common bond is that they are all great destinations for a New England weekend getaway.

Cape Cod is an obvious location. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, there is perhaps no place that is more popular in Massachusetts. To me, it's about finding that specific corner of Cape Cod that is right for you. You can camp or find cottages along Cahoon Hallow Road that will enable amazing trips to the beach. Trekking those sand dunes, hitting the three-foot waves (yes, sometimes there are shark warnings), and then getting food at the Beachcomber while listening to the great live music, is my perfect day.

There is never a bad time to visit this charming town. You can ski Cranmore in the winter. Hike, hit the waterfalls, or visit Storyland in the summer. Either way, you will be graced with some amazing local restaurants. In fact, North Conway flies under the radar as one of the best pizza towns in New England. The hotels like Eastern Slope in accommodate any season, and are right in the middle of town where all the bars, restaurants and stores are. This weekend getaway is probably the least "quiet" but has the most amount of options at your fingertips.

The river that runs through Woodstock has a way of speaking to you. It's serene but can also provide a thrill of pushing you down stream. It's calming to provide that fresh water cleanse to rid yourself of all that comes with the lights on the city. Lastly, the various rope swings scattered around the town provide a liberating rush. From the climb up the rocks to the swing, to the plunge, you focus on nothing but the joy of that ride. Ramunto's Brick Oven and Brews is also an essential stop upon each visit.

Lake life just hits differently. Depending upon where you go around Lake Sebago you get the feeling that nowhere else on the planet exists while you there. Frye Island has the magic of no public cars, local watering holes, and the ability to bike incredible dirt roads. There's a history there to learn about and local taps to enjoy. It's common to see jet skiing or pontoon boating anywhere you look within the glistening waters. Furthermore, certain towns offer that one and only general store that has everything you can imagine, from household cleaning supplies to steaks to grill for dinner.