Dighton (Massachusetts) - Dighton (Massachusetts)

Dighton is a town in Massachusetts. It was established in 1668 and has a rich history that reaches back to before America gained its independence. Its population is around 6,000, and it's a rural hidden secret off the beaten path. Since it has no major highway access, its growth has been slow compared to the rest of the region.

Get in

By car

Dighton is crossed by US-44 and Route 138. A 25-minute drive from Providence, Rhode Island and a 45-minute drive from Plymouth via US-44.

By plane

Get around

Taunton's GATRA bus service has several stops in North Dighton. Other than that, you're on your own.

See

  • Dighton has several notable landmarks and places to visit. The most well-known, Dighton Rock, is in the next town over in Berkley. This mysterious rock is covered in strange engravings of unknown origin. Dighton Rock Park is only across the Taunton River from Dighton, so a quick drive across the Berkley Bridge will get you there in no time.
  • Dighton also has a number of undocumented Native American sites hidden away in the woods. Good luck stumbling across these without the help of a local; many are deep in the woods and located on private property. You won’t find these listed in any text references, as they’re unknown to most people in town.

Do

  • Canoe Passage Outfitters, 120 Ingell Street, toll-free: 1-800-689-7884, ✉. Taunton. Kayak and canoe rentals are offered, as are a variety of guided tours/trips (with rated skill levels) throughout the local Narragansett Bay Watershed: kayak, canoe, photography, snorkeling, swimming, moonlit, kids kayak camp, etc. 

Fishing

  • There isn’t much to do in Dighton, but you can find things if you try hard enough. There are ample places to fish in Dighton. One of the most popular is the Three Mile River on Lincoln Ave. People come from all over the state to fish at the waterfall on the brackish river, because right above it is fresh water. This allows you to legally catch fresh water fish there without a state fishing permit.
  • Another good spot is further downstream on the Taunton River, where the town has public piers next to the Berkley Bridge on Center St. and farther south on Pleasant St.

Boating

  • Dighton is on the Taunton River in the Narragansett Bay Watershed. It is a tidal, saltwater river that has been recognized by the Federal Government as a wildlife reserve. It used to be a busy shipping route, and played a major role in Dighton’s early development when the town was the port of entry for the region.
  • Today, the Taunton River is a hidden gem for recreational boating and fishing. People come from all over the country to use any one of Dighton’s three boatyards. Since it’s tidal, you can take the river south into Rhode Island and all the way out to the open ocean, so it’s ideal for any large boat. The Shawomet Yacht Club and Taunton Yacht Club are small, private boat clubs that require a sponsorship to become a member. Shaw’s Boatyard is much larger, and anyone willing to pay for a slip or a mooring can keep their boat there. The Taunton Yacht Club is the only one that sells gasoline. Dighton also has a public boat launch on Pleasant Street.
  • Canoeing is another popular activity in town. You can see plenty of wildlife along the Three Mile, Segregansett, and Taunton Rivers.

Golfing

  • Dighton has one golf course, the Segregansett Country Club on Rt. 44. Its address is in Taunton, but the town line is on the course. It’s a private club, and it’s been there since 1893.

Buy

  • Dighton has several convenience stores. Johnny’s Market on Lincoln Ave. in North Dighton is one of the more popular ones, and they offer snacks, over the counter medicine, ice cream, beer, wine, and liquor. There’s also another similar type of store on the corner of 138 and Main Street in South Dighton.
  • Dighton also has a hardware store, Dighton Surplus on the corner of 138 and Main St. They have everything you need for everyday home repairs and basic hardware.

Eat

  • Dighton has several good choices for dining, but if you want delivery your only choice is pizza unless you order from nearby Taunton.

Diners

  • Dighton has two diners right down the street from each other, in South Dighton on 138. Dighton Country Diner is the smaller of the two, and isn’t as well-known as its competitor. It’s a really tiny place with a classic diner atmosphere, and you usually get the same waitress if you go there often. They serve standard diner fare, which includes eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and cornbread. Their prices are very reasonable, and you can get a decent breakfast with coffee for around $6-7 including tip.
  • Alice’s Restaurant is bigger than Dighton Country Diner, but their food includes most of the same diner stuff. They set themselves apart with their baked goods, which include giant muffins and fresh-baked bread they serve for toast. The waitresses stay very busy and always come around to see if you need a refill. They’re located less than a mile from Dighton Country Diner west on 138.

Pizza

  • The Town of Dighton offers a choice of two pizzerias. The older of the two is Dighton House of Pizza on 138 in North Dighton, right on the Taunton line. It offers standard pizzeria food that includes Greek-style pizza, mozzarella sticks, fries, and subs. Their prices are reasonable, but the only downside is that they don’t deliver.
  • If you want delivery, C&N Pizza is your only option unless you order from nearby Taunton. They have almost exactly the same menu as Dighton House with similar prices. If you’re picking up or eating in, your pizzeria choice will probably be determined by whether you’re in North or South Dighton.

Other

  • Dighton has two other choices for restaurants. One of them is Dunkin’ Donuts on 138, in the same strip mall as Dighton House of Pizza. They have a drive-through, but their prices tend to be a little higher than the other Dunkins in nearby Taunton.
  • One of Dighton’s most well established restaurants is Georgio’s on 138 next to Alice’s Restaurant. They’re like a small steakhouse with good bar food and seafood. If you want to stay in Dighton to sit down and eat a real dinner, Georgio’s is your best choice.

Drink

  • Georgio’s on 138 is your only choice if you want a drink when you go out to eat. Since Dighton is off the beaten path, it can’t really support much of a nightlife with its small population. Most people in town go to Taunton to drink, or Providence if they want a classier experience.

Sleep

The closest hotel is the Holiday Inn at the Myles Standish Industrial Park in nearby Taunton.

Go next

  • If you want to get out of town for a nice day trip, try nearby Newport or Bristol, Rhode Island. For shopping, Boston is only an hour away, and Providence is less than half that distance.
Routes through Dighton
Boston ← Taunton ← N MA Route 138.svg S → Somerset → Fall River
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