New York City · Day Trips
Best Day Trips from NYC
New York City is an extraordinary base for exploring the northeastern United States. Within two to three hours you can be walking through Catskill Mountain forests, swimming in the Atlantic at the Hamptons, or standing in front of one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth. This guide covers the best day trips and overnight escapes from New York City, with honest transport advice and the best times to visit each destination.
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Top Day Trips from NYC
All travel times are from New York City.
New York CityHudson Valley, New York
Hudson Valley, New York
Scenic river valley, wineries, and farm-to-table dining.
The Hudson Valley is the easiest and most rewarding day trip from New York City. Metro-North trains from Grand Central reach towns like Cold Spring, Beacon, and Hudson in under two hours. The Dia:Beacon contemporary art museum is one of the best reasons to make the trip. In autumn the foliage is extraordinary. The valley has dozens of wineries, farm restaurants, and hiking trails in the Catskill foothills.
Travel time: 1.5 to 2 hours by train · Best time: September to November for foliage
New York CityThe Hamptons, Long Island
The Hamptons, Long Island
Pristine Atlantic beaches and a very particular kind of summer energy.
The Hamptons stretch along the south fork of Long Island and range from the relatively accessible Southampton to the more exclusive East Hampton and the artist communities around Amagansett and Montauk. The Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station gets you there in two to three hours. The beaches are genuinely beautiful. Montauk at the eastern tip has a more relaxed, surf-town character than the more famous villages further west.
Travel time: 2.5 to 3 hours by LIRR train · Best time: June to September
New York CityNiagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
One of the most spectacular waterfalls on earth.
Niagara Falls is a genuine spectacle and worth the journey. Amtrak runs from Penn Station to the Falls with a journey time of around six to seven hours, making it more realistic as an overnight trip than a strict day trip. If you drive it takes around five and a half hours. The American side is less developed than the Canadian side. For the best views, cross into Ontario if you have the necessary documents.
Travel time: 6 to 7 hours by train or 5.5 hours by car · Best time: Spring to autumn
New York CityWoodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Artists' town in the Catskill Mountains with galleries, music, and good food.
Woodstock is a small town in the Catskills with a genuine creative history that predates the famous 1969 festival by decades. Artists, musicians, and writers have been coming here since the early twentieth century. The main street has good independent bookshops, galleries, and restaurants. The surrounding Catskill Mountains offer excellent hiking. It requires a car or a bus connection from Kingston to reach easily.
Travel time: 2 to 2.5 hours by car · Best time: Year round, spectacular in autumn
New York CityCape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Beautifully preserved Victorian beach town with excellent seafood.
Cape May sits at the southern tip of the New Jersey peninsula and is unlike anywhere else on the East Coast. The entire town centre is on the National Register of Historic Places, with over 600 Victorian buildings in immaculate condition. The seafood restaurants are excellent and the beaches are far less crowded than those closer to New York. Getting there requires a combination of NJ Transit and Cape May-Lewes Ferry or a direct drive down the Garden State Parkway.
Travel time: 2.5 to 3 hours by car · Best time: May to October
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