There is enough to do in NYC to keep anyone occupied for weeks and weeks. But if you live in NYC, have a long visit or want to see some of the “countryside”, here are some fabulous day trips from NYC.

Most will require you to rent a car, but a few can be reached by public transportation.

Day trips from NYC to New York State

New York State has many awesome things to do, and NYC is far from many of them.

There are tons of awesome things to do in New York State, from adorable small towns in New York State to big cities. Here are some of our favorites

Montauk

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos

 

Montauk is the antithesis of the hustle and bustle of New York. On the very tip of Long Island, Montauk seems a world away from civilization. It is a small town that gets a lot less attention than its flashy neighbors, The Hamptons, and that is part of what makes it special. There are so many awesome towns on Long Island, you could spend a week just exploring thee

Montauk has beaches galore! My pick is Shadmoor State Park, where you can walk along miles of beach, find sea creatures, skip rocks, and hike.  Montauk Point State Park has an iconic lighthouse and offers gorgeous views of the surf, and shouldn’t be missed.

You can rent a fishing charter and do deep sea fishing, eat seafood at Gosman’s, or just enjoy a day at the beach!

117 mile drive from NYC

Tip: There is a bus called the Hampton Jitney that offers service from NYC to Montauk.

Tarrytown

 

Tarrytown is located in the Hudson Valley and is a quick train ride from NYC. Its largest claim to fame is Washington Irving, the writer of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Modern Sleepy Hollow is part of incorporated Tarrytown.

While you are there, visit one of 3 historic estates. My favorite is Kykuit, which was the home of John D. Rockefeller. It is an ornate mansion inside and out and is on par with the mansions in Newport, RI. You can also visit Lyndhurst Castle and Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving. Each of these estates is very kid-friendly and has special events year-round for families.

The best time of year to visit is in October, when Tarrytown becomes a Halloween town. Readings from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” masquerades, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, and celebrations of fall at Lyndhurst castle all make Tarrytown a charming town. Read about our adventures in Tarrytown in October.

37-minute train ride from Grand Central Station via Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson line

West Point

Continuing north in the Hudson Valley, you will come to West Point. This is the home of the United States Military Academy. You can take a guided tour of the campus, which includes the West Point Chapel (featuring the largest pipe organ in a religious building), the West Point Cemetery (which includes the resting place of General Schwarzkopf and General Custer), and a stop at an overlook of the Hudson River.

In addition to the tour, the West Point museum is worth a look. My boys especially enjoy the weapons on display.

If you have time, drive up and down the Hudson River for some of the most beautiful views ever.

Plan on 2-3 hours

60-mile drive from NYC

Hyde Park

Hyde Park’s claim to fame is the home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Culinary Institute of America. So you can learn history while eating some fabulous food!

FDR’s home on the Hudson River is a fabulous place to visit. His home is now also his presidential library and offers visitors a chance to see his correspondence with Eleanor, lots of info on The Great Depression and World War II, and quite a bit about his life after his presidency.

Stop at the Culinary Institute of America while you are there and grab a delicious bite to eat, but make sure to get a reservation as the restaurants are in demand!

Tip: Hyde Park is a little further up the Hudson from West Point and could be combined in one day if you get an early start.

91 mile drive from NYC.

Saratoga Springs

I hesitate to add this fabulous trip because it is 180 miles from NYC, but it really is a fabulous trip! Think of this trip as a great idea if you have an extended trip to NYC and don’t mind a really long day.

Saratoga Springs is a town that grew around natural springs in the late 1800’s. New Yorkers began to flee the heat of the city in the summer and find their way to Saratoga Springs to relax and enjoy the comparative cool while drinking the spring water.

Today, New Yorkers still flock to this upstate New York town. There are horse races in the summer, beautiful state parks,  a children’s museum, a performing arts venue, and lots of opportunities to enjoy the springs.

For more information, you can check out my post about Saratoga Springs.

Day Trips from NYC to Connecticut

Connecticut is the gateway to New England and the perfect place to take a day trips from New York City. Most of coastal CT is connected to New York City by train, making it a quick and eay getaway.

New Haven

New Haven is the home of Yale University and the cultural hub of Connecticut. It is also accessible by train from NYC making it a great day trip.

New Haven was founded in 1638, making it among the oldest cities in America, and it has been an integral city from the beginning due to its port along the Long Island Sound. You can see evidence of its colonial past in the buildings of Yale. You can take a free architecture tour of Yale University every day of the week.

Visit Yale’s free museums, stroll around the green, hike in East Rock Park, and visit the beach.

New Haven offers up some of the best Italian food you will find in the United States. Its pizza has a loyal following throughout the country, and there are constant arguments over which pizza is best: Pepe’s, Modern, or Sally’s (I’m a Pepe’s fan.). It also features my very favorite ice cream at Arethusa Farm Dairy.

For more information on visiting New Haven, check out my post here.

80-mile drive from NYC.

Tip: To get there by train, take the Metro-North New Haven line from Grand Central Station and ride it to the end.

Connecticut River Valley

This region of Connecticut is often forgotten when people think of day trips around New England. That’s a shame because it is one of the most beautiful places in all of Southern New England.

Take a tour of Gillette’s Castle, a castle built by an actor in the early 1900’s. This eccentric home has secret passages, moving furniture, and other secrets. On the property are some of the best trails for family hiking. (Not too strenuous!) Close by is Devil’s Hopyard State Park, which has slightly harder trails and beautiful waterfalls.

In nearby Essex, you can take a ride on the Essex Steam Train or do a combination of the Steam Train and Riverboat to see this beautiful Valley from two vantage points.  If you are lucky enough to visit in the fall, special fall foliage train tours run throughout October.

109 mile drive from NYC.

Day Trips from NYC to New Jersey

New Jersey is just across the river from New York City, and although parts of it feel like an extension of the city, there are some lovely rural spots that are perfect for a day trip.

Princeton

Princeton is a charming town that is the home to Princeton University. It definitely has the collegiate feel, but its history runs deeper than academics. A major Revolutionary war battle was fought in Princeton and was George Washington’s first victory.

Visit Princeton by doing a free Princeton tour. There are many beautiful buildings that make up this historic campus. My favorite stop is Nassau Hall which housed both American and British soldiers during the war.

The Princeton University Art Museum is free to visit and has some well-known paintings. You will find Monet, Courbet, Manet, and Picasso. The museum is not large but really packs a punch.

The library is another must-see. The architecture is gorgeous, but what it houses is what makes it worth visiting.

51 mile drive from NYC

Tip: Take the New Jersey Transit from Penn Station to get to Princeton without a car.

Cape May

Cape May was designated a historic landmark in 1976 because of its 600 Victorian homes downtown. It is generally considered a summer destination because of its beautiful beaches, but Cape May is a fun place to visit year-round.

There are multiple Victorian homes to tour, The Cape May Lighthouse offers tours and an information center, Go on a whale watch, get salt water taffy on Washington Street Mall, and take a trolley ride.

If you go in the summer, you can take advantage of fabulous beaches and surf. If you go at Christmas, you will find a Victorian Christmas wonderland—tours of decorated homes, caroling, open houses, and more.

157 mile drive from NYC.

Day Trips from NYC to Pennsylvania

Although Pennsylvania is the farthest state from NYC of the one on this list, it is still within range of driving for a day trip from NYC.

Bucks County

This idyllic county on the outskirts of Philadelphia offers beautiful views, good food, and lots of culture. Bucks County takes in the well-known cities of Doylestown, New Hope, Quakertown, and Bensalem. Although each town is different they are small enough the you could visit 4 or 5 of them in a day trip from New York City.

One of my favorite places is Fonthill Castle in Doylestown. This unassuming concrete building is spectacular on the inside. A dizzy array of tiles line every wall and most ceilings. The tile was made by Henry Mercer himself and is custom to each room. Visit the nearby Mercer Museum and Moravian Pottery to learn more about the process of tile making.

Washington Crossing Historic Park is close by and contains a visitors center and a small village near the site of the Delaware River crossing by George Washington. It is a small National Park, but worth visiting!

78 miles from NYC.

Philadelphia

It’s crazy that a day trip from NYC could be to Philadelphia! But the two are only an hour and 40 minutes away from each other! I know people who live in Philadelphia and work in NYC. (Strange, but true!) Although Philadelphia is still a large city, it’s a much more manageable size for a day trip. You can drive and park in the city center and see most of the big attractions in a day or two.

Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities to visit with my kids: so much history and so many fabulous museums. My first recommendation is Independence Hall, where you can see the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Walk through the room where the 2nd Continental Congress debated the colonies’ break from England.

Take a peak at the Liberty Bell and learn why it got the crack. Walk to Reading Terminal to get the best apple dumpling you have ever eaten (It is smothered in cinnamon sauce). Go shopping in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood. Best of all, take your kids to the Franklin Institute and prepare to spend the day learning about science in a hands-on way.

94 miles from NYC.

 

Here are my road trip essentials and our favorite audiobooks for a road trip.

 

If you want a great guide to NYC, check out my post!

Want to know where to stay in NYC? Check out my post!

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