10 Best Road Trips near New York
Escape New York This Weekend!
New York City offers plenty to do on its own, but there are also road trips that offer great dining, outdoor adventure, natural wonders, and history within a day’s reach. You can see the highest cascading waterfall in the entire state and visit iconic resort towns famed for their comedy and live entertainment shows.
Travel to towns famed for fine dining and local wines, go gaming, or buy a perfect piece of wall art for your place back home. Explore some of the best road trips near New York City to make memories that last a lifetime.
1. Niagara Falls, NY
One of the Wonders of the World
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure
Niagara Falls, NY, is an iconic US location and offers a chance to see one of the Wonders of the World, complete with photos, museums, shopping, and dining. When most people think of Niagara Falls, they think of Canada, but the US side also offers 3 different sites: American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.
One of the great things about the Falls is that when you’re looking over them, even when there’s a massive crowd bustling about, the whooshing sounds and incredible sights fill you with a sense of peace and serenity. The Falls are about 7 hours from NYC to the north, but every minute of the trip will be worth it.
Niagara Falls, NY
2. Westerly, RI
A private beach in a peaceful town
Good for: Couples, Families
A quaint seaside town overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Westerly offers access to private beaches, luxury car rentals, cooking classes, and top class spa facilities. This coastal destination is about a 3-hour drive from NYC and offers peaceful and walkable avenues, small independent and boutique stores, outstanding local restaurants, and a peaceful getaway from the noise and crowds of the big city.
Westerly is a great choice for a family-friendly trip that offers luxurious but down-to-earth and traditional surroundings. Here, you can have an upscale getaway the entire family will enjoy.
Westerly, RI
3. Cape May, NJ
Seaside town full of boutiques and specialty gifts
Good for: Shoppers, History, Food
Cape May, NJ, is a shopping and dining destination with walkable avenues filled with art, gifts, and souvenirs, as well as great local seafood eateries and specialty goods. The town itself is famed for being among the most idyllic along the Jersey Shore, and it’s full of historic buildings and features a paved promenade.
Along the promenade you can find all manner of specialty goods, such as handmade nut butters, and galleries filled with local arts and crafts. Check out the kitschy gift shops, small indoor malls, seafood restaurants, and Irish pubs. It’s only about a 2.5-hour drive south along the Garden State Parkway.
Cape May, NJ
4. Finger Lakes, NY
A collection of 11 picturesque mountain lakes
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure
Finger Lakes, NY, is a region comprising 11 pristine lakes, offering hiking, historic attractions, and fantastic conditions for producing outstanding wineries. Your hiking here will take you through scenic gorges where you can witness cascading waterfalls and seemingly endless green space. Historic sites include the Women’s Rights National Historical Park and Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion.
Many people come here to enjoy the vast array of local wines that can be found throughout the region, and there are few better ways to relax at the end of a long day of seeing the sights than with a local vintage. This area is less than 5 hours from NYC, so it’s an easy day’s drive and overnight stay.
Finger Lakes, NY
5. Alexandria, VA
Historic architecture along Old Town streets
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Shoppers
For a classic Southern city experience, Alexandria, VA, offers historic architecture, quaint streets, and a wide variety of local businesses, stores, and restaurants. Old Town Alexandria is one of the most popular attractions here, known for its blocks of walkable avenues lined by buildings constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Nestled in among the facades are a wide range of small local stores selling everything from boutique clothing to handmade arts and crafts fashioned by area artisans. You can also relax in any of the independent restaurants for outstanding food and drink. Alexandria can be reached after a roughly 4-hour drive from New York City.
Alexandria, VA
6. Catskills, NY
Comedy shows at famous mountain clubs
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Families, Shoppers
The Catskills in New York state are a famous mountain range destination known far and wide for their resorts and comedy shows. Discover pristine mountain lakes, biking, hiking, and leisure. It’s just a 4-hour drive from NYC to reach here, and you can hike or bike around the deep blue waters of Otsego Lake at Glimmerglass State Park, relax on the beach, or get out on the lake for some watersports.
The Catskills have several traditional and historic towns to explore, and each brings its own unique and eclectic collection of history, quaint cottages, and exciting nightclubs. You can find souvenirs in local stores and enjoy fabulous fine dining, wine, and cocktails in local upscale restaurants.
Catskills, NY
7. Pocono Mountains, PA
Family resort entertainment
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure
If you’re looking for an iconic mountain getaway with skiing, quaint and rustic cabins, and hundreds upon hundreds of acres of woodland to explore, head to the Pocono Mountains. This famous PA destination is known for its resorts and upscale entertainment, with live music, comedy shows, and tons of family-themed recreation.
The Poconos also offer miles of woodlands to explore for hiking, biking, camping, swimming, and canoeing along everything from serene lakes to whitewater rapids. Best of all, they’re only about a 2-hour drive from NYC.
Pocono Mountains, PA
8. Lexington, MA
The spot where the United States was born
Good for: Adventure, Families, History
Lexington, MA, offers not only vast, wooded surroundings and a serene environment, but also a wealth of historical experiences for everyone from war historians to literary buffs. You can visit Walden Pond, Lexington Common, and Battle Green, and see where the first shots were fired that set off the Revolutionary War.
Bookish types should head for the Orchard House to see the place where Louisa May Alcott based her seminal novel Little Women. For those who just want a weekend getaway, there’s plenty of woodland trails to explore on foot or by bike. All of this is waiting less than a 4-hour drive from central New York City.
Lexington, MA
9. Newport, RI
Where lobster is served every which way
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Food, History
A popular destination for day-trippers and weekend-getaway-ers, Newport offers serene harbor views, fine-art galleries, and fantastic seafood restaurants. It’s located just an easy 3 hours from New York City, handy for a day trip experience.
Newport is famed for historic attractions like the Marble House and Rosecliff museums, which will thrill history buffs. It’s also known for its harbor views and sailing from places like Fort Adams State Park, which are great for families or couples on a romantic getaway. Of course, if you’re a fan of lobster, you’ll want to hit a local seafood restaurant for lobster rolls, steamed lobster, and lobster bisque paired with outstanding local wines.
Newport, RI
10. Haines Falls, NY
The highest cascading falls in New York state
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Photo
Haines Falls is the site of cascading waterfall with brilliant green hiking trails and a natural spring where you can swim. This outdoor adventure paradise is just around 4 hours from central NYC, and the falls themselves purport to be the highest cascading falls in the state.
If you take a hiking trail to Round Top, you can also visit Glen Falls, which offers a wide, natural-spring lake that’s open for swimming and relaxation in the warmer months. The trail is open all year long, however, so even in winter you can snowshoe your way through the woods and enjoy the peaceful surroundings when fewer people are about.
Haines Falls, NY
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