Hudson is 2h 20m up the river from New York City, and Amtrak drops you at the foot of Warren Street. The 25 weekend getaways here run from the Hamptons, 1h 50m east, to North Conway in the White Mountains at about six hours. Most sit in five groups: the Hudson Valley and Catskills, the Long Island and Jersey shores, the New England coast, upstate New York, and two cities.
Book the shore in summer, the Hudson Valley and New England in October, and Boston or Washington, DC in spring. For a day out instead, the day trips from NYC cover Beacon, Sleepy Hollow, Princeton and Fire Island without a hotel.
All costs are in US dollars for two people: fuel and tolls there and back, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Drive times are one-way from Lower Manhattan in typical traffic, before any ferry.
The short list
| Destination | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hamptons | ~1h 50m92 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Kingston | ~1h 50m101 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Madison | ~1h 55m100 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Woodstock | ~2h108 mi | Culture | $1,000–$1,400 | June |
| Atlantic City | ~2h 5m127 mi | Nightlife | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Jim Thorpe | ~2h 10m118 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | October |
| Hudson | ~2h 20m127 mi | Culture | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Mystic | ~2h 25m134 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Cape May | ~2h 35m158 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | May |
| Montauk | ~2h 35m121 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Stockbridge | ~2h 45m145 mi | Culture | $1,000–$1,400 | October |
| Saratoga Springs | ~3h 10m185 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| Newport | ~3h 15m181 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | June |
| Lake George | ~3h 25m211 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| Boston | ~3h 45m217 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | October |
| Cooperstown | ~3h 45m199 mi | History | $1,000–$1,400 | August |
| Ithaca | ~3h 55m223 mi | Nature | $1,000–$1,400 | September |
| Washington, DC | ~3h 55m226 mi | History | $1,100–$1,400 | April |
| Ocean City | ~4h 5m237 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | June |
| Gloucester | ~4h 5m247 mi | Beach | $1,100–$1,400 | July |
| Kennebunkport | ~4h 50m291 mi | Beach | $1,100–$1,400 | July |
| Portland | ~5h 5m314 mi | Food | $1,100–$1,400 | September |
| Alexandria Bay | ~5h 30m345 mi | History | $1,100–$1,400 | August |
| Martha's Vineyard | ~5h 30m269 mi | Beach | $1,000–$1,400 | July |
| North Conway | ~5h 50m344 mi | Nature | $1,100–$1,400 | October |
Under three hours, two nights is plenty. Past four hours, take three nights or leave Friday at lunch, before the traffic out of the city.
Best for the Hudson Valley and the Catskills
Hudson
Hudson is a river town of antique shops and restaurants along Warren Street. Tour Olana, the Persian-style hilltop house of painter Frederic Church, across the river from the Catskills. Amtrak stops in town.
Don't miss
- Olana State Historic Site
- Carrie Haddad Gallery
- Lake Taghkanic State Park
- Warren Street
Iconic eats: Apple Cider Doughnut, Pawpaw
Hudson
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 20m drive · Best in September
Walk Warren Street for antiques and restaurants, then tour Olana, the hilltop Persian-style home of painter Frederic Church.
Kingston
Kingston was New York's first capital. Walk the Stockade District of colonial stone houses, see the Senate House, and eat by the water on the Rondout. It makes a base for the rest of the Hudson Valley.
Don't miss
- Senate House State Historic Site
- Rondout West Strand Historic District
- Kingston Point Park
- Stockade District
Kingston
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
1h 50m drive · Best in September
The historic Stockade District preserves stone buildings from the colonial period.
Top sights
Rondout West Strand Historic District
Senate House State Historic Site
Stockade District
Rhinecliff
Woodstock
Woodstock is a Catskills art village; the 1969 festival that took its name was held well to the southwest, in Bethel. Walk Tinker Street's galleries and hike up Overlook Mountain to the fire tower.
Don't miss
- Woodstock Artists Association and Museum
- Overlook Mountain Trail
- Tinker Street
Iconic eats: Apple Cider Donut
Woodstock
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h drive · Best in June
Art galleries and musical history define this Catskills mountain village
Top sights
Colony of the Arts Historic District
Overlook Mountain Trail
Woodstock (New York)
Best for the Long Island and Jersey shores
The Hamptons
The Hamptons are a string of villages on Long Island's South Fork. Spend the days on Coopers Beach and Main Beach, walk Sag Harbor's Main Street, and see the Parrish Art Museum. Summer weekends book out and cost more.
Don't miss
- Main Beach
- Sag Harbor Main Street
- Amber Waves Farm
The Hamptons
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
1h 50m drive · Best in July
Spend summer days on Coopers Beach and Main Beach, browse the Parrish Art Museum and eat lobster rolls between the villages.
Montauk
Montauk is the end of Long Island. Climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse, surf at Ditch Plains and walk the dunes of Hither Hills. September keeps the warm water with fewer crowds.
Don't miss
- Montauk Point Lighthouse
- Hither Hills State Park
- Ditch Plains Beach
Iconic eats: Seared Scallops
Montauk
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 35m drive · Best in September
Climb the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern tip of Long Island, surf at Ditch Plains and hike the dunes of Hither Hills.
Top sights
Montauk Point Lighthouse
Hither Hills State Park
Cape May
Cape May is the Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey. Tour the Emlen Physick Estate, climb the Cape May Lighthouse, and watch the migrating birds at Cape May Point in the fall.
Don't miss
- Emlen Physick Estate
- Cape May Point State Park
- Cape May Lighthouse
Iconic eats: Pork Roll, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich
Cape May
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 35m drive · Best in May
Painted Victorian mansions stand near the southern tip of the peninsula
Top sights
Cape May Lighthouse
Emlen Physick Estate
Washington Street Mall
Poverty Beach
Historic Cold Spring Village
Atlantic City
Atlantic City is the boardwalk and the casinos. Walk to the Steel Pier, climb the Absecon Lighthouse, and catch a show at night.
Don't miss
- Atlantic City Boardwalk
- Absecon Lighthouse
- Atlantic City Beach
- Boardwalk Hall
Iconic eats: Italian Hot Dog, Sub
Atlantic City
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 5m drive · Best in July
Walk the long boardwalk past the casinos and the Steel Pier, then catch a show or a late dinner at the Borgata.
Top sights
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Atlantic City Aquarium
Dante Hall Theater
Lucy the Elephant
Margate
Ocean City
Ocean City, Maryland, has a long wooden boardwalk of rides and Thrasher's fries. Drive south to Assateague, where wild horses roam the beach.
Don't miss
- Ocean City Boardwalk
- Ocean City Beach
- Assateague State Park
Iconic eats: Thrasher French Fry, Fisher Popcorn
Ocean City
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
4h 5m drive · Best in June
The wooden boardwalk offers iconic fries and amusement rides along the coast
Top sights
Ocean City Boardwalk
Trimper Rides
Ocean City Beach
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Best for the New England coast
Newport
Newport is the Gilded Age town on Narragansett Bay. Tour The Breakers, walk the Cliff Walk past the mansions, and eat at Bowen's Wharf.
Don't miss
- The Breakers
- Cliff Walk
- Bowen Wharf
- Newport Harbor
Iconic eats: Coffee Milk, New York System Wiener, Stuffed Quahog
Newport
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 15m drive · Best in June
Gilded Age mansions overlook the rocky Atlantic shoreline
Top sights
The Breakers
Newport Harbor
Mystic
Mystic is a Connecticut seaport with old ships at the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Aquarium and a drawbridge in the middle of downtown. Amtrak stops in town.
Don't miss
- Mystic Seaport Museum
- Mystic Aquarium
- Downtown Mystic
Mystic
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 25m drive · Best in September
Historic ships dock at the seaport museum alongside a bascule bridge
Top sights
Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration
Mystic Seaport Museum
Madison
Madison is a Connecticut shore town with the long beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park and bookshops around the green.
Madison
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
1h 55m drive · Best in July
Spend a shoreline weekend on the long beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park and browse the bookshops on the town green.
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island off Cape Cod, a ferry ride from Woods Hole. The drive time is by road only, so add the crossing and reserve a car space in summer. Bike between the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, the captains' houses of Edgartown and the clay cliffs at Aquinnah.
Don't miss
- Gay Head Light
- Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary
- Oak Bluffs Gingerbread Cottages
Iconic eats: Lobster Roll
Martha's Vineyard
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
5h 30m drive · Best in July
Bike between the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, the whaling captains' houses of Edgartown and the clay cliffs at Aquinnah.
Top sights
Edgartown
Oak Bluffs
Tisbury
Gloucester
Gloucester is a working fishing port on Cape Ann. Take a harbor tour, walk the Rocky Neck art colony, and spend the afternoon on Good Harbor Beach.
Don't miss
- Cape Ann Museum
- Good Harbor Beach
- Rocky Neck Art Colony
Iconic eats: Kale Soup
Gloucester
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
4h 5m drive · Best in July
A working fishing port on Cape Ann with harbor tours, the Rocky Neck art colony and the sand at Good Harbor Beach.
Top sights
Hammond Castle Museum
Wingaersheek Beach
Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial
Cape Ann Museum
Maritime Gloucester Schooner Adventure
Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport is a Maine coast village. Browse Dock Square, walk Goose Rocks Beach and drive Ocean Avenue past Walker's Point.
Don't miss
- Walker Point
- Goose Rocks Beach
- Kennebunkport Marina
- Dock Square
Iconic eats: Whoopie Pie
Kennebunkport
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
4h 50m drive · Best in July
Browse Dock Square, walk Goose Rocks Beach and drive Ocean Avenue past the rocky shore at Walker's Point.
Top sights
Dock Square
Walker Point
Seashore Trolley Museum
Portland
Portland, Maine, is the food weekend. Eat lobster rolls and oysters in the Old Port, then drive out to Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth. At five hours, take three nights.
Portland
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
5h 5m drive · Best in September
Eat lobster rolls and oysters in the Old Port, then drive out to Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth.
Best for upstate New York, the Berkshires and the mountains
Stockbridge
Stockbridge is a Berkshires town with the Norman Rockwell Museum, Edith Wharton's house The Mount in nearby Lenox, and summer concerts at Tanglewood.
Don't miss
- Norman Rockwell Museum
- The Mount Edith Wharton Home
- October Mountain State Forest
- Tanglewood
Stockbridge
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 45m drive · Best in October
Norman Rockwell art hangs in a quiet town within the Berkshires
Top sights
Berkshire Botanical Garden
Chesterwood
Naumkeag
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is a Victorian town in the Lehigh Gorge of Pennsylvania. Ride the scenic railway into the gorge, tour the Asa Packer Mansion, and bike the gorge trail in October.
Don't miss
- Asa Packer Mansion
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
- Lehigh Gorge State Park
- Jim Thorpe Memorial
Iconic eats: Pennsylvania Dutch Pretzel, Shoofly Pie, Pork and Sauerkraut
Jim Thorpe
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
2h 10m drive · Best in October
Victorian architecture lines the steep streets of the Lehigh Gorge
Top sights
Asa Packer Mansion
Jim Thorpe Historic District
Jim Thorpe Memorial
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a spa and racing town. Watch the horses at Saratoga Race Course in August, drink from the springs in Saratoga Spa State Park, and catch a concert at SPAC.
Don't miss
- Saratoga Race Course
- Saratoga Spa State Park
- Saratoga Performing Arts Center
- Saratoga National Historical Park
Iconic eats: White Hot
Saratoga Springs
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 10m drive · Best in August
Natural springs and horse racing define this resort town
Top sights
Saratoga National Historical Park
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Spa State Park
Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
Lake George
Lake George is the summer lake at the edge of the Adirondacks. Take a steamboat cruise, drive up Prospect Mountain, and tour Fort William Henry.
Don't miss
- Fort William Henry
- Prospect Mountain
- Lake George Steamboat Company
- The Great Escape
Iconic eats: White Hot
Lake George
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 25m drive · Best in July
Clear water reflects the surrounding Adirondack mountains at this summer resort
Top sights
Lake George Steamboat Company
Six Flags Great Escape
Cooperstown
Cooperstown is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, on Otsego Lake. The Farmers' Museum is on the edge of the village.
Don't miss
- National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- The Farmers Museum
- Glimmerglass State Park
Cooperstown
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 45m drive · Best in August
Baseball legends are honored in this historic village on Otsego Lake
Top sights
Main Street Historic District
Fenimore Art Museum
Glimmerglass State Park
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Hyde Hall
Ithaca
Ithaca is a college town in the Finger Lakes, set among gorges and waterfalls. Hike Buttermilk Falls, walk the Cornell Botanic Gardens and cruise Cayuga Lake.
Don't miss
- Buttermilk Falls State Park
- Cornell Botanic Gardens
- Cayuga Lake Cruises
Iconic eats: Apple Cider Doughnut, Salt Potato, Chicken Spiedie
Ithaca
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 55m drive · Best in September
Waterfalls cascade into the gorges surrounding this university town
Top sights
Buttermilk Falls State Park
St. James AME Zion Church
Alexandria Bay
Alexandria Bay is the Thousand Islands town on the St. Lawrence River. Take a boat to Boldt Castle on Heart Island. At five and a half hours, take three nights.
Don't miss
- Boldt Castle
- Uncle Sam Boat Tours
- Wellesley Island State Park
- Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site
Alexandria Bay
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
5h 30m drive · Best in August
Boldt Castle sits on an island within the Saint Lawrence River
Top sights
Boldt Castle
Thousand Islands Winery
Grass Point State Park
North Conway
North Conway is in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad, walk to the rock pools at Diana's Baths, and come in October for the foliage. At nearly six hours, take three nights.
Don't miss
- Conway Scenic Railroad
- Diana Baths
- Cranmore Mountain Resort
North Conway
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
5h 50m drive · Best in October
Vintage steam locomotives pull passenger cars through the White Mountains scenery
Top sights
White Mountain National Forest
Zeb's General Store
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Cathedral Ledge
Settlers' Green Outlet Village
Best for a city weekend
Boston
Boston is four hours by car or by Amtrak. Walk the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to the North End, catch a game at Fenway Park, and cross the river to Harvard Square.
Don't miss
- Freedom Trail
- Harvard University
- Boston Public Garden
- Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Iconic eats: New England Clam Chowder, Oysters on the Half Shell, Fried Whole Belly Clams
Boston
≈ USD 1,000–USD 1,400
3h 45m drive · Best in October
Walk the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to the North End, catch a game at Fenway Park and cross the river to Harvard Square.
Top sights
Boston Common
Faneuil Hall
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Science
Boston Public Garden
Washington, DC
Washington, DC is about four hours south. Walk the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, with the free Smithsonian museums on both sides. April brings the cherry blossoms.
Don't miss
- Lincoln Memorial
- National Museum of Natural History
- United States Capitol
- Georgetown Waterfront Park
Iconic eats: Maryland Crab Soup, Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wing, Crab Cake
Washington, DC
≈ USD 1,100–USD 1,400
3h 55m drive · Best in April
Walk the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, with free Smithsonian museums open along both sides.
Top sights
National Museum of Natural History
Lincoln Memorial
National Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian's National Zoo
National Museum of American History
Which to skip, and when
Skip a Friday afternoon summer drive to the Hamptons or Montauk, when the Long Island Expressway backs up; take the train. Skip Lake George and Alexandria Bay in winter, when many seasonal businesses close. In winter, choose Boston, Washington, DC or the snow at North Conway.
See a real example
Common questions
What's the best weekend getaway from NYC?
Hudson, about 2h 20m up the river, is the strongest weekend getaway from NYC: antiques and restaurants on Warren Street, Frederic Church's hilltop house at Olana, and an Amtrak station in town. Newport, at about 3h 15m, is the coastal pick.
What's the closest weekend getaway from NYC?
The Hamptons, about 1h 50m east on Long Island, and Kingston in the Hudson Valley, also about 1h 50m, are the closest of the 25 weekend getaways on this page. Madison on the Connecticut shore is next at about 1h 55m.
How much does a weekend getaway from NYC cost for two?
A weekend getaway from NYC costs about $1,000 to $1,400 for two people on this page, covering fuel and tolls, two nights in a comfortable hotel, food and activities. Summer weekends in the Hamptons and on Martha's Vineyard can run above that.
Which weekend getaways from NYC don't need a car?
Amtrak runs to Hudson, Mystic, Boston and Washington, DC. The LIRR runs to the Hamptons and Montauk, and NJ Transit buses reach Atlantic City. Martha's Vineyard takes a bus or train to Woods Hole and then the ferry.
What's the best beach weekend from NYC?
Cape May, about 2h 35m south, is the beach weekend from NYC, with Victorian houses, a lighthouse and wide beaches at the tip of New Jersey. Montauk and the Hamptons are the Long Island options, and Martha's Vineyard is the island one.
What's the best fall weekend getaway from NYC?
October suits Stockbridge in the Berkshires, Jim Thorpe on the Lehigh Gorge and North Conway in the White Mountains, all for the foliage. Hudson, Kingston and Woodstock hold the color closer to the city.
The bottom line
Take the train to Hudson for a fall weekend, drive to Cape May or Montauk in summer, and go to Boston or Washington, DC when the weather turns. Plan your weekend trip free and the planner ranks these for your dates and budget.
Browse more weekend getaways by city, or keep it to a day with the day trips from NYC.
Drive times are routed by road from Lower Manhattan in October 2026, before any ferry crossing. Costs come from the same pricing the planner uses. Check train and ferry schedules before you go.
Written by Namrata · Editor
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