15 Best Day Trips From NYC to Take For a Perfect City Escape
I’m someone who actively does some of the best day trips from NYC (as people who have tagged along with me on them have confirmed) and over the course of doing that for many years have discovered amazing areas not too far from the city that are great for exploring and not only will I show you the top 15 spots here, but I’ll also provide you with an awesome itinerary to follow in each one.
I strongly recommend that for each place on the following list, that you leave NYC as early as possible (maybe at 7 am) to get the not just before the crowds but also to get the most out of every spot.
Here are the 15 best day trips from NYC to try:
- Fort Lee Historic Park (20 minutes from NYC).
- Delaware Water Gap (2 hours from NYC).
- High Point State Park (2-3 hours from NYC).
- Hudson Highlands State Park (1-2 hours from NYC).
- Lake Minnewaska State Park (2 hours from NYC).
- Fort Montgomery (1 hour from NYC).
- Harriman State Park (1 hour from NYC).
- Taconic State Park (3 hours from NYC).
- Mohonk Mountain House (2 hours from NYC).
- The Catskill Mountains (3 hours from NYC).
- Ringwood State Park (2 hours from NYC).
- Greenwood Lake (1 hour from NYC).
- Vernon NJ (2 hours from NYC).
- Sam’s Point Preserve (2 hours from NYC).
- Woodstock NY (2-3 hours from NYC).
Each of these places has numerous things to do making them perfect for day trips near NYC and you can also access a bunch of them by train, but ideally it’s best to visit each one by car.
Fort Lee Historic Park:
Location:
NJ (This park is literally underneath the GW Bridge), 10 minutes from NYC.
Description:
In my opinion Fort Lee Historic Park is an extremely underrated park that most NYC residents don’t even consider exploring. Most of the time they just drive over the GW Bridge and continue to other places but in the process miss out on this amazing area and the truth is that you can easily access it and do a ton of things within a day trip from NYC here.
Can you get here by train?
No. But you can take a train near the GW Bridge, then either cross it by foot/bike or just take an Uber here since it’s so close.
Things to do a day trip here:
- Drive through the Henry Hudson scenic drive (you can also jog or bike here too).
- Kayak on the Hudson River.
- Do the Giant Stairs Palisades trail (one of the best hikes in NJ in my opinion).
- Have a picnic underneath the GW Bridge.
- You can also see my Fort Lee Historic Park article link above for more details.
Delaware Water Gap:
Location:
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area (it’s actually located right in between NJ and Pennsylvannia) and it’s about a 2 hour drive from
Description:
Delaware Water Gap is probably one of the best outdoor spots in all of NJ and places to do a day trip from NYC from. It has many hikes, scenic attractions, waterfalls and tons of stuff to do. I would even say a day trip here isn’t enough because of all the things you can do there but I promise you the experience you’ll have here will be incredible.
Can you get here by train?
No.
Things to do on a day trip from NYC here:
- I recommend doing the Mount Tammany trail first.
- You can kayak on the Delaware River (there’s rental areas there).
- See Bushkill falls (it’s a beautiful waterfall hike).
- See the other giant waterfalls in the area (my Delaware Water Gap article above explains where to find them).
High Point State Park:
Location:
Highpoint State Park is located in northwest point of NJ (2-3 hour drive from NYC) and it’s actually part of the Delaware Water Gap.
Description:
Though it’s connected to the Delaware Water Gap, I recommend you do a separate day trip from NYC to this place because it has it’s own list of things to do that’ll be too much to cover if you try to also include the Delaware Water Gap activities. Basically this park has awesome hiking trails, many scenic viewpoints and the famous Monument that you can walk up to and see great views of NJ from (possibly even NYC).
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. There is a train station in Hoboken NY (Port Jervis) that takes you close to the park but you will need to take a car/uber/bus to get to the park from that area.
Things to do a day trip here:
- The scenic drive around High Point State Park is recommended.
- Walking to famous Monument is also an easy but highly recommended thing to do.
- Do at least 1 hiking trail here.
- There’s swimming and many other activities within this park to try as well.
Hudson Highlands State Park:
Location:
Upstate NY in Hudson Highlands State Park (1-2 hours from NYC).
Description:
This is likely one of the most popular parks NYC residents go to on weekends in my experience and it’s justified because there’s a lot of things to do here to make it a perfect day trip from NYC. There’s hikes, castles (yes I’m serious), beautiful marina restaurants, views and amazing towns to explore here.
Can you get here by train?
Yes! You’ll want to start at Grand Central Station and take it to the Breakneck Ridge Station (it may also be called Beacon Station).
Things to do a day trip here:
- I recommend starting with a hike (Breakneck Ridge is the top choice, followed by Bull Hill Loop (more scenic/easier hike).
- Afterwards, explore Bannerman Castle (you need to pay for a private tour here and it’s on boat).
- Absolutely see Little Stony point if you can!
- If you’re getting here by car, drive back down to NYC via road 9 to see more towns, castles and places on the way back (there’s many great options for restaurants and things to do). I also recommend this Hudson Highlands State Park article that gives you more specifics on what to see.
Lake Minnewaska State Park:
Location:
Upstate NY (about 2 hours north of NYC).
Description:
Lake Minnewaska State Park is one of the most scenic parks outside NYC that is also great for taking day trips to. There are amazing hikes, rock climbing areas and many more activities to explore.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. You can take a train from Penn Station (NYC) to Poughkeepsie Station which covers about 90% of the trip, then a bus/uber to Lake Minnewaska.
Things to do a day trip here:
- I have an article on things to do in Lake Minnewaska State Park for starters.
- But I do recommend seeing Awosting Falls.
- At the very least do the Gertrude’s Nose hiking trail (it’s amazing).
- A swim or kayaking on Lake Minnewaska is also highly recommended.
- There are beautiful picnic areas overlooking the lake to check out too.
Fort Montgomery:
Location:
Upstate NY (near Bear Mountain State Park), which is about 1-2 hours from NYC.
Description:
This place is a beautiful Fort that overlooks the Bear Mountain Bridge and it’s actually not far from the same Hudson Highlands Park I mentioned earlier (Fort Montgomery is about 30 minutes south of it). In this place you can see historical spots, enjoy the nature and also check out the many awesome nature activities.
Can you get here by train?
Yes! You would start at Grand Central Station and go up to Manitou Station NY.
Things to do a day trip here:
- Exploring the Fort itself.
- You can then check out Bear Mountain State Park ($10 fee to enter) and spend the day there. I included an article to Bear Mountain and things to do there.
Harriman State Park:
Location:
Harriman State Park is located in Upstate NY as well (close to Bear Mountain), 1-2 hours from NYC.
Description:
Harriman State Park has been one of my top “go to” places for day trips from NYC for year and this is a much “wilder” and “remote” part of upstate NY where you can do a lot, but not necessarily have to deal with so many crowds. Above all else this place has tons of hiking trails and it’s often easy to get lost in the woods, but there are pretty simple trails and tons of other activities to check out to mix things up in this amazing park, making for a fulfilling day trip experience.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. You can start at Hoboken Station and take it to Harriman Station, then take a 20 minute taxi to the park itself. Keep in mind that it’s very large so you’ll need to know which part of the park to actually visit, then also note that there’s very bad cell phone reception there so you’ll want to be careful with this option (long story short, just take a car here).
Things to do a day trip here:
- The Reeves Brook Loop trail is a good start to exploring Harriman.
- Doing the Seven Lakes scenic drive is also recommended.
- Stop by Silver Mine and take a kayak ride there.
- The above article on Harriman State Park will show you even more things to do there (including finding secret abandoned mines).
Taconic State Park:
Location:
Taconic State Park is about 3 hours north of NYC (it’s divided between NY and Massachusetts states).
Description:
This is going to be one of the longest drives you do for a day trip from NYC, but it’s worth it because this park is awesome. Taconic State Park has many hikes, museum areas and simple hikes/swimming holes to beautiful waterfalls worth checking out. There’s also trails which take you to overlooks of the Catskill Mountains west of this park.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. You’d start at Penn Station, take it up to Hudson Station near the Catskills, then do a long taxi drive there. I would just recommend driving there (or renting a car to do that).
Things to do a day trip here:
- See Bish Bash Falls.
- Walk the main trail to the waterfall (very scenic place).
- See the old museum in the area.
Mohonk Mountain House:
Location:
Mohonk Preserve in New Paltz (right near Lake Minnewaska), 1-2 hours from NYC.
Description:
Mohonk Mountain House basically looks like a castle from a fantasy movie, but at the same time there are equally beautiful areas right by it in the greater Mohonk Preserve area which are perfect for day trips. To get to the Mohonk Mountain House, you need to either have a reservation to stay there (which is very expensive) or if you’re just taking a day trip there, you’ll stop by the gate into the area, pay $26 per person, park your car there and hike up to the Mountain House, then explore it and other areas nearby.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. It’s the same process as getting to Lake Minnewaska (start at Penn Station and take that to Poughkeepsie Station, then taxi to the area). Again, I’m going to recommend driving there if you can.
Things to do a day trip here:
- Explore the Mohonk Mountain house.
- Kayak by the Mountain house itself.
- There is also a beautiful botanical garden there.
- Do the Laybrinth trail.
- See my above Mohonk Preserve article for even more places to see within this area.
The Catskill Mountains:
Location:
Upstate NY, takes about 2-3 hours of driving.
Description:
When I started doing frequent day trips from NYC over a decade ago, the Catskill Mountains were the top spot I’d visit almost every single time and as a result I was able to rack up a lot of adventures, experiences and recommendations on what to see. Although they are further than most locations on this list, these are the biggest mountains and best hikes you’ll find outside the NYC area so if you’re into that sort of stuff, I’d wake up earlier and go here if you can!
Can you get here by train?
No.
Things to do a day trip here:
- I would start at North South Lake (most of the best day trip activities are here as you can swim, kayak and hike in the area).
- Explore Kaaterskill Falls trail (and see my list of Catskill waterfalls for more options).
- Check out Hunter Mountain and/or Tannserville for food and more attractions.
Note: You can easily do a anywhere from a 2 to 4 day trip from NYC here as well.
The Catskill Mountains are great for day trips, but that’s only if you’re OK with waking up early and going at a faster pace while there to explore multiple areas. At the same time though, doing a weekend or multi day trip there (3 or 4) days is probably even better if you can. You can explore all of the above areas and more in the process.
Ringwood State Park:
Location:
New Jersey (1-2 hours from NYC).
Description:
Ringwood State Park is a much more mellow and yet stunning park to do a day trip to. It’s a combination of old castles, botanical gardens, some OK hiking trails and overall just nice tranquil experiences. A lot of people come here for weddings or just exploring the area and it’s easy to do in this park.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. Take the Hoboken Station train to Sloatsburg Station (it’s also another good station for exploring the southern part of Harriman State Park), then take a taxi/uber for about another 30 minutes.
Things to do a day trip here:
- Explore the main Ringwood Manor hotel.
- See the Botanical garden right by the area (lots to see and do there).
- If you have time, visit the nearby Long Pond Ironworks State Park (it has kayaking options, hikes and an old museum to see).
Greenwood Lake:
Location:
Upstate NY right by Sterling Forest State Park (1-2 hours from NYC).
Description:
Greenwood Lake is an awesome small town where you can do a lot of things including kayaking and sightseeing the beautiful area, including checking out the hikes in the mountains that encircle it.
Can you get here by train?
Sort of. You can also take the same Hoboken Station train to Tuxedo Park and then a taxi to the area.
Things to do a day trip here:
- I would start by actually exploring Sterling Forest State Park and doing 1 hike there.
- Then explore the Greenwood Lake village (do some kayaking, then restaurant exploration).
Vernon NJ:
Location:
Vernon NJ is about 2 hours north west of NYC.
Description:
Vernon is a nice town to check out, but the more important things you can here (for a day trip near NYC that is) is hiking and checking out some awesome spots in the area before eating in the town itself.
Can you get here by train?
Not really. It’s basically 50% train ride and 50% car, so just take the latter all the way here.
Things to do a day trip here:
- Start with the Stairway to Heaven hike.
- Then explore the western part of the trail (connected to Stairway to Heaven) which is the Appalachian Trail.
- See the Mountain Creek resort area.
- Explore the town of Vernon.
Sam’s Point Preserve:
Location:
Sam’s Point Preserve is also in upstate NY (2 hours north of the city).
Description:
You can fill up a whole day trip near NYC at Sam’s Point Preserve. There is a $10 fee to get in here (for parking), but there’s numerous activities to do that make it worth it including seeing beautiful gorges, a lake on top of a plateau, overlooks of the upstate area and much more.
Can you get here by train?
Somewhat. I’d just recommend using a car for this location.
Things to do on a day trip here:
- The ice caves are the top thing to see here.
- Explore the entire Sam’s Point Loop trail (best thing to do).
Woodstock NY:
Location:
Another upstate gem! Woodstock NY is located about 2 hours north of NYC and is right by the Hudson River.
Description:
The image above is called the Ruins and it’s from a popular hike near Woodstock NY called the Overlook Mountain trail. Additionally the town of Woodstock has tons of things to do and it’s another awesome day trip to check out.
Can you get here by train?
Not really. A car is your best option.
Things to do on a day trip here:
- The Overlook Trail is the first thing to do (you’ll see a beautiful overlook, firetower and the Ruins).
- See the Bhuddist temple area nearby.
- Explore Woodstock itself to finish up the day trip.
What to do next:
Since there’s so many choices above, I would recommend you just start with 1 day trip area above based on your personal interests and how far you’re OK with traveling (as well as if you have a car to do it). Most of the choices I listed have a lot of nature areas to check out, but there is a good mix of towns and other activities to try in every single area listed above.
Again, I strongly recommend that you start these trips as early as you can so you can get more out of them. If you can leave the city around 7 am to 8 am, that would be ideal especially if you plan on visiting the areas above that are 2-3 hours away. As a result you will likely be able to do multiple activities in each spot and potentially even be able to do multiple areas in one day too.
If you do have any questions on which places to see, you’re welcome to ask me below so I can help you with planning an ideal day trip from NYC that will be unforgettable!
