10 Best Road Trips near New York

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 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—you feel 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.

Westerly, RI, offers an iconic quaint seaside town overlooking the Atlantic Ocean where you can access private beaches, rent a luxury car, take cooking classes, or enjoy a spa. This coastal town is about a 3-hour drive from NYC and offers peaceful and walkable avenues, small independent and boutique shops, outstanding local restaurants, and a peaceful getaway from the noise and crowds of the city. This destination is perfect for a family-friendly trip that offers luxurious but quaint and traditional surroundings. Here, you can have an upscale getaway the entire family will enjoy.

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 speciality goods. The town itself is famed as amongst the most idyllic along the Jersey Shore, and it's full of historic buildings and a paved promenade. Along the promenade, you can find all manner of speciality goods, including handmade nut butters, and galleries filled with local arts and crafts. You can find 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.

Finger Lakes, NY, is a region comprising 11 picturesque and pristine lakes, offering hiking, historic attractions, and that's known for its outstanding wineries. Your hiking here will take you through scenic gorges where you can witness cascading waterfalls and endless green space. Historic sites include the Women's Rights National Historical Park and Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion. Of course, 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.

Alexandria, VA, offers historic architecture, quaint streets, and a wide variety of local businesses, shops, and restaurants in a classic Southern city. 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 amongst the facades are a wide range of small local shops selling everything from boutique clothing to handmade arts and crafts fashioned by area artisans. You can also relax in any of the small, local restaurants for outstanding food and drink. It can be reached after a roughly 4-hour drive from New York City.

The Catskills, in NY, are a famous mountain range destination known far and wide for their resorts and comedy shows, and for offering 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 the perfect souvenirs in local shops and enjoy the best in fine dining, wine, and cocktails in local upscale restaurants.

The Pocono Mountains, in PA, offer an iconic mountain getaway with skiing, quaint and rustic cabins, gaming, and hundreds upon hundreds of acres of woodland to explore. This famous destination is known for its resorts and upscale entertainment with live music, comedy shows, and tonnes of family-themed entertainment. 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.

Lexington, MA, offers not only vast wooded surroundings and a serene environment but a wealth of historical experiences for everyone from war historians to literary buffs. You can take a trip to Walden Pond, Lexington Common, and Battle Green, and you can see where the first shots were fired that set off the Revolutionary War. Head for the Orchard House to see the place where Alcott based her seminal novel "Little Women." For those who just want a weekend getaway, there's plenty of woodland trails for hiking and biking to explore. All of this is waiting less than a 4-hour drive from central New York City.

Newport, RI, is a popular destination for day-trippers and weekend-getaway-ers, offering serene harbour views, fine-art galleries, and fantastic seafood restaurants. It's located just an easy 3 hours from New York City 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 harbour 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.

Haines Falls, NY, is a location that offers a grand opportunity to visit a 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 warmer months. The trail is open all year long, however, so even in winter, if you're brave, you can snowshoe your way through the woods.