10 easy weekend getaways from NYC by car, bus, plane, or train

Providence, Rhode Island, is among the many options for a weekend getaway from New York City — Photo courtesy of DenisTangneyJr / E+

Some weekend getaways from NYC can be as simple as taking a Metro-North train up through The Bronx into neighboring Westchester County to go on hikes, check out historic mansions, and explore picturesque cities and towns along the Hudson River.

At the same time, Pennsylvania cities like Reading and York are better suited for a passionate road trip planner who knows what they want to see, do, and eat. And thanks to the Acela Express, cities like New Haven, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; and Wilmington, Delaware, are just as easily reached by train as by car or plane.

However you roll, when it’s time to get out of the city, you need a plan. These are 10 of our favorite escapes from New York City.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City offers a fun weekend getaway from NYC — Photo courtesy of AppalachianViews / iStock Via Getty Images

The Jersey Shore is still one of the more popular weekend trips from New York City. Atlantic City is closer to New York than Wildwood or Cape May and has more entertainment and fine dining options. If it’s been a while since your last visit, the iconic 5-mile-long boardwalk is still there, and, nowadays, many visitors opt to stay in the Marina District.

Buffalo, New York

The AKG Art Museum is a worthwhile stop in Buffalo, an easy weekend getaway from NYC — Photo courtesy of Marco Cappelletti

More than a dozen daily direct flights exist between Buffalo and all three major New York City-area airports. And it’s easy to find round-trip fares for under $200. So, an early morning flight can get you to New York’s second-largest city in time for brunch — and there’s so much more to Buffalo’s food scene than Buffalo wings.

Whether you want to eat Ghanaian food with your hands, try your first bowl of Burmese mohingha, or dine in an old-school red sauce joint that every famous pro wrestler has eaten at multiple times, you won’t be disappointed.

Buffalo’s most unique lodging option is the Richardson Hotel, which may or may not be haunted. The more than 40-acre space designed by Frederic Law Olmsted used to house an asylum. Nearby, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, a top pick among the best new museums of 2024, has a fantastic contemporary art collection.

Ellicott City, Maryland

Ellicott City is home to Maryland’s Koreatown — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Ellicott City is less than four hours by car from New York City. It’s home to Maryland’s Koreatown, which might be the state’s best hidden culinary secret. Within a mile radius, you can enjoy mochi donuts at Elli Mochi or chestnut bread at a Korean bakery before playing a game of virtual golf while surrounded by Korean barbeque joints that are too numerous to try in one visit.

Old Ellicott City features stone houses and brick buildings that house small shops, art galleries, restaurants, and bars, all walkable from one another. If you want to feel like you’re on vacation, book a room at the family-friendly Turf Valley Resort, which has a pool and hot tub for relaxing after a round of golf or a game of pickleball. There’s also a Sunday brunch you won’t want to miss.

Madison, Connecticut

Pedal around Madison on bikes provided by The Homestead — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Madison is a quaint coastal town in New England that is less than two hours by car from the Bronx. Here, you won’t feel pressured to fit everything in during your weekend getaway from NYC. It has a small, walkable main street lined with the obligatory ice cream parlor, Italian seafood restaurant, New Haven-style pizzeria, and bookstore that seems to have autographed pictures of every famous author from the past three decades.

For a truly intimate experience, book a room at The Homestead, where small details mean a lot. Each room has a record player stocked with a vinyl mix that you can switch out according to your taste(s). Bikes are available for guest use, you can play disc golf in the yard, and the book collection would make any music lover jealous.

New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven is home to Yale University, but there’s so much more to this town — Photo courtesy of Jon Bilous / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

You can reach New Haven via the Acela Express, Metro-North, and CT Rail. New Yorkers come to Connecticut’s third-largest city for the famous New Haven pizza. But comparing Frank Pepe and Sally’s “ah-beets” (local slang and spelled apizza) is not the only reason to come to New Haven. The museums associated with Yale University are free and an easy way to spend a lazy afternoon.

If you stay at the Hotel Marcel, America’s first Passive House-certified hotel, you won’t need a car. Its free all-electric shuttle will pick you up or drop you off anywhere within 5 miles of the property. Enjoy a dockside sunset dinner along the Atlantic Ocean at Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, regardless of what you do during the day.

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Providence, Rhode Island

Federal Hill in Providence is considered one of the best Little Italy neighborhoods in North America — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Providence is a quick getaway from NYC, easily reached by bus, train, or plane. Rhode Island’s capital city has unique attractions for art lovers, like the RISD Museum. Foodies will love Federal Hill, which consistently ranks as one of America’s best Little Italy neighborhoods.

Summer is the best time to visit Providence, as that’s when you can check out local showcases like WaterFire, which is, just as it’s called, a fire show on the Providence and Woonasquatucket rivers. PVDFest is a two-day downtown music and arts festival where performances are free to the public.

Reading, Pennsylvania

For the best views of Reading, head up to The Pagoda — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

Pennsylvania’s fourth-largest city is known for pretzels, covered bridges, a mountain-top pagoda, and the Keystone State’s best museum for aviation geeks. While there is a direct bus from Port Authority to Reading, a smaller Pennsylvania city worth exploring, it’s best to tool around Berks County by car.

Downtown has classic long-standing restaurants like Peanut Bar (where you throw your peanut shells on the floor), while the more pedestrian-friendly West Reading has several blocks lined with bars, antique shops, and bakeries like Ady Cakes, which you may have seen on Season 5 of “Cupcake Wars.”

Westchester County, New York

Peekskill is an idyllic weekend getaway in Westchester County — Photo courtesy of PapaBear / iStock Via Getty Images

Of all the weekend getaways from NYC, Westchester County is the easiest. While multiple trains depart from Grand Central Station every hour, it’s best to explore Westchester County by car. The leisurely drives along tree-lined parkways that pass under stone bridges will make you forget that you’re (at most) an hour from the city that never sleeps.

White Plains is an ideal base with plenty of dining options. Situated along the Hudson River, Peekskill has a walkable downtown and historic landmarks like Lincoln Depot Museum, which chronicles Abraham Lincoln’s two visits to this small city of 25,000. But historic homes like Lyndhurst Mansion and Van Cortlandt Manor are an even bigger attraction.

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Wilmington, Delaware

Take in the view of Wilmington, Delaware, from the Christina River — Photo courtesy of VisionsbyAtlee / iStock Via Getty Images Plus

Wilmington is the closest thing you’ll find to a big city in the second smallest state. It’s also one of the more inexpensive getaways from NYC. The picturesque Riverfront Park starts near the train station, and there are plenty of attractions near the Christina River, like The Delaware Contemporary art museum and the no-frills Riverfront Market.

For an idea of train travel a century ago, hop on the Wilmington & Western Railroad, which takes passengers on a slower, 10-mile scenic route to a surrounding town.

York, Pennsylvania

The Haines Shoe House is a top Pennsylvania roadside attraction — Photo courtesy of Brian Cicioni

York has a walkable downtown, one of Pennsylvania’s best public markets, and is one of the best cities in the Mid-Atlantic for history buffs. It was the nation’s capital from late 1777 to mid-1778, and you can learn all about it at the Colonial Complex and York County History Center.

If quirky roadside attractions are your thing, the five-floor, 25-foot-high, 48-foot-long Haines Shoe House is a must-visit.