Look no further: this ultimate guide will take you on a journey to the best day trip from NYC without a car! This guide is perfect if you’re tired of spending your weekends in NYC brunching and shopping, and are ready for some new memories.
There are so many hidden getaways within and nearby NYC that are waiting for you to discover. Whether you’re a beach gal, art lover or love quaint towns with beautiful nature, this Ultimate Guide for Day Trips from NYC has got you covered. The best part is, you could leave right now if you wanted to!
Here are the ultimate Day Trips from NYC Without a Car!
- Roosevelt Island: Historical Ruins with Panoramic Views
- Governors Island: Ex-Military Post for Art & Culture Lovers
- Cold Spring, NY: Best for Hiking with a Cozy Downtown
- Beacon, NY: Hip Small Town with Contemporary Art
- Sleepy Hollow, NY: Best for History Buffs in for a Spook
- Storm King Art Center: Huge Sculptures in a 500-Acre Park
- Coney Island: Beach with 100 Year-Old Amusement Parks
- Rockaway Beach: 7 Miles of Beaches Accessible by Subway
- Fire Island, LI: 30 Miles of White Beaches with LGBTQ+ Roots
- Philly, PA: Diverse & Historic City Near NYC
Best Day Trips from NYC Without a Car
Best Adventurous Getaways within NYC
1. Roosevelt Island: Historical Ruins with Panoramic Views
Take the cable car to Roosevelt Island, which held a smallpox hospital and a prison during the 19th century, but is now a residential community with plenty to see! Since the cable car is the same price as a subway ride and only costs $2.90, Roosevelt Island is definitely makes for a cheap day trip from NYC without a car!
Roosevelt Island is a small island right to the east of Manhattan with a population of about 10,000 people. Check out the Franklin D. Roosevelt (the island’s namesake!) Four Freedoms Park and explore the ruins of the smallpox hospital and former quarantine. There’s tons of greenery to stroll around in, including the walkway along the perimeter of the island.
Don’t miss Panorama Room while you’re there and savor rooftop panoramic views of NYC! Roosevelt Island is an accessible must-go and one of the best day trips from NYC without a car!
How to get there without a car: Take the tram from East 59 St and 2 Av (7 min), or take the F subway train to Roosevelt Island (25 min from 34 St – Herald Sq)
2. Governors Island: Ex-Military Post Repurposed for Art Organizations
Calling all art and culture lovers to Governors Island! Feel the historic charm of Governors Island, which once housed British governors and served important military purposes. The historical houses in Colonels Row have now been repurposed to house art organizations in residence, ranging from schools like Pratt, to non-profits and cultural groups. The houses open on weekends and offer intriguing free exhibits and events. It’s a super walkable island, and you can rent bikes to spin around 7 miles of car-free roads with incredible ocean views!
How to get there without a car: Take the ferry from FiDi (8 min) or from Brooklyn Bridge Park (5 min)
Best Upstate Day Trips from NYC without a Car
3. Cold Spring: Best Easy Access Hiking with a Cozy Downtown
Cold Spring is the perfect day trip getaway with tons of hiking trails and an adorable downtown. Although it takes less than 1.5 hours to get to from Grand Central via Metro-North, you’ll quickly forget about city life when you’re there!
Are you up for a bit of a rock scramble? Breakneck Ridge is a relatively short and Metro-North accessible hike. If you’re ready to get your hands dirty (literally!), trek up Breakneck for panoramic views of the Hudson River.
How to get there without a car: Take Metro-North to Cold Spring station (1.5 hours from Grand Central)
4. Beacon, NY: For Contemporary Art & Small Town Lovers
Come to Beacon for the art, the hiking and the hip, locally-owned boutiques along Main Street! Although Beacon is a small town of around 13,000 people in the heart of the Hudson Valley, it has a rich art and culture scene, making it the perfect town for an easy day trip from NYC off Metro North.
Start the day by visiting the famous Dia Beacon art museum to experience the large-scale sculptures and paintings, or by trekking up Mt. Beacon for a classic hike with views of the Hudson Valley. Then stroll around Main Street, which is full of interesting locally-owned restaurants, shop and breweries. Check out the quirky curated collections at the Clutter Magazine Gallery, grab a pick-me-up at gluten-free vegetarian Kitchen & Coffee, and taste authentic Middle Eastern food at Ziatun. Then end the day at the Hudson Valley Brewery, which is conveniently located if you’re hiking up Mt. Beacon!
How to get there without a car: Take the Metro-North to Beacon (1.5 hours from Grand Central)
5. Sleepy Hollow, NY: Best for History Buffs in for a Spook
Visit the real Sleepy Hollow that inspired Washington Irving’s legendary 1820 novel, “The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow.” Head to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, pay your respects at Washington Irving’s grave, and check for yourself if the Headless Horseman is still walking around! After exploring the beautiful and hilly cemetery, head to the Old Dutch Nearby Tarrytown has a great downtown with tons of restaurants to pick from. Sleepy Hollow is the perfect Halloween-themed day trip during the fall and is great for families.
How to get there without a car: Take the Metro-North to Tarrytown (30 min from Grand Central)
6. Storm King Art Center: Huge Sculptures in a 500-acre Park
Gawk at the huge contemporary sculptures at this 500 acre park, whose large scale creations are in dialogue with the beautiful nature of Hudson Valley. While having a car can make the visit easier, there are bike rentals, hop on-off trams and walking tours that make visiting without a car a comfortable and worthwhile experience! Storm King opened in 1960s and continues to be a destination and leader in the Hudson Valley art scene. The bus from Port Authority will take you right to Storm King!
How to get there without a car: Take the ShortLine Hudson bus to Mountainville from Port Authority (1.5 hours).
Best Beach Getaways from NYC
7. Rockaway Beach: 7-Mile Stretch of Beaches
Rockaway Beach has been a classic summer beach getaway since the 1830s! Even though it can get busy, it’s not hard to get a good spot near the water because Rockaway Beach is 7 miles long! There’s also a nice wooden boardwalk by the beach, and lots of restaurants, bars and accommodation to pick from that make it easy to spend a day or even a weekend out in Rockaway.
Although it’s convenient to get to Rockaway via subway, I would recommend taking the NYC Ferry to the beach! You can get splendid views en route, including views of the Statue of Liberty! During the summer months, be sure to book ferry tickets on the NYC Ferry app beforehand, as the ride is pretty popular!
How to get there without a car: Take the ferry from Wall Street/Pier 11 (50 min), or take the S subway train to Beach 90 St (1 hour from Penn Station).
8. Coney Island: Beach with 100 year-old Amusement Parks
A 3-mile beach, an almost 100 year-old rollercoaster (the rickety Cyclone is a serious thriller!), and so many restaurants: go to Coney Island for some good old-fashioned fun! This accessible NYC getaway is great for families and to go with friends. After its height as a seaside resort with amusement parts, Coney Island was neglected post World War II up until redevelopment efforts in the early 2000s. You can feel this history still today in the quirky, carnival-like energy of Coney Island, like in the slightly faded out colors of the Deno’s Wonder Wheel, a 100+ year-old ferris wheel with cabins that slide (trust me, it’s more thrilling than it sounds!) instead of being fixed.
How to get there without a car: Take the Q or F subway train to W 8 St-NY Aquarium station (1 hour from Penn Station)
9. Fire Island, L.I.: 30 miles of Carless White Beaches with LGBTQ+ Roots
Fire Island sports 30 miles of white beaches and is also home to Cherry Grove, which is known as the first gay and lesbian town originating from the mid-20th century. Fire Island is super walkable and has a tight-knit community vibe, thanks to the fact that cars are banned during the summer time and can only be driven in the winter months with a special permit!
Take a day trip out to Ocean Beach, the main beach of many on Fire Island, complete with many shops, boutiques and restaurants, or head over to Cherry Grove and the Pines, the main LGBTQ community on Fire Island.
How to get there without a car: For Ocean Beach, take the LIRR to to Long Beach and talk 15 minutes to Ocean Beach Park (1.5 hours from 42 St & Port Authority Station). For Cherry Grove and the Pines, take the LIRR to Sayville, and take the shuttle to the Sayville ferry terminal (2 hours from Penn Station).
Best Day Trip Getaways Outside of New York
10. Philadelphia, PA: Diverse & Historic City Near NYC
Take the Amtrak to Philly to experience a diverse city that’s calmer and cleaner than NYC and has a lot of fun, interesting things to do. Philadelphia was an important historical center for American Democracy. Head over to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were created and signed! Devour an authentic Philly Cheese Steak at Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies, or browse around Reading Terminal Market for a wide selection of foods, from Thai to Greek food. Walk around Washington Square West for cute shops and boutiques. Philly is a great weekend trip from NYC by train!
How to get there without a car: Take the Amtrak to Philadelphia (70 min from Penn Station)
Best Day Trips from NYC Without a Car (Conclusion)
This article is the ultimate guide for the best Day Trips from NYC Without a Car!
- Roosevelt Island: Historical Ruins with Panoramic Views
- Governors Island: Ex-Military Post for Art & Culture Lovers
- Cold Spring, NY: Best for Hiking with a Cozy Downtown
- Beacon, NY: Hip Small Town with Contemporary Art
- Sleepy Hollow, NY: Best for History Buffs in for a Spook
- Storm King Art Center: Huge Sculptures in a 500-Acre Park
- Coney Island: Beach with 100 Year-Old Amusement Parks
- Rockaway Beach: 7 Miles of Beaches Accessible by Subway
- Fire Island, LI: 30 Miles of White Beaches with LGBTQ+ Roots
- Philly, PA: Diverse & Historic City Near NYC
Searching for cool neighborhoods to explore in NYC? Check out the 15 Best Things To Do in Greenpoint, Brooklyn!
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