5 Best Road Trips from New York City

Can’t take the go-go nature of New York City for another second? It’s time you got out of town with your friends. Fortunately, NYC is optimally positioned for a number of excellent road trips – in this article, we’ll break down five trips that will recharge your batteries by the time they are over. You can also check our road trip essentials on a separate post.

Philadelphia, PA

Situated only 97 miles from downtown New York City, The City of Brotherly Love is a natural destination for urban-minded New Yorkers looking to take in a place with a decidedly different but unique feel. Get a rental car, insure it through Bonzah, and pilot your car southwestward towards one of NYC’s biggest rivals.

However, half the fun of a trip to Philly is passing through the Garden State – known to outsiders as New Jersey, there are a lot of great places to stop in this state if one makes an effort to get off the New Jersey Turnpike in favour of Highway 9. This may add time onto your drive, but ask yourself: would you rather look at factories, boring farmer’s fields, asphalt, and concrete, or pass alongside gorgeous coastline and through interesting towns?

As you move through the Jersey Shore, you’ll pass through places like Red Bank, Asbury Park, Ocean City, and finally, Atlantic City. Stop by some of its casinos to pull the lever of a few one-armed bandits if you like, walk its boardwalks, try some salt water taffy, and soak up the sun if it’s a nice out. When you are ready to make for your final destination, hop on the Atlantic City Expressway, as it makes a beeline for Philly, which is only a touch over 60 miles away.

Once you have arrived in Philadelphia, go nuts checking out the best this city has to offer. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the “Rocky” Steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are all must-see places, so do those on the first day.

Before you leave, try out all the different cheese steaks which can be found in Philly – locals all have their favorites, so ask around before you start buying.

Cape Cod, MA

Want to make for some of the best beaches on the Eastern Seaboard? Head east out of NYC on your way to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. In between, you’ll pass through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the outer parts of Boston – in each of these places, there will be places to stop and check out the sights.

From New Haven (home of Yale University) and Mystic (home to gorgeous tall ships) in Connecticut to Newport (summer home to the bluebloods of the Gilded Age) in Rhode Island, there are plenty of options to steer your car off the interstate.

Before arriving in Cape Cod in Massachusetts, drop by New Bedford, an underrated city which has plenty of historic architecture within its borders. Check out its amazing Victorian homes, churches, and cobblestone streets, along with plenty of Portuguese restaurants in a city which is home to the most of this ethnic group of any community in America.

Once you finally get to Cape Cod, the beach lovers in your car will have plenty of beaches to choose from. From tourist favourites to wild beaches with nary a soul about, there’s one with your name on it.

When you aren’t playing in the waves, spend time in Provincetown. The place where the pilgrims landed in the 15^th century, it has since become a popular place with artists and the LGBT community. Dine in one of its many awesome restaurants, as they have earned high praise from noted food critics.

Vermont

No matter the season, many New Yorkers pine to be in the mountains of Vermont when their lives get on the hectic side. If you are in the same position, load up the car and head up I-87 until you are surrounded by the Green Mountains.

On the way, you’ll head up the Hudson River Valley – only an hour and change away from the urban core of NYC, this place couldn’t be more different.  With a collection of towns dating back to the days of the American Revolution, you’ll find plenty of stately old homes and cute downtown cores between New York City and Albany.

Eventually, though, you’ll cross over into America’s second smallest state by population. In the summer, there are scores of trails leading to a variety of summits which boast amazing views over the surrounding landscape, the fall attracts scores of leaf peepers which come from all around to check out the amazing colours, and winter brings out the skiers and snowboarders.

When you are done with the mountains, head to Burlington to check out the cutest state capital in America. With a nice State House, opportunities to get out on Lake Champlain, and being the home of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, there is a surprising amount to do in this ‘city’ of 60,000 people.

Upstate New York

When it comes to urban environments in New York State, NYC isn’t the be-all, end-all. Find this out by jumping on the New York State Throughway and visiting the gritty cities you’ll find upstate.

Start with Syracuse: once a significant city on the Erie Canal, it is now home to Syracuse University, one of the better-known colleges in America. After checking out both of these highlights, walk around its compact downtown, which has its fair share of vintage architecture.

Rochester is the next major city to the west: as the birthplace of photography and home to the calorie-rich ‘Garbage Plate’ (different kinds of meat served over macaroni salad, home fries, and onions), history lovers and foodies alike will find plenty to do here.

End your Upstate tour in Buffalo. Here, you’ll find outstanding Art Deco specimens in its sizable downtown, as it was this city that boomed the most during the heyday of the Erie Canal. Head over to the Anchor Bar and have some celebratory buffalo wings to mark the end of your trip.

Alternatively, you can also continue on to Niagara Falls and on to Canada. See our Toronto and Niagara Falls Itinerary for trip insights and ideas, as well as what we thought of these Canadian cities.

Acadia National Park, ME

The rugged coast of Maine has captured the imaginations of many New Yorkers with its simple beauty and tantalizingly simple way of life; get a taste of it by visiting Acadia National Park this summer.

Along the way, visit the spots mentioned in the Cape Cod guide – in addition to those places, though, you may want to drop in on Boston (jeer the Red Sox at Fenway if you dare), Portsmouth, NH (all-brick downtown), and the outlet shopping in Kittery, Maine.

After stopping in Portland, ME to check out its restaurant scene, make your way up the coast, sampling lobster rolls as you go. Eventually, you’ll make it to Bar Harbor, gateway to Acadia National Park.

Use it as a base for day trips into the park, where you can go on oceanside hikes, paddle in lakes or the ocean, or ride bikes. Breathe in the air and cherish its cleanliness – it’s definitely not like this in the big city!