The Northeast is a haven for day trippers. New York City is the gateway to a constellation of beach getaways, mountains, historic sites, beautiful villages and more. Almost half of New England is within walking distance of Boston, from the cow hills to the gray seas of Maine. From Washington, DC, head south to Virginia for a syrupy country pace, west to the Appalachian Mountains, north to bustling Philadelphia, or east to the Maryland coast for seaside getaways.
Editor's note: Check the latest travel restrictions before planning any travel and always follow government advice.
The best day trips from New York
Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange, New Jersey
You can still feel the brilliance and tireless pursuit of knowledge of Thomas Edison in his vast laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey. In the Thomas Edison National Historical Parkvisit the actual laboratories where he and his researchers perfected the light bulb by methodically testing 6000 substances and 3000 designs, starting in the 1870s. 1 hour by train and bus from Penn Station.
Rockaway Beach, New York
Surfboards in the subway? An amazing sight, no doubt, but it's a quick subway ride (or scenic ferry ride) from Manhattan to the white sand beach break on 90th St in the Rockaways. A tight-knit group of Atlantic wave lovers has revitalized this stretch of beach. If you've forgotten your board, watch the action from a seaside cafe. 1 hour by ferry or 1 hour and 20 minutes by metro.
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Hardly by the Atlantic Ocean, Asbury Park is where New Jersey troubadour Bruce Springsteen got his start in the mid-1970s. First stop for everyone is the Stone Pony, the bar where his career began. Another 40 bars, many with live music, lure trainloads of young New York-based revelers. Blocks of restored Victorian homes and newer units also attract the attention of New Yorkers. 2 hours by train from Penn Station.
Woodstock, New York
A little detail: the 1969 music festival was actually held in Bethel, an hour's drive west. Yet the picture-perfect town of Woodstock still attracts an artsy, music-loving crowd and nurtures the free spirit of the era, with rainbow tie-dye style and locally based everything from radio to a respected indie film festival and farmers market (properly billed as a farm festival). 2 hours 30 minutes by car.
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The best day trips from Boston
Providence, Rhode Island
The capital of America's smallest state offers a quirky good time. Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) give the city an artsy, youthful vibe, with great cafes, dive bars, second-hand bookstores, and indie theaters. Visit Waterplace Park for art installations and summer concerts. 1 hour by car or 30 minutes by train from South Station.
Western Massachusetts
It wouldn't be fall in New England without Warm Apple Cinnamon Cider Donuts, a harvest tradition in the apple orchards of western Massachusetts. You can create a full day of fall memories at the fourth-generation family business Red apple farm in Phillipston. Choose from 50 varieties of apples, munch on donuts and fudge, visit the goats, drink an apple beer, then drink an apple beer in the seasonal “Brew Barn.” 1 hour 10 minutes by car.
Mystic, Connecticut
This seaside village was once one of America's most important whaling and shipbuilding centers, and Mystic now trades on its salty history. Visit the Charles W. Morgan, the world's oldest wooden whaling ship, at the 40-acre Mystic Seaport Museum, wander the historic downtown riverfront, take a schooner cruise, then clam on Captain Daniel Packer Inne, dating from 1756. 1 hour 30 minutes by car or train from South Station.
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
The town of Oak Bluffs on the elite Martha's Vineyard, accessible only by air or ferry, has been a favorite destination for well-to-do African-American families for more than a century. Take a walking tour of African American Heritage Trail. Afterwards, relax on The Inkwell Beach, whose once pejorative name is now embraced. 2 hours 30 minutes by car and ferry or bus and ferry.
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The best day trips from Philadelphia
Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania
Stretching north from the Pennsylvania-Delaware border southwest of Philadelphia, the Brandywine Valley is a patchwork of rolling, wooded countryside, historic villages, gardens, mansions and museums. Spend a day at Longwood Gardens. almost every inch of the 1050 acres has been carefully sculpted into a display of horticultural magnificence. 1 hour by car.
Amish Country, Pennsylvania
The buggies still ply the streets of southeastern Pennsylvania, home to the simple Amish, who shun modern technology. So if you want to escape the rat race for a while, this is the place. Shop Lancaster Central Market for Amish-grown vegetables and handmade quilts. Eat traditional delicacies such as apple pie and pie. Ride a buggy or take a tour of the farm. 1 hour 40 minutes by car.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
If you've got kids (or just a sweet tooth), head straight to Hershey's Chocolate World in rural Pennsylvania for a tram ride through a chocolate factory with animatronic sweets. Afterwards, visit the hangar-sized gift shop for Hershey kisses the size of your head, then head across the street to century-old Hersheypark for amusement park rides and a seasonal water park . 1 hour 50 minutes by car.
The best day trips from Washington, DC
Shenandoah National Park
Less than 90 minutes after escaping the snarl of DC traffic, you'll find yourself careening along the backbone of the Blue Ridge Mountains on Skyline Drive, one of the most glorious roads in America. Crossing the center of Shenandoah National Park, it passes meadows with grazing deer, ancient hardwood forests, and the rugged peaks of Hawksbill and Old Rag Mountains. Hiking, picnicking, animal watching, camping, repeat. 1 hour 20 minutes by car.
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
The mineral waters in these mountains attracted Native Americans for thousands of years before they attracted colonists like George Washington. Today, Berkeley Springs is a quaint spa town with a handful of hot spring hotels, galleries and mom-and-pop cafes. Inexpensively soak in the historic Roman Baths at Berkeley Springs State Park or take a dip in a private hot tub at the Renaissance Spa. 1 hour 50 minutes by car.
Ocean City, Maryland
Sometimes all you want from a summer weekend is a piece of fried dough, a walk on the boardwalk and an airbrush with your face on it. So go “down to the ocean,” as Marylanders say, at this beloved Eastern Shore beach. Ocean City's main pastimes include fishing, miniature golf, all-you-can-eat crab fairs, drinks at tiki bars, and riding naughty carnival rides. Do it all! 2 hours 40 minutes by car.
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