Weekend Escapes From New York City

Sometimes you need to get out of the city. These 10 weekend getaways are all within a few hours of NYC.

1. Hudson Valley

Drive time: 1.5-2 hours

Rolling hills, farm-to-table restaurants, and charming small towns. Visit Beacon for DIA art museum, or Cold Spring for antique shopping.

2. The Catskills

Drive time: 2-2.5 hours

Hiking, swimming holes, and cozy cabins. The Catskills offer a true nature escape without flying anywhere.

3. The Hamptons (Off-Season)

Drive time: 2-3 hours

Visit in spring or fall for empty beaches and restaurant reservations you can actually get.

4. Cape May, NJ

Drive time: 3 hours

Victorian architecture, birding, and some of the best sunsets on the East Coast.

5. Montauk

Drive time: 3 hours

Surfing, seafood, and lighthouse views at the very tip of Long Island.

6. New Hope, PA

Drive time: 1.5 hours

An artsy river town straddling the Delaware. Great for couples.

7. Woodstock, NY

Drive time: 2 hours

More than just the festival — a creative mountain town with great food and live music.

8. Mystic, CT

Drive time: 2 hours

The seaport, the aquarium, and the best lobster rolls in New England.

9. Fire Island

Ferry from Bay Shore: 30 minutes

Car-free beaches, deer wandering through town, and stunning sunsets.

10. Bear Mountain

Drive time: 1 hour

The closest real mountain experience to NYC. Hike, picnic, and be back for dinner.