Quick Summary:

  • Why can day and weekend trips be challenging for New York City residents?
    • Many New York City residents rely on public transportation to get around the city day to day, making day and weekend trips a hassle.
  • How can residents travel for day trips without renting a car?
    • Instead of going through the trouble of renting a car and driving in the city, area residents can rely on New York and New Jersey public transit to reach various destinations.
  • What are some great day trip destinations accessible by public transit?
    • Travelers can visit Long Island and charming towns throughout the Hudson Valley that are home to famed historic attractions.
  • What tourist destinations can be found along New Jersey’s shoreline?
    • New Jersey's shoreline is home to a plethora of tourist destinations, including Asbury Park, known throughout the East Coast for its renowned bars and music venues.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Governors Island ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romantic Islands
Governors Island | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© dade72/stock.adobe.com

2. Wave Hill ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wave Hill | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

3. Asbury Park

Category: Activities
Asbury Park | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Gary/stock.adobe.com

4. Beacon

Beacon | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© xmasbaby/stock.adobe.com

5. City Island

Romantic Islands
City Island | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Kristina/stock.adobe.com

6. Cold Spring

Cold Spring | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© rmbarricarte/stock.adobe.com

7. Coney Island

Romantic Islands
Coney Island | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Morenovel/stock.adobe.com

8. Cornwall

Cornwall | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Kate B Photography/stock.adobe.com

9. Fire Island

Romantic Islands
Fire Island | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Casual-T/stock.adobe.com

10. Greenwood Gardens

Category: Activities
Greenwood Gardens | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Samantha/stock.adobe.com

11. New Canaan

New Canaan | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Studio Porto Sabbia/stock.adobe.com

12. Nyack

Nyack | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

13. Philadelphia

Philadelphia | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

14. Princeton

Princeton | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Jon/stock.adobe.com

15. Red Bank

Red Bank | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Ritu Jethani/stock.adobe.com

16. Rockaway Beach

Category: Beaches
Rockaway Beach | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© jonbilous/stock.adobe.com

17. Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© lspi138/stock.adobe.com

18. Trenton

Trenton | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Henryk Sadura/stock.adobe.com

19. Warwick

Warwick | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© rabbitti/stock.adobe.com

20. Westport

Westport | Weekend Getaways from NYC Without a Car
© Trudy/stock.adobe.com

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