New York City is, of course, an amazing place to spend time in the summer. But sometimes, it’s nice to get out of the city’s speed and chaos and explore somewhere new. Lucky for us, it’s easy (and pretty cheap!) to get out of the city for a day. We’ve compiled five places that make great day trips out of the city without requiring a car! All places below are located in New York State unless otherwise noted.
- Cold Spring
Located in the Hudson Valley, Cold Spring is just an hour and fifteen-minute train ride on the Hudson Line of Metro North. An off-peak ticket costs only $15, and a peak ticket is just $20. If you go on a weekend, all trains will be running on off-peak fares.
Cold Spring is a great place to go if you are craving a nature fix, as there are multiple hiking trails right off the train! One of the most popular is Breakneck Ridge, a three-mile hike ending with beautiful views of the Hudson River. If hiking isn’t your thing, check out the main street for antique shops, bookstores, and bakeries. Cold Spring is also home to mundane, a candle store where you can create your own candle and scent!
- Beacon
Next up is Beacon! This town can be found just one stop after Cold Spring on the Hudson Line, making it a little less than an hour and a half from the city. The cost is around $18 – $25 each way.
Beacon is located right on the Hudson River. You can go to the waterfront for great views of the mountains and river before starting your journey on their mile-long main street filled with unique shops and restaurants! In addition to shops, you can take in some contemporary art at Dia:Beacon, hike Mount Beacon, or plan your trip around one of their many festivals, like the Strawberry Festival that takes place at the beginning of June!
- Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow
Of course, we’ve all heard of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. But did you know the town it’s based on is only 45 minutes outside the city? Once again, hop on the Metro North Hudson Line with just an $18 ticket to Tarrytown.
You can either explore all the shops and restaurants in Tarrytown or travel an extra 5-10 minutes into Sleepy Hollow. If you go in the fall, be prepared for decoration, tours, and fall festivals. Once you’re done shopping and eating, take a tour of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside house on the Hudson River!
- Fire Island, NY
Instead of Metro North, this time, you’re going to take the Long Island Railroad either out of Grand Central or Penn Station. Take the Montauk Beach line to Bay Shore, Sayville, or Patchogue and catch a ferry onto the island. The whole trip should take around two hours each way.
Once on the island, there are a multitude of attractions to choose from. You can hike, fish, swim, kayak, canoe, or even camp. There are many restaurants, beaches, and boat tours to take advantage of while on the island. The island is car-free, so you can enjoy the peace no matter what you choose!
- Asbury Park, New Jersey
Okay, we’re finally going to leave New York. New Jersey is so close to NYC that many people commute from NJ into the city. This also means getting into Jersey for the day from the city is super easy! There are plenty of spots to check out, but we’re going to highlight Asbury Park, which is right on the ocean. Head to Penn Station and take the North Jersey Coast train right into Asbury — the trip is just under two hours and costs only $16 each way.
The best way to see the most of Asbury Park on your trip is to head to the boardwalk. It’s about a mile long and packed with seafood, ice cream, arcades, and shops. Make sure to check their Instagram before you go to see if you can catch any events, like the weeklong carnival that’s put on in the spring! If you just want to relax, bring your swimsuit and towel and spend the day catching some rays on the beach!