Day trips

The 13 Best Day Trips from New York City

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 13 good day trips from New York City, United States, led by The Bronx, Staten Island, Jamaica. The closest is Washington Heights, about 25 min by car, and 7 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from New York City at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
The Bronx19 km NE30 minHalf-day trip
Staten Island20 km SW30 minHalf-day trip
Jamaica17 km E25 minHalf-day trip
Yonkers26 km N40 minHalf-day trip
Washington Heights16 km N25 minHalf-day trip
Paterson26 km NW40 minHalf-day trip
North Stamford61 km NE1 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Waterbury123 km NE1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Toms River86 km S1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Norwalk67 km NE1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Greenburgh38 km N45 minHalf-day trip
East Norwalk67 km NE1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Brick74 km S1 hr 25 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from New York City

  1. 1

    The Bronx, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car19 km north-east of New York City1 hr round trip

    Known for Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen.

    Also nearby: Fordham, New Rochelle.

  2. 2

    Staten Island, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car20 km south-west of New York City1 hr round trip
  3. 3

    Jamaica, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car17 km east of New York City50 min round trip
  4. 4

    Yonkers, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km north of New York City1 hr 20 min round trip
  5. 5

    Washington Heights, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car16 km north of New York City50 min round trip
  6. 6

    Paterson, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car26 km north-west of New York City1 hr 20 min round trip
  7. 7

    North Stamford, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car61 km north-east of New York City2 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Waterbury, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car123 km north-east of New York City3 hr 50 min round trip
  9. 9

    Toms River, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car86 km south of New York City2 hr 40 min round trip
  10. 10

    Norwalk, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car67 km north-east of New York City2 hr 30 min round trip
  11. 11

    Greenburgh, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car38 km north of New York City1 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    East Norwalk, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car67 km north-east of New York City2 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    Brick, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car74 km south of New York City2 hr 50 min round trip

A sample day trip: New York City to The Bronx

A realistic pace for The Bronx, 19 km from New York City. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave New York City
  2. 09:00Arrive in The Bronx (30 min drive)
  3. 09:15Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen
  4. 11:15Lunch
  5. 12:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of The Bronx
  6. 15:00Head back to New York City
  7. 15:30Home in New York City

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from New York City?
The best day trips from New York City are The Bronx, Staten Island, Jamaica, Yonkers, Washington Heights. The closest is Washington Heights, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from New York City?
Washington Heights is the closest, 16 km north of New York City, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of New York City?
7 places are within about an hour's drive of New York City: Washington Heights (25 min), Jamaica (25 min), The Bronx (30 min), Staten Island (30 min), Yonkers (40 min), Paterson (40 min).
What is the biggest city near New York City for a day out?
The Bronx is the largest city in day-trip range, 19 km north-east of New York City and about 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from New York City?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Waterbury at 123 km, around 1 hr 55 min by car.

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