Best road trips from NYC by car

The escapes a rental car unlocks — from a one-hour Hudson Valley day trip to a cross-state run to Niagara Falls. Drive times, highlights and one-way tips for each.

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~7 hours away Niagara Falls The classic upstate epic — one of America's great waterfalls. Plan the trip ~2.5 hours away The Hamptons Beaches, villages and summer-share season on the East End. Plan the trip ~3 hours away Montauk The end of Long Island — beaches, the lighthouse and surf-town charm. Plan the trip ~4 hours away Boston History, harbor and college-town charm up I-95. Plan the trip ~4.5 hours away Washington, DC The capital's monuments and museums, an easy drive south. Plan the trip ~2 hours away Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, history and art just two hours south. Plan the trip ~2.5 hours away Atlantic City Boardwalk, beaches and casinos on the Jersey Shore. Plan the trip ~5 hours away Cape Cod Classic New England beaches, dunes and seafood. Plan the trip ~2.5 hours away The Catskills Mountains, hikes, breweries and small-town charm upstate. Plan the trip ~1.5 hours away Hudson Valley Art, history and scenery just north of the city. Plan the trip ~4.5 hours away Finger Lakes Wineries, waterfalls and lakes in central New York. Plan the trip ~5 hours away Lake Placid Adirondack mountains, lakes and Olympic history. Plan the trip ~3 hours away The Berkshires Arts, culture and countryside in western Massachusetts. Plan the trip ~3.5 hours away Newport, RI Gilded-Age mansions and seaside charm in Rhode Island. Plan the trip ~2.5 hours away Mystic, CT A storybook seaport town, perfect for a quick escape. Plan the trip ~1.25 hours away Cold Spring One of the shortest, prettiest escapes from the city. Plan the trip