Great Escapes Outside New York City
One tank of gas gets you to a renowned outdoor museum, clanging boulder fields, quaint covered bridges, and a majestic castle.
Even the savviest city slicker needs to swap skyscraper surroundings for a fresh air detox now and then. Thankfully, despite being the country’s densest region, the New York City metropolitan area sits within a four-hour drive of 10 other states filled with mountain escapes, waterfront getaways, and offbeat adventures. But before you hit the road, be sure to check the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut state sites for current COVID-19 updates and quarantining requirements, as well as the Airbnb Editorial team’s New Rules of Road Tripping guide.
1 Hour Away
Northern New Jersey
Embrace the bridge and tunnels and drive into northern New Jersey — where you'll immediately be rewarded with panoramic postcard views of the Hudson River hugging the Manhattan skyline. Venture deeper into the Garden State and all your hurries and worries melt into peace and calm, with wooded nature reserves, roaring waterfalls, and family-friendly farms.
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No need to drive all the way to Niagara Falls to feel Mother Nature’s power. The 77-foot-high cascade at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in Paterson holds the silver medal as far as waterfall volumes east of the Mississippi go (check here for facility closures before going). Hamilton fans, don’t throw away your shot to take the self-guided Mill Mile walking tour starting at the Alexander Hamilton statue. Pro tip: If the narrow bridge over the falls gets crowded, sneak around the perimeter from the left of the falls for the view from above.
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Mix outdoor fun with socially distanced grocery shopping straight off the trees and vines at Alstede Farms in Chester, where you can pick your own berries, apples, beans, peaches, eggplants, potatoes, and pumpkins from over 600 acres of Jersey Fresh produce (check here for today’s selection and book a time slot before going). Visitors can also make friends with the family-run farm’s horses, goats, sheep, and donkeys, or pose for photos in the sunflower fields.
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is close enough for easy road tripping, but a world away from the city bustle. Its historical sites, parks, and gardens sit alongside the river and reservoirs, perfect for hiking, biking, birdwatching, or simply a mellow place to spread your arms and chill.
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It’s no wonder Founding Father and former New York governor John Jay’s great-great-granddaughter used to pretend the John Jay Homestead in Katonah was the Garden of Eden — the meticulously manicured lower Fountain garden flows dreamily into the Italian-style Sundial garden. The 62 acres also include a glimpse into the homestead’s agricultural history with a chicken coop, beehives, and a community garden.
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Barely past the Manhattan border in Yonkers, the Untermyer Gardens provide a 43-acre haven designed by Beaux Arts architect William Welles Bosworth in 1916. Book a timed ticket for a free visit to enjoy the blooms in the Walled Garden, Rock and Stream Garden, Temple of Love, and Rhododendron Walk, all set along the backdrop of the Hudson River.
Local Hosts Also Recommend: Governors Island, New York
Airbnb Superhost and designer Rodney de Jong says you don’t have to leave the city to feel like you got away. The newly reopened Governors Island is a short ferry ride from Manhattan’s southern tip, and a world unto itself.
“The south end of the island is a massive new park. It’s just extraordinary; so beautifully done,” says de Jong. “There’s everything you need — views of the Statue of Liberty, a nice curved area that’s more woodsy, an area that’s more play fields with hammocks and whatnot.” With new socially distant restrictions in place, reserving tickets in advance is required.
2 Hours Away
Hudson Valley, New York
For a true antidote to city living, trace the Hudson River north into the Hudson Valley, where hills gently roll into river valleys and lakes. Stretching 150 miles above Manhattan, the region merges arts, history, and culture with a dose of meditative tranquility.
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The Scottish-style Bannerman Castle rises out of the Hudson on Newburgh’s Pollepel Island, a former military surplus storage site. From the mainland, catch the best views from Breakneck Ridge Loop. You can also visit the island for self-guided tours by paddling your own kayak or canoe. (Book an arrival time prior to setting out.)
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Fine art without walls: The 500-acre outdoor Storm King Art Center in Cornwall celebrates its 60th anniversary with more than 80 sculptures, including special exhibits Kiki Smith River Light and Outlook: Martha Tuttle among regular works like Alyson Shotz's Mirror Fence on Museum Hill and Zhang Huan's Three Legged Buddha in the South Fields. Before visiting, purchase tickets for timed entry, and once you’re there, text STORM to 56512 for a free audio guide through your phone.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Rustic countrysides mingle with charm-filled villages in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a slice of Americana located 75 miles from Manhattan. Revel in the great outdoors by biking, hiking, and boating in its state and county parks, or stay in the comfort of your vehicle for a soothing scenic drive.
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Have hammer, will travel! Head to the boulder field in Upper Black Eddy’s Ringing Rocks Park, where the rocks chime like bells when you strike them with a hammer. Arrive early to beat the crowds and then spread out in the 123-acre park, where a trail leads to the county’s largest waterfall.
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Sightsee from your safety bubble by following the self-guided Covered Bridge Driving Tour through a dozen of the state’s 200 covered bridges. Split in two halves — the first about two hours and the second 90 minutes — the route passes through historic towns and loops around Bucks County, so you can enter the circle at any point. Note: Pine Valley Covered Bridge is currently under renovation and can’t be driven through until the fall.
Local Hosts Also Recommend: Fire Island, New York
Tina Telalyan and her partner, Chris, are Airbnb Superhosts who live and work in New York City and host a cabin in the Poconos. When they’re looking to get out of town themselves, they drive two hours east and hop on a ferry to Fire Island, a narrow stretch of land between Long Island and the Atlantic. “It’s very special because on one side you get the waves, and the other side is very calm,” says Telalyan.
Two must-visits for Telalyan are the historic Fire Island Lighthouse and the Sunken Forest, a rare assembly of holly trees that have survived the harsh barrier island conditions for almost 300 years.
3-4 Hours Away
Southern New Hampshire
A free-spirited attitude permeates unusual landmarks in Merrimack Valley and natural preserves in Monadnock in southern New Hampshire, still within one gas tank of the city.
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There’s a definite mystery surrounding America’s Stonehenge. The rock structures in Salem may have been assembled by Native Americans or European migrants. Maybe it was part of the Underground Railroad, or perhaps it’s a 4,000-year-old megalithic structure. The half-mile walk through the site may raise more questions than it answers, but one thing’s for sure: seven friendly alpacas will be there to greet you.
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Dancing over streams and under forested canopies, Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area in Chesterfield remains one of New Hampshire's best-kept secrets. The 0.7-mile footpath traces Wilde Brook through the gorge, showcasing evidence of its Ice Age formation alongside a wonderland of waterfalls.
Ithaca, New York
Take one part Finger Lakes serenity, one part small city charm, and add in endless gorges and waterfalls — and Ithaca has all the right ingredients for a rejuvenating upstate New York escape on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake.
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Get an Ivy League education in horticulture at Cornell Botanic Gardens — 500 acres of gardens and green space owned by the university. Saunter among the maple, oak, and dogwood trees at the F.R. Newman Arboretum or get literary in the Robison Herb Garden, where the “Herbs in Literature” section features plants mentioned in books and folklore.
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The star of Buttermilk Falls State Park is its eponymous falls that hop, skip, and jump over 500 feet of rapids and cascades. Choose your own adventure around the gorge with five trail options. Don’t miss the lesser-trekked Bear Trail across West King Road for another mile and a half of hiking around Lake Treman’s calm waters.
Local Hosts Also Recommend: Madame Sherri’s Castle, New Hampshire
Airbnb Superhost Jill Adams recommends visiting Madame Sherri’s Castle, named for the fashionable Parisian costume designer Madame Antoinette Sherri, located in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire. The skeletal remains of her lavish chateau-style summer home built in 1931 include an intricate stone-built arch staircase that tapers off into mid-air. Visitors can imagine the extravagant parties that took place here while walking the wooded two mile loop through Madame Sherri Forest.
“It’s absolutely lovely, these big stone walls are remnants of an old castle,” says Adams, who hosts a farm loft just across the border in southern Vermont. “It’s small but beautiful, not crowded, and just a nice way to social distance at this time.”
Californian-turned-New Yorker (well, Hobokenite) Rachel Chang is a writer-editor who has worked at Us Weekly, CosmoGIRL!, J-14, and The WB and written for Travel + Leisure, Mic's Out of Office, Mental Floss and Intrepid Travel. Follow her on Twitter at @RachelChang and Instagram at @RachelSChang.
Genevieve Lacroix is an often traveling freelance illustrator mostly based in Brooklyn as of late. She graduated from New World School of the Arts in Miami and in her free time enjoys off the grid adventuring, nail art, and cooking plant-based food.
