Weekend Getaways

12 Best Weekend Getaways From NYC That Aren't the Hamptons

8 min read

You don't need a Hamptons share house to escape the city. The Northeast is packed with incredible weekend trips — by train, car, or a quick flight. Here are 12 that New Yorkers keep going back to.

Train Accessible

1. Hudson, NY

2 hr train

$300–$500/person · Brooklyn moved upstate

A former whaling town turned into a haven for restaurants, antique shops, and galleries. Warren Street is walkable and packed with places you'd expect in Williamsburg. Amtrak from Penn Station gets you there without a car.

Best for: couples, foodies, antique hunters

2. Beacon, NY

1.5 hr train

$250–$400/person · Art + nature

Dia:Beacon is world-class contemporary art in a converted factory. Main Street has excellent coffee, food, and shops. Mount Beacon trail gives you Hudson Valley views that earn every step. Metro-North from Grand Central.

Best for: art lovers, hikers, couples

3. Asbury Park, NJ

1.5 hr train

$250–$450/person · Beach + music revival

Once rundown, now one of the coolest beach towns on the East Coast. The Stone Pony still hosts great shows, Cookman Avenue has restaurants that rival the city, and the beach itself is genuinely beautiful. NJ Transit from Penn.

Best for: friend groups, music lovers, beach weekends

Drivable (2–4 Hours)

4. Catskills

2.5 hrs

$300–$500/person · Mountain retreat

The Catskills renaissance is real. Boutique hotels in converted barns, farm-to-table restaurants, swimming holes, and hiking trails that empty out by Tuesday. Phoenicia and Woodstock are the best base towns.

Best for: couples, groups wanting cabin vibes

5. Cape May, NJ

3 hrs

$300–$500/person · Victorian beach town

The entire town is a National Historic Landmark. Gorgeous Victorian houses, a wine trail, craft breweries, and beaches that are cleaner and quieter than the rest of the Jersey Shore. The Lobster House is worth the wait.

Best for: couples, history lovers, wine enthusiasts

6. Finger Lakes, NY

4 hrs

$300–$500/person · Wine country

New York's answer to Napa but without the pretension or prices. Seneca Lake alone has 30+ wineries. The gorges at Watkins Glen State Park are stunning. Ithaca is worth a stop for food and the Cornell campus views.

Best for: wine lovers, nature lovers, friend groups

7. Litchfield County, CT

2 hrs

$350–$550/person · New England quiet luxury

Rolling hills, covered bridges, and farm stands. The towns of Kent, Salisbury, and Washington feel like stepping into a different century. Excellent hiking along the Appalachian Trail and some surprisingly great restaurants.

Best for: couples, anyone needing total quiet

8. Montauk

3 hrs

$350–$550/person · The other end of Long Island

Past the Hamptons crowds, Montauk has a surfer-meets-fishing-village vibe that's more casual than anything further west. The lighthouse, Ditch Plains beach, and the seafood at Duryea's are the highlights. Go in September when crowds thin.

Best for: surfers, friend groups, casual beach vibes

Quick Flight (1–2 Hours)

9. Portland, ME

1 hr flight

$400–$600/person · Food city of the Northeast

More restaurants per capita than San Francisco. The Old Port is walkable and packed with independent shops. Lobster rolls from Eventide are life-changing. Portland Head Light is 15 minutes away for the iconic Maine coast views.

Best for: foodies, couples, friend groups

10. Burlington, VT

1 hr flight

$350–$550/person · Lake + mountains

Church Street marketplace is one of America's best pedestrian streets. Lake Champlain sunsets are unreal. The craft beer scene rivals Asheville, and Stowe is 45 minutes away if you want mountain hiking.

Best for: outdoor lovers, beer enthusiasts, couples

11. Savannah, GA

2 hr flight

$400–$600/person · Southern escape

When you need the opposite of New York energy. Slow pace, open containers, incredible food, and architecture that makes you want to move. Winter trips here are perfect — 60s and sunny while NYC freezes.

Best for: friend groups, couples, anyone escaping winter

12. Stowe, VT

1.5 hr flight + drive

$400–$600/person · Mountain village

The quintessential New England mountain town. World-class skiing in winter, the Stowe Recreation Path for biking in summer, and the von Trapp Family Lodge (yes, that one) for Austrian-inspired dining with mountain views.

Best for: skiers, hikers, romantic getaways

Ready to plan your getaway?

Pick a destination or let AI choose. Get a personalized itinerary in 2 minutes.

Plan your trip with trek. →

New York gives you access to mountains, beaches, wine country, and historic towns — all within a few hours. Use trek. to plan your next escape with personalized activities for everyone in your group.