Winter is here, and that means it’s time to get away! While we adore our beloved New York City, there are so many great day trip spots right near the Big Apple that are lovely to visit. Located within just a few hours of the city, these spots make the perfect day-cation! From ski resorts to winter beach getaways, there are tons of amazing things you can experience, making it the perfect little escape!
Here are our 15 favorite New York day trips that are only a few hours away!
1. Camelback Mountain, PA
Located in Pennsylvania, Camelback Mountain is an awesome place to go when it snows. It’s a great location for new skiers as they have a lot of easy trails to follow, so great for your first time or if bringing kids. It’s only an hour and a half outside of the city, so if you head out early enough, you can be back just around dinner time.
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours
2. Beacon, NY
Beacon is a quaint little town up in the Hudson Valley area of New York. It’s awesome to visit all year round, but is one of the few places that still has quite a bit to do during the winter. They are known for their whiskey distilleries and their glass blowing art, and you can even take a glass blowing glass while you’re there! Their main street has lovely little shops, perfect for a little shopping spree.
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours
3. Montauk Point, Long Island East End
Way out on the very tip of Long Island lies Montauk Point. In the winter, you’ve got some great snowshoeing and hiking. There’s also a famous lighthouse that you can climb. The view you are rewarded with is outstanding and well worth the effort; and if you need to warm up, there are a couple of indoor spas to unwind in.
Distance from NYC: 2.5 hours
4. Hunter, NY
Hunter Mountain is a very popular ski resort in upstate New York, and you don’t need a car to get there. There’s a round-trip ski-bus that leaves from the city that with take you up to the mountain, so it’s an easy trip to make. If skiing isn’t your thing, don’t fret. They have zip lining, snowboarding, and plenty of indoor activities at their main lodge.
Distance from NYC: 2 hours 30 minutes
5. Saratoga Springs, NY
A bit further north, Saratoga Springs has lovely bed and breakfasts and other old historical lodging to enjoy during the cold months. The Roosevelt Baths & Spa are a great spot to warm up in hot baths and get a great massage. You might not want to come back to the city.
Distance from NYC: 3 hrs 15 minutes
6. Cold Spring, NY
This cute little town 50 miles north of NYC is filled with history, restaurants, and antique shops. During warmer days there are gorgeous hikes to explore, but during the winter it’s a charming small town with beautiful decorations and a cozy Main Street.
Distance to NYC: 1 hr 30 minutes
7. New Paltz, NY
We highly suggest visiting this legendary resort just an hour and a half north of NYC! The gorgeous Mohonk Mountain House offers various activities, including public hikes, yoga sessions, stargazing outings, and a whole lot more. There’s also lots of history and culture in this town too, which is evident in attractions like the Historic Huguenot Street and DM Weil Gallery. The best part? No overnight stay is required (at Mohonk Mountain House) so it’s perfect for a day’s getaway.
Distance from NYC: 1 hr 45 minutes
8. Windham, NY
For our winter sports fans, Windham, NY in the Catskills is a perfect get away. The iconic Windham Mountain Resort is gorgeous and the area is just as stunning during the winter. The mountain boasts over 54 trails, and the village and resort includes an indoor golf course, yoga studios, spa packages, and numerous restaurants. There’s something for everyone! This mountainous getaway is perfect for a quick day or a whole weekend.
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
9. Asbury Park, NJ
While Asbury Park in New Jersey is typically one of our favorite summer destinations, there’s very much things to do during winter too! Of course the colder variatios of the boardwalk, beaches, and bars exist, but you can also challenge your friends to some competition at the Silverball Retro Arcade, catch a show at The Stone Pony, and shop at the Asbury Park Bazaar!
Distance from NYC: 1 hr 30 minutes
10. The Poconos, PA
Luckily, the Poconos Mountains region is massive, meaning there’s tons of options of where to spend a day. Some of our favorites include the Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari Resort, which both include indoor waterparks. Of course, you can’t scoff off the nature areas of the region too. There’s snowcapped mountains that are perfect for skiing, snowboarding, snow sliding, and snowshoeing. Or if you want to just take in the breathtaking mountains, frozen waterfalls, and winding rivers, you can do that too.
11. Governors Island, NYC
Governors Island, the 172-acre lush green island in between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, provides the perfect winter getaway in the middle of the city. All you have to do is take a ferry from either the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan or the Red Hook/Atlantic Basin Ferry Terminal in Brooklyn and you’ll be whisked away in no time (just make a reservation in advance).
In terms of wintry things to do, there’s the cozy QC NY Spa, winter dog days, a hammock grove, bike rentals, and ice sculpture show on February 3, and more! Learn more about the island here.
Distance from NYC: 10 minutes
12. The Berkshires, MA
The Berkshires in Western Massachussets are a great winter day trip, which can completed in 3 hour journeys each way. There’s so much to do here as well. Starting with wintry activities, you can ski at Jiminy Peak, Butternut, Catamount, and Bousquet mountains, snowshoe across white-blanketed fields, and hike to your heart’s content. But, there’s other great cultural activities too… like the Massachusetts Museum Of Contemporary Art, Norman Rockwell Museum, Barrington Stage Company, and more!
Distance from NYC: 3 hours
13. East Hampton, NY
While Many New Yorkers flock to The Hamptons in the summer, it’s just as gorgeous in the winter. East Hampton in particular is one of the most gorgeous beaches and villages on the top of Long Island. After you check out Main Beach and Georgica Beach, treat yourself to some wintry activities like spa treatments at Baker House Spa, strolling through the Parrish Art Museum, and more! Find more things to do here.
Distance from NYC: 2.5 hours
14. Warwick, NY
Warwick is right in the heart of NY’s stunning Hudson Valley. With beautiful parks, farm-to-table brunch, unique boutique and antique shops (say that five times fast!), it’s the perfect little weekend day trip from NYC. It’s an hour and a half car ride, or tack on an extra hour to take the bus there from Port Authority.
Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours
15. Woodstock, NY
Although a name that draws imaginations of music festivals and tie-dye, Woodstock is full of things for just about everyone! We suggest a winter hike up Overlook Mountain, one of the most notable in the region, and then finishing the day walking through the town full of local shops and cute food vendors. You might even be lucky enough to catch a weekend flea market! The town is perfect for the hippies at heart and still oozes some of those 1960s flavors to this day.
Distance from NYC: 2 hours 15 minutes