Whether you reside in NYC and want a getaway otherwise you simply need to plan a highway journey, a New York to Boston highway journey is a basic trip. While you can also make the journey in a day, don’t rush it however plan some stops to see cute cities, historic sights, and delightful seashores alongside the way in which.
I’ve structured this journey to take every week or so, however you possibly can simply flip this into a protracted weekend journey by reducing down on a number of the stops. Some alternate itineraries are outlined beneath.
The Boston to New York route can get fairly congested. In the summer season, you possibly can anticipate a variety of site visitors from folks touring to or from the Cape, particularly on the weekends. Interstate 95 by way of Connecticut is infamous for its site visitors jams so you should definitely examine Waze or use Google or Apple Maps to examine for the quickest routes. Sometimes utilizing the Merritt Parkway by way of Southern Connecticut can prevent a while. Some folks could select to leap on a Peter Pan bus, however driving will allow you to cease alongside the way in which.
Where to Stop in your New York to Boston Road Trip
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New York, NY
If you haven’t been to New York City, plan to spend a number of days in the beginning or finish of your highway journey. If that is your first journey to NYC, choose one neighborhood, just like the Theater District, Midtown East, Soho, or Lower Manhattan, and discover.
You can’t anticipate to see the whole lot in a single weekend however you might be sure to seek out one thing for everybody from Broadway exhibits, world-class museums, strolling excursions, eating experiences, native meals halls, or outside enjoyment in Central Park, Battery Park, the High Line, or strolling throughout the Brooklyn Bridge.
Here are some enjoyable concepts for issues to do in NYC with youngsters.
Day 1: Essex, CT
Kick off your highway journey to Boston with a drive alongside the Connecticut coast. You can full this drive in two hours, however should you aren’t in a rush, take your time with some stops alongside the way in which. Your vacation spot is the quaint Connecticut city of Essex, in western Connecticut. However, chances are you’ll need to make some stops alongside the way in which. The upscale waterfront city of Greenwich is an ideal spot for lunch or some upscale purchasing.
However, if in case you have gotten an early begin, skip over Greenwich and cease in Norwalk. In the summer season you possibly can hop on board a harbor cruise or take a ship journey into historical past and nature with a Sheffield Island lighthouse cruise. The SoNo historic district is filled with eating places which are excellent for lunch.
Continue alongside to Essex, the place you can also make your private home base for a few nights on the Griswold Inn, the oldest constantly working inn in America. Dining within the historic taproom is a enjoyable expertise. Alternatively you can keep in close by Mystic.
There is a lot to do on this space, particularly with youngsters. Take a journey on the Essex Steam Train, take pleasure in a fall foliage cruise on the Connecticut River, go to the weird and historic Gillette Castle, discover native lighthouses on a harbor cruise from New London, and stroll alongside the Niantic Boardwalk.
Day 3: Mystic, CT
On your subsequent day, head over to close by Mystic, Connecticut. You can spend the morning on the Mystic Aquarium and return in time on the Historic Mystic Seaport. This is a good alternative to be taught concerning the fishing heritage on this space. You could need to cease for lunch on the in style Mystic Pizza, though I desire the cool vibes of Engine Room. Nearby, wine aficionados will take pleasure in a tasting and picnic at Jonathan Edwards Winery in close by Stonington, CT.
After exploring Mystic, cross the border into Rhode Island the place chances are you’ll need to pop into Watch Hill for a journey on the historic Flying Horses carousel. From there it’s only an hour drive to Newport, Rhode Island.
There are many nice lodge choices in Newport, together with the historic Hotel Viking or The Vanderbilt, though households could desire the modern Newport Marriott (particularly if you wish to use factors).
Day 3: Newport, RI
Of course, there’s a lot to do in Newport, you possibly can simply spend a protracted weekend. If that is your first go to, there are three issues it’s a must to do. First, go to one of many Newport Mansions, such because the well-known Breakers. Next, both take a stroll on the Cliff Walk or a scenic drive alongside Ocean Avenue.
Have lunch downtown at Diego’s or The Black Pearl earlier than setting sail for a day or night sundown crusing cruise. If you may have timed your go to with considered one of Providence‘s famous Waterfire events, head 45 minutes north to Rhode Island’s Creative Capital for this distinctive expertise.
There are loads of nice locations to remain in Providence, however if you’re going for one thing distinctive, keep on the Graduate Providence.
Day 4: Providence, RI
It is good to spend no less than half a day in Providence earlier than driving one other hour or two to Cape Cod. In Providence, you possibly can discover the wonderful murals downtown, then stroll alongside the river and over the pedestrian bridge for lunch at Plant City, the town’s solely plant-based meals corridor.
If you may have time, chances are you’ll need to attempt a Rhode Island Red meals tour to take a look at the town’s well-known meals scene or get the historical past of the town from the river with a tour from Providence River Boat Company.
Soon it’s time to head east to Cape Cod. If you solely have one evening to spend on the Cape, chances are you’ll need to keep on with Falmouth on the Sea Crest Beach Hotel or Hyannis on the Cape Codder Resort. If you need to spend extra time on the seashore, enterprise a little bit additional out to remain on the luxurious Wequasset Resort or Chatham Bars Inn.
Day 5: Cape Cod, MA
On Cape Cod, you possibly can spend the day biking the Cape Cod Rail Trail, exploring the National Seashore, and having fun with the Cape’s attractive seashores and sunsets. You can also take pleasure in a whale-watching cruise or a lobster bake on the seashore with Art’s Dune Tours in Provincetown.
There are limitless choices to discover on the Cape, even within the off-season.
Day 6: Plymouth, MA
Just 40 minutes up the coast from Cape Cod is a must-stop vacation spot for United States historical past buffs. Plymouth is a enjoyable seaside city to discover, simply don’t have excessive expectations for Plymouth Rock. Kids will take pleasure in stepping onto the duplicate Mayflower II ship — returned to its residence in Plymouth in 2020.
I might additionally extremely suggest visiting the Pilmouth Pawtuxet Museums (previously generally known as Plimouth Plantations.) The website consists of a Seventeenth-century English village and a Wampanoag homesite.
You can keep in a single day on the John Carver Inn, however it most likely is sensible to proceed 45 minutes additional into your final vacation spot — Boston!
Day 7: Boston, MA
There is a lot to do in Boston you actually need to give your self a few days, however should you solely have a day you possibly can hit a number of of the highlights. Start on the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common and strap in your strolling sneakers to discover the two.5-mile Freedom Trail. There is a variety of historical past to soak up and for households, a terrific spot to do this is on the Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships.
Afterward, discover the waterfront, pop into the North End for a terrific Italian lunch and pastries, stroll down the Rose Kennedy Greenway, go to the Boston Public Market meals corridor, and discover the town heart. If you don’t really feel like doing all of the strolling, it’s also possible to hop on board an amphibious duck boat tour.
If you spend 3 days in Boston or extra, it’s also possible to plan a day journey from Boston as much as Salem or Gloucester. See additionally my information for visiting Boston on a finances and discover out issues to do in Boston with youngsters.
Day 8: Return to New York City
On your journey again from Boston to NYC, you possibly can return the way in which you got here in a four-hour drive or lengthen your highway journey by taking a unique route again. If you might be in search of another, driving from Boston, you possibly can take Interstate 90 / the Mass Pike West as a substitute of heading again down 95.
An hour west of Boston you’ll come to Old Sturbridge Village, MA. This is the biggest outside dwelling historical past museum in New England, with buildings and interpreters representing life in rural New England between 1790 and 1830. From right here, journey south on Interstate 84 to Hartford and proceed on Interstate 91 to New Haven, CT, for roughly 1.25 hours in whole.
If you might be hungry, you should definitely take pleasure in Frank Pepe’s well-known pizza (there’s additionally an outpost in Hartford.) If it’s worthwhile to stretch your legs, take a stroll by way of the Yale University campus. If site visitors goes nicely, it’s then lower than two hours drive again to New York City.
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