11 Amazing Day Trips In The Northern United States That Are Worth The Drive
From the Cascades to Cape Cod, with the Rockies, Great Lakes, and Great Plains thrown in for good measure, the Northern United States is full of compelling attractions. And thanks to its evenly spaced urban centers, these natural wonders, as well as the inviting towns that orbit them, are within respectable driving distance of standard transport hubs. So without further ado, let's examine eleven amazing day-trips in the upper reaches of the United States.
New York City through the Hudson Valley
Escaping New York City is easier than you think. Less than an hour north of the heart of The Big Apple (by car or by train), the Hudson River widens, the Catskill Mountains unfurl, and a treasure trove of historical architecture shifts the scene from frenetic metropolis to timeless reprieve. Following the east side of the valley, which, if you'd prefer to skip the initial traffic, can be done via the Hudson Line out of Grand Central Station, you'll have your pick of the elegant manors and enticing lore at Sleepy Hollow or the nostalgic Main Street and sweeping bluffs of Cold Spring.
Favoring the Hudson Valley's western hemisphere, the spritely college town of New Paltz comes out to play (don't miss the surrounding nature preserves of the Shawagunk Ridge), as does quirky Woodstock, which, although falsely attributed to the 1969 namesake festival, does still embody that small-town hippie spirit.
New York City to Montauk
Instead of climbing north out of New York City, you can also retreat to the east - all the way out to the windswept tip of Long Island. The resort hamlet of Montauk stretches through the deep blue waters of Block Island Sound and the alluring Atlantic Ocean. It is blessed with beautiful beaches, sunrise bluffs, verdant state parks, and all kinds of upscale establishments. Come for the swimming, surfing, romantic beach strolls, boutique shopping, whale-watching, or off-season oceanside musing next to the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
This easternmost point of New York can be reached in about three hours via the Long Island Expressway (i.e., Interstate 495), or by riding the Long Island Rail Road all twelve stops from Jamaica Station (which itself can be reached using any number of lines out of Penn Station). The latter option adds 30-60 minutes to the journey, but you get to surrender the stress of driving in a big city.
Bozeman to Yellowstone
America's oldest national park (and one of its most beloved) sprawls across 2.2 million acres of Wyoming (predominantly), but also a pinch of Idaho and Montana. The best way to see the grandeur of the Gallatin Mountains (i.e., a subrange of the Rockies), large herds of large ungulates, and otherworldly geothermal wonders of Yellowstone National Park within a single circadian cycle is to base out of Bozeman, Montana.
From the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, you can enter through West Yellowstone, MT (a journey of about 100 miles) and loop back up via the North Entrance at Mammoth, WY (or vice versa). Along the way, you can check off such showstoppers as Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, Norris Geyser Basin, Gibbon Falls, and Mammoth Hot Springs—no wonder this incomparable site inspired 1872's congress to sign off on a paradigm-shifting experiment in conservation.
Chicago to Lake Michigan's Dunes
The same forces that gave The Windy City its nickname also helped form the towering dunes along the opposite shore of Lake Michigan. Leaving downtown Chicago on I-90 quickly brings us through two neighboring states to some of the more serene areas of this Great Lake. First up, almost exactly 50 miles away, is Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park - together comprising 15 miles of swimmable beaches, nearly 200-foot dunes, wetland boardwalks, and globally-endangered black oak savanna.
Another 30 miles up the shoreline, Michigan's Warren Dunes State Park carries the torch. The crowds here are bigger, but so are the dunes (upwards of 260 feet). Once again, there are idyllic beaches for sunbathing, trails braiding their way through the marram grass, and epic grades for sandboarders to carve. Bring lots of water, and a change of socks won't hurt either.
Cleveland to the Lake Erie Islands
Another multifaceted Great Lake day trip occurs along Ohio's section of southern Lake Erie. After taking in the best of Cleveland (including the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame and The Cleveland Museum of Art) drive west on I-90 for about 60 miles to Sandusky. Here you can either spend the afternoon at Cedar Point (where families can brave some of the biggest, baddest roller coasters on the planet), or for a more tranquil exploration, take the nearby ferries to some of the Lake Erie Islands.
If you brought your passport, then you can head straight from Sandusky to Pelee Island (Canada's southernmost populated point). Or if you'd prefer to stay stateside, take the titular ferry to Kelleys Island from Marblehead (whereupon you can trade in your car for a golf cart or bicycle and visit the Glacial Grooves of Kelleys Island State Park), or board the Miller Ferry out of Catawba Island to land at the adorable village of Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island - home to two state parks of its own.
Two Options from Minot, ND
North-central North Dakota's eclectic city of Minot, also known as "Magic City," is replete with destination-worthy attractions and is also within day-trip distance of several prairie attractions. Having arrived at the Minot International Airport, you might first check out the Dakota Territory Air Museum, with its slew of propeller planes and other antique machinery (located right beside the terminal). Then, just a few miles south of the airport and bordered by the sinuous Souris River, the Roosevelt Park Zoo will appeal to the whole family. If you happen into town between July 17 and 25 of next year, then you can swing next door for North Dakota's largest annual event: the North Dakota State Fair. For something truly unique, visit the Scandinavian Heritage Park, a collection of traditional structures, commemorative statues, and sculptures related to Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Icelandic cultures.
When you're feeling up for a broader adventure, head 200 miles (~three hours) southwest of Minot to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Here, you'll discover herds of bison roaming amongst the grassy plains and striated badlands. And if you're the type of person who enjoys pointless novelties (not even judging, I'm one of those people), and you have a good playlist or podcast to keep you company, then drive one hour due east to the highway town of Rugby, where you'll find a stone monument indicating the Geographical Center of North America.
Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula
I expounded upon the Olympic Peninsula in Amazing Pacific Northwest Day Trips, but given its accessibility from Seattle and abundant natural and communal assets, let's review a few key highlights. From The Emerald City, you have the option of driving over via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge or jetting across Puget Sound aboard the Washington State Ferry. Depending on your destination, both routes take a similar duration. The former allows for full autonomy, whereas the latter offers a little variety of sea breezes.
Either way, once on Washington’s westernmost landmass, you’ll have your pick of idyllic harbor communities, such as the Norwegian enclave of Poulsbo and Port Townsend (a ferry terminal for Whidbey Island) on the east side, or the famed timber town of Forks and the wild beaches at La Push over on the Pacific side. But that still leaves the bounty of Olympic National Park, with the snowy Olympic Mountains at its core, and lush rainforests (in particular, the Hoh Rainforest) sprawling around the fringes. As you can see, the Olympic Peninsula is very much a choose-your-own-adventure kind of day-trip.
Portland to Bend
While over on the West Coast, another enticing day trip can be taken from Portland, Oregon, up to the adventure hub of Bend. This three-hour journey passes through the Cascade Range and into the Oregon High Desert, including an up-close look at Mount Hood's iconic cone en route. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a sociable mid-sized city with quick access to nature, ensuring the perfect blend of outdoor recreation for high-octane introverts and park- or patio-based leisure for laid-back extroverts.
Bend is bisected by the Deschutes River/Miller Pond, inviting paddlers and rafters to dive right in. It is also surrounded by national forests and state parks - opening the door to avid hikers, mountain bikers, and, thanks to the hundreds of routes up Smith Rock, climbers of all skill levels (there are also loads of local climbing gyms). Come winter, this same wilderness becomes a playground for cross-country and backcountry skiers, while Mount Bachelor turns into a magnet for downhill and Nordic skiers (and snowboarders, of course). But as promised, Bend also caters to a relaxed afternoon, thanks to its downtown coffee shop/craft beer culture, and its plethora of nearby disc-golf courses.
Philadelphia to Jim Thorpe
Back in the northeastern United States, Pennsylvania offers a mountain getaway of its own - this time in the Poconos. Named after the first Native American to win an Olympic Gold Medal (and all-around super-athlete), the town of Jim Thorpe (aka "The Gateway to the Poconos" and "The Switzerland of America") is as scenic as it is active, as it is historic, and all just over 80 miles northeast of Philadelphia. In terms of scenery, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway has that more than covered.
This round-trip narrated tour aboard an antique diesel engine begins from the heart of town. It follows along the namesake river valley (verdant in the spring/summer and a colorful tapestry in the fall) through Lehigh Gorge State Park. As for activities, Jim Thorpe not only beckons hikers and bikers onto its forested slopes, but also invites paddlers and beachcombers to the lakes on either side (Mauch Chunk Lake to the west and Beltzville Lake to the east). And as for history, the Asa Packer Mansion Museum and the Old Jail Museum highlight both the opulent and scrappy sides of this former coal mining town.
Boston to Plymouth and Provincetown
Speaking of history, a simple Boston-based day trip can transport motorists back to the arrival of the Pilgrims in the New World. From the capital of Massachusetts, it is just 40 miles (and about as many minutes) to Plymouth (aka "America's Hometown") - home to the first pilgrim settlement. Check out Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower landed in 1620, the Mayflower II (a full-scale replica) on the opposite side of Pilgrim Memorial State Park, and the Pilgrim Hall Museum (i.e., the nation's oldest public museum).
Then, hop back in your car and drive another hour and a half all the way to the tip of Cape Cod (stopping anywhere along the 40-mile Cape Cod National Seashore for photos). Provincetown (aka "P-Town" and the "Birthplace of American Liberty") marks the original landing site of the Mayflower (after it drifted off course and had to resupply) and the site of America's first legal document of democratic governance - the Mayflower Compact.
Rochester to the Finger Lakes
Bringing it back to where we began our Northern U.S. tour, let's end in the revered Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Flying into the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (at the base of Lake Ontario), the full breadth of the eleven elongated inland lakes is at your disposal. Concentrating on the central cluster, which just so happens to contain some of the largest of the lot, begins just 25 miles outside of Rochester, at the top of Canandaigua Lake.
The charming city of Canandaigua offers a shop-lined Main Street, a lakeside park and pier, and the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park for a little extra variety. Skipping down to the base of Seneca Lake, the village of Watkins Glen is best known for its namesake state park, thanks to its 19 waterfalls descending cliffs as high as 200 feet. And finally, from Watkins Glen, it's just a half-hour to the college town of Ithaca, located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake. Home to Cornell University (with its Ivy League architecture and beautiful botanical gardens), Ithaca is the ideal blend of culture and scenery.
Coast to coast, mountain range to forested river gorge, and all the lovable towns in between, the Northern United States is never short on worthwhile drives. These eleven day-trips showcase a crowd-pleasing blend of natural attractions, modern amenities, and centuries of American history. Not a bad trade for a simple tank of gas.
