{"id":180817,"date":"2025-08-27T22:17:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/180817\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T22:17:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:17:19","slug":"5-relaxing-labor-day-weekend-getaways-from-nyc-you-can-do-without-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/180817\/","title":{"rendered":"5 relaxing Labor Day weekend getaways from NYC you can do without a car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Millions of Americans are going to gas up their cars and hit the road to travel this Labor Day weekend. But as a New Yorker, you\u2019re likely not one of them. If you\u2019re among the car-less or the careless who didn\u2019t book a rental car before they sold out, have no fear: You can still find a relaxing holiday weekend getaway<\/a> without getting into the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ve rounded up five of our favorite public transit-friendly destinations for a quick escape with transit time under two hours. After all, riding a train or cruising on a ferry is way more fun\u2014and sustainable\u2014than sitting in traffic anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do on Labor Day in NYC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Dia:Beacon\"
\nPhotograph: Shutterstock\/Jon BilousArchitecture at Dia:Beacon, Beacon, New York <\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Beacon<\/p>\n

Best for: <\/strong>Artsy, small-town vibes
Travel time:<\/strong>\u00a01 hour 30 minutes from\u00a0Grand Central\u00a0via\u00a0Metro-North
Cost:\u00a0<\/strong>$11.25 off-peak; $15.25 peak each way\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hop onto the Metro-North at Grand Central and enjoy a rural ride upstate\u00a0along the Hudson River. Exit the train at the Beacon station to explore this\u00a0quaint\u00a0part of\u00a0Dutchess County known for its art scene and\u00a0dining scene, too. Begin the day at\u00a0Dia:Beacon<\/a>, a modern art museum that\u2019s a short walk from the train station. This super-Instagrammable museum is home to pieces including\u00a0Ren\u00e9e Green\u2019s colorful The Equator Has Moved, a collection of sculptures by\u00a0Kishio Suga and Andy Warhol\u2019s abstract Shadows.\u00a0 There are plenty of great dining options around town, especially for vegetarians. This town of just 14,000 people offers 24 spots for vegans and vegetarians, as The Beacon Beacon reports<\/a>. Since you\u2019re not driving, stop by\u00a0Dennings Point Distillery<\/a>\u00a0on Main Street\u00a0for\u00a0tours and tastings of their booze.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"attractions
\nvisit philadelphia <\/p>\n

2. Philadelphia<\/p>\n

Best for:<\/strong> History buffs
Travel time:<\/strong> 1 hour 30 minutes from Penn Station via Amtrak
Cost:<\/strong> One-way tickets start at $15 for late-night trains and go up to $118 for\u00a0daylight trips<\/p>\n

Want to get out of the state altogether? Philadelphia awaits. If you go this weekend, you\u2019ll score the last chance to see the city\u2019s beautiful\u00a0Chinese Lantern Festival<\/a>, which runs through August 31 with 40 larger-than-life displays. If history piques your interest, you can meet uniformed storytellers for quick\u00a0tales at\u00a0historic sites,\u00a0including\u00a0Independence Hall<\/a>, the\u00a0Independence Visitor Center<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Betsy Ross House<\/a>. To get there, you\u2019ll take an Amtrak train from Penn Station to Philadelphia\u2019s 30th Street Station. There are a lot of price points to choose from, and if you\u2019re willing to go at off hours, you can score an extra cheap deal. Our advice: It\u2019s not worth splurging on business class for this short of a journey. Just book a\u00a0regular seat and get going!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotography courtesy of The Rockaway Hotel| The Rooftop at The Rockaway Hotel <\/p>\n

3. The Rockaways\u00a0<\/p>\n

Best for: <\/strong>Those not ready to give up summer
Travel time:<\/strong> 1 hour from Wall Street\/Pier 11 via NYC Ferry
Cost:<\/strong> $4.50 each way<\/p>\n

Forget the Hamptons, you can enjoy a much cheaper and equally fun beach getaway without ever leaving the five boroughs. Rockaway Beach in Queens is one of the best NYC beaches<\/a> for many reasons\u2014and you can get from Manhattan to the ocean in an hour. Aside from the sand and surf, peruse the\u00a0shops (from vintage to surf gear and more), check out affordable food trucks and even indulge in some of the best tacos<\/a> in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other than sunbathing and splashing around in the water,\u00a0eat tacos at\u00a0Tacoway Beach<\/a>, order a burger at\u00a0Rippers<\/a>, and stroll the Boardwalk and shops. If you\u00a0decide to stay overnight,\u00a0the Rockaway Hotel + Spa<\/a>\u00a0is the spot\u2014or you could book a day pass there to enjoy the pool. The ferry will drop you off just steps from Beach 108th Street, so you can have your toes in the sand in minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Headless
\nPhotograph: By James Andrews1 \/ Shutterstock <\/p>\n

4. Sleepy Hollow<\/p>\n

Best for: <\/strong>The people who are ready for fall
Travel time:<\/strong> 1 hour from Grand Central via Metro-North
Cost:<\/strong> $11.25 off-peak; $15.25 peak each way<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re really ready to bid farewell to summer and lean into fall, Sleepy Hollow is the place. Equal parts cool, creepy and charming, this small town was the inspiration for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.\u00a0Take the Metro-North to Philipse Manor, then walk over to history center Philipsburg Manor, stopping along the way to see Washington Irving\u2019s grave, the Headless Horseman Statue and the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. For even more detail, there are several cemetery walking tours<\/a> to take this weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Governors
\nPhotograph: courtesy of the Trust for Governors Island <\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Governors Island\u00a0<\/p>\n

Best for: <\/strong>The on-a-budget, on-a-tight-schedule traveler
Travel time:<\/strong>\u00a015 minutes from\u00a0the Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street, via Governors Island Ferry
Cost:<\/strong>\u00a0$5 round-trip<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s still technically in Manhattan, but Governors Island feels like it\u2019s far from the city\u2014even though you can get there in just 15 minutes. With its biking trails, wide-open spaces and quiet corners, you\u2019ll feel\u00a0far away from the hustle and bustle on this 172-acre island.\u00a0This car-free oasis even offers a hammock grove where you can kick back and relax\u00a0while being gently rocked in the breeze. While you\u2019re there, look for artwork as part of the Rest\/Play group show<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As for eating and drinking, you\u2019ll be well fed.\u00a0To name a few options, there\u2019s\u00a0Taco Vista<\/a>\u00a0with tropical vibes;\u00a0Island Oyster<\/a>\u00a0with plenty of seafood; and\u00a0Makina Cafe<\/a>\u00a0offering Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. For drinks, check out\u00a0Threes Brewing<\/a>\u00a0for a beer,\u00a0Joe Coffee<\/a>\u00a0for a jolt, and On Tea Road for boba.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Millions of Americans are going to gas up their cars and hit the road to travel this Labor…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":180818,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,11234,15291,18634,41800,15290,10784,10782,18625,10785,18626,18627,37721,18628,37720,99536,68303,102061,18631,405,403,11235,5226,5225,5228,5227,1164,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-180817","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-categories-travel","10":"tag-dating-good-for-date-night","11":"tag-family-kids-good-for-kids","12":"tag-good-for-good-for-a-rainy-day","13":"tag-good-for-good-for-couples","14":"tag-good-for-good-for-going-in-a-group","15":"tag-good-for-good-for-going-solo","16":"tag-good-for-good-for-going-with-friends","17":"tag-good-for-good-for-locals","18":"tag-good-for-good-for-taking-parents","19":"tag-good-for-vibe-beautiful","20":"tag-good-for-vibe-cheap","21":"tag-good-for-vibe-outdoors","22":"tag-good-for-vibe-quirky","23":"tag-good-for-vibe-romantic","24":"tag-holidays-fall","25":"tag-holidays-labor-day","26":"tag-holidays-summer","27":"tag-new-york","28":"tag-new-york-city","29":"tag-news-transport-travel","30":"tag-newyork","31":"tag-newyorkcity","32":"tag-ny","33":"tag-nyc","34":"tag-travel","35":"tag-united-states","36":"tag-united-states-of-america","37":"tag-unitedstates","38":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","39":"tag-us","40":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/180818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}