Many New Yorkers, myself included, don’t have a car. In my case, I don’t even know how to drive! That’s why car-free getaways are especially important to me.
And while I love a good trip, I don’t always want to use up my precious PTO just to get away for the weekend. So I’m always looking for destinations I can reach by train or bus in 4 hours or less, where I can get around on foot or via rideshare once I arrive.
That’s exactly what this list is about: car-free weekend getaways from New York City that won’t require you to use PTO or spend half your weekend getting there.
This list was inspired by my recent podcast conversation with weekend travel expert Go Kylah Go, who knows a thing or two about making the most of a limited amount of time off.
Why visit:
Washington, DC is known as Chocolate City for a reason. In 1957, it became the first major U.S. city to have a majority-Black population. While that is no longer the case today, the city remains deeply connected to Black history and culture, with countless Black-owned businesses, cultural institutions, historic sites, and experiences worth exploring.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
There is so much to explore in DC, but the museums and historic sites are a great place to start. At the top of my list is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, but don’t stop there. Also consider these Black cultural institutions:
Whether you’re interested in Black history, art, music, or culture, DC makes it easy to spend an entire weekend exploring the Black stories woven throughout the city.
Why visit:
Boston, MA might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about Black history and culture. In fact, I’ve heard people ask, “Are there even Black people in Boston?” The answer is absolutely yes, and the city has a rich Black history that stretches across centuries.
From Black life during the colonial period and the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and waves of Black immigration, Boston has been shaped by Black people and their contributions throughout its history.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Take a walk or guided tour along the Black Heritage Trail, a 1.6-mile route featuring 10 sites throughout Beacon Hill that highlight the homes, businesses, and community spaces of a thriving Black community established during the nation’s earliest years.
Along the way, you’ll encounter important sites, including the Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial, Abiel Smith School, and African Meeting House, offering a glimpse into Boston’s rich Black history and the people who helped shape the city.
Why visit:
For me, Philly is a very Black city, and I mean that as a compliment. It is loud and proud about its Black culture, history, and community. You don’t have to look very hard to find Black-owned businesses, from restaurants and shops to cultural experiences, with countless opportunities to support them during your visit.
Philadelphia also has a long and deeply rooted Black history that dates back to the founding of our country. From the people and communities who helped shape the city in its earliest days to the generations who have continued to build, create, organize, and thrive here, Black history is woven into the fabric of Philadelphia.
If you want a destination where Black culture isn’t something you have to search too hard to find, Philly is a great place to start.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Take the Deeply Rooted Trolley Tour with Harriett’s Bookshop. This is such a unique way to experience Philly because the tour takes you to multiple Black-owned businesses and gives you plenty of opportunities to support them along the way. And beyond the businesses and history, the tour itself is truly a vibe! There is a reason why it always sells out!
I also highly recommend a local walking or bus tour experience with Philly Experiences. Whether it’s her mural tour, food tour, or any other experience she offers, you will not be disappointed. She takes you to places no one else will, and she is super passionate about her city.
Read Blog Posts for More Information
Why visit:
Cape May, NJ is truly an underrated gem, not just as a destination overall, but especially when it comes to Black history. The Black community here may be small, but it is mighty, with a history and presence that continue to shape the city.
What struck me most is how much of that presence feels like an act of resistance. From the people who built lives and businesses here to the stories that have been preserved and passed down, Cape May offers a powerful reminder that Black history exists in places you might least expect it.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Visit Historic Macedonia Baptist Church and take the one-hour presentation led by local historian Lynda Towns. It’s a great way to learn more about Cape May’s Black history directly from someone connected to the community.
Then, grab a meal at Freda’s Cafe, a Black-owned local favorite and, at the time of my visit, the only Black-owned business in Cape May. It’s a simple way to put your support into action while experiencing the local community.
Read Blog Posts for More Information
Why visit:
Like Providence, New London & Mystic, CT, is one of those places you might not expect to have a strong Black history, but it’s there and being intentionally highlighted. From the New London Black Heritage Trail to the annual Black history boat tour, the stories are there if you take the time to explore. Plus, it has that classic New England waterfront feel.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned thing to do:
If you can, plan your visit to New London, CT, around the White Sails, Black Hands boat tour for a deeper look into the area’s maritime history. I also recommend supporting a Haitian-owned spot, Favorite Bistro Bar. This is an example of “Learn Black and Buy Black” in action within my Support BLACK framework. In Mystic, CT (which is 15 min away), visit the Mystic Seaport Museum, which has a series of panels called The Sea Connects Us that amplify Indigenous and Black maritime stories.
Why visit:
Kingston, NY, was New York State’s first capital and has a rich Black history that dates back centuries. One of its most significant stories is connected to Sojourner Truth, who successfully brought a landmark case to the Ulster County Courthouse in 1828 to recover her young son, Peter, who had been illegally sold into slavery.
Kingston offers an opportunity to explore a lesser-known chapter of New York’s Black history while experiencing a historic Hudson Valley destination.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Visit one of the many Black-owned businesses and take a walking tour with Friends of Historic Kingston
Why visit:
Lancaster is often associated with Amish culture, but it also has deep connections to Black history and was listed in the Green Book.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Take an African American Heritage Tour in Lancaster through the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania. This experience challenges common assumptions about the area and highlights stories of Black resistance and movement that many people do not expect to find here. Also, visit the new Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center. This is an example of Learn Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Why visit:
Harrisburg offers a mix of history, culture, and underrated local spots worth exploring.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Visit Urban Churn. This is some of the best ice cream I have had. It is incredibly smooth and features unique flavor combinations. This is an example of Buy Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Why visit:
Wilmington, DE is a small but culturally rich city with deep ties to Black music and jazz history. New Castle, located 15 minutes away, has a Black history dating back to pre-colonial times.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Attend the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz festivals on the East Coast, honoring legendary trumpeter Clifford Brown. This is an example of Celebrate Black in action in my Support BLACK framework. In New Castle, take a Black history tour called “These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle” with the Delaware Historical Society.
Read blog post for more information: Delaware blog posts
Why visit:
Atlantic City is best known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches, but there is another side of the city worth exploring: its rich Black history. During the Great Migration, large numbers of Black Americans came to Atlantic City in search of opportunity, helping build a vibrant Black community and shaping the city’s culture and economy.
From Black-owned businesses and entertainment to the people and places that became part of Atlantic City’s story, there is much more to discover beyond the casinos and beaches. It’s a destination that offers an opportunity to see a different side of a place you may think you already know.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Support the local community by trying one of Atlantic City’s many Black-owned eateries, or spend some time exploring the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey to learn more about the region’s Black history and contributions.
Why visit:
Located just outside Washington DC, Alexandria, VA offers a charming environment layered with complex Black history and culture.
Car-Free Routes:
New York City to Alexandria, about 4 hours, on Silver Meteor/Palmetto or Carolinian Amtrak route
Black-owned must-do:
Eat at Café Du Soleil. The ambiance is inviting, and the breakfast sandwiches are a standout. This is an example of Buy Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Read blog post for more information: Traveling While Black: Alexandria Black-Owned Guide
Why visit:
Baltimore is a city rich with Black history, culture, and creativity. From the legacy of leaders like Frederick Douglass to its thriving arts, food, and music scenes, Baltimore invites you to explore the stories that shaped the city and celebrate the communities continuing to shape it today.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Visit the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, a one-of-a-kind cultural institution and the first wax museum of African American history in the nation. Founded in 1983, the museum features more than 100 wax figures and historical scenes, including a full-size replica of a slave ship representing the Atlantic Slave Trade, as well as exhibits highlighting the contributions of important Black Marylanders throughout history. This is an example of Learn Black and Amplify Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Read blog post for more information: Traveling While Black: Baltimore Black-Owned Guide
Why visit:
New Paltz, NY, is exactly the kind of place that reminds me why I love uncovering Black history. It’s probably not a destination you would immediately associate with Black history, but beneath its picturesque Hudson Valley setting is a history that includes Black people, their communities, and their contributions to the area.
If you’re looking for a destination where you can explore a lesser-known piece of New York’s Black history while enjoying a charming small town, New Paltz is worth adding to your list.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Take a tour of Historic Huguenot Street and visit the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Center for Black History and Culture to learn more about the Black history and experiences that are often overlooked in the story of New Paltz.
Why visit:
Newport, RI is best known for its grand Gilded Age mansions, sailing, and coastal charm, but there is a much deeper Black history beneath that polished image. Black people have been part of Newport’s story since the colonial era, including as enslaved and free residents, entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders.
It’s a destination that challenges you to look beyond the mansions and uncover the Black stories that helped shape one of New England’s most famous coastal cities.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
Visit the Center for Black History at the Newport Historical Society or take a guided walking tour with RISHM to uncover the Black stories woven throughout Newport’s history. It’s a great way to look beyond the mansions and waterfront and learn about the people and communities who helped shape the city.
Why visit:
Rhode Island might not be the first place you think of, but that’s exactly what makes it special. There’s a strong Black community here, and you can also explore some really cute small towns that give that classic New England feel.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned thing to do:
Visit the African American Museum of Rhode Island. Their exhibit, “Mapping Black Providence 1940s–1970s,” traces the vibrant community life of Black Rhode Islanders across Fox Point, Lippitt Hill, University Heights, and South Providence during one of the city’s most important periods of growth and change. Also, visit the RISD Museum, which features diverse artwork, including Black art. This is an example of Learn Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Read blog post for more information: Traveling While Black: Rhode Island Black-Owned Guide
Why visit:
Albany is not just the New York State capital; it is also a destination to visit if you want to explore its role in the Underground Railroad. As a major transportation hub along the Hudson River, Albany became an important stop for freedom seekers traveling north. The city is home to stories of abolitionists, freedom seekers, and the local Black community who helped make that journey possible.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned thing to do:
Visit the Underground Railroad Education Center and take a tour of the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, which preserves and shares Albany’s role in the Underground Railroad.
Read blog post for more information: A Detailed 48-Hour Guide to Albany, NY
You don’t need a car, a full week of PTO, or a flight to have a meaningful getaway. Sometimes, all you need is a train or bus, a free weekend, and a willingness to explore.
These destinations show just how much is within reach of New York City, including places with rich Black history, culture, and communities that you may not have known were there. And you don’t necessarily have to make them your main destination. Consider them a sidequest from a larger trip, a day trip, or a quick weekend escape when you simply need a change of scenery.
Whether you’re planning a solo trip, a micro-cation, or simply trying to explore more of what’s close to home, I hope this list reminds you that you don’t have to go far to go somewhere to have a good time.
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Welcome to the Franny the Traveler blog! I’m Dr. Franny, a national award-winning educator, entrepreneur, author, and Black travel enthusiast on a personal mission to make every destination a Black-owned destination. As I visit all 50 states and 50 countries by age 50, this Black travel blog is a growing collection of Black-owned city guides, itineraries, travel tips, and reflections on traveling while Black for the conscious traveler. I’m so happy you’re here!
