Whether you live in NYC and need a change of scenery or you’re traveling through the city as a major transportation hub, there are plenty of car-free day trips within reach.
I’m one of the 50%+ of New Yorkers who doesn’t have a car. But unlike many New Yorkers, I don’t even know how to drive. 😂 So car-free travel isn’t just a preference for me. It’s how I travel.
And sometimes, you don’t need to use PTO or plan an entire weekend away to get your travel fix. A day trip can be enough.
That’s why this list focuses on car-free day trips from NYC that you can reach by train or bus in 2 hours or less. When you only have one day, you don’t want to spend most of it getting there.
I’ve rounded up 12 day trip ideas, one for every month of the year, with plenty of opportunities to experience Black history, culture, businesses, and local gems along the way.
This list was inspired by my recent podcast episode about traveling across the U.S. without a car. So if you’re ready to get out of the city without getting behind the wheel, let’s go.
Why visit:
Newark is one of those cities that people overlook because of its proximity to NYC, but it’s full of Black history, culture, and a growing entrepreneurial scene that feels very community-driven.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned thing to do:
As an NYC day trip by train, one of the most unique things you can do is visit the Krueger-Scott Mansion, once owned by Newark’s first African American female millionaire, Madame Louise Scott. Today, the space has been reimagined by Makerhoods, bringing new life to her legacy through co-working spaces, events, workshops, and community-centered programming. You can take a monthly tour with Have You Met Newark Tours, and if you’re there on a Sunday, check out their farmers market featuring BIPOC entrepreneurs. This is an example of Learn Black, Amplify Black, and Knowingly in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Why visit:
New Haven is a smaller city with a strong sense of community and a growing space for Black entrepreneurs, creatives, and cultural events that bring people together.
Car-free routes:
Black-owned thing to do:
As a fun NYC day trip idea, check out their yearly Black Wall Street Festival, which focuses on supporting Black and Brown entrepreneurs and creatives. It’s all about building community and creating more opportunities for economic growth in New Haven. This is an example of Buy Black, Amplify Black, and Celebrate Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
You can also visit the New Haven Museum to learn the history of the Amistad. Check out Yale Beneicke Gallery to see if they have an exhibit centered on Black history & culture.
Why visit:
For me, Philly is a very Black city in the best of ways. 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:
As one of the NYC day trips by train, 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.
You should also consider a unique craft class in string art at Hilo Fiber bar, perfect for a couple of nights, a girls’ night, or a solo night! Make sure to go on the roof for great views, especially at Golden Hour.
Read Blog Posts for More Information
Why visit:
Jersey City offers some of the best views of the NYC skyline from across the Hudson River. But beyond the waterfront, the city has a rich Black history, including its connection to the Underground Railroad. Jersey City was one of the final stops for freedom seekers traveling north, with historians estimating that a significant portion (as much as 50-70K of the 100K total) of those escaping slavery passed through the city.
Car-Free Options:
Black-owned must-do:
As one of the easiest day trips from NYC without a car, explore the NJ Black Heritage Trail. Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy offers guided tours of the trail several times a year, or you can explore it on your own. Along the way, stop at Black-owned businesses like The Grind and Nurish for coffee and a bite.
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:
For an NYC day trip idea, 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 often overlooked in the story of New Paltz.
Why visit:
Montclair is an artsy, walkable Essex County town with a vibrant downtown, arts scene, and significant Black history dating back at least 200 years.
Car-Free Options:
Support BLACK must-do:
As a unique NYC day trip idea, visit the Crane House & Historic YWCA, where African American women purchased the home in 1920 as a headquarters for a segregated YWCA that served the Black community for four decades. The museum offers public tours and special programs focused on Black history.
Then spend some time exploring Montclair’s arts and downtown scene, where you can support local businesses along the way.
Why visit:
Just north of NYC, Yonkers offers Hudson River views, historic sites, and a rich Black history many people don’t realize exists here. It’s also easy to explore without a car once you arrive by Metro-North.
Car-Free Options:
Black-owned must-do:
As one of the day trips from NYC without a car, take the Yonkers Black History Walking Tour through Philipse Manor Hall State Historic site, which explores 400 years of African and African-descended history in the city, including early Black landowners, the Underground Railroad, Civil Rights, and school segregation. You can also take a longer moment at the Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden along the waterfront. This is an example of Learn Black and Celebrate Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Why visit:
If you want a Hudson Valley day trip with history, scenery, and a little spooky-season energy, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are an easy car-free escape from NYC. You get the Hudson River, historic sites, charming downtowns, and, of course, the legend of the Headless Horseman.
Car-Free Options:
Support BLACK must-do:
For a Black-filled NYC day trip idea, visit Philipsburg Manor to learn about the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on this colonial-era estate. Then explore Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on a guided tour that highlights some important Black figures buried there. In Tarrytown, you can find a black-owned restaurant called Pik Nik BBQ. features unique flavor combinations. This is an example of Buy Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Why visit:
Wilmington, DE, may be small, but its Black cultural footprint is significant. From its jazz and music history to its contemporary Black arts scene, the city offers plenty to discover beyond the usual tourist attractions.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
As a NYC day trip, plan your visit around the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, one of the East Coast’s largest jazz festivals, honoring legendary Wilmington-born trumpeter Clifford Brown. You can also create your own art crawl by visiting some of the city’s Black-owned galleries, including Bridge Art Gallery, LaFate Gallery, MKT Place Gallery, or Chris White Gallery. Also, visit the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. This is an example of Celebrate Black in action in my Support BLACK framework.
Read blog post for more information: Delaware blog posts
Why visit:
New Castle, DE, is just 15 minutes from Wilmington and offers a fascinating glimpse into Delaware’s Black history, with stories and communities dating back to the area’s earliest days. Its historic streets, waterfront, and preserved landmarks make it a worthwhile stop for history lovers looking to explore beyond Wilmington.
Car-Free Routes:
Black-owned must-do:
As one of the NYC day trips by train, take a Black history tour called “These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle” with the Delaware Historical Society. Also, pre-order your cookies for pickup from a local black-owned business, Sweet E’s Cookie, owned by a mother-daughter duo.
Read blog post for more information: Delaware blog posts
Why visit:
Beacon gives you that classic Hudson Valley combination of art, history, small-town charm, and beautiful Hudson River views. It’s also a place where you can uncover Black history alongside the area’s better-known colonial and Revolutionary War stories.
Car-Free Options:
Support BLACK must-do:
As an option for NYC day trips, visit Mount Gulian Historic Site and learn about James F. Brown, a Maryland freedom seeker who was hired by the Verplanck family in 1827 after his freedom was purchased. Brown spent roughly 40 years at Mount Gulian, eventually becoming the estate’s master gardener and property manager, and kept a detailed journal documenting his life and the community around him. There is also an Afro-Latino wine bar, Estilo Y Vino. Swing over to nearby Cold Spring, NY, for even better views. Sometimes they have local markets featuring small Black-owned businesses.
Why visit:
Poughkeepsie is a great Hudson Valley day trip for river views, Black history, and plenty of Black-owned businesses to support.
Car-Free Options:
Support BLACK must-do:
For this NYC day trip without a car, take A Walk Through Poughkeepsie’s African American History, a self-guided tour from Upper Landing to Main & Market Streets highlighting the people, places, and stories that shaped the city’s Black community.
You can head to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, where you can check out the statue of Sojourner Truth, who was born enslaved in nearby Ulster County.
And come hungry! Poughkeepsie has plenty of Black-owned spots to try, so make supporting local Black businesses part of your day.
You really don’t need a car to explore beyond NYC.
From trains and buses to ferries, water taxis, rideshares, and your own two feet, there are more ways to get around than you might think. And sometimes, traveling without a car actually makes you slow down and experience a destination differently.
These day trips are proof that you can leave NYC in the morning, experience somewhere new, support Black businesses and uncover Black history, and be back home by the end of the day.
So start with a place that’s accessible, check the transportation options, and build your day around what you can realistically reach.
For this episode across platforms, check it out here.
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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!
