12 Weekend Getaways From NYC, Each With a Historic Inn

The best weekend getaways from NYC begin the same way: Friday afternoon, a train window and a river sliding by. By Saturday morning you're somewhere with a porch, a main street and a room in a building older than the subway.

This guide is for anyone in New York City or North Jersey who wants two nights away without a long trip. There are 12 overnight trips here, grouped by how you get there. Eight work without a car, using trains or buses. Four are better with a car and reward you with lakes, mountains and quiet back roads. Each comes with one historic inn or hotel to book, plus a few things to fill the days.

If you're after a day out instead, see our day trips from NYC. If you'd rather stay inside New Jersey, our NJ weekend getaways guide has 12 more.

How I picked these

Every inn here was confirmed open and taking reservations on its own website in November 2026. I looked for historic buildings, walkable downtowns and a real way to get there, from official transit pages wherever possible. I don't list prices or hours, since both change with the season. Check each inn's site for minimum stays and current policies.

Weekend getaways from NYC by train

Beacon, New York: art and the Hudson Highlands

The Roundhouse

historic hotel · Beacon

Known for A 51-room hotel in early-1800s Matteawan Manufacturing Company buildings above the falls on Fishkill Creek.

2 East Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Beacon

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Metro-North's Hudson Line runs from Grand Central to Beacon station, about 59 miles up the river. The hotel's own site puts the ride at about 90 minutes and the drive at about an hour and a half from Manhattan, traffic depending.

Beacon is the easiest train weekend on this list, and that's why it comes first. The Roundhouse is set in buildings put up for the Matteawan Manufacturing Company in the early 1800s. Over the years they made dyes, textiles and even lawnmowers. Now there are 51 rooms above the falls on Fishkill Creek, and the Roundhouse Restaurant serves dinner Thursday through Monday. The hotel lists free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking.

It's 1.7 miles from the station, about 30 minutes on foot along Main Street, or a short ride on the Beacon Free Loop. Spend Saturday on Main Street and at Dia Beacon, then hike in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve on Sunday. Its parcels run from Peekskill up to Dennings Point in Beacon. Our things to do in Beacon guide has the full list.

Rhinebeck and Hudson, New York: estates and an old inn

Beekman Arms & Delamater Inn

historic inn · Rhinebeck

Known for Operating continuously since 1766 and billed as America's oldest operating inn, with 80 rooms and a colonial tavern.

6387 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572

• Dog-friendly

WebsiteInstagramDirections

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Amtrak's Empire Service and Ethan Allen Express run from New York Penn Station up the Hudson. Get off at Rhinecliff station for Rhinebeck, or at Hudson station for the town of Hudson.

The Beekman Arms says it has operated continuously since 1766, and calls itself America's oldest operating inn. The Traphagen Tavern opened on the site in 1704. Franklin Roosevelt was a frequent guest and ended each of his four campaigns on its front porch. Today there are 80 rooms across the inn and the Delamater Inn. The Tavern at the Beekman Arms serves lunch and dinner, and the Colonial Tap Room has an open-hearth fireplace. Select rooms are dog-friendly. A Dutchess County tourism listing says the inn is marking its 260th year in 2026.

Spend a day at Wilderstein, the Victorian home of Margaret Suckley, FDR's cousin and confidante. Then visit the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a museum of vintage planes. Its founder's motto was "It isn't an airplane if it doesn't fly." If you stay on the train to Hudson, visit Olana, the home of the Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church.

Mystic, Connecticut: a seaport weekend

The Whaler's Inn

historic inn · Mystic

Known for Six buildings in downtown Mystic with more than 125 years of hospitality, home to The Shipwright's Daughter restaurant.

20 East Main Street, Mystic, CT 06355

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Mystic · Also in Things to Do in Mystic, CT

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Amtrak's Northeast Regional stops at Mystic station on Roosevelt Avenue, a short walk from downtown. By car, it's a straight run up I-95.

The Whaler's Inn is six buildings in the middle of downtown Mystic, and it has been part of the village's hospitality for more than 125 years. The Main Inn was built around 1920 as the Clinton Building. Hoxie House stands on the site of the 1818 U.S. Hotel, and the 1865 House was built for shipbuilder George W. Mallory. The inn's restaurant is The Shipwright's Daughter, whose chef, David Standridge, won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast. Breakfast is served every day of the year.

Spend Saturday at Mystic Seaport Museum aboard the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan, and Sunday at Mystic Aquarium with its beluga whales. Our things to do in Mystic guide covers the bascule bridge, Stonington and more. In autumn, add a day from our Connecticut fall foliage guide.

Philadelphia: a colonial townhouse in Society Hill

Morris House Hotel

historic hotel · Philadelphia

Known for A 1787 Society Hill townhouse and National Historic Landmark, with afternoon tea and a garden.

225 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Philadelphia

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Take NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line from New York Penn or Newark Penn to Trenton, then transfer to SEPTA's Trenton Line to 30th Street, Suburban or Jefferson station. It's two fares but no car. Amtrak also runs direct.

The Morris House Hotel was built in 1787 and is named for the Morris family, who lived there for more than 120 years. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1967. Guests get Wi-Fi, a continental breakfast and afternoon tea with cookies. Two suites have balconies over the formal gardens.

It's a short walk to Independence National Historical Park. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both debated and signed in Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell Center needs no tickets. For lunch, Reading Terminal Market is open daily. Save Sunday for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: markets and steam trains

Lancaster Arts Hotel

boutique hotel · Lancaster

Known for A 63-room hotel in a restored historic tobacco warehouse, with the John J. Jeffries restaurant.

300 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Lancaster

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Amtrak's Keystone Service runs from New York to Harrisburg through Philadelphia and stops at Lancaster station on McGovern Avenue. The Pennsylvanian stops there too.

The Lancaster Arts Hotel is set in a restored historic tobacco warehouse, with 63 rooms and suites. John J. Jeffries, its restaurant and bar, serves farm-to-table food. The hotel lists free Wi-Fi and free covered parking.

Start Saturday at Lancaster Central Market, which calls itself America's oldest continuously operated public farmers market. It opens Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so plan around it. On Sunday, drive or take a taxi out to Strasburg, home of the Strasburg Rail Road, chartered in 1832. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is nearby on Gap Road. Our things to do in Lancaster guide fills in the rest.

Spring Lake and Bay Head, New Jersey: the quiet shore by train

The Grenville Hotel & Restaurant

historic inn · Bay Head

Known for An 1890 Victorian hotel and restaurant that calls itself the Grand Victorian Lady of the Jersey Shore.

345 Main Ave, Bay Head, NJ 08742

WebsiteInstagramDirections

Also in 12 NJ Weekend Getaways

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line runs to Spring Lake station and on to Bay Head, the last stop. Some shore trips need a transfer at Long Branch.

Spring Lake's two-mile boardwalk has no arcades, just the ocean and two pavilions. It's the calm half of this weekend. For the historic stay, ride a few stops farther to Bay Head. The Grenville was built in 1890 and calls itself the "Grand Victorian Lady of the Jersey Shore." It had Bay Head's first elevator and still has a restaurant on site.

Walk Bay Head's quiet beach and its historic streets on Saturday. On Sunday, ride back up the line to Spring Lake for the boardwalk and the spring-fed lake in Divine Park. If you'd rather sleep in Spring Lake, Chateau Inn & Suites by the lake is a good alternative. Our Jersey Shore towns guide compares the whole coast.

Weekend getaways from NYC by bus

Cape May, New Jersey: the Victorian classic

Congress Hall

historic hotel · Cape May

Known for Historic seaside hotel that began as a boarding house in 1816; Winter Wonderland each holiday season

200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204

WebsiteDirections609-884-8421

More in Cape May · Also in Christmas in Cape May, NJ, Things to Do in Cape May, NJ, 12 NJ Weekend Getaways

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: NJ Transit's 319 bus runs from New York and Newark down the shore to Atlantic City, Wildwood and Cape May. It stops at the Cape May Welcome Center on Lafayette Street, a short walk from the historic district. Driving is simpler, straight down the Garden State Parkway.

Congress Hall began as a boarding house in 1816. Today it's a big yellow hotel facing the beach, with the Blue Pig Tavern, a spa, a pool and beach service. The whole city is a National Historic Landmark for its Victorian buildings, so you can spend a weekend on foot or on a bike.

Bike the historic district, walk the Promenade and climb the Cape May Lighthouse. Our things to do in Cape May guide has the full list, and Cape May bed and breakfasts covers the smaller inns. In December, see Cape May at Christmas.

Lambertville, New Jersey, and New Hope: two river towns

Lambertville House

historic inn · Lambertville

Known for An 1812 coaching inn turned boutique hotel in the middle of Lambertville.

32 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Lambertville · Also in 12 NJ Weekend Getaways

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Trans-Bridge Lines runs a Doylestown–Flemington–New York route that serves Lambertville. Check its current timetable, which changes in spring and fall. By car, it's an easy drive west across New Jersey.

Captain John Lambert opened Lambertville House as a coaching inn in 1812. It's on Bridge Street, a short walk from the Delaware River. Select suites have gas fireplaces, and the inn lists free Wi-Fi.

Spend Saturday in Lambertville's antique shops and galleries, then walk the bridge to New Hope, Pennsylvania, for the other half of the weekend. On Sunday, walk or bike the D&R Canal towpath along the river. Our things to do in Lambertville and New Hope guide covers both banks.

Woodstock, New York: the Catskills arts town

The Woodstock Inn on the Millstream

inn · Woodstock

Known for 19 rooms and suites plus three cottages beside the millstream, a short walk from the village center.

48 Tannery Brook Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteDirections

More in Woodstock

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: The Town of Woodstock says Adirondack Pine Hill Trailways runs daily buses to and from Port Authority, stopping in Kingston on the way. The Woodstock stop is in the center of the hamlet, across from the Village Green. Amtrak's Rhinecliff station is across the Hudson from Kingston.

This is the one inn on the list that isn't old. The Woodstock Inn on the Millstream began as a motel on Tannery Brook Road in the 1940s, and the inn tells its history openly. It earns its place for the setting. There are 19 rooms and suites plus three cottages beside the millstream and its gardens, a short walk from the village center. Breakfast is served, and the inn lists free Wi-Fi.

Woodstock's art history goes back to the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, founded in 1902. The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild carries it on today. On Sunday, drive to nearby Saugerties for Opus 40, Harvey Fite's 6.5-acre stone sculpture set in 63 acres of meadows and quarry trails. See our things to do in Woodstock guide for more.

Weekend getaways from NYC by car

The Poconos, Pennsylvania: a grand 1928 lodge

Skytop Lodge

historic resort · The Poconos

Known for A Pocono Mountains lodge that opened in 1928 on 5,500 acres, with gardens by the Olmsted Brothers.

One Skytop Lodge Road, Skytop, PA 18357

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in The Poconos

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Drive west on I-80 through the Delaware Water Gap. Martz buses from Port Authority stop in Delaware Water Gap, Marshalls Creek and Mount Pocono, but none serves Skytop itself.

Skytop Lodge opened on June 16, 1928. New York architect John Muller planned the lodge, and the Olmsted Brothers designed its terraces and gardens. It sits on 5,500 acres with golf, indoor and outdoor pools, boating, ice skating, skiing and a treetop course. There are several places to eat, from Windsor to the Taproom, and the lodge lists in-room Wi-Fi.

The lodge can fill a weekend on its own. If you want to wander, Bushkill Falls, a series of eight waterfalls, is a short drive away, and so is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Our things to do in the Poconos guide has more.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania: a Victorian railroad town

Inn at Jim Thorpe

historic hotel · Jim Thorpe

Known for Built in 1849, the last remaining grand Victorian hotel from Mauch Chunk's coal-shipping heyday.

24 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

More in Jim Thorpe

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Drive. We couldn't find a current bus schedule from New York, so plan on a car.

The Inn at Jim Thorpe was built in 1849 and is the last remaining grand Victorian hotel from the days when the town, then called Mauch Chunk, shipped coal. It's in the town's National Register Historic District and has 63 rooms across three buildings. Some mini-suites have seasonal electric fireplaces. The Broadway Grille is on the ground floor, and the inn lists free Wi-Fi.

Ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, a narrated round trip along the Lehigh River into Lehigh Gorge State Park. Then tour the Asa Packer Mansion, built in 1861 by the Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan. Our things to do in Jim Thorpe guide covers the rest.

The Litchfield Hills, Connecticut: a lake and an 1847 inn

The Hopkins Inn

historic inn · Warren

Known for Welcoming travelers since 1847, high above the northern shore of Lake Waramaug; open seasonally.

22 Hopkins Rd, Warren, CT 06777

• Wi-Fi

WebsiteInstagramDirections

Also in Connecticut Fall Foliage

Checked against official sources Nov 2026

Getting there: Drive. There's no train or bus that gets close, so this is a back-roads weekend.

The Hopkins Inn has welcomed travelers since 1847, high above the northern shore of Lake Waramaug. It has eleven guest rooms and two apartments. Most rooms have no phone or TV, which is rather the point, though the inn does list free Wi-Fi. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the restaurant and front desk are closed on Mondays. The inn is seasonal: in 2026 it opened March 24 and stays open until January 1.

Walk down to Lake Waramaug State Park, whose small beach is the only public access point on the 656-acre lake. On Sunday, drive to the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, a nature museum inside a 4,000-acre foundation property. In October, our Connecticut fall foliage guide maps the color around the hills.

Planning your weekend

• Book foliage and summer weekends early. Small inns have few rooms, and many set two-night minimums on peak weekends.
• Check timetables the week you go. Metro-North, Amtrak, NJ Transit and the bus lines all change schedules by season.
• Pack for walking. Every trip here is built around a downtown you can explore on foot.
• Mix in New Jersey. Several of these pair well with a night at home turf. See romantic getaways and things to do in New Jersey for more ideas.

Planning a bigger trip? Our best states to visit list starts with these same neighbors and works its way west.

Every place in this guide, on the map

1. The Roundhouse2 East Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
2. Beekman Arms & Delamater Inn6387 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
3. The Whaler's Inn20 East Main Street, Mystic, CT 06355
4. Morris House Hotel225 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
5. Lancaster Arts Hotel300 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603
6. The Grenville Hotel & Restaurant345 Main Ave, Bay Head, NJ 08742
7. Congress Hall200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ 08204
8. Lambertville House32 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
9. The Woodstock Inn on the Millstream48 Tannery Brook Rd, Woodstock, NY 12498
10. Skytop LodgeOne Skytop Lodge Road, Skytop, PA 18357
11. Inn at Jim Thorpe24 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
12. The Hopkins Inn22 Hopkins Rd, Warren, CT 06777

Questions people ask

What are the best weekend getaways from NYC by train?

Beacon is the easiest, on Metro-North's Hudson Line from Grand Central. Rhinebeck and Hudson are on Amtrak's Empire Service from Penn Station, with Rhinebeck reached via Rhinecliff station. Mystic is a stop on Amtrak's Northeast Regional. Philadelphia and Lancaster are on Amtrak's Keystone line, and Philadelphia also works with NJ Transit plus SEPTA. For the shore, NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line runs to Spring Lake and Bay Head.

Where can I go for a weekend from NYC without a car?

Beacon, Rhinebeck, Mystic, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Spring Lake and Bay Head all have stations within reach of a walkable downtown. Woodstock has daily Trailways bus service from Port Authority, Cape May has NJ Transit's 319 bus, and Lambertville is on Trans-Bridge Lines. Jim Thorpe, Skytop and the Litchfield Hills are much easier by car.

What is the most romantic weekend getaway from NYC?

Couples often look at Cape May for its Victorian streets, Rhinebeck for the 1766 Beekman Arms, and Lake Waramaug in the Litchfield Hills, where the Hopkins Inn sits above the lake. Mystic pairs a waterfront inn with an award-winning restaurant. Our romantic getaways guide has more ideas in New Jersey.

When is the best time for a weekend getaway from New York City?

Fall is the classic season, with foliage in the Hudson Valley, the Litchfield Hills and the Poconos. Summer suits Cape May, Spring Lake and Mystic. December brings holiday lights to Cape May and Philadelphia, and spring is quieter and easier to book. Some inns are seasonal; the Hopkins Inn, for example, opens from late March to New Year's Day.

How far ahead should I book a weekend getaway from NYC?

For October foliage weekends and summer shore weekends, book as early as you can, since small inns have few rooms and many set minimum stays. Off-season weekends from January to March are much easier. Always check the inn's own site for current policies, and check train timetables, which change by season.

Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.