8 Epic Road Trips from New York? Public Transport Options!

New York City is one of the greatest & most iconic cities in the world, filled with skyscrapers such Empire State Building, one world trade center and the Rockefeller centre!

In addition, to it being a melting pot for culture, from Chinatown to Little Italy. As the hub of the east coast its the ideal launching pad for some epic road trips, even on Public Transport! Of course you can also reverse the routes and take the road trips to New York City!

8. NYC to Charleston Road Trip

South Carolina is an historical masterpiece. My favourite place is Charleston which offers an intimate experience with a southern charm. From cobblestone streets to carriage rides and a variety of historic attractions.

A road trip between New York City and Charleston is the perfect marriage of two different icons…both which offer there own unique character.

A Road Trip Savannah Georgia from New York has some memorable drives through oak tree tunnels! Source: getty

A. How far is Charleston, SC from New York?

Charleston is 765 miles from New York city. Driving direct this would take approximately 12hr 8 mins.

B. What is the Best method of Traveling between New York city and Charleston?

The best way of traveling between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina. Depending upon your travel style, Budget and Available time.

Do you want the sort of road trip where you can stop anywhere, anytime?? Then Car Rental is for you…See: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!

However, if you don’t want to rent cars and drive long journeys then the Amtrak Train or Bus is a great budget option.

Related Read: 20 Top Treehouse Rentals in New York

C. New York to Charleston Road Trip Map:

Dive into our interactive Map below!

User Guide: Use the +/- arrows to zoom in an out of the landmarks.

Many users choose to share the post on facebook and access the map that way.

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Web Masters: If you have your own website feel free to embed our map in it by clicking the button in the top right hand corner.

Just be sure to credit us at: www.townandtourist.com/road-trips/new-york-Charleston-public-transport

D. New York to Charleston Stop Offs:

Enroute between New York and Charleston you get to stop of at some incredible cities along the way from Philadelphia to the US Capital, D.C, Richmond, Virginia and of course Charlotte, NC.

1. New York City
2. Philadelphia
3. Baltimore
4. Richmond,Virginia
5. Washington DC
6. Charlotte, NC
7. Charleston, SC

For more info check out: New York to Charleston: 4 Best Methods of Travel?

7. New York to Los Angeles by Amtrak Train?

Los Angeles is a vibrant, Southern California city with a warm climate & scenic beaches. LA is also the center of Americas Movie industry.

From the iconic Hollywood sign to Paramount, Universal and Warner Brothers pictures…LA is heaven for a movie Buff!

A. How far is LA from New York city?

A drive between New York and LA will take you coast to coast across the USA, where you will cover approximately 2,800 miles!!

If you drove straight and didn’t stop over it would take you 41 hours of constant driving! Of course the best part about any road trip is the journey itself and all the fantastic places you can see across the USA.

B. What is the best method of Traveling Between New York & LA?

Overall the best way to Travel from New York to Los Angeles depends upon you as a person! Taking a flight will be the best option for most if you just want to “get there”.

But if you would like a more scenic experience with stop overs I would recommend an old fashioned road trip or the California Zephyr Coast to Coast Train.

For the best deals on Public Transport use our: Public Transport Booking Tools? Trains, Buses, Ferries!

C. New York to Los Angeles Road Trip Map

Our Interactive Map below also lists the greatest Food Halls in the USA, which are great places to stop off!

For more info see :Epic Food Hall Road Trip USA: 21 Best Food Halls!

Dive into our interactive map below!

User Guide: Use the +/- arrows to zoom in an out of the landmarks.

Many users choose to share the post on facebook and access the map that way.

D. Should you take the California Zephyr from New York to LA?

The California Zephyr is one of the greatest train journeys in the world! In terms of both Scenery, character and historical significance.

The Route runs from Chicago to San Francisco, where you can take a connection with the Lake Shore Limited from New York or Boston to Chicago, or the Capitol Limited from Washington DC to Chicago.

On this journey you will cross the farmlands of Nebraska, the Colorado Rockies, through the Sierra Nevada mountains before arriving at San Francisco.

For a 360′ view of what its like in the sightseer lounge of the California Zephyr see this link HERE. (Be sure you allow pop ups)

Insider Tip:

Listen out for the Commentary of the most significant section of the California Zephyr route and try some classic american eggs and Bacon for breakfast in the diner carriage.

California Zephyr train

For more info check out: How to Travel Coast to Coast USA by Train for $232?

6. New York City to Niagara falls Road trip!

On a 400 mile road trip between NYC & Niagara Falls, there is plenty to see and do, from the charming coppers town area to wildlife refuges and of course the finger lakes region which has shimmering lakes, 19 waterfalls and world renowned wine!

This road trip can be spread over multiple days we did it within 7 & really made the most of it! Of course the icing on the cake is the majestic Niagara Falls which offers over 42 million gallons of water per second, which plummet over the edge of its three gigantic waterfalls!

Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls, two on the U.S side separated by Goat Island and one on the Canadian side (Horseshoe falls)

A. New York City to Niagara Falls Road Trip Map:

Dive into our Interactive Map below,

To find out the best things to do/see while driving between New York City and Niagara Falls.

User Guide:  Simply Click the +/- buttons to zoom in & out,  Click on a favourite attraction, and click directions symbol to give you the driving or walking route directly there!

Top Tip: Many visitors choose to share our map on facebook by clicking the link in the top right corner!

How long is the drive from New York to Niagara Falls?

A direct drive heading north west from New York City to Niagara Falls is 410 miles (660km) long. It takes approximately 6-7 hours. Of course, this isn’t a race so we will be doing our road trip over 7 days.

To find out more check out: New York City to Niagara falls Road trip!

After Niagara Falls, you can even carry on the drive to Toronto, Canada. See: New York to Toronto Road Trip Itinerary

5. New York to Maine Public Transport Road trip?

Whereas Maine is the northeastern most U.S. state known for its rocky coastline, maritime history and nature parks such as Baxter State Park, where Moose are common and Mt Katahdin marks the endpoint of the Appalachian Trail.

Head further and you will discover the granite and spruce islands of Acadia National Park.

Fun Facts About Maine:

• Maine harvests the Majority of Lobster in the USA and is heaven for a Seafood lover.
• Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline which is more than California (3,427), and over 5,000 miles of coastline, if you include all of the islands.
• Maine has the largest selection of historic Lighthouses in the USA, such as the candy-striped beacon at West Quoddy Head.

Discover them all on our: Ultimate Maine Lighthouse Road Trip

A. How far is Maine from New York?

Maine is 452 miles (727 km) from New York. It takes approximately 7 hours, 20 minutes to drive. If you rent a car see: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!

Marshall Point Light maine. Source: Shutterstock

Fun Fact:

The Marshall point lighthouse featured in the classic movie Forest Gump, with Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks character concluded his cross country run on the runway of Marshall Point lighthouse.

Insider Tip:

At the lighthouse museum in Maine, you will find movie documentation.

B. Does Amtrak go to Maine?

Yes! Its a great way to avoid the traffic around New York City. Since 2001, the Amtrak passenger rail service has returned thanks to an avid campaign which was supported by the Town&Tourist community.

C. How long is the Train between New York and Maine?

The Train takes 8 hours with a change over at Boston Back Bay to Boston North Station.

D. How much does it cost to go from New York to Maine on Public Transport?

It costs between $70-$179 to catch the train between New York and Maine. This depends upon the season and particular train.

Related Read: 25 BEST Romantic Cabin Getaways in New York

E. New York to Maine Stop offs

1. New York City
2. Boston
3. Portland, Maine

F. New England Road Trip Map

Dive into our Interactive map below!

From my last road trip I have created this helpful Map of the New York to Boston Road trip which has popular attractions/cities en route.

This will really help you when planning your road trip across the USA!

For more info check out: New York to Maine via Public Transport

4. New York to Washington DC Road Trip

Washington D.C is historic home of the US government & politics. From the Iconic White House, to the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial and plenty of fine dining Restaurants, Washington D.C is a powerful place to visit.

D.C is also home to captivating Cherry Blossom festival a FREE event which sees hundreds of Cherry blossom trees bloom, this is partnered with one of the best Parades in the USA and a Kite Festival.

National cherry-blossom festival Washington-dc

A. How long is the drive from New York City to Washington DC?

The Drive between Washington DC from New York City takes approximately 4hr 19 mins and covers 227 miles.

B. How Long is the Bus from New York City to Washington DC?

The average bus from Washington, DC to New York takes 3 to 4 hours.

C. How long is the train journey from New York City to Washington DC?

The average train between New York City and Washington DC takes three hours and 20 minutes on average.

D. New York to Washington D.C Road Trip Map

Dive into our interactive map below!

User Guide:  Simply Click the +/- buttons to zoom in & out,  Click on a favourite attraction, and click directions symbol to give you the driving or walking route directly there!

Road Trip Stop Offs:

1. New York City
2. Philadelphia
3. Baltimore
4. Washington D.C

E. Should you take Public Transport?

The best transport option between New York and Washington DC, all depends on personal preference.

However, from the data it’s clear that the Bus or Train is the cheapest method (If you don’t already own a car). They are also the fastest methods taking approximately 3 hours.

If you just want to head direct to Washington DC, I would purchase an advanced ticket for the train which would skip the Notorious New York City traffic and get you there in good time.

However, If you would like to stop off along the way in cities such as Philadelphia & Baltimore as we did then you should rent a car!

See: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!

F. Should you take a Day Trip to Washington D.C from New York?

This is a great option, especially, if you would like a simple self guided or guided tour to Washington DC, then you should definitely take a tour.

I recommended the  “Washington, DC by Train from Viator” package, you’ll get access to a self-guided tour which includes train travel to DC, a food court lunch, and a hop-on-hop-off tour of the city.

For more info check out our Methods of Transport Tables in this post: Best way of traveling from New York to Washington DC? Public transport?

3. New York to Atlanta Road Trip

Atlanta is known for it’s southern hospitality, diverse musical heritage and number of world records!

It also has the busiest passenger airport in the United States of America the Harts-field Jackson Atlanta International Airport,

which draws over 50 million people annually! This makes it a popular starting point for many great US fly drive road trips!

A. How long is the drive between Atlanta & New York?

New York is 881 miles from Atlanta and takes approximately 14 hours drive without stop offs.

Atlanta road trip. Source: bcdtravel.com

B. Atlanta to New York Road Trip Map

Dive into our interactive map below!

C. Best Places to Stop on an Atlanta to New York Road Trip?

1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Charlotte, North Carolina
3. Richmond, Virginia
4. Washington D.C
5. Baltimore, Maryland
6. Philadelphia, PN
7. New York City

For more info check out: Atlanta to New York Road Trip Itinerary

Also, 6 Epic RV Road Trips from Atlanta

2. New York to Chicago on Public Transport?

New York City and Chicago have always had a rivalry. Some say New York is just Bigger & Badder, while others point out that the Chicago people are just more friendly & laid back!

Me & my girlfriend were having this same dispute…so to settle any arguments we decided to take a road trip be New York City & Chicago and of course head past some great cities on the way!

The Windy City, Chicago, Illinois is a large metropolis on the Scenic Lake Michigan. The Skyline is punctuated with vast skyscrapers, such as the Willis Tower (Former Sears Tower) and the Legendary John Hancock Center at over 1,451ft high.

Chicago is also known for Chicago style pizza (Deep dish) , and Chicago hot dogs in addition to Jazz and of course the Notorious 1920s gangster Al Capone.

chicago

A. How far is Chicago from New York?

There are 795 miles between New York & Chicago. Driving direct it would take you 13hr, 7 mins...but where is the fun in that!

Road Trips are about the journey and the amazing places to stop along the way!

Related Read: 15 Romantic Getaways in New York

B. Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

It’s not always cheaper to drive, but in many cases it be less than half the cost of flying to drive and alot more fun!

C. New York to Chicago Road Trip Map

Dive into our interactive map below!

User Guide:  Simply Click the +/- buttons to zoom in & out,  Click on a favourite attraction, and click directions symbol to give you the driving or walking route directly there!

Road Trip Stop Offs:

1. New York City
2. Philadelphia
3. Baltimore
4. Washington D.C
5. Pittsburg
6. Cleveland
7. Detroit
8. Chicago

For more info check out: New York City to Chicago Road Trip: Itinerary/Map

D. Best Transport Options between New York & Chicago?

From the Table above we evaluated which is the best transport option between New York and Chicago. Now this all depends on personal preference.

However, from the data it’s clear that the Bus is the cheapest method of transport between New York and Chicago.

So if your a real Backpacker and don’t want to rent a car then this is a great option for you. However, there are a couple of negatives against taking the Bus.

There is not as much comfort and space as a train and you can’t stop off as many times as you could in a car.

For more Info Check out: New York to Chicago on Public Transport: Is it worth it?

E. Should you take the Train?

The Amtrak train takes you up through Connecticut, Massachusetts before traveling along the coast of New York state.

This is a really Scenic train ride and an experience in itself. For more info see: Ultimate Guide to the USA by Amtrak Trains

1. New York to Miami for $124?

Miami is the capital of the Sunshine State, a vibrant paradise in the U.S.A, with beaches from Miami Beach to Biscayne Bay.

Nature & Alligators close by, at the everglades. In addition, to it being a treasure trove of culture!

A. How far is Miami from New York?

If you were to drive directly from New York City to Miami it would take you approximately 19 hours and you would cover a distance of 1,286 miles!

However, this if with out breaks & stops which I believe is the funniest part of the road trip!

I took my road trip below last spring and spent 1-2 days in each city so the whole trip took around 2 weeks . It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life!

Of course, feel free to adapt the below Itinerary to what suits you!

Miami Beach Venice Beach Artistic Photo Sunset

B. Cost of travel from New York to Miami on Public Transport?

From Union City, New Jersey there is a direct bus which runs twice daily. It goes via Atlanta and costs between $124- $150.

It takes between 22-27 hours. So if you set of at 9:00AM from New York you will arrive at 13:00pm the next day in Miami.

For more on Public Transport costs check out: New York to Miami for $124: Public Transport Guide

C. New York to Miami Road Trip Map:

Dive into our Interactive map below!

From my last road trip I have created this helpful Map of the New York to Miami Road trip and popular attractions/cities en route.

This will really help you when planning your road trip across the USA!

USER GUIDE: Simply share to your facebook (click the link top right), email it or just turn your phone sideways and use it on your phone!

D. Best Places to stop on a New York to Miami Road Trip?

1. New York City, NY
2. Philadelphia, PN
3. Baltimore, Maryland
4. Washington DC
5. Richmond, Virginia – Drive through Scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
6. Charlotte, North Carolina
7. Savannah, Georgia – Drive through oak tree lane!
8. St Augustine, Florida
9. Orlando, Florida
10. Miami, Florida
11. Bonus – Florida Keys & the 7 mile bridge!

For more info check out: New York to Miami Road Trip!

Need a Rental Car?

Renting a Car is the most popular way to take a road trip across the USA. You can rent a larger/newer car than your own, fully insured with GPS etc.

To get the best deals on Car Rental check out our: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!

car rental travel hacks

Related Read: 35 Romantic Outings in New York City

Want to rent an RV/Camper?

RVs offers the ultimate way to travel around the USA in your own space,  while also keeping the costs low.

Bring your RV to Tiden Park.

For the best deals, we booked ours using the “Airbnb” for RVs, check out:  RV Share

Road Trip Tips:

• Make sure you have all your Travel Essentials
• Make sure you have all your Travel Accessories
• Be sure to get Travel Insurance if your from outside the US
• Purchase a Epic Travel Camera to capture some scenic shots to show your friends/family!

Make sure you are equip with some great Photography Gear!

Do you want to the know the secrets of great hotel deals, check out: How to find the Best Hotel Deals??