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ROUTE95

The East Coast Cities

Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington: four centuries of America in ten days.

Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline from Pebble Beach, New York© Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0
Distance
About 450 mi
≈ 720 km, rounded
Time
10–12 days
at a comfortable pace
Best season
May–Jun · Sep–Oct
Start → finish
Boston → Washington, D.C.

The Northeast Corridor strings together the cities where the United States was founded and where it now runs its money, its politics and its culture. They are close enough to link by train in a few hours, so this is the one American trip you can do entirely without a car.

Map of the The East Coast Cities road tripMANJPACTWVDEDCMDNHNYRIPhiladelphiaBostonBOSTONNew YorkNEW YORKWashingtonWASHINGTONNiagaraNIAGARAAcadiaN0100 mi
The route, stop by stop — tap a stop to open its guide.

Day by day

  1. Days 1–3

    Days 1–3 · Boston

    The Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, Harvard, a Red Sox game or whale watching. See Boston.

    Sleep: Boston

  2. 4

    Day 4 · Train to New York

    Amtrak from South Station to Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall, about 4 hours on the Northeast Regional, 3 h 30 on the Acela.

    215 mi by trainSleep: New York

  3. Days 5–8

    Days 5–8 · New York City

    Four days on our itinerary: Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, Midtown, Central Park and the museums, the neighborhoods. See New York City.

    Sleep: New York

  4. 9

    Day 9 · Philadelphia

    Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market, the “Rocky Steps” of the Museum of Art, and a cheesesteak.

    95 mi by trainSleep: Philadelphia

  5. Days 10–12

    Days 10–12 · Washington, D.C.

    The monuments at night and the free Smithsonian museums. See Washington, D.C..

    140 mi by trainSleep: Washington

Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:

Train or car?

Train, without hesitation. Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Acela trains run city center to city center many times a day, faster than driving once you count traffic and parking. Book ahead for the best fares; see our Amtrak guide. Rent a car only for side trips: New England’s fall colors, Acadia or Shenandoah.

Where to sleep along the way

Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.

Partner links · Trip.com

Our hand-picked hotels on this route

Road trip questions

How many days do you need for an East Coast trip?

Ten days for Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington; two weeks to add Niagara Falls or a few days in New England.

Is it better to take the train or drive on the East Coast?

The train: it is faster between city centers, and you avoid tolls, traffic and expensive parking.

Can you add Niagara Falls to an East Coast trip?

Yes, by a short flight from New York to Buffalo, or a 7-hour drive. One night is enough.

Exit 10Stops on this routeBostonRed brick, revolution and the best lobster roll of your life.
Exit 17New York CityEight million people, five boroughs, one subway that never sleeps.Exit 24Washington, D.C.Marble monuments, free museums and cherry blossoms on the Potomac.Exit 31Niagara FallsSix million cubic feet of water a minute, and a boat ride into the mist.Exit 38Acadia National ParkPink granite, pine forests and lobster boats on the rocky coast of Maine.
Exit 10And now?Route 662,400 miles · 14–21 days
Exit 17Pacific Coast Highway640 miles · 5–7 daysExit 24The Grand Circle1,300 miles · 10–14 days

Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.