It’s also a major birdwatching destination – 202 species of birds have been spotted amongst the preserve’s wooded trails, designating the park an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Only 30 miles north of the city, Rockefeller State Park Preserve is home to forested hills, sunlit valleys, and quiet countryside walks, and is one of the best quick NYC day trips by train. Trip length: 45 minutes from Grand Central Station on the Hudson Line With so many destinations accessible via a Metro-North Railroad train, it can be hard to figure out the best place for NYC day trips or weekend getaway without a car.

And no, your subway card won’t work on a Metro-North train. Keep in mind that this pricing structure is different from the city’s subway system, despite both entities existing under the MTA. Tickets are also more expensive if you buy them onboard, so to avoid overpaying, either purchase your ticket from a kiosk in the train station or through the eTix app. off-peak times, and it’s helpful to remember that Metro-North peak hours are between 6am and 10am for trains arriving in NYC and between 4pm and 8pm for trains departing NYC. Rides are priced according to length of trip and peak vs. Prices for a ride on a Metro-North train depend on three things – when and where you’re going, and where you buy your tickets. There are five different lines that reach a total of 124 stations – the Port Jervis and Passaic Valley lines begin at Penn Station, and the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines start at Grand Central Station. It reaches west into New Jersey, north into New York’s Hudson Valley, and northeast along the southern border of Connecticut, making the Metro-North one of the easiest ways to take an NYC day trip without a car. The Metro-North Railroad is the suburban commuter train service for the greater New York City region. There is an entire world beyond New York’s five boroughs, and much of the surrounding Hudson Valley attractions and countryside are extremely accessible thanks to the city’s Metro-North train lines. You’ve come to the right place! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the best and easiest NYC day trips without a car. Have you ever looked at a picture of someone blissfully striding down a mountainous path as a glimmering river beckons in the distance and thought, “that must be nice, but I’m in New York City and don’t have a car – how the heck am I supposed to get to wherever that is?”

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