DC - NYC is a day trip

Where are you from, OP?

I find that view on driving distances - or aversion to them - is a tell-tale sign of what part of the US you are from (or Europe/Asia).

I grew up in a big state where we drove a lot. In college, I'd drive to/from my hometown (4 hrs each way) in the same day and not think anything of it. Now, my limit on single day driving road trips with the kids is about 16 hrs. Anything over 16 hrs and we have to stop overnight.

A trip to NYC could be a breakfast/lunch date so I'm definitely team DH on this.

Anonymous wrote:Hahaha, I’ve gone to NYC for shorter periods of time, as have most people I know. And the wear and tear on your car is laughable, that’s nothing. I’ve driven 500 miles one way for a 3 night trip, not my favorite, but doable. For NYC I’d prefer Amtrak though.

Agree, I've gone for the day. I agree I prefer Amtrak, but if cost prohibitive, I'd drive and park in NJ and train into Manhattan. There is no reason to have a car in the city, it's expensive and a huge PITA to be constantly thinking about parking.

I'll also slightly dissent on the, "stops along the way." My favorite way to do the drive by car is to start early and just gun it up there with as few stops as possible. Maybe a brief break on the NJ turnpike to pee, but there is really no reason to make a 4 hour drive an 8 hr long roadtrip.

Don't miss the Tenement Museum!

I go to NYC (and take my kids) to soak up the energy and do things that only NYC offers. We do lots of walking, eating, sightseeing, and did I mention lots of walking?

I don't go to NYC for relaxation. Nobody I know does that. If you want a relaxed vacation you go somewhere else. But NYC is for fun and thrills. Get yourself in the right mindset and you'll have a blast.

Lastly, since you'll be driving and stopping along the way, take heed of other posters about the parking situation in Manhattan. Do not drive into the city. Park at MetroPark NJ and take NJ transit in, or take the ferry, or park near the PATH and take that in. It's not worth the hassle of finding parking in the city.

I know others have pointed out to you that this is not 400 miles each way so I'll leave that. How old are your kids? I know you said your DH planned stops along the way but it really might be better to take the train so you don't have to worry about parking. I hate parking in NYC.

I think this sounds like a great trip! It won't be relaxing at all. You'll come back tired and in need of a vacation from your vacation fatigue. But it'll be fun. NYC is great. Take advantage of this opportunity to still have a family trip this summer, albeit different than what you're used to.

I mean, it’s not going to be a relaxing trip if that is what you’re looking for, but it will be a fun adventure and totally doable for a weekend. Go, have fun!

We drive 3-4 hours each way for an overnight almost twice a month.

Sounds fine. We just flew to PR and thats a 4 hr flight plus all the time before to be at airport for 4 nights.
I will say my best trick for NYC with kids is to leave on Sat eve after dinner. Last time we left at 8 pm and drove straight through with one gas/bathrooms for adults stop and were home and in beds by 12:45 in MD. Kids passed out at 9 in their car seats with comfy neck pillows (4 and 8). It was nice to wake up in my own bed and have all of Sunday to recover. We also didn't sit in 6 hrs of traffic like we have previously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand your hesitation? If I lived within 4 hrs drive of NYC, I’d do it for a weekend trip for sure. We used to drive 9.5 hrs (650ish miles) one way (total of 19 hrs/1300 miles round trip) to visit my parents. That is a road trip. 4 hrs (about 230 miles from DC-NYC, by the way not 400 miles) to NYC barely counts as a road trip in my frame of reference.

I just worry it will be hectic and not relaxing considering the drive time. We don’t take lots of driving trips, as I mentioned, so I guess my experience is minimal. Four hours each way for, essentially 2.5 days, just doesn’t seem worth it to me, but I don’t have anything to compare it to. We normally take long trips via air travel.

That's not so much about the driving time as it is about whether you are excited about the destination and what you'd plan to do there.

I've done NYC for a day trip for a special event and it was "worth it" bc of what I was doing when I was there.

Anonymous wrote:Due to life, we won’t be able to take a “traditional” vacation this summer. My husband promised our kids we’d do “something”, and he’s been cooking up a plan. He proposed a three-night trip to NYC and the kids are ecstatic. We will drive. Maps says it’ll take just over 4 hours each way, just over 400 miles each way. For three nights. Flying is out of the question, he priced it and in no world would it be worth it.

To me, this sounds insane, from a logical standpoint. That’s a lot of wear on the car and for what? DH says people do it all the time, and he has friends who travel more and farther for travel sports, which we don’t do.

Is this typical? Or is this insane?

A lot of wear and tear on the car?? What does this even mean - it's meant to be driven.

Yes this is totally normal for a long weekend trip. We do trips like this (not NYC but similar distances) with our kids who are 2 and 5 bc it feels much easier than flying. Never thought twice about it.

Anonymous wrote:I have driven to Manhattan and back in the same day.

+1 I know plenty of people who have gone to NYC for a day trip.

I regularly drive 6 hours each way to spend two nights with my parents. My in-laws routinely drive 4.5 hours each way to spend one night with us for kids events and they're 75!

I'm actually fascinated by what kind of life OP is living that 4 hours is a long drive.

Catch Amtrak or they have buses that will take you door to door from DC area to downtown Manhattan.

Hahaha, I’ve gone to NYC for shorter periods of time, as have most people I know. And the wear and tear on your car is laughable, that’s nothing. I’ve driven 500 miles one way for a 3 night trip, not my favorite, but doable. For NYC I’d prefer Amtrak though.

What do you mean "is it worth it"?

Your kids are excited and you said DH has stops planned along the way. Why would it not be worth it?

Do you have a better idea?

Op where r u located that it’s 400 miles each way? If you’ve mixed up and are in DMV then it’s slightly more than 400 miles BOTH ways. If you’re located somewhere else and it’s indeed 400 miles each way, then it’s not worth the trip. Find somewhere closer so you can drive in 4 -5 hours including traffic each way.