NYC 4 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Traps)
Four days extends the 3-day base with a genuine gamble: the Hamptons, which only earns its place in season. Philadelphia and the Hudson Valley still anchor days two and three; day four either works well or should be swapped out entirely, depending on your calendar. For just the first three days, see the 3-day version ; to add Washington DC, jump to the 6-day itinerary .
Book these before you go:
- Check Manhattan hotel rates on Booking.com
- Browse Philadelphia day tours on GetYourGuide
- Search Hudson Valley and Storm King tours on Viator
- Search Hamptons day trips on Viator
| Day | Focus | Train time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City | - |
| 2 | Philadelphia | 1h20-1h30 from Penn Station |
| 3 | Hudson Valley (Beacon) | 1h40 from Grand Central |
| 4 | The Hamptons | 2h15-3h from Penn Station |
Day 1: New York City
Settle in near Penn Station, since three of your four days start from there. Confirm the Metro-North platform at Grand Central separately for day three. Skip trying to sightsee heavily today; our New York City guide is the place for that trip if you’d rather spend all four days in the boroughs instead.
Day 2: Philadelphia
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional or Keystone runs 1h20-1h30 direct for $28-60; the bus is 2-2.5 hours for $19-35. Book an early train, the easiest day trip on this list rewards an early start with a genuinely full day. visitphilly.com has current listings, and Amtrak’s Northeast Regional page has schedules.
Day 3: Hudson Valley
Metro-North’s Hudson Line takes about 1h40 from Grand Central to Beacon. Dia:Beacon, an 8-10 minute walk from the station, is the sane single stop without a car; Storm King sits 14 miles further out, needs a shuttle or taxi, is open April-November only, and runs about $25 for adults (details at stormking.org ). Pick one. Check Metro-North schedules before you go.
Day 4: The Hamptons
Is the Hamptons worth it without a car?
Only in season, and only if you budget for a taxi at the far end. The LIRR takes 2h15-3h on regular service; the summer-only Cannonball express (Thursdays and Fridays) cuts that to roughly 90-96 minutes but sells out fast and needs booking well ahead. Fares run $22-38 one way, plus $35-80 for local transport since the beach towns themselves aren’t walkable from the station.
Outside Memorial Day to Labor Day, skip this day entirely. The Hamptons off season are genuinely quiet in a way that doesn’t reward the train fare; swap this day for a second look at the Hudson Valley or a slower morning back in Manhattan instead.
Which train station handles the Hamptons?
Penn Station, the same one Philadelphia leaves from, not Grand Central. If you’re staying somewhere convenient to Grand Central for the Hudson Valley leg, factor in the crosstown transfer before booking an early Hamptons train.
Buy Cannonball seats the moment they go on sale for your travel dates; regular LIRR service is a fallback, not a plan, once summer weekends fill up.