By: Graham Waller

Why New Yorkers Are Ditching Trains for Car Rentals

Every Friday at 5 PM, eight million New Yorkers face the same question: stay trapped in the concrete jungle for another weekend, or find a way out that doesn’t involve packed subway cars and expensive Amtrak tickets.

Some have figured out an option that offers more flexibility: car rental in New York is no longer just for tourists. It has become a convenient option for city dwellers who realize that the tri-state area is more accessible than they might have thought.

Last month, I watched my neighbor struggle with three duffel bags, a cooler, and a frustrated toddler down four flights of stairs, all for a weekend trip to the Hamptons via Long Island Rail Road. Two hours later, I was already setting up camp at a lake in the Catskills, having spent a similar amount on a rental car that got me door-to-door in less time.

Car Rental vs. Public Transit: Which Wins for Weekends?

Here’s what every New Yorker realizes eventually: the city’s transportation system is largely focused on keeping you in the city, rather than helping you get out. Weekend train tickets to decent destinations can be more expensive than you’d expect, not to mention the unavoidable delays and cancellations.

A weekend rental from JFK or LaGuardia? Around $95. Two peak Metro-North round-trips + Ubers? Easily $120+, and you’re still confined to the schedule. A weekend car rental costs roughly the same as two round-trip Metro-North tickets, but instead of sticking to someone else’s timetable, you have more flexibility to leave when it suits you and reach places that may not even be on the transit map.

Great Upstate New York Weekend Escapes (By Car)

While tourists flock to the usual spots, New Yorkers with cars are finding that upstate is gaining popularity. The Hudson Valley has become a weekend retreat for anyone looking to escape high city prices for more serene, authentic experiences.

Drive two hours north, and you’ll find Beacon, where the Dia Art Foundation turned an old Nabisco factory into one of the most impressive contemporary art spaces in the region. The town surrounding it offers a walkable, real experience that Manhattan lost long ago.

Head on to Cold Spring, where antique shops and riverside restaurants attract visitors who want charm without the pretentiousness of the Hamptons. The best part? You can actually find parking, and a dinner for two won’t break the bank.

The Catskills offer a different kind of retreat. Towns like Woodstock and Phoenicia have been gradually transforming into upscale weekend destinations, featuring boutique hotels, farm-to-table dining, and hiking trails that remind you why people used to head to New York State before city life became all-consuming.

Underrated Jersey Shore Escapes for NYC Drivers

New Jersey often gets an unfair reputation from New Yorkers who haven’t given it much thought. But those who have explored it know that the Garden State offers some of the most accessible weekend escapes nearby.

Skip the typical beach towns and head to places like Cape May, where Victorian architecture meets the charm of the Atlantic Coast. Further north, the Delaware Water Gap provides hiking and small-town appeal that’s closer to Manhattan than many of the Hamptons’ more crowded destinations.

Connecticut Weekend Getaways (No Train Required)

Connecticut might be one of the most overlooked weekend getaway spots in the tri-state area. While others fight traffic to the Hamptons, you can drive to Mystic and explore maritime history, art galleries, and waterfront restaurants that often have tables available.

The Connecticut River Valley offers a different experience altogether. Towns like Chester and Essex offer that New England feel without the usual Boston attitudes. You can spend Saturday morning at farmers’ markets, Saturday afternoon antiquing, and Saturday evening at restaurants that would be difficult to book in Manhattan.

Spontaneous Travel Is Only Possible with a Car

The real benefit of having a car in New York isn’t just the destinations—it’s the freedom to be spontaneous. When you rely on train schedules and bus routes, every weekend trip feels like it requires meticulous planning and timing.

With a car, you can leave when you feel ready, stop when something catches your eye, and change your plans based on weather, mood, or a suggestion from someone you meet along the way. You can pack a cooler, bring camping gear, or fill the trunk with antique finds without having to worry about luggage limits or unpleasant encounters with conductors.

Why NYC Car Escapes Are Better Every Season

New York’s seasons become much more enjoyable when you’re not confined to the city, viewing them through apartment windows. Fall foliage tours in the Hudson Valley. Winter skiing in the Catskills. Spring hiking in the Palisades. Summer beach days in Montauk.

Each season offers something different for weekend getaways, but all of them benefit from the same thing: the ability to get there easily and comfortably. Public transportation treats every weekend like a commute, but having a car can make the travel itself part of the enjoyment.

The Social Media Secret

Here’s something Instagram may not share: the most enviable weekend posts from New Yorkers aren’t coming from expensive restaurants or exclusive clubs. They’re coming from farmers’ markets in Hudson, sunrise hikes in Bear Mountain, and lakeside dinners in the Finger Lakes.

The city’s most interesting individuals have figured out that the ideal weekend stories are written outside the five boroughs.

Planning Your Escape Route

The key to a successful weekend escape isn’t just having a car—it’s knowing where to go and when to leave. Friday afternoon traffic is notorious, but if you leave after 7 PM, you can get to most destinations in record time.

Pack efficiently and leave room for spontaneity. The goal is to escape the rigid structure of city life, not recreate it in the countryside.

The Monday Morning Advantage

There’s a certain satisfaction in returning to the city on Sunday night with mud on your boots, local honey in your bag, and stories that many of your coworkers may never know. While everyone else spent the weekend vying for overpriced brunch spots and fighting crowds in Central Park, you were discovering places that most New Yorkers might not even know exist.

The city feels much more manageable when you know it’s not the only place you have to be. Having an escape route—literally—can change your perspective on New York from feeling trapped to enjoying it as a strategic visitor. You can love the city more when you’re not entirely dependent on it.

The Investment That Pays Back

A weekend car rental isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in your peace of mind, relationships, and your view of life in the New York area. The cost of maintaining balance in the city can be much greater than the cost of occasionally leaving it behind.

Many New Yorkers have realized that the ideal urban lifestyle includes taking regular breaks from urban life. The city has a lot to offer, but it can also be overwhelming. Balance requires options, and options require mobility.

The weekend escape route is there for the taking. All you need is the foresight to seize it and the vehicle to get there. Your future self—the one posting sunrise photos from the Adirondacks instead of complaining about subway delays—will appreciate the decision to make the investment.

The city will always be here when you return. But the weekend you spend exploring what lies beyond it could shift how you feel about both the destination and home.