🗺️ 13 Best Solo Weekend Getaways Near New York:

1. 🌄 Beacon, NY – Artistic Vibes & Mountain Views

Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours by Metro-North

Tucked along the Hudson River, Beacon has quickly become a favorite among creative solo travelers. With its seamless blend of art galleries, mountain hikes, and relaxed vibes, it offers everything you need to unwind and explore at your own pace. It’s one of the top-rated solo weekend getaways near New York for good reason.

Spend the morning immersing yourself in contemporary art at DIA:Beacon, then venture up Mount Beacon for sweeping views and a mental reset. Stroll through Main Street, where every shop, bookstore, and café feels like it was designed for lingering solo moments.

🧭 What to do in Beacon solo:

• Explore large-scale installations at DIA:Beacon

• Hike Mount Beacon Trail for epic Hudson Valley views

• Sip coffee and read at Bank Square Coffeehouse

• Browse through vintage stores and bookstores along Main Street

• Grab a solo dinner and craft beer at Hudson Valley Brewery

Whether you’re recharging your creative battery or craving fresh air, Beacon offers both inspiration and tranquility.

---

2. 🧗‍♀️ New Paltz, NY – Nature, History & Wellness

Distance from NYC: 2 hours by car or Trailways bus

If you’re seeking a soul-cleansing mix of mountain trails and wellness, New Paltz is a perfect escape. Nestled at the base of the Shawangunk Mountains, this charming college town is ideal for outdoor adventure and reflective solo time.

Start your day hiking through Mohonk Preserve or Minnewaska State Park, then wind down with a yoga session or herbal tea at a local retreat center. The town also offers great food, easy-going locals, and charming accommodations for solo travelers.

🧘 Top solo experiences in New Paltz:

• Trek the Millbrook Mountain Trail for solitude and scenery

• Meditate by the waterfalls at Minnewaska State Park

• Tour Historic Huguenot Street, dating back to the 1600s

• Eat clean and local at Karma Road Organic Café

• Stay at a yoga lodge, mountain cabin, or countryside Airbnb

Solo weekend trips from NYC rarely offer such a balanced mix of adventure and healing.

---

3. 🍂 Cold Spring, NY – A Hudson Valley Gem for Peace Seekers

Distance from NYC: 1 hour 20 minutes via Metro-North

For a quick reset that feels like stepping into a slower decade, Cold Spring is the answer. This quaint village sits right on the Hudson and is known for its walkable streets, historic charm, and peaceful natural surroundings.

It’s perfect for reflective solo walks, riverside journaling, or even an unplugged digital detox. Whether you’re hiking Breakneck Ridge or sipping wine on a bench overlooking the water, Cold Spring gives you the space to think, rest, and just be.

☕ Solo-friendly things to do in Cold Spring:

• Hike Breakneck Ridge for a challenge or explore easier trails in Hudson Highlands State Park

• Browse antique shops, indie galleries, and bookstores on Main Street

• Reflect at West Point Foundry Preserve, where nature meets industrial history

• Spend quiet hours at Riverview Café or Hudson Hil’s

• Watch the sunset over the river with nothing but your thoughts

Cold Spring is one of the most accessible and peaceful solo weekend getaways near New York—ideal for a 24–48 hour recharge.

---

4. 🌊 Montauk, Long Island – Surf, Sand & Solitude

Distance from NYC: 3 hours by LIRR or car

Craving ocean air and uninterrupted me-time? Head to Montauk, especially during the quieter off-season months. This surf town on Long Island’s eastern tip offers long, empty beaches, coastal trails, and enough seafood to satisfy any solo foodie.

It’s far enough from NYC to feel like a full escape, yet close enough to make it doable for a weekend. For solo travelers, Montauk provides the perfect mix of meditative mornings, breezy afternoons, and quiet evenings with a view.

🌅 Why solo travelers love Montauk:

• Stroll or run along Ditch Plains Beach at sunrise

• Visit Montauk Point Lighthouse and watch waves crash below

• Hike peaceful trails at Hither Hills State Park and Camp Hero

• Grab solo bites at The Lobster Roll or fresh espresso at Left Hand Coffee

• Stay at quiet boutique inns or beachfront Airbnbs perfect for solo stays

Montauk is one of the few solo weekend getaways near New York that offers such deep solitude right by the sea. For future solo beach escapes, consider these cheapest beach destinations in Southeast Asia for sun, sea, and solitude.”

---

5. 🏞️ Woodstock, NY – A Peaceful Retreat with Boho Charm

Distance from NYC: 2–2.5 hours by car or bus

If you’re an artist, introvert, or someone who thrives in creative stillness, Woodstock is your sanctuary. More than just a name from music history, Woodstock today is a serene mountain town filled with spirituality, indie culture, and natural beauty.

From meditating at a Tibetan monastery to exploring eclectic art galleries, every corner of this town invites inward reflection. Whether you’re hiking solo or browsing for crystals, you’ll feel completely at home here.

🎨 Must-do solo activities in Woodstock:

• Meditate at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery

• Hike Overlook Mountain Trail for ruins, views, and serenity

• Browse local art galleries, bookshops, and metaphysical stores

• Dine alone with ease at Oriole 9 or Garden Café

• Stay at wellness-focused inns or cozy cabins with mountain views

For solo travel from NYC with a spiritual or artistic twist, Woodstock is an unforgettable retreat.

---

6. 🛶 The Catskills – Adventure Meets Mindfulness

Distance from NYC: 2.5 to 3 hours by car

The Catskills are a classic go-to for solo travelers who want both action and introspection. Spanning across multiple counties, this mountainous region offers everything from quiet forest trails and cozy lodges to scenic drives and quaint mountain towns.

As a solo traveler, you can choose your own rhythm—whether it’s adrenaline-pumping hikes or holistic spa days. There’s enough space to be alone without feeling isolated and enough natural beauty to leave you speechless.

⛰️ What to experience solo in the Catskills:

• Hike Kaaterskill Falls, Slide Mountain, or the Devil’s Path

• Unplug at wellness-focused hotels like YO1 Health Resort or Eastwind Hotel & Bar

• Take scenic drives along the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway

• Try kayaking, ziplining, or even solo glamping

• Discover sleepy towns like Phoenicia, Tannersville, and Andes

The Catskills provide a unique mix of solitude and stimulation, making them a top-tier destination for solo weekend trips near NYC in 2025.

---

7. 🏙️ Philadelphia, PA – Urban Solo Exploration

Distance from NYC: 1.5 to 2 hours by Amtrak, NJ Transit, or Megabus

If nature isn’t calling, maybe a city escape is. Philadelphia is ideal for solo travelers who want cultural immersion, great food, and walkable neighborhoods—all without the scale and chaos of NYC.

It’s historic, artsy, and surprisingly laid-back. Plus, the city is easy to explore solo, with ample public transport, compact neighborhoods, and locals who won’t blink if you’re dining alone.

🏛️ Things to do solo in Philadelphia:

• Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art and run the Rocky Steps

• Wander Elfreth’s Alley and Old City for a dose of American history

• Graze your way through Reading Terminal Market

• Explore murals and indie boutiques in Fishtown

• Relax in Rittenhouse Square or stroll along the Schuylkill River Trail

For a short solo adventure filled with discovery and flavor, Philly is one of the most underrated solo weekend getaways near New York.

---

8. 🧳 Princeton, NJ – Ivy League Ambience in a Walkable Town

Distance from NYC: 1.5 hours by NJ Transit or car

Refined, intellectual, and full of old-world charm, Princeton is a hidden gem for solo travelers looking for quiet reflection and a touch of academic romance. This university town offers gardens, libraries, coffee shops, and tranquil trails.

You won’t need a car to get around—the town is compact and ideal for slow-paced exploration. Whether you’re a reader, thinker, or casual explorer, Princeton offers a serene weekend escape.

📚 Best solo experiences in Princeton:

• Take a self-guided tour of the Princeton University campus

• Visit the Princeton University Art Museum or the historic Nassau Hall

• Stroll or bike along the Delaware & Raritan Canal Trail

• Spend time reading or people-watching at Small World Coffee

• Attend a talk, performance, or book reading if the university is in session

Princeton’s calm, cultured vibe makes it one of the most fulfilling solo weekend getaways near New York—especially if you love books, architecture, and personal space.

---

9. 🌳 Harriman State Park, NY – The Nature-Lover’s Quick Escape

Distance from NYC: Just over 1 hour by car or Short Line bus

Just beyond the city sprawl lies Harriman State Park, a vast natural preserve with over 200 miles of hiking trails, dozens of lakes, and a peacefulness that makes it ideal for day trips or overnight camping.

For solo travelers who enjoy nature therapy, this is one of the most accessible and rewarding getaways from NYC. With minimal travel time and a maximum connection to nature, it’s a go-to for introverts and outdoor lovers alike.

🌲 Solo traveler highlights in Harriman:

• Hike the Pine Meadow Lake Trail, Anthony’s Nose, or Island Pond Loop

• Camp overnight or stay at a rustic lakeside cabin

• Pack a picnic and journal by the shores of Lake Welch or Lake Sebago

• Wake up early for foggy sunrise hikes with barely anyone around

• Bring a book and disappear into the woods for the weekend

Among all solo weekend getaways near New York, Harriman might just be the most underrated—yet most rewarding—for complete immersion in nature.

---

10. 🏖️ Asbury Park, NJ – Artsy Beach Town Vibes

Distance from NYC: 2 hours by NJ Transit or car

If you’re looking for a mix of beach breeze and indie energy, Asbury Park delivers. This funky Jersey Shore town has experienced a creative revival in recent years, now boasting vibrant art scenes, live music, and cool cafés that are perfect for solo exploration.

The vibe here is unpretentious and friendly—great for first-time solo travelers who want the beach without isolation.

🎸 Top things to do alone in Asbury Park:

• Walk the colorful boardwalk filled with murals and street art

• Catch a show at the legendary Stone Pony (even solo, it’s fun!)

• Grab coffee at Asbury Park Roastery and watch the waves roll in

• Relax on the beach, read, or meditate by the ocean

• Explore vintage shops and quirky boutiques along Cookman Avenue

Whether you’re there for summer fun or a low-key off-season reset, Asbury Park is one of the most fun and approachable solo weekend getaways near New York.

Also Read: Best Places to Visit Europe in Summer

---

11. 🧘‍♀️ Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY – A Full Wellness Reset

Distance from NYC: 2.5 hours by car

Looking for a spiritual recharge? The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck offers a deeply restorative experience for solo travelers. With workshops on meditation, yoga, creativity, and personal development, it’s less a trip and more a transformative journey.

Located on a serene 250-acre campus in the Hudson Valley, Omega attracts like-minded travelers from around the world—many of them solo. You’ll find community when you want it, and solitude when you need it.

🕊️ Why solo travelers love Omega:

• Attend immersive workshops on mindfulness, healing, or artistic growth

• Stay in eco-lodges or simple cabins surrounded by nature

• Eat wholesome meals in a silent dining room to enhance mindfulness

• Swim in the lake, wander nature trails, or relax in the meditation garden

• Disconnect from screens, stress, and external noise

For those seeking more than just rest—for those seeking renewal—Omega stands out as one of the most powerful solo weekend getaways near New York in 2025.