10 Best Weekend getaways in U.S. 2024: What are Some Good Weekend Getaways?

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by Trip.com

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Introduction to U.S. Weekend Getaways

Preparation for Weekend Getaways

Even though life is a busy journey without stopping, don't forget to offer yourself with some relaxation.

Weekend getaways is definitely a great method for citizens living in urban area to take a breath and refresh themselves. Although a 2-day trip may not allow them to fully enjoy themselves, the change of places where peope stay for the weekend will still comfort them a lot.

Spend two days on the suburbs of the city, or tourist attractopms around the city, to step away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. This is what weekend getaways can bring to you, relaxing both your tired body and mind.

If you have more time, you can even spare Friday night or Monday morning, to make the mini-breaks at a leisurely pace.

Here I have a few recommended destinations for your weekend getaways in the United States, and I wish you all a journey with pleasure and relaxation.

Travel Tip: Booking flight tickets and hotels for weekend getaways on Trip.com will save your money for your next escape from mundane daily life.

Weekend Getaways from New York City

🚗Hudson

The city of Hudson is located along the Hudson River, about a 2.5-hour drive from downtown New York. Hudson used to play the role of a whaling port in history, but is now the best weekend getaways destination for New Yorkers.

The rolling hills and dense pine forests of the Hudson River Valley are a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city-but the appeal of this beautiful city extends far beyond these and you can only taste its charm while you visit it.

Many people like to hang out on Warren Street to pass the time, because this one-mile or so main road is lined with antique shops on both sides. You can choose and purchase these antique furniture as much as you like, if you have enough money. Of course, the nearby art galleries and museums are also one of the sightseeing spots not to be missed.

Hudson's food and wine are also elements of lingering. It is said that many New York chefs establish their restaurants here. Visitors can not only eat seasonal seafood and vegetables, but also taste a variety of unique local wines.

Recently, many boutique hotels have appeared in Hudson. Trip.com recommends the following for your reference as a weekend getaway from NYC to Hudson:

1. The Wick, Hudson, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

The Wick, Hudson

2. The Nest Hudson: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

The Nest Hudson

3. Nautical Nest: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Nautical Nest

🚗Philidelphia

Driving from New York in less than two hours, you can go from the most prosperous city in the world to one of the oldest cities in U。country. Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, has become the most popular weekend getaways destination near NYC with its unique charm.

Philadelphia is not a typical big city. It looks like a small town. The surrounding buildings are more compact and old, and the pace of life will be slower. This kind of Philadelphia is best for busy New Yorkers to have a weekend getaway.

History buffs can find their place in Philadelphia. Elfreth's Alley, the oldest street in the United States, showcases the American way of life hundreds of years ago. At the same time, don’t forget to visit the copy of the Constitution to learn about the beginning of the United States. In addition, you can visit the Liberty Bell. A useful tip: don't try to ring it.

Trip.com recommends following hotels for your weekend getaways from NYC in Philadelphia:

1. The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

The Inn at Penn

2. Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Center City: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Residence Inn by Marriott Philadelphia Center City

3. Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel

4. Wyndham Philadelphia-Historic District: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Wyndham Philadelphia-Historic District

🚗Hunter

Tourists skiing in Hunter

Hunter must be a paradise for outdoor adventurers in New York. Just 2.5 hours away, you will find a sports mecca suitable for everyone as your weekend getaway destination from NYC.

Autumn and winter are the best time to visit Hunter. Hunter in Catskill offers completely different but equally interesting activities in these two season. In autumn, visitors can participate in the Oktoberfest and enjoy the spectacular autumn leaves in Hunter Mountain.

In winter, New Yorkers can experience the local popular ski resorts. Hunter's ski facilities are particularly rich. In addition to mature ski resorts, there are zip lines, outdoor fire pits, gourmet restaurants, hotels with hot tubs and spas, you name it.

Trip.com recommends Hunter Inn. Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Hunter Inn

Weekend Getaways from Chicago

🚗Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park, located in Michigan City, Indiana, is the most distinctive attraction in the area. And the best part is that this park is only an hour away from Chicago, which makes it not only a great weekend getaway from Chicago, but also a day trip destination if you have limited time.

The park covers an area of 15,000 acres and is an excellent outdoor resort. Although it is called Dune Park, its terrain and vegetation are rich and diverse: it has miles of trails that can pass through wetlands, forests, grasslands and gardens. There is unlimited space to explore, and if you like to spend time outdoors, this is a perfect trip.

Indiana Dunes National Park covers 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Hiking along the sand dunes, you can fly kites on the beach, enjoy horseback riding, or visit the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Homes.

Trip.com recommends following hotels for your weekend getaways at Indiana Dunes National Park:

1. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Michigan City: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Michigan City

2. Baymont by Wyndham Michigan City: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Baymont by Wyndham Michigan City

🚗Wisconsin Dells

Just 3-hour-drive from Chicago, you can find a suitable weekend getaways choice for the whole family. If you already have children, then Wisconsin Dells is definitely the most worth visiting place near Chicago.

Wisconsin Dells is known as the "Waterpark Capital of the World" and is famous for its indoor and outdoor water parks. Abundant water play projects can definitely make you and your children forget every worrying event back in work and shool. But there are more options: boat trips, magic shows, zoos, golf courses, etc., each of which can make your weekend exciting and unforgettable.

In winter, Wisconsin Dells even exudes more charm. Mirror Lake State Park neraby has 18 miles of cross-country ski trails, scenic views and plenty of other opportunities for outdoor lovers. And Cascade Rock Lake is located 25 miles northwest away, a must for experienced ice fishing enthusiasts.

Trip.com recommends following hotels for your weekend getaways in Wisconsin Dells:

1. Holiday Inn Express Wisconsin Dells: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Holiday Inn Express Wisconsin Dells

2. Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells

3. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Wisconsin Dells: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Wisconsin Dells

🚗Lake Geneva

Tourists at Lake Geneva

If you want to try the lakeside view and experience different from Lake Michigan, Lake Geneva, which can be reached within an hour and a half by car, is a good weekend getaways choice. The characteristic of Lake Geneva is that there are plenty of activities and great scenery for you to enjoy the local scenery whenever summer or winter.

In summer, Lake Geneva is very peaceful. You can go rafting in Lake Geneva on a rented boat, sunbathing on the beach, or ziplining and other outdoor activities. If you like walking, the 26-mile trail by the water will definitely meet your needs.

In winter, fewer tourists come here, but you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery. Every winter, amazing ice castles will be erected near Lake Geneva. Imagine the appearance of those ice castles gleaming in the sun, it is better to immediately prepare for the weekend getaway to Lake Geneva!

Trip.com recommends following hotels for your weekend getaways in Wisconsin Dells:

1. Comfort Suites Lake Geneva East: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Comfort Suites Lake Geneva East

2. The Cove of Lake Geneva: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

The Cove of Lake Geneva

3. The Geneva Inn: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

The Geneva Inn

Weekend Getaways from Dallas

🚗Glen Rose

Glen Rose is the weekend getaways from Dallas that allows you to experience prehistoric life. No one can refuse the dinosaur fossil site and the wild wildlife center that can be reached by car in an hour and 20 minutes.

The first attraction in Glen Rose is Dinosaur Valley State Park, where you can see the actual fossils and dinosaur footprints preserved on the river bed. Compare the size of your feet with these huge and mysterious ancient creatures, and you will be lucky to live in modern society.

Another important classic in Glen Rose is the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where you can interact with wild animals. Buying a bag of food will allow giraffes, ostriches and gazelles to come to your car for snacks. This kind of experience makes you feel like exploring in Africa.

Trip.com recommends Best Western Dinosaur Valley Inn & Suites. Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Best Western Dinosaur Valley Inn & Suites

🚗Jefferson

Jefferson is the most charming historic town in Texas, and it is also an excellent choice for weekend getaways from Dallas. By driving 167 miles, in just two and a half hours, you can go back to the United States in history and relive the years of history-if you are not afraid of ghosts

Jefferson is famous for its historic buildings. Staying in historic homestays and strolling among antique shops and historic buildings make it the best weekend getaway destination for escaping from real life. Oh, by the way, there is also the "Gone with the Wind" Museum in the area. If you are a movie fan, you cannot miss it. If you are brave enough, you can go deep into several famous haunted buildings at night and chat with people who have been dead for many years.

If you prefer natural scenery, Kado Lake is also a great choice. Take a boat tour of the picturesque cypress swamp-there are 300-year-old bare cypress trees along the coast, and you may even see crocodiles! Or head to the beautiful Cado Lake State Park, which is a great place for boating, hiking, and fishing.

Trip.com recommends Holiday Inn Express. Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Marshall

Weekend Getaways from San Diego

🚗Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Scenery

Santa Barbara is undoubtedly a shining jewel on the coast of Southern California, where you can enjoy everything about a seaside city. You can come to the beach and enjoy the sunset on the sea; also you can go back into the downtown of Santa Barbara and enjoy the comfortable modern life.

This unique charm makes Santa Barbara one of the most popular weekend getaways from San Diego.

You can choose to drive to Santa Barbara by yourself, after all, a different life is only 4-hour drive away. If you want to be more relaxed, you can go there by plane. Santa Barbara also has its own airport, which is very convenient. Book a flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara now.

We recommend that you come here to enjoy two types of excursions: reexperiencing school life and admiring butterflies. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara. Come here to spend the weekend with university students and miss the past campus life in bars and restaurants. Coronado Butterfly Preserve is also in Santa Barbara, and you will be amazed by their beauty.

Trip.com recommends Hilton Santa Barbara: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

🚗Big Sur

Big Sur Scenery

The first thing comes up when talking about Weekend Getaways from San Diego is undoubtedly Big Sur. Before it was used by Apple to name its system, Big Sur was already one of the most famous weekend trip destinations in California.

Driving from San Diego to Big Sur is the easiest and most recommended way. Although the distance of 420 miles and 8-hour drive sound tiring and dreadful, trust me th beautiful scenery and abundant tourist attractions one comes after another on the way will make you feel inspired and refreshed all the time. And driving bacomes part of weekend getaways from San Diego to Big Sur.

We recommend that you drive along the coastline, if you just want to enjoy the scenery in Big Sur as soon as possible. Big Sur is surrounded by ocean and forest, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city there totally, soothing you with its beaches, cliffs, and abundance of luxury hotels and restaurants.

Trip.com recommends Ventana Big Sur an Alila Resort: Become a member to enjoy additional discounts, free cancellation and Trip Coins! Click the picture to book now!

FAQ about Weekend Getaways in the United States

Q: What are some good weekend getaways?

A: It really depends on where you are and what kinds of travel you are interested in. Visit our travel blog for more inspiration and find users share same travel preference.

Q: How to find cheap weekend getaways?

A: Trip.com, as a one-stop OTA platform, is the right choice. You can find discounted flights and best hotels for your weekend getaways. In addition, you can get Trip Coins which can be used as money as well after you join our membership.

Q: How sohuld I plan for a weekend getaways?

A: Trip.com provides travel blogs from experienced travelers and comments from our users. Visiting our travel guide for more travel inspiration.

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