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8 Weekend Trips by Bus or Boat to Get Out of New York City

 Take a bus or boat and get out of New York this weekend. 
8 Weekend Getaways Out of New York
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NEW YORK CITY — It's time to plan your next escape.

While organizing a trip can be stressful, plenty of private bus and ferry companies offer services that are perfectly suited for getting New Yorkers out of the city for a quick and easy weekend getaway.

DNAinfo has rounded up eight weekend trips to help you get started:

► Adirondack Trailways to Woodstock, N.Y.

Price: $56 round trip (prices change regularly so check for the latest cost)

Travel time: 2 1/2 to 3 hours

A little more than 100 miles out of New York and the namesake of the historic 1969 music festival, Vogue calls Woodstock “the most famous small town in the world.”

But Woodstock’s most popular attractions go beyond its thriving music and art scene (more details on that and other activities from Vogue here and Fodor's here). TripAdvisor awards the No. 1 rank to hiking and taking in the views at Overlook Mountain in the Catskills Park region.  

► Seastreak to Martha’s Vineyard

Price: $240 for regular round-trip tickets and $310 on holidays.

Travel time: Roughly 5 hours

Sit back with a beer and a book on Seastreak’s boat to Martha’s Vineyard. Departing every Friday from the East 35th Street Ferry Terminal, the vessel includes climate-controlled cabins, an open deck, free WiFi and a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktails, according to its website.

► Coach USA to Bear Mountain State Park, N.Y.

Price: $26.70 for adults; $13.35 for children ages 5 to 11

Travel time: About an hour and 40 minutes

The great outdoors is a short ride out from New York City. Coach USA offers an easy day-trip out of the city to Bear Mountain State Park, where visitors can go biking, fishing and hiking, settle down with a picnic or check out some nature trails.

Buses leave Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 p.m. Weekend buses back to the city are scheduled for 3:19 p.m. and 5:19 p.m.

► Seastreak to Sandy Hook, N.J.

Price: $45 for a round trip

Travel time: 30 minutes to an hour

Seastreak runs a daily ferry to Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey from Wall Street or the East 35th Street Ferry Terminal. There is also a complimentary shuttle service between the Sandy Hook Ferry Landing and the beaches along the seven-mile stretch.

And while you’re basking in the sun, don’t forget that there’s plenty to eat and drink at Sandy Hook’s food trucks. The Gateway National Recreation Area has a useful map for where you can find this year’s trucks, including Carlito’s Taco Wagon at Lot E and Naked Tamales near Gunnison Beach, New Jersey’s legal nude beach.  

► Megabus to Newport, Rhode Island

Price: Between $39 to $41

Travel Time: 4 to 4 1/2 hours

When Mark Twain said, “If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes,” he may have been talking about Newport, a popular seaside town and vacation spot.

Spend the weekend eating, checking out some breweries and wineries or soaking in some of the city’s affluent history with mansion tours of decadent summer “cottages” like The Breakers, a National Historic Landmark that was built by the Vanderbilt Family.   

Megabus offers pick-ups near the Javits Center in Manhattan and drop-off at Newport’s visitor center.

► Academy Bus to Atlantic City, N.J.

Price: $40

Travel time: About 2 1/2 hours depending on the final casino destination

Academy Bus provides service from Port Authority to Atlantic City casinos, including Bally’s, Caesars and Taj Mahal. The company also offers bonus packages with ticket purchases like slot and food credit or $10 free bets.

And if you’re planning a Fourth of July getaway, Atlantic City will have two spectacular firework shows on July 3 and July 4 that can be seen along the beach and boardwalk.

► BestBus to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Price: $46 for a one-way ticket

Travel time: Roughly 4 1/2 hours

This Delaware beach town is a great escape from the city's hubbub. Stroll along the boardwalk and make sure you grab a scoop from The Ice Cream Store, which is stocked with about a 100 flavors as well as milkshakes, smoothies and cookie sandwiches.  

► NYC Beach Bus to Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk

Price: $14 for a round-trip ticket

Travel time: Between 30 to 55 minutes depending on the departure time

Even though you aren't really leaving New York, nothing says summer like a day on the beach. DNAinfo put together a map of where to eat, drink and shop in the peninsula this summer. Try Shore Shack, a new food truck from Dalton’s Seaside Grill and a “glitter bar” at Lola Star for some much-needed clothing and body bling.

The NYC Beach Bus operates until Labor Day and pick-ups are available in Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn.