Quick Family Trips (2 Hours or Less) in New York

We pulled these 40 quick outings out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in New York. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.

40 adventures found

Beacon, NY

Beacon Sloop Club

Free evening sails on the Hudson aboard Pete Seeger's volunteer-crewed sloop Woody Guthrie. No charge, ever. Reserve by phone.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Haines Falls, NY

Kaaterskill Falls Trail

The tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Mount Jo Trail

Short family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Trumansburg, NY

Taughannock Falls State Park

Easy walk to a 215-foot waterfall taller than Niagara Falls. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Watkins Glen State Park

Walk behind 19 waterfalls through a stunning 200-foot-deep gorge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

Drive to the summit of the fifth highest peak in New York for breathtaking views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Albany, NY

Albany Institute of History & Art

Small Albany museum with two ancient Egyptian mummies, Hudson River School landscapes and drop-in family art workshops on weekends.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Beacon, NY

Dia Beacon

Vast daylit factory in Beacon filled with room-size contemporary art including Richard Serra steel spirals kids walk inside.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Boonville, NY

Pixley Falls State Park

Quick roadside walk to a beautiful 50-foot waterfall near Boonville. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Caroga Lake, NY

Kane Mountain Fire Tower

Quick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Cazenovia, NY

Chittenango Falls State Park

Dramatic 167-foot single-plunge waterfall with easy overlook access. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Eagle Bay, NY

Cascade Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Eagle Bay, NY

Moss Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Pilot Knob Preserve

Gentle nature trails with lake views above southern Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Shelving Rock Falls Trail

Short family hike to a beautiful waterfall near Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Howes Cave, NY

Howe Caverns

Guided cave tours 156 feet underground with an underground boat ride. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Museum of the Earth

Ithaca fossil museum walking kids forward through geologic time past a hanging whale skeleton and a mastodon found in the Finger Lakes.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Jamesville, NY

Clark Reservation State Park

Glacial plunge basin with cliff-rimmed lake and unique geology near Syracuse. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Keene, NY

Baxter Mountain

Moderate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene Valley, NY

Beaver Meadow Falls Trail

Scenic river trail to a beautiful 30-foot waterfall in the High Peaks. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Kerhonkson, NY

Vernooy Kill Falls Trail

Easy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Cobble Hill Trail

Quick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Mirror Lake Boat Rental

Rent a small sailboat by the hour on motor-free Mirror Lake, right on Main Street. Paid, walk-up, no reservation needed.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mirror Lake Paddle

Paddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Long Lake, NY

Buttermilk Falls

One of the tallest Adirondack waterfalls with easy staircase access. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Middleburgh, NY

Vroman's Nose

Short hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Naples, NY

Grimes Glen Park

Wade up a fossil-filled creek to reach two hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of Niagara

Aquarium steps from Niagara Falls with penguins, daily sea lion training sessions, Great Lakes tanks and a shark and ray touch pool.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Panama, NY

Panama Rocks Scenic Park

Ancient rock formations with caves, crevices, and passageways kids can explore. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum

Hands-on children's museum on the Poughkeepsie waterfront with circuits, bubbles, water tables, and a climbing structure.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Santa Clara, NY

Azure Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

SAIL Adirondacks

Learn-to-sail sessions and crewed cruises on an O'Day 23 out of Saranac Lake Marina, four passengers max. Published minimum age 6.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Saratoga Springs, NY

Children's Museum at Saratoga

Small Saratoga Springs children's museum with a pretend-play diner, a fire truck and a toddler area set aside for crawlers and new walkers.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Schenectady, NY

miSci Museum of Innovation and Science

Schenectady science museum with hands-on electricity exhibits, General Electric history and a planetarium running daily star shows.

  • Science
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Schooner True Love

Two hours under sail on Seneca Lake aboard a 1926 wooden schooner, up to four departures a day. Paid. Good from about age 5.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

High Falls Gorge

Walkway-accessible waterfalls through an ancient Ausable River gorge. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Wolcott, NY

Chimney Bluffs State Park

Otherworldly clay spires sculpted by erosion on the shore of Lake Ontario. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free