Road trip from NYC to where ?
 

Hi !

We are 3 french friends planning a trip to NYC in septembre 18. We booked our plane tickets and hotel in the city already but we plan on spending 5 days in NY and then renting a car to take a road trip for the next 8 days. Initially we wanted to drive to New Orléans but it turns out that it is very far and if we want to take real breaks on the way and not spend 8 hours in the car every couple days we'll have to do something else.
I think we'll stop 2 nights in Atlantic city and then I don't know ! We'd like to have some leisure time on nice beaches I just have no idea if it is best to go South of NYC or North. The hamptons ? virginia beach ? Myrtle beach ? ...

Thank you for any advice you can give us !

Chichonne

If I were looking for good beach weather, I would head south from NYC. The weather in mid-September in the Northeast US is pleasant but not always warm enough for beach activities. As you head south, it gets warmer and more pleasant.

Your options for beaches are almost limitless. I personally don't like Virginia Beach or Myrtle Beach, but a lot depends on what kind of beach experience you're looking for. Some people like quite, quaint towns. Some people like busy, active places with a lot of nightlife.

Thank you, so the South it is ! As for the kind of beach experience, we'd like a mix, a few days in a quiet place where the beach is pretty, white sand, nice vistas etc... and a few days in a more active town ? Last year we went to Florida and did that, a few days in Miami, a few days in Sanibel and a few days in the Keys. It was a perfect balance. We hope to recreate that ...

The beaches in the south may not be quite like this, but they are wonderful places.
You could go to NC beaches around Morehead City/Wilmington. Our beaches are called "strands"--long sloping sand into the water so that there are not big waves and hence very family/child friendly. Sand is not white like Florida. BUT, it's "the beach".
Myrtle Beach is a magnet for night life, high rises, congestion. I think Atlantic Beach might be even worse because of the gambling--if that's what you want, go for it. I would bypass it.
Mid-September is also hurricane season so be flexible about changing plans and head inland.
September at the NC and SC beaches is probably the most beautiful time!!
You might consider just heading south from NYC and going to Charleston--good food, nearby beaches, historic places, good fun.

I would go south and head for Charleston, SC. It's one of the best cities in the US and is near good beaches. For your beach experience itself, perhaps Hilton Head, which is nearby, but Charleston itself has some beaches. Some of my favorite nice, quiet beaches are in Maryland/Virginia along Assateague Island National Seashore and on Chincoteague. By all means avoid Myrtle Beach if you want something quiet. But I also agree that North Carolina beaches around Wilmington are very nice and worth a trip.

I would drive north to New England to see historic towns and cities and pethaps some views of colorful leaves. Look at CT, RI, MA VT and NH.

I'd go to one of the islands off the coast of South Carolina or northern Georgia. I have only been to Hilton Head and liked it a lot, plenty of restaurants of all types.

I would do the Hamptons or Cape Cod. Take the ferry to Nantucket.

The Hamptons - the water will be nice then - or Charleston

I’ve never been to Cape Cod, but I’d definitely go there (or frankly any place else) before I would choose Atlantic City.

I would not rent a car in NYC even if you were not foreign.
Take the Amtrak Silver Meteor out of Penn Station a little after 3PM. Take it to Savannah GA overnight. If on time it gets there about 7AM the next morning. Even if it is late, you have time in a warm town. Rent a car for 2 or 3 days in Savannah and head for a beach in Georgia or northern Florida.
If you feel you want to go to Atlantic City NJ, take one of the Amtrak Regional trains to Philadelphia 30th St. station and take a New Jersey Transit train to Atlantic City from 30th St.

Skip Atlantic City. There are much better options in New Jersey and elsewhere for the beach.

Thank you all for your replies. I get that Atlantic city is not the perfect place to go to the beach and it is not the goal, my friends have never been to a casino and we wanted to experience it together. I've been to Vegas so i'm not expecting anything marvelous in AC.

I'll check all your advices.

Thank you !

Friends and I traditional do a long weekend getaway in September and the weather is usually wonderful. Should you consider Cape Cod you can also do a day trip (leave the car behind) and ferry over to Martha's Vineyard. Foxwoods in CT is a popular casino and could easily be on the way. Of course, it's nothing like Las Vegas but similar if you think of a single casino. Check what shows might be taking place.

Last fall we re-visited Rhode Island staying at an air B&B halfway between Providence and Newport. The food tour of Providence was great fun and we all enjoyed touring 2 Newport mansions.

Atlantic City does have a beautiful beach and casinos, but much of it is a slum. Walking away from the casinos can be dangerous. So, if your goal is visit a casino then take the advise given above and stop at Foxwoods in CT.

I know. I live at the Jersey Shore and spent 6 years working in AC.

I'm from NJ.

Don't waste 2 days of your time going to Atlantic City. It isn't even worth 30 minutes. Don't. Just don't.

If your goal is to simply visit a casino, then take a short detour on your way south to the MGM National Harbor, which is just outside Washington DC. Much nicer than Atlantic City and even has an outlet mall nearby.

I think the casino at MGM National Harbor is a great idea. If you were driving, it would be about 4 hours there and then less than 8 hours to Charleston, SC. I also think it's a great idea not to rent a car in NYC but to take the train somewhere (maybe Washington, DC) and start the road trip there. Mid-September should be really nice beach weather in the south, without any crowds. So much to see and do. On the way back north, you may want to drive the route through the mountains and stop and spend the night in Asheville, NC. A great small city to walk around and enjoy yourselves. The Biltmore Estate may be of interest. Your drive back to DC would be just under 8 hours, although there are places to stop along the way if you like.

@Starrs: Why didn't I think of that? That plan is perfect.

The metro doesn't yet go out to the National Harbor but you could easily take a taxi (or even bus.) Spent the night there, gamble, hit up the outlet mall, and then rent a car and drive south.

Thanks! :-)

They even could do a train trip all the way to Atlanta, rent a car and then drive to Savannah, Charleston, Asheville back up north. But the one way car rental may be too expensive.