The best road trip stops on the New York City to Baltimore drive are the Thomas Edison Center, Philadelphia and Wilmington DE. The distance from NYC to Baltimore by car is 187 miles, with a 3h15m driving time.
Finding the best things to do between NYC and Baltimore
The New York City to Baltimore drive takes you from the Big Apple to Maryland’s port city.
5 great New York City experiences to book
- 🕊️ Make sure you get into the 9/11 Memorial Museum by booking tickets in advance.
- 🗽 Take a boat cruise out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- ⛴️ Learn about NYC’s top buildings on an architecture-themed 1920s-style yacht cruise around Manhattan.
- 🌳 Take a pedicab tour around Central Park – and spot the hidden secrets on the way.
- 🍜 Taste the local flavours of New York on a Chinatown and Little Italy food tour.
New York City has a massive range of attractions, and it’s easy to tailor a visit to your tastes. Big-hitter museums include the American Museum of Natural History, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Intrepid Museum,
But there are several niche museums in NYC, too – try the the New York Transit Museum, the Morgan Library, the National Museum of Mathematics and the Skyscraper Museum.
Speaking of skyscrapers, you can go the top of the Empire State Building or the Summit One Vanderbilt and Top of the Rock observation decks,
For heritage, aim for the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, Ellis Island, Federal Hall, Fraunces Tavern and the Hamilton Grange National Memorial.
Baltimore is a character-packed port city that has spruced itself up in recent years and has a wealth of attractions to explore. The Fort McHenry National Monument is the number one historical attraction, but there’s plenty to see around the Inner Harbor. The National Aquarium, American Visionary Art Museum, Historic Ships and Port Discovery Children’s Museum are the big hitters.
Top experiences include historical sightseeing tours, sailing on Inner Harbor and ghost tours in the Fell’s Point neighbourhood.
For other options, try brewery-hopping tours, helicopter rides and Fell’s Point food tours.
New York City to Baltimore distance and driving time
By car, the distance from New York City to Baltimore is 187 miles. You can expect a driving time of around three hours and 15 minutes. The quickest route heads down the I-95.
The best stops to add to a New York City to Baltimore road trip itinerary are the Thomas Edison Center, Philadelphia and Wilmington DE.
New York City to Baltimore drive: Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park
Menlo Park in New Jersey was where prodigious inventor Thomas Edison and his team churned out innovation after innovation. The former lab site is now in Edison State Park, and the Thomas Edison Center’s museum is crammed with artefacts, including original phonograph recordings. Tours of the museum also include entry to the Edison Memorial Tower, built in 1838.
Best stops between New York City and Baltimore: Philadelphia
Philadelphia is drenched in historic sites, such as the Liberty Bell Center, Christ Church Burial Ground and Betsy Ross House.
The Museum of the American Revolution tells of the country’s birth, but the city’s superb museum collection delves into other areas. The Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are top tier art museums, while the the Franklin Institute, Mutter Museum and Academy of Natural Sciences look at various branches of science. For maritime heritage, plump for the Battleship New Jersey and Independence Seaport Museum.
However, it’s likely to be the Eastern State Penitentiary – the model for prisons around the world – that sticks in your memory long afterwards.
New York City to Baltimore road trip attractions: Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the biggest city in Delaware, and its main appeal comes from its handsome old buildings. Bellevue Hall in the Bellevue State Park was the home of the enormously wealthy DuPont family and Rockwood Park has Gothic revival grandeur.
The 77-room Nemours Estate offers vintage cars and French-style gardens, while the Hagley Museum celebrates American inventors.
More New York City and Baltimore travel
- New York City’s other parks: Roberto Clemente State Park, Riverbank State Park, Fort Tryon Park.
- What to expect at the General Grant National Memorial in Manhattan.
- Bronx attraction guides: New York Botanical Gardens, Van Cortlandt House Museum.
- Road trips from New York: The best stops on the NYC to Philadelphia drive.
- Getting to Baltimore: The best stops on the Philadelphia to Baltimore drive, Pittsburgh to Baltimore drive and Washington DC to Baltimore drive.
