In New York without a personal car: how to get around the city and state by train, bus and plane

There are many options for exploring the cities, beaches, and beautiful scenery of New York State. These are trains to the easternmost point of Long Island, buses through the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes, flights to Syracuse and Niagara Falls, and much more. No matter how you get around New York State, one thing is certain. The path you take will be stunning any month, with fall foliage, snowy mountains, green spring scenery and summer lushness delighting travelers all year round. Lovely planet.

Admire the diverse scenery of New York State by train

Outside the city's subway tunnels, the beauty of New York State looks great from the window of a train car.

How to get to Long Island by train

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates the New York City Subway as well as two commuter rail networks that extend far beyond the city limits. To get to all points in the east, take a long island railroad (LIRR). From the Manhattan hub of Pennsylvania Station, 735 daily trains leave on 11 lines covering nearly all of Long Island. The longest LIRR line terminates at Montauk, Long Island's easternmost point, about 120 miles from the city.

Getting to Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Rockland County by Train

The MTA also manages Metro North Railroad, which delivers passengers north of the city from the central terminal. There are three lines coming out of there. The Harlem Line passes through Westchester and reaches Dutchess County. The Hudson Line trains follow the stunning Hudson Valley coastal route to Poughkeepsie. And the New Haven line snakes east to New Haven, Connecticut. Two additional lines cross New Jersey and cross the state line in Rockland County, on the west side of the Hudson.

For both LIRR and Metro-North, fares are based on peak (trains bound for New York from 6:00 am to 10:00 am; trains departing from 16:00 pm to 20:00 pm) and off-peak (at all other times) travel time and distance. While you can buy tickets from ticket machines at all stations, you often have to wait to use them. We recommend downloading app TrainTime from MTA to save time. Conductors check both printed and digital tickets.

How to get by train to Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Niagara Falls

If you are heading to more remote areas, Amtrak overcome this distance. Its north-south line extends from New York to the Canadian border. And an east-west line connects Albany with Niagara Falls. As with all Amtrak tickets, the earlier you buy, the better chance you have of lower fares. Keep in mind that some tickets may cost more than a plane ticket. Even if the seats in the first class carriage are free, do not get on there without a ticket, unless you are ready to pay a fine to the conductor.

Both Amtrak and Metro-North serve the Hudson Valley. Moreover, tickets for the latter are cheaper than for the former. Expect a leisurely pace compared to driving a car. Though moving slowly through the countryside is one of the great pleasures of New York State train travel.

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Traveling by bus is a budget option

Many bus companies connect cities throughout New York State.

Within an extensive national network, Greyhounds about 60 stations in the state serving tourist destinations such as Buffalo, Cooperstown (a must for baseball fans), Ithaca, Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs. Each bus has free Wi-Fi, power outlets and extra legroom.

Inexpensive Greyhound competitor, Megabus offers extremely cheap trips across the state for as little as $1 with early bookings. Trailways also has an extensive network in New York State serving smaller towns, especially the Catskills.

For those heading to the Hamptons, famous Hampton jitney picks up passengers at several stops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. And delivers them to both the North and South East Ends of Long Island.

Be sure to find out exactly where the bus will drop you off and plan how to get from there to your final destination. Especially in smaller towns where taxis may need to be booked in advance.

Save time by catching a flight across the state

New York State covers more territory than you might think. If you need to urgently get between New York and an upstate city, flying to LaGuardia, Kennedy or Newark airports may be your best option.

From its headquarters in Newark, United offers non-stop flights to Ithaca on the Finger Lakes, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse in the western part of the state. And even in Albany, from where you can quickly get up the Hudson. Meanwhile, JetBlue serves Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse from JFK. Delta also serves several New York State destinations from LaGuardia and Kennedy Airport. With transfers, you can also fly to smaller towns such as Elmira, Plattsburgh (the gateway to the Adirondacks) or Watertown (near the Thousand Islands).

Take a road trip around New York State

Do you need a car to get around New York State? Since much of New York City's natural beauty is found in its mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, the most practical way to get around may be by car.

Major car rental brands have branches in cities across the state. Usually both at the airport and closer to the city center. You may also consider Turo, a car service similar to Airbnb. It allows you to rent someone else's car, with many hosts delivering the car to you. New York State requires car rental companies to rent cars to any licensed driver 18 years of age or older. But you should expect an additional fee if you are under 25. No credit cards are required to rent a car.

Ride sharing and taxi services will depend on where you are located and local demand. In some remote places, it is better to call the local taxi service.

New York State Driving Council.

The New York State Turnpike is a multi-lane freeway that crosses the entire state, following the Hudson north to Albany. This is a toll road, and all fees are non-cash. Be sure to rent a car with a transponder eZpass, to pay all fees without exorbitant surcharges from your car rental company.

Affordable Transportation in New York State

While New York State has varying requirements for public transportation organizations to provide affordable options, most rail, air, and bus transportation between cities can usually solve most mobility problems.

However, the farther away from a major city you are heading, it's best to check ahead of time to make sure local transportation companies can cater to travelers' needs.