Day trips

Grouped by how long they actually take on the ground. Drive time depends on where you are starting, so every listing hands that to Google Maps rather than guessing it.

Under 90 minutes

Fits either side of lunch.

9 listings
Bloomingdale Trail, the 606, Chicago 2015-68
Victor GrigasCC BY-SA 4.0

The 606 Elevated Trail Run or Ride

Running · Elevated greenway · Chicago

A former rail corridor transformed into a 2.7-mile elevated greenway with neighborhood access ramps, art, and sunset views.

0.6–1.5 hrs2.7 miEasyFree
Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana
Ken LundCC BY-SA 2.0
National park

Wetland Trace Boardwalk Wildlife Walk

Hiking · Wetland boardwalk · New Orleans

A low-effort wetland boardwalk experience through south Louisiana habitat close to the city.

0.8–1.5 hrsEasyFree
Lafitte Greenway, New Orleans - On the Greenway
Bart EversonCC BY 2.0

Lafitte Greenway Bike Ride

Cycling · Urban greenway · New Orleans

A flat urban ride connecting historic neighborhoods, public art, parks, and Mid-City along a converted transportation corridor.

0.8–1.5 hrs5 mi approx.EasyFree
Will Rogers SW03
Scotwriter21CC BY-SA 4.0
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Will Rogers Inspiration Point Loop

Hiking · Coastal views · Los Angeles

A short climb from the historic ranch grounds to a ridgeline overlook above Pacific Palisades.

1–1.5 hrs2 miModerateFee

90 minutes to three hours

The standard half-day outing.

36 listings
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge East Pond (61289p)
RhododendritesCC BY-SA 4.0
National park

Jamaica Bay West Pond Wildlife Walk

Birding · Saltmarsh · New York City

A flat wildlife walk around the West Pond with bird blinds, saltmarsh habitat, and one of the Northeast's major urban migration stops.

1–2 hrsEasyFree
Runyon Canyon pano
DowntowngalCC BY-SA 3.0

Runyon Canyon Ridge Loop

Hiking · City views · Los Angeles

A steep urban ridge circuit with immediate skyline and Hollywood Hills views, accessible from central Los Angeles.

1–1.7 hrs2.7 mi approx.ModerateFree
No free-licence photo of this location yet

Big Marsh BMX and Singletrack Session

Mountain biking · Restored wetland · Chicago

A restored industrial landscape containing pump tracks, BMX jump lines, singletrack, paved trails, wetlands, and bird habitat.

1–3 hrsModerateFree
Magic Hedge, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Chicago.
Raed MansourCC BY 2.0

Montrose Point Migration Walk

Birding · Lakefront sanctuary · Chicago

A slow wildlife walk through prairie, shrubland, woodland, dunes, and lakefront habitat at one of Chicago's premier migration stops.

1–2 hrs1 mi approx.EasyFree
Manoa Falls Trail
Daniel RamirezCC BY 2.0

Manoa Falls Rainforest Hike

Hiking · Rainforest waterfall · Honolulu

A humid rainforest walk beneath bamboo and tropical vegetation to a tall waterfall in the Koolau foothills.

1–1.7 hrs1.6 mi approx.EasyFee
No free-licence photo of this location yet

Palmetto Peaks Outdoor Climbing Session

Climbing · Outdoor facility · Charleston

An outdoor climbing session on a 50-foot wall with top-rope, auto-belay, lead-climbing, and bouldering options.

1–2 hrsEasyFee

Carkeek Park Forest-to-Beach Hike

Hiking · Creek and beach · Seattle

A customizable ravine hike following forest, creek, wetland, and meadow trails to a Puget Sound beach.

1.3–2 hrs3 mi approx.ModerateFree
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area view from western Baldwin Hills
JengodCC BY-SA 4.0
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Kenneth Hahn Ridge and City View Loop

Hiking · City views · Los Angeles

A rolling parkland hike with ridgeline viewpoints toward Downtown Los Angeles, the mountains, and the coast on clear days.

1.3–2 hrs3 mi approx.ModerateFee
Diamond Head Hike (3) - Battery 407
Daniel RamirezCC BY 2.0

Diamond Head Summit Trail

Hiking · Volcanic crater · Honolulu

A steep crater-rim climb through switchbacks, stairs, and historic military structures to a panoramic Waikiki viewpoint.

1.3–2 hrs1.6 mi approx.ModerateFee
Discovery Park, Seattle pano 01
Joe MabelCC BY-SA 3.0

Discovery Park Loop and Beach Descent

Hiking · Coastal bluff · Seattle

A varied urban hike through meadow, forest, bluff, and Puget Sound shoreline terrain in Seattle's largest city park.

1.5–2.5 hrs3 mi approx.ModerateFree
Oleta River State Park - Bridge piers protection barrier
Daniel Di PalmaCC BY-SA 4.0

Oleta River Mountain Bike Trail Session

Mountain biking · Coastal singletrack · Miami

South Florida singletrack ranging from novice loops to technical intermediate and advanced terrain inside a major urban state park.

1.5–3 hrs10 miModerateFee
Cape Florida Lighthouse (7302129886)
sjg08CC BY 2.0

Bill Baggs Cape Florida Bike and Lighthouse Circuit

Cycling · Historic lighthouse · Miami

A relaxed bicycle circuit through restored coastal vegetation with Atlantic and Biscayne Bay views and a stop at the historic Cape Florida lighthouse.

1.5–2.5 hrs4 mi approx.EasyFee
No free-licence photo of this location yet

Skokie Lagoons Kayak Circuit

Kayaking · Lagoon system · Chicago

A calm-water paddle through a connected seven-lagoon system with channels, wooded shorelines, and bird habitat.

1.5–3 hrsEasyFree
A hiker at Red Rock Canyon
MJPlante1CC BY-SA 4.0

Calico Tanks Trail at Red Rock Canyon

Hiking · Desert canyon · Las Vegas

A colorful sandstone canyon hike with short scrambles, a seasonal natural water tank, and a high-desert overlook toward Las Vegas.

1.5–2.5 hrs2.5 miModerateFee
Sutro Baths upper trail viewing platform and stairs
Joe MabelCC BY-SA 4.0
National park

Lands End Coastal Trail and Sutro Baths

Hiking · Coastal cliffs and ruins · San Francisco

A cliffside coastal hike with Golden Gate Bridge views, cypress forest, shipwreck overlooks, and the ruins of Sutro Baths.

1.5–2.5 hrs3.4 mi approx.ModerateFree
Tennessee Valley trail to the beach
Kiddo27CC BY-SA 4.0
National park

Tennessee Valley Trail to the Pacific

Hiking · Coastal valley to beach · San Francisco

A gradual valley walk through coastal scrub to a small Pacific cove framed by steep headlands.

1.5–2.5 hrs3.4 miEasyFree
Guy Fleming Trail, Torrey Pines
RickbramhallCC BY-SA 4.0

Torrey Pines Coastal Trail Circuit

Hiking · Coastal bluffs · San Diego

A sandstone bluff hike among rare Torrey pines with Pacific overlooks and optional beach access when conditions permit.

1.5–2.5 hrs3 mi approx.ModerateFee
Cowles Mountain
Bob DuHamelCC BY-SA 3.0

Cowles Mountain Summit Hike

Hiking · Urban summit · San Diego

A sustained urban summit climb to the highest point within the City of San Diego, with broad county views.

1.5–2.5 hrs3 mi approx.ModerateFree
No free-licence photo of this location yet

La Jolla Seven Sea Caves Kayak

Kayaking · Sea caves · San Diego

A guided ocean paddle beneath coastal cliffs toward La Jolla's sea caves and protected marine habitat.

1.5–2.5 hrsEasyFee
Seattle - view toward South Lake Union from west shore of Lake Union
Joe MabelCC BY-SA 4.0

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop

Walking · Urban waterfront · Seattle

A full circuit of Lake Union connecting parks, houseboat districts, working waterfront, and skyline viewpoints.

1.7–3 hrs6 miEasyFree
Radnor Lake panorama
SpheroiditeCC BY-SA 4.0

Radnor Lake Ridge and Lakeside Loop

Hiking · Lake and ridge · Nashville

A quiet forest and lake hike with optional steep ridge climbing in one of Nashville's strongest wildlife-viewing areas.

1.7–3 hrs4 mi approx.ModerateFree
The Greenbelt, a series of parks and trails in central Staten Island, NY
Dorothy ReillyCC BY-SA 4.0

Staten Island Greenbelt Blue Trail Loop

Hiking · Forest · New York City

A closed-loop woodland hike through the central Greenbelt, giving visitors a genuinely rugged trail experience without leaving New York City.

2–3 hrs4 miModerateFree
Rattlesnake Ledge from Rattlesnake Lake
Ron ClausenCC BY-SA 4.0
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Rattlesnake Ledge Summit Hike

Hiking · Mountain views · Seattle

A steep forest climb to an exposed ledge overlooking Rattlesnake Lake and the Cascade foothills.

2–3 hrs4 miModerateFree
Mount Hollywood
DipseyCC BY-SA 3.0

Griffith Observatory to Mount Hollywood

Hiking · City views · Los Angeles

A ridgeline hike above Griffith Observatory with broad views across the Los Angeles Basin and toward the Hollywood Sign.

2–3 hrs5 mi approx.ModerateFree
Panorama from Viewpoint Trail in Topanga State Park
TrldpCC BY-SA 4.0
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Trippet Ranch to Eagle Rock

Hiking · Geology and views · Los Angeles

A chaparral and oak-country hike from Trippet Ranch to a prominent sandstone outcrop with panoramic Santa Monica Mountains views.

2–3 hrs4.5 miModerateFee
No free-licence photo of this location yet

Key West Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour

Kayaking · Mangrove backcountry · Key West

A shallow-water guided paddle through mangrove tunnels and protected backcountry habitat behind Key West.

2–3 hrsEasyFee

Three hours and up

A committed day. Start early.

15 listings
Shark Valley Observation Tower Panorama
Daniel KraftCC BY-SA 3.0
National parkCheck conditions

Shark Valley Everglades Bike Loop

Cycling · National park · Miami

A flat paved loop through the River of Grass with frequent alligator, wading-bird, and marsh views plus an observation tower midway.

2–4 hrs15 miModerateFee
Hanauma Bay
ErgoSum88Public domain
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Hanauma Bay Reef Snorkeling

Snorkeling · Protected reef bay · Honolulu

A reservation-controlled snorkeling session inside a protected volcanic bay known for shallow reef habitat and tropical fish.

2–4 hrsEasyFee
Bayou St John by Spanish Fort
brophoCC BY 2.0

Bayou St. John Guided Kayak

Kayaking · Historic urban waterway · New Orleans

A guided paddle through a historic New Orleans waterway combining neighborhood scenery, local history, and calm-water kayaking.

2–4 hrsEasyFee
Billy Goat Trail boulders overlooking Mather Gorge
User:CydeCC BY-SA 3.0
National parkCheck conditions

Billy Goat Trail Section A Circuit

Hiking · Rock scramble · Washington, D.C.

A demanding Potomac Gorge scramble over exposed rock ledges, followed by a flatter return on the historic canal towpath.

2–3.5 hrs4 mi approx.HardFee
USA-Georgetown C&O Canal
IngfbrunoCC BY-SA 3.0
National park

Georgetown Canal Towpath Bike Ride

Cycling · Historic canal corridor · Washington, D.C.

A crushed-stone ride from the canal's Georgetown terminus into a quieter wooded corridor along the Potomac River.

2–4 hrs16 mi approx.ModerateFree
Cowles Bog Trail (south)
Chris LightCC BY-SA 4.0
National parkCheck conditions

Cowles Bog Trail to Lake Michigan

Hiking · Dunes and wetlands · Chicago

A rugged day hike through wetland, savanna, steep dunes, and forest to a remote Lake Michigan beach.

2.5–4 hrs4.7 miHardFee
Morris Island Lighthouse from Folly Island
Brian ZinnelCC BY-SA 4.0

Morris Island Lighthouse Eco Tour

Boat tour · Barrier island and lighthouse · Charleston

A guided Lowcountry outing through tidal creeks and salt marsh toward an undeveloped barrier island and historic offshore lighthouse.

2.5–4 hrsEasyFee
Boston skyline from Great Blue Hill
MagicpianoCC BY-SA 4.0

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Segment

Hiking · Rocky ridgeline · Boston

A rocky ridge hike south of Boston with repeated climbs, forest terrain, and distant skyline viewpoints.

2.5–4 hrs5 mi approx.HardFree
Panorama from North Drumlin of Spectacle Island, June 2017
Pi.1415926535CC BY-SA 3.0
National park

Spectacle Island Drumlin Hike

Hiking · Harbor island · Boston

A ferry-accessed island hike climbing a 157-foot drumlin for broad views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline.

3–6 hrs5 miEasyFee