USA East Coast Itinerary for 14 Days: Boston to Savannah
Four big cities by rail, then a car for the Blue Ridge and the Southern coast: how to split two weeks, what to reserve and what it costs.
A 14-day USA East Coast itinerary can cover Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Shenandoah National Park, Charleston and Savannah, roughly 1,100 miles in all. The smartest mix is the train for the four Northeast cities, where parking is expensive and stations are central, and a rental car from Washington south for Skyline Drive and the Carolina and Georgia coast. The best months are April to June and September to October.
Fly into Boston and out of Savannah, or reverse the route. Plan 3 nights in Boston and New York, 2 in Washington and 1 to 2 in each of the other stops.
Should you travel the East Coast by train or car?
Use both. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor links Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington with frequent trains, while Shenandoah has no train service and the drive south is easier by car. Times below are typical; check Amtrak and traffic on your dates.
| Leg | Miles (road) | Train time | Car time | Best choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston to New York | 215 | About 3.5–4.5 hr | 4–5 hr | Train |
| New York to Philadelphia | 95 | About 1–1.5 hr | 2 hr | Train |
| Philadelphia to Washington | 140 | About 1.5–2 hr | 2.5–3 hr | Train |
| Washington to Shenandoah (Front Royal) | 70 | No direct service | 1.5 hr | Car |
| Shenandoah (south end) to Charleston | 470 | Not practical | 7–8 hr | Car, or fly |
| Charleston to Savannah | 110 | Limited daily service | 2 hr | Car |
Driving inside Boston, New York and Washington is slow, and hotel parking in the biggest cities often costs $40 or more a night. Pick up the rental car on your last morning in Washington, and expect a one-way drop fee if you return it in Savannah.
How should you spend 14 days on the East Coast? Day by day
Days 1–3: Boston
Walk the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red line past 16 historic sites from Boston Common to the USS Constitution. Spend a day in Cambridge at Harvard and MIT, and see the Museum of Fine Arts or a game at Fenway Park. On Day 3, take a day trip to Salem or along the coast to Rockport. Base: Back Bay, Beacon Hill or near South Station.
Days 4–6: New York City
Take a morning train to Penn Station or Moynihan Train Hall. Plan one day downtown (the 9/11 Memorial, the Brooklyn Bridge walk and the Statue of Liberty), one in Midtown and Central Park with a major museum, and one for neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village, the High Line or Brooklyn. Book the Statue of Liberty only through Statue City Cruises, the official ferry operator from Battery Park; pedestal and crown tickets sell out far ahead. Base: Midtown or Lower Manhattan.
Day 7: Philadelphia
A 1- to 1.5-hour train ride brings you to the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence. Independence Hall tours use free timed tickets with a $1 reservation fee, booked on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead, with extra next-day tickets released at 5 p.m., according to the park’s Independence Hall tickets page. The Liberty Bell Center next door is free without tickets. Eat at Reading Terminal Market. Base: Old City or Center City.
Days 8–9: Washington, DC
The Smithsonian museums on the National Mall are free. Walk from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial on Day 8, with the National Air and Space Museum or the National Museum of American History on the way, and spend Day 9 on the monuments at sunset, the National Archives and a neighborhood such as Georgetown. Some sites, such as the Washington Monument and Capitol tours, use free or low-cost timed tickets that should be reserved ahead. Our New York and Washington, DC itinerary has more detailed day plans for both cities. Base: near the Mall, Penn Quarter or Dupont Circle.
Day 10: Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive
Pick up the car and drive 1.5 hours west to Front Royal, the north entrance of Skyline Drive. The road runs 105 miles along the Blue Ridge with a 35 mph speed limit, so the full length takes about 3 hours without stops. Hike Stony Man (about 1.6 miles round trip) or Dark Hollow Falls (about 1.4 miles round trip, steep on the way back). Base: Big Meadows or Skyland lodges in the park (seasonal), or Luray.
Day 11: Skyline Drive south and the long drive to Charleston
Finish Skyline Drive to its south end near Waynesboro, then drive I-81, I-77 and I-26 to Charleston, about 7 to 8 hours. To make it easier, split the drive with a night in Charlotte or fly from Charlottesville or Richmond to Charleston instead. Base: Charleston.
Days 12–13: Charleston
Walk the historic district, the Battery and Rainbow Row, and take the ferry to Fort Sumter National Monument, where the Civil War began in 1861. Visit McLeod Plantation Historic Site or another site that interprets the lives of enslaved people. Spend an afternoon at Folly Beach or Sullivan’s Island. On Day 13, drive about 2 hours to Savannah. Base: downtown Charleston, then Savannah.
Day 14: Savannah
Savannah’s historic district is laid out around 22 shaded public squares. Walk from River Street to Forsyth Park, visit Bonaventure Cemetery and fly home from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
What should you book ahead?
- Amtrak tickets: book 3 to 8 weeks ahead; fares on popular trains rise closer to departure.
- Statue of Liberty: through Statue City Cruises only; crown access can sell out months ahead.
- Independence Hall: timed tickets up to 30 days ahead on Recreation.gov.
- Washington, DC timed tickets: Washington Monument and Capitol tours, a few weeks ahead.
- Shenandoah lodges: seasonal and popular in October; book several months ahead.
- Charleston and Savannah hotels: 1 to 3 months ahead for spring weekends.
When is the best time for an East Coast trip?
| Months | North (Boston to DC) | South (Charleston, Savannah) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec–Feb | Cold, snow possible, holiday lights | Mild | Cheaper; some Skyline Drive closures |
| Mar–Apr | Cool; DC cherry blossoms late March to early April | Azaleas, warm | Very good |
| May–Jun | Pleasant | Hot, humid by June | Very good |
| Jul–Aug | Hot, humid | Very hot, storms; hurricane season | Crowded, sticky |
| Sep–Oct | Warm to crisp; Shenandoah color mid to late October | Warm; hurricane risk into October | Excellent |
| Nov | Cool | Pleasant | Good shoulder month |
If you want the cherry blossoms, our Washington, DC cherry blossom guide explains how peak bloom is forecast.
How much does a 14-day East Coast trip cost?
Rough planning ranges for two travelers sharing a room, excluding international or long-haul flights, as of November 2026. Boston and New York hotels drive the total.
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging (13 nights) | $2,000–3,000 (hostels, budget hotels, outer areas) | $3,500–5,500 (3-star central hotels) | $6,500–11,000 (4- to 5-star hotels) |
| Trains, Boston to DC | $150–300 (Northeast Regional, booked early) | $250–450 | $500–900 (business class or Acela) |
| Car, 5 days with one-way fee, fuel, parking | $450–750 | $600–950 | $850–1,300 |
| Local transit | $80–150 | $120–200 | $250–500 (taxis, rideshare) |
| Food for two | $900–1,300 | $1,600–2,400 | $2,800–4,500 |
| Sights and tours | $150–300 (many free museums) | $350–600 | $700–1,200 |
| Total for two | $3,730–5,800 | $6,420–10,100 | $11,600–19,400 |
Shenandoah charges $30 per vehicle for 7 days as of November 2026, per its fees page. It is not one of the parks that charge non-US residents an extra $100.
What if you have less or more time?
With 10 days: keep Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington by train, then either Shenandoah or a flight to Charleston and Savannah, not both.
With 3 weeks: replace the long drive with the Blue Ridge Parkway from Shenandoah to Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains before heading to Charleston. Our Blue Ridge Parkway road trip covers that section.
Bottom line
Two weeks on the East Coast fits four Northeast cities by train, a day on Skyline Drive and the Southern charm of Charleston and Savannah by car. Go in spring or fall, book Amtrak and the Statue of Liberty early, reserve Independence Hall and DC timed tickets, and decide whether to drive or fly the long Virginia-to-Carolina leg.
FAQ
Is 14 days enough for the East Coast?
Fourteen days covers the main cities from Boston to Washington and a Southern extension at a comfortable pace. It does not leave room for Maine, Florida or the mountains of New England, which need their own trips.
Is it better to take the train or drive between Boston, New York and Washington?
The train is usually better. Stations are downtown, travel times are similar to driving without traffic, and you avoid city hotel parking, which often costs $40 or more a night. A car makes sense only from Washington south.
Do you need a car in Charleston and Savannah?
Not inside the historic districts, which are walkable. A car is useful for driving between the two cities, reaching beaches and plantations outside town and getting from Shenandoah to the coast.
What is the best direction to do this route?
North to south works well in spring, when you reach the warm South last. In fall, going south to north lets you finish with October color in Shenandoah and New England.
