Fall day trips from Long Island mean fewer crowds, more comfortable temperatures, and lots of seasonal fun for families to enjoy.
From scenic getaways to see brightly-hued foliage to an adventure in the urban jungle, we’ve rounded up 35 fall day-trip ideas from Long Island that kids will love. Some are close by, while others require a few hours in the car or a ride on the Long Island Rail Road. Some even require a ferry ride. But no matter where you go or how you get there, you’re sure to create some lasting memories from these fall day trips.
For even more seasonal excitement, check out our Fall Fun Guide and Day Trips Guide for Long Island families.
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Early fall is harvest time in Long Island wine country. Explore a family-friendly winery on the East End with music, games, and fantastic wine for the adults.
Is there a better time for a bike ride than autumn? One of our favorite trails is the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway. If your little one is too young for a bike or scooter, plan a stroller walk with the family.
RELATED: Best Fall Festivals and Fairs for Long Island Families in 2023
Apples are ripe for the picking on the East End. Photo by Jaime Sumersille
Whether you want to pick apples or hunt for pumpkins, Long Island’s farms are some of the finest in New York State. And it’s always a fun-filled atmosphere with hayrides, harvest festivals, and corn mazes to explore.
Get close to nature with a fall foliage hike. We highlighted some of our favorite trails through Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End.
The beautiful, antique carousel is a perfect excuse to visit this charming North Fork village. Kids will love trying to grab the golden ring for a chance to win a free spin!
Visit one of these Long Island historical sites that span the landscape from Nassau County to Montauk.
Visit the charming Village of Stony Brook and explore the Long Island Museum, the 18th-century Stony Brook Grist Mill, and the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
RELATED: Weekend Getaways near NYC For Families this Fall
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns returns to Long Island this fall. Photo courtesy of the event
Take in a Long Island Halloween tradition by visiting the Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns at USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts in Wheatley Heights.
With many of the tourists gone, hop on the ferry to Shelter Island from Greenport or North Haven and spend the day exploring this local gem. Older kids will enjoy the 4-mile bike ride across the island along Route 114.
Another fun ferry destination is Fire Island, where the water is often warm enough to swim in well into October. Catch a ferry from Bay Shore, Sayville, or Patchogue to explore this diverse ecosystem.
Or watch them from above. The fall is a great time to visit the Long Island Aquarium. Adventurous kids 12 and older can take a dive into the aquarium’s 120,000-gallon shark tank.
Explore the Hamptons and Montauk now that the majority of tourists have left. The North Fork will still be crowded until the end of the farm fun season at around Halloween.
RELATED: State Parks on Long Island Worth a Visit
Explore Manhattan’s above-ground oasis, the High Line. Photo by Timothy Schenck/courtesy of Friends of the High Line
Hike the High Line and take in the unique city views. The 1½-mile track passes by such tourist attractions as Chelsea Market and Little Island.
With easy access on and off the High Line, Hudson Yards’ many shops and restaurants include Mercado Little Spain and Dylan’s Candy Bar.
While you’re at Hudson Yards, explore Edge, the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, if you dare. The towering structure rises 102 stories above the city streets.
Explore a wild animal encounter adventure and get an early start on Halloween with Harvest Glow at the Bronx Zoo, which runs through October 31, 2025. Boo at the Zoo is an annual tradition that allows kids to get dressed up for a visit to the 265-acre zoo. Animals are unpredictable, so you never know what cool things you’ll see when you go.
Plan a day to visit Queens with the kids to check out the botanical garden, or have some hands-on fun and learning at the New York Hall of Science, and even swing by the zoo in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Explore the city’s world-class theaters, and check out a kid-friendly Broadway performance. While you’re in the Theater District, pay a visit to the LEGO or M&M stores for some extra fun!
Spend the day exploring magnificent Central Park, visit the zoo, or venture downtown for a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and visit its namesake park.
Hop on a ferry to Governors Island for wide-open spaces and stunning skyline views. Find the ferry schedule here.
Or head to downtown NYC to hop the ferry to Liberty Island to see Lady Liberty and the Statue of Liberty Museum, which offers a lot of history and interactive exhibits for families to experience.
RELATED: Great Animal Farms and Petting Zoos on Long Island
Catch the fall foliage on a visit to Croton Gorge in Cortlandt, New York. Photo by William Doyle via Flickr
Take a drive to upstate New York and the Catskills region to cross off a few family-friendly activities from our Hudson Valley bucket list.
Try the kitschy roadside King Kone in Bedford for a sweet treat, or visit one of these other ice cream shops in the Westchester area.
Enjoy autumn’s transformation while on a scenic drive to one of these stunning fall spots in Westchester.
Explore the Storm King Art Center, which offers larger-than-life sculptures and beautiful fall foliage spread over 500 acres.
Take a trip back to the 15th century at the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park. This celebration of the Middle Ages runs through early October.
Legoland New York is just a 90-minute trip from NYC. Ride roller-coasters, LEGO cars, and, of course, build LEGO masterpieces before heading back home. Or spend the night at the resort hotel and head home in the morning.
RELATED: Pick-Your-Own and More Farm Fun on Long Island
Enjoy a drive-thru safari at Six Flags in New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Six Flags Great Adventure
Load the kids in the family van for a wild drive through the Six Flags safari and spend a night at the resort, and then explore the main park and all of its coasters.
Spend the day chasing waterfalls at one of these easy, northern New Jersey hikes perfect for little legs.
Get the swimsuits out and visit the DreamWorks indoor water park, open all year at the American Dream mall. There are so many fun things to do, including Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, that you may even want to make a weekend of it.
Truck-loving little ones will enjoy a visit to Diggerland USA, a construction-themed amusement park in Southern New Jersey. This spot even hosts fall festivals for the season, with pumpkins and hay rides that the kids will love.
Head to Bridgeport on the ferry. We’ve rounded up the top 25 Things to Do in Bridgeport, including catching a hockey game, Beardsley Zoo, and visiting a science museum.
The ferry ride from Orient Point to New London is half the fun in this day trip. Enjoy a getaway to nearby Mystic, Connecticut, where you can experience a quaint seaside town and the largest maritime museum in the country, Mystic Seaport.
Plan a day to visit some of the stunning parks in Connecticut. Plan a fall hike to see some amazing waterfalls in the Nutmeg State.
View fall foliage from aboard the classic Essex Steam Train. Steamboat tickets are available and can be purchased as a combo ticket with the train ride.
A version of this post was first published in 2015. This post was updated in September 2025.
