Washington D.C., Niagara Falls & Philadelphia 3-Day Tour from NYC

Day 1: New York City→approximately 100 miles→Philadelphia→approximately 140 miles→Washington D.C.

1. Independence National Historical Park
   30m
   Step into what’s often called “the most historic square mile in America.” Around Independence Square you’ll find historic buildings tied to the Revolution and the founding of the country, a milky-white clock tower, and bronze statues of the founding heroes set across the lawns.
2. U.S. Capitol
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   U.S. Capitol In-depth Tour + The National Archives (optional, 120 min): If you’d like, head inside the U.S. Capitol, the geometric center of Washington, to walk its ornate congressional corridors and hear the stories behind the murals and statues. At The National Archives, you can see the founding documents themselves: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, alongside other landmark records. The tour also passes the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress from the outside.
   
   Note: if the U.S. Capitol cannot be entered, it is replaced with the optional Washington D.C. In-depth Tour (Air Force Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and World War II Memorial).
3. The White House
   30m
   (outside visit, 30 min): Stop for photos at the White House from a distance, the neoclassical residence and office of every U.S. president since 1800 and a byword for the American government itself.
4. Lincoln Memorial
   45m
   Lincoln Memorial + Vietnam Veterans Memorial (45 min): Wrap up the day at two of the capital’s most moving landmarks. The Lincoln Memorial, a Greek temple-style monument to the 16th president, is where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Just to the north, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a long V-shaped wall of black granite, is inscribed with the names of more than 57,000 service members who died in the war.
5. Washington DC
   5h
   New York to Philadelphia: approximately 100 miles
   
   Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.: approximately 140 miles
   Day 1: New York → Philadelphia → Independence National Historical Park (30 min) → Washington D.C. → U.S. Capitol In-depth Tour + The National Archives (optional, 120 min) [inside: U.S. Capitol & National Archives; outside: Supreme Court & Library of Congress] → White House (outside, 30 min) → Lincoln Memorial + Vietnam Veterans Memorial (45 min) → Hotel

Day 2: Hotel→approximately 275 miles→Corning→approximately 160 miles→Niagara Falls

1. Corning Museum of Glass
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   (optional, 90 min): On the drive north you can stop at the world-famous Corning Museum of Glass, the heart of the American glass industry. Some 100,000 pieces fill the galleries, from colorful artworks to crystal-clear sculptures, with live glassmaking demonstrations that turn a roadside break into something memorable.
2. Watkins Glen State Park
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Watkins Glen State Park & Finger Lakes (optional, 90 min, seasonal): When the park is open for the season, detour into Watkins Glen, the “Millennium Valley” in the Finger Lakes region. Its roughly two-mile gorge trail winds past more than a dozen waterfalls carved by glaciers and streams, with the fourteen long, narrow Finger Lakes set side by side like fingers nearby.
   
   Note: Watkins Glen & Finger Lakes is a seasonal summer stop, generally available May to October once the park officially opens. Please refer to the park’s official website for exact dates; when the park is closed, this stop is not available.
3. Niagara Falls State Park
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Niagara Falls Night View Tour (90 min): By evening you reach Niagara for the night tour, “one park, two islands, three falls.” Heading deep into the park, you take in multi-angle views from Goat Island and Luna Island while Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls glow under shifting colored lights. When a fireworks show is scheduled that evening, the tour will make sure you’re there to see it. However, in order to ensure a better experience for guests, it is guaranteed that guests can watch the fireworks show at the waterfall on that day (except when there is no fireworks show on that day).
4. Niagara Falls
   8h
   Hotel → Corning Museum of Glass (optional, 90 min) → Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes (optional, 90 min, seasonal) → Niagara Falls Night View Tour (mandatory, 90 min) [Goat Island & Luna Island; Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls & American Falls]

Day 3: Niagara Falls →Approximately 400 miles→New York

1. Niagara Falls
   2h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Niagara Falls Classic Tour (optional, 2.5 hr): Add the Classic Tour to get up close to the falls. At Whirlpool Park you look down on a 125-foot-deep natural whirlpool, formed where the river makes a sharp turn and the rapids churn back on themselves. At the Cave of the Winds, an elevator drops you into the gorge and onto walkways at the foot of the falls, close enough to feel the spray. In summer the tour finishes with the Maid of the Mist, the storied boat sailing since 1846 that carries you right into the misty basin below the falls. In the cooler season, when the boat is closed, it swaps in Old Fort Niagara State Park, a historic fort at the mouth of the Niagara River with sweeping views over Lake Ontario.
   
   Note: the Maid of the Mist usually closes in winter and is not visited during that period; the winter itinerary visits Old Fort Niagara State Park instead.
2. New York City
   Pass by
   From there it’s the drive back to New York, wrapping up three days of history and natural spectacle.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Pregnant travelers may join if they are under 24 weeks pregnant by the end of the trip.
• Please double-check your booking details (name and contact info), as any errors may result in additional personal costs. Please note: Cash is required during the tour for certain attractions, shops, and tickets. Guests are advised to prepare sufficient cash in advance.
• Tickets & Admission: Third-party attraction tickets or city passes are not accepted. All admission tickets must be purchased during booking or from your guide on the day of the tour.
• Watkins Glen State Park, Maid of the Mist or Old Fort Niagara State Park are seasonal attractions, only visit in the season.
• You must contact the tour operator at least 3 days prior to the departure date to provide the pick-up location. If no information is received by the deadline, the default pick-up location and time will be automatically assigned: 7:00 AM at Manhattan: Times Square LOFT Entrance;1459 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.
• By selecting an option and completing your booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the tour's full product description, including all details about itinerary, included and excluded fees. Your payment indicates your acceptance of these terms.
• Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, cash, and water for hydration. A valid reachable phone number is required for safety and trip communication.
• Children under 8 may require a booster seat by law when traveling on the minivans or vans. Please contact the operator in advance if needed; rental available on request.
• For individual special needs, tour operator may not be able to guarantee it. For special reasons, please confirm with the tour operator whether your special request is feasible after your booking is confirmed.
• Hotel rooms accommodate 1–4 guests with either two double beds or one king/queen bed (subject to availability). For groups over 4 or needing multiple room types, please book separately and provide all confirmation numbers after booking.