Gaithersburg→New York, NY, USA
“A 7-day urban road trip through Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Princeton, and Jersey City”
Shared by a traveler · city-level only, no dates, private notes stay private

- ~10h 13m driving
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Gaithersburg → Baltimore
85 km1h 28mDepart 15:14
Day 1
Gaithersburg → BaltimoreFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Harbor fort where the U.S. national anthem was inspired
Federal Hill Park
Hilltop panorama over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
Thames Street Oyster House
Fells Point seafood restaurant known for oysters
The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore
Harborfront hotel with garage parking
Day 2
Baltimore
16 km59mDepart 07:25
Day 2
BaltimoreMiss Shirley's Cafe, Inner Harbor
Popular Maryland breakfast cafe near the harbor
National Aquarium
Major aquarium spanning tropical and Atlantic habitats
Faidley's Seafood
Lexington Market counter famed for jumbo lump crab cakes
The Walters Art Museum
Free collection of ancient and European art
George Peabody Library
Ornate nineteenth-century library atrium
Baltimore Water Taxi
Harbor boat ride linking Baltimore waterfront districts
The Helmand
Long-running Afghan restaurant in Mount Vernon
Day 3
Baltimore → Wilmington
136 km2hDepart 08:36
Day 3
Baltimore → WilmingtonHavre de Grace Promenade
Boardwalk beside the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay
Friends-Concord Point Lighthouse
Historic lighthouse at the Susquehanna’s mouth
Jessop's Tavern & Colonial Restaurant
Colonial-style tavern serving hearty Delaware fare
New Castle Court House Museum
Colonial courthouse central to Delaware state history
Bardea Food & Drink
Acclaimed modern Italian dining in downtown Wilmington
HOTEL DU PONT
Landmark downtown hotel with historic interiors
Day 4
Wilmington → Philadelphia
79 km1h 41mDepart 07:02
Day 4
Wilmington → PhiladelphiaLegal Grounds Cafe
Neighborhood cafe serving breakfast and local coffee
Brandywine Museum of Art
Wyeth-family art in a converted riverside mill
Hank's Place - Chadds Ford
Roadhouse-style local favorite for lunch near Brandywine
Independence Hall
Birthplace of the Declaration and U.S. Constitution
Liberty Bell Center
Exhibition housing the iconic cracked Liberty Bell
Museum of the American Revolution
Immersive museum tracing the American Revolution
Zahav
Celebrated Israeli restaurant near Society Hill
Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Stylish central hotel beside Reading Terminal Market
Day 5
Philadelphia
11 km46mDepart 07:55
Day 5
PhiladelphiaDutch Eating Place
Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast counter in Reading Terminal
Philadelphia City Hall
Monumental civic building topped by William Penn
Barnes Foundation
Exceptional collection of Impressionist and modern art
Sabrina's Cafe
Popular neighborhood cafe near the Parkway museums
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Major art museum above the famous Rocky Steps
Rocky Steps
Famous museum staircase overlooking the Parkway
Vernick Food & Drink
Refined New American restaurant near Rittenhouse Square
Day 6
Philadelphia
17 km57mDepart 07:56
Day 6
PhiladelphiaHigh Street
Artisan bakery and cafe serving seasonal breakfasts
Eastern State Penitentiary
Atmospheric ruined prison with acclaimed exhibits
Jack's Firehouse
Southern-influenced American cooking in a firehouse
Rodin Museum
Intimate collection of Rodin sculpture and gardens
Elfreth's Alley Museum
Historic residential lane dating to the early 1700s
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Seasonal Delaware River park with hammocks and gardens
Royal Sushi & Izakaya
Highly regarded Japanese izakaya in Queen Village
Day 7
Philadelphia → New York
157 km2h 22mDepart 07:25
Day 7
Philadelphia → New YorkDown Home Diner
Classic diner breakfast inside Reading Terminal Market
Agricola Eatery
Farm-focused restaurant in central Princeton
Art Museum
University art collection in a major new museum building
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Check live same-day admission slots before leaving each hotel, especially Independence Hall, the Barnes, and Grounds For Sculpture.
- 2Keep the sedan parked during the two full Philadelphia days; walking and SEPTA are faster than repeated garage changes.
- 3Refuel in Delaware, where gasoline is often cheaper than central Philadelphia or New Jersey Turnpike service areas.
- 4Use E-ZPass lanes for Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey toll facilities; avoid cash-only assumptions.
- 5Check museum websites each morning because late-August maintenance, private events, or weekday hours can change access.
Good to know
- 1I-95, the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Delaware toll plaza, and New Jersey Turnpike charge tolls; E-ZPass generally receives the simplest rate.
- 2Baltimore and Philadelphia curb rules change by block, and residential permit zones are actively enforced; use named garages near central stops.
- 3August heat and thunderstorms can make exposed waterfronts uncomfortable; indoor attractions provide the safest midday blocks.
- 4The New Jersey Turnpike and approaches to Manhattan can slow sharply on Saturday afternoon; preserve at least 45 minutes of arrival buffer.
- 5No border documents, vignettes, mountain passes, or seasonal road closures apply to this entirely domestic urban corridor.
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7 days501 kmGaithersburg→New York
A 7-day urban road trip through Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Princeton, and Jersey City
View itinerary
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