8 days in Washington DC, New York City & Boston Itinerary

The capital of the United States, the District of Columbia contains the lion's share of the country's most treasured monuments, memorials, and public museums.

Kids will enjoy National Gallery of Art and National Air and Space Museum. Museum-lovers will appreciate Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. There's still lots to do: contemplate the waterfront views at Tidal Basin, take a stroll through Old Town, appreciate the history behind Jefferson Memorial, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Capitol Hill.

For maps, traveler tips, reviews, and tourist information, read our Washington DC trip maker tool.

Phoenix to Washington DC is an approximately 6.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time is 2 hours. Traveling from Phoenix in May, expect Washington DC to be little chillier, temps between 76°F and 58°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Tue) so you can catch the flight to New York City.

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

Kick off your visit on the 31st (Wed): examine the collection at 9/11 Memorial, then wander the streets of Fifth Avenue, then take a stroll through Times Square, and finally get outside with Outdoor Activities.

For ratings, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, read New York City route maker.

Getting from Washington DC to New York City by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. While traveling from Washington DC, expect a bit cooler days and about the same nights in New York City, ranging from highs of 69°F to lows of 55°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Thu) early enough to fly to Boston.

Rich in museums, restaurants, shops, and historical sites, Boston attracts over 16 million visitors each year.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Newbury Street and Museum of Fine Arts. Family-friendly places like Dolphin & Whale Watching and Faneuil Hall Marketplace will thrill your kids. There's still lots to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Boston Public Garden, wander the streets of North End, pause for some photo ops at Bunker Hill Monument, and get to know the fascinating history of Freedom Trail.

To see other places to visit, maps, ratings, and tourist information, read our Boston vacation planner.

Traveling by flight from New York City to Boston takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Plan for slightly colder nights when traveling from New York City in June since evenings lows in Boston dip to 60°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Sat) to allow enough time to fly back home.