The best travel destinations within 5 hours of New York City

You can sometimes book a non-stop flight to Reykjavik for under $300. It’s a five-and-a-half-hour flight (which, OK, is slightly more than five hours), but a bit of extra flight time can get you all the way to the home of the Blue Lagoon and quite a few “Game of Thrones” filming locations. Five hours seems minor when you consider that it gets you all the way to the land of Aurora Borealis.

You don’t need to leave the country for a tropical getaway. Miami is so much more than just beaches and nightlife — the Capital of Latin America has incredible food options and culture galore. Plus, three-hour direct flights start at $250.

In the live music capital of the world, there’s hiking, history, and a budding food scene. You can get deep in the heart of Texas in only four hours for as little as $225. Check out Barton Springs, a three-acre swimming pool fed by warm natural springs, in Zilker Park.

To get to Tulum, you’ll fly four hours to Cancun and then drive an hour south, but the trek is worth it to surround yourself with tropical forests and Mayan ruins. Flights to Cancun start around $250 round trip.

In just three hours, for around $200, you can wind up in the city of live jazz, beignets, and charbroiled oysters. For quintessential tourist spots, head down Bourbon Street, or for nightlife with a more local flair, try jazz on Frenchmen Street.

There are 700 islands in the Bahamas and so much to see from Paradise Island to Bimini to Grand Bahama. It’s a quick three-hour flight to Nassau for about $450.

Going south isn’t your only option. After only an hour and a half flight (starting at about $215), you’ll be in poutine country. Take in Old Montreal and of course, get your smoked meat fix at Schwartz’s.

The flights are two hours and start at under $200, round trip. The port city of South Carolina has southern charm, and the brightly colored buildings and palm trees make it a photographer’s dream town.

An hourlong direct flight to Portland, Maine (starting around $150) can make for the perfect coastal excursion. The salty New England air makes for a welcome contrast to New York City.