Eastern US Trip Itinerary + FAQs
Every May, we love wrapping up our homeschool year with an adventure! Over the years, we’ve explored everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to Mount Rushmore, Glacier National Park, and even Legoland. Some of these trips have been in May, others throughout the year—but the goal is always the same: to grow, learn, and make memories as a family.
Provo, UT Airport
Most of our past adventures have been RV trips, which let us travel at our own pace and save money. But this year, we decided to switch things up. Our main goal was to visit LDS church history sites in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania —but after last year’s long drive to Missouri and Illinois, we didn’t want to drive all the way from Utah again. So, we looked into flights and found a good deal into Washington, DC. My brother lives nearby, so we planned on saving on hotels and also introducing our kids to some incredible landmarks in our nation’s capital.
From DC, we traveled to Ohio, then upstate New York, down through Pennsylvania, spent a day in NYC, and ended back in DC to fly home. We went about 2000 miles and the route wasn’t perfect (see my notes on this below), but we visited six states in just over ten days. The trip was packed with history, spiritual experiences, and even first-time flights for our kids —which, of course, they loved.
I shared lots of snippets from our trip on Instagram, so check my highlights for more photos and videos. I also put together a downloadable itinerary for you guys. I originally mapped out our plans using AI and edited it to fit our needs —it had everything organized for me — from flight info to car rentals and daily plans. It made it so much easier and I just referenced it digitally while traveling. So, I went ahead and changed a few things so I could make it more public and you’re welcome to use it as a jumping off point.
And, just a side note —you’ll notice we covered a lot of LDS church history sites. I recognize these aren’t for everyone but all of these places hold deep meaning for us. Many of our ancestors settled in these areas and visiting them really helped us connect with our heritage and build our faith which is definitely a big part of our homeschool.
I have some additional thoughts on each place that I’ll share and also a bunch of FAQ’s near the bottom.
Washington DC
We spent about two and a half days in DC and packed in a lot! You could easily spend weeks here—there’s just so much to see. But, honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted more time. When we travel, we like to hit the highlights. With young kids, we don’t spend hours reading every museum plaque or trying to see every single thing. So, this pace worked really well for us. Also, keep in mind, we stayed about an hour outside of the city at my brother’s house so the days we hit traffic it would take us 2 hours to get into the city and another 2 hours to get back to my brother’s house. So, we REALLY wanted to utilize the time well when we had to drive in. We didn’t have the luxury of going back to a near by hotel to wind down and then go back out. Staying in DC is expensive, but the outskirts are much more financially affordable —so all of this is something to be aware of and consider.
Lincoln Memorial
We were really tired from early mornings (between our flight and trying to get into the city early), but we made up for it later in the trip with some slower days as we drove and slowed down in Ohio. If our kids were younger than 5, we probably couldn’t have done so much walking on the National Mall. But at almost 6 to 11 years old, they handled everything so well —even when they were tired.
I’ve listed everything we saw in DC (in order) on our itinerary. The only thing I wish we could’ve squeezed in was Ford’s Theater and the Lincoln Museum. I’ve been before and would’ve loved to show the kids, but after a few museum-heavy days, I’m not sure it would’ve been very impactful for them.
Also, keep in mind to tour the Capitol and the White House you need advanced reservations. We booked 3 months in advance through our state senator office. A lot of people have told me it’s hard to get White House tickets so keep that in mind. That was a huge highlight for us though!
You’ll also need reservations for the National Archives and Air & Space Museum. We also tried to get tickets to go up in the Washington Memorial. We logged on multiple times to reserve them right when they opened but never had any luck.
One last note: we traveled DC > Kirtland > Palmyra > Philly > NYC > DC. Ideally, we would’ve done DC > Philly > NYC > Palmyra > Kirtland > DC. The later is shorter driving distances and this also places church history in chronological order (versus going backwards), but we had to plan around temple times and getting into NYC on a Sunday so this is how it best worked for us.
Kirtland, Ohio
Niagara Falls
Kirtland was probably my favorite stop of the whole trip. We had hoped to visit last year —while in Nauvoo. In fact, we even considered adding 20 extra hours of driving to make it happen —but it just didn’t work out. So this year’s trip was really planned around finally getting here. Both my husband and I felt a strong spiritual prompting (at different times) to come, so it felt important to follow through. It was a really special experience for us and for our kids and I’m so grateful we were able to give them these testimony building experiences.
My favorite part here was the temple —especially the assembly hall. It’s one of those places you just have to see in person. We also enjoyed the rest of Historic Kirtland and recommend seeing everything.
People often say to plan two days here, but we did it in one. We started right when things opened at 10:00 and finished by about 3:00.
Niagara Falls, NY
We arrived at Niagara Falls right at sunset after spending the day in Kirtland. It was perfect timing —we took a 15–30 minute walk to see the falls then stayed for the evening light show. It was a big highlight for the kids and I’d definitely recommend seeing the falls at night for that experience.
I had originally planned to do the Maid of the Mist tour, but I’m so glad we skipped it. Several people warned me that you get really wet, even with ponchos, and we didn’t want to deal with wet clothes and shoes while traveling. Plus, I’m not a fan of boats —so it worked out well.
Palmyra, NY
Sacred Grove
Wow! Such a special place! We were able to see everything we planned in one day (though I was a little disappointed we forgot to visit Alvin’s gravestone in town). Also, we made sure to book temple appointments ahead of time since it can get busy —so I’d definitely recommend that.
We almost skipped the Whitmer Farm on our way out of Palmyra since we’ve seen so many pioneer homes lately —but I’m so glad we went. It ended up being one of my favorite stops and out of all the places we visited —I felt the spirit there stronger than anywhere else which really surprised me.
Priesthood Restoration Site: Oakland Township, PA
Months ago, while studying Live Up to Your Privileges, I was really struck by something Emily Belle Freeman shared about Emma Smith standing at her window in Harmony. She mentions it five times in her talk, emphasizing how much that moment mattered —how important things were happening on both sides of that window. Being able to stand at that same window felt incredibly meaningful to me. It reminded me of a veil —the sacred connection between the heavenly work happening inside of her home and the restoration unfolding outside in the world.
We didn’t make it down to the Susquehanna River (totally forgot, ha!), but everything else here was beautiful. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Hale home tour and how much I learned. Definitely don’t skip this stop —and make sure your GPS is set to Priesthood Restoration Site, not Harmony, or you’ll end up in the wrong place!
Philadelphia, PA
We chose to stay about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia since staying downtown was pricey. It also gave us a good mid-point between DC and NYC, so we stayed two nights in the same spot to regroup a bit. We came in on Friday evening and left on Sunday morning. When we drove into Philadelphia on Saturday we hit about 30 minutes of traffic and none coming home.
This area is special for us because my husband lived and served his two-year church mission here, so he had some meaningful places to show us. One highlight was attending a session at the Philadelphia temple —it was his first time going inside here so that was a big priority.
We spent a few hours touring Independence Hall (you’ll need a reservation) and seeing the Liberty Bell. We had hoped to visit the U.S. Mint, but it was closed —so instead, the kids watched a virtual tour while we waited for my husband at the temple. I know a lot of other people visit Betsy Ross’ home here, but we decided to skip out on another home tour.
New York City
Ha! Where to begin? After we left NYC, I posted that I was relieved to be out of the city —and I got a flood of questions. So here’s the story.
View from our hotel room
My husband and I have visited NYC a few times and knew it probably wouldn’t be an ideal place to take the kids —it’s busy, crowded, expensive, and overwhelming. But, when the kids realized how close we’d be, they were SO excited. The Statue of Liberty was #1 on their list to see and we felt like we couldn’t skip it or we’d really disappoint them. Plus, there are some iconic landmarks worth seeing.
We researched every way to get into the city and ultimately chose to drive in on a Sunday which helped a lot with traffic. Like I mentioned, that timing actually influenced how we planned our whole route. Even up until a few days before we considered skipping it though. We joked about what we could bribe the kids with to change their minds —but in the end, we went because we felt it could be a valuable learning experience for them.
New York is a city of contrasts —there is such wealth and, yet, such poverty. It’s something you can’t quite explain until you experience it. Coming off the sacred, peaceful feelings we experienced in places like Kirtland, Palmyra, and DC —NYC definitely felt like a stark contrast. And, that ended up being the reason why we decided to go in —we wanted our kids to feel the difference for themselves.
It didn’t take long for them to realize the city wasn’t what they expected. The crowds, noise, garbage, subways, strong smells, and some intense street scenes were overwhelming. We even got caught in a protest and saw and heard some things we wish the kids hadn’t. But, it led to some really good conversations —about cities, about people, about life, and about what home can mean to others.
Central Park
That said, for those planning a similar visit:
Driving in on Sunday and out Monday morning was an absolute breeze! There was no traffic either way so if you’re ever wanting to drive in —definitely go in on a Sunday.
We stayed at the Hilton in Times Square and it ended up being a great choice. Just FYI there are a few Hilton’s near Times Square, but I linked the one we stayed at. It was easy to get to from the Lincoln Tunnel, close to everything, and we didn’t have to drive through the heart of the city. We arrived early in the morning, dropped off our bags in their storage, and parked with the valet ($95 + tips).
We booked a high-rise room with a view of the Empire State Building which felt like a great alternative to paying to go up into one of the towers. The view was amazing and one of our favorite parts. From there we used the subway and walked to explore the city and you can check our itinerary for more details on what we saw and in what order.
For the Statue of Liberty we took the Staten Island Ferry which goes right past the statue and it’s free. You get off on the other side and turn right around and board the next ferry to cross back over to Battery Park.
So, in the end, NYC wasn’t our favorite stop, but it was memorable in its own way and despite everything the kids still really enjoyed being able to see the Statue of Liberty. I’m glad we went, but I hope we don’t have to go back anytime soon.
Hershey & Gettysburg
On our way back to the DC area, we made a quick stop in Hershey, PA and did the free chocolate factory tour. It’s a fun little 5-minute ride that shows how the candy is made and we even got a few treats we can’t usually find in Utah. We were there for about an hour and didn’t visit the theme park, but it’s right next door if you're interested.
Gettysburg was our final stop. If you love learning about the Civil War you could spend a lot of time exploring here. We stopped by the Visitor’s Center and then did a short self-guided auto tour. We didn’t do the paid exhibits and spent about an hour here too which felt good for the kid’s ages.
FAQ’s
I asked on IG what questions people had about our trip and I have answered a lot of them in my post or in the itinerary, but here are a few more:
Home
What did you study to prepare for the trip? There were two areas of study for this trip —US History and our church history and the Doctrine & Covenants.
This is our third time studying US history and since this trip was somewhat spontaneously booked in January I worked it into an already busy school year. Really, a lot of this study was introducing some of the basics to my younger boys and then also adding in some new stories and learning on a higher level for my girls. I looked at a ton of curriculums, but just wasn’t feeling anything too formal so we decided to read lots of books and watch YouTube videos.
A few favorites is that we LOVED the Millennial Instructor’s: The Divine Founding of America and I also pulled a handful of lessons out of The Good & The Beautiful’s Constitution Course. I also would recommend reading Timothy Ballard’s books beginning with The Washington Hypothesis.
A few years ago we used Little School of Smith’s American History guides and absolutely LOVED them so if you’re looking for a great US history course —that is the one I’d recommend. (Code: Homecenteredlearning10 will get you 10% off in her shop).
We also really liked using Beautiful Feet Books Early American History.
For church history and Doctrine & Covenants —I am sure there is so much more that we could’ve studied, but since we’re studying the D&C this year we just used the scriptures and that has been wonderful. I looked at a few historical fiction stories and books written about the certain areas, but nothing was speaking to me. We use the monthly Red Headed Hostess subscription and also love that.
How was the driving in the cities and parking? I included near where we parked in the itinerary, but here are a few general thoughts…have a plan before heading into any big city and a backup just in case. Ours was to use the app Spot Hero to reserve parking, but we never ended up needing it. We traveled in early May, before peak tourist season, which definitely helped. Expect to pay for parking everywhere in DC, Philadelphia, and NYC.
What did you use for transportation? We flew from Utah to DC and rented a mini van. We drove into every city. In DC we use the Lime rental scooters to zip around the National Mall. In NYC we parked our car with valet parking at our hotel and then rode the subway down to the south end of Manhattan, saw a few sites, then rode it back up north (so just two times because it’s pricey for 6 of us to be hopping on and off).
What was your end step count in DC? We didn’t count it too religiously, but my girls watches said 33,000+ after two full days.
How was it with kids and bathrooms in the city? Were they easy to find? Yes, always easy to find restrooms, but we took advantage when we saw them —especially before and after in museums and tours so we weren’t trying to find one at the last minute.
I have littles, so planning times to get energy out is a must. Did you need to? Where? This really depends the area. In the cities —there is so much walking, but there is a lot of grassy areas you can bring food to picnic or a ball to play with in DC on the National Mall. There are also ducks by the Capitol. If you’re driving from DC/NYC to upstate NY or Ohio —those stretches can be about 5-6 hours. We only stopped for quick restroom breaks so I don’t have recommendations for parks or other places to get energy out. Once you’re up north the driving is 2-3 hours between places so that’ll be much more doable with younger kids. We did enjoy stopping at Fairport Harbor —mostly to see Lake Erie and there is a playground on the beach that the kids spent some time on.
NY Subway
Was there somewhere you wished you had more time? No, I felt like the time we spent in each place was just right. That said, some families I’m sure would prefer to slow down, especially if your kids aren’t used to traveling. We tend to move quickly and our kids are used to that pace so it worked well for us.
If you had to, is there somewhere you’d cut out? NYC. And, if we had less time, I’d also consider cutting Philadelphia. It was important to us because my husband lived there and the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall is worth seeing —but honestly, I think seeing the Declaration of Independence in DC is cooler.
Is there somewhere you’d add? I’ve never been to Mt. Vernon and would’ve liked to go, but it was under construction and several people said it wasn’t worth the cost right now, so we skipped it. I also wanted to see Jamestown and Ford’s Theater, but we didn’t prioritize those. A friend recently did a full week in DC and added Jamestown which she loved but it didn’t make as much sense for us since we were heading north and Jamestown is south. If you have older children, I would also recommend the Holocaust Museum. I’ve been there twice and it’s definitely for older teens/adults because it’s very heavy. I also would’ve liked to see the 9/11 Museum, but we decided not to for the same reason —too heavy for young children.
What would you do differently? In an ideal world we would’ve followed church history sites chronologically. I could see at some places where I was getting confused because we were going backwards, but I think it was fine. This is a fun map to see as you move across the US. We’ve hit the major sites and have been to 13/18 places now.
What was your must see in DC? If you can get White House tickets —that was the highlight there! The Capitol was also great. I also really enjoyed the American History Museum and Natural History Museum. And, you’ve got to go to the National Archives, of course. I also really enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial and US Botanical Gardens. Arlington was also high on our priority list.
The White House
What was your favorite part? The church history sites were my favorite. I’ve been to DC before and was glad the kids got to see it since it’s such an important place. But, visiting Kirtland and Palmyra for the first time was really special for me and I loved being able to share that with our kids. My husband loved the White House. My kids said their favorites were also all the temples and the girls liked the botanical garden.
How much time is ideal at each spot? I mentioned this in a few places above but it really depends on your family’s travel style. I also have more detailed look into our days on the itinerary. But, we were gone for 10 days, and by day 8, I could tell the kids were getting tired and homesick. At these ages (6-11) they travel really well —happy and well-behaved. But, I noticed a shift in their energy in Philly. We chose our dates based on flight prices and I don’t think we could’ve seen as much in less time. That said, I know going any longer wouldn’t have been enjoyable. For us, we’ve learned the sweet spot for traveling is 9–10 days.
Did you feel safe everywhere? Yeah, we felt safe everywhere during the day, but I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to be out in the cities at night with the kids. There was also a moment in NYC where we got mixed in with a little protest where I definitely was nervous, but everything ended up being fine.
Hotels and Food Recommendations: Check my itinerary for hotel specifics, but we’ve had good luck with Holiday Inn Express —they usually have two queen beds and a sofa bed, which works great for our family of six. They’re clean, affordable, and include free breakfast. Since we were driving I had time to research and book hotels as we went. We did not make reservations ahead of time so that we could be flexible with our driving dates.
As for food —DC and NYC are expensive. We packed lunch for our day on the National Mall which was smart since there aren’t restaurants nearby (just food trucks). Also, drive-thrus are rare in the city so plan ahead if you're hoping for something quick. I have a few restaurants listed on my itinerary.
Could you share more about how much everything cost?
Our flights were $200 per person round trip. We flew through the budget airlines Breeze out of the Provo City Airport and were able to get our tickets during a 50% off sale. In Provo, if you can plan to buy the tickets in person it will be even cheaper, but we were literally booking the last night of the sale an hour before it ended. We brought very small carry-ons so we didn’t have to pay for additional luggage and because we wanted to travel light knowing we would be moving so frequently. I did laundry three different times, but I probably could’ve gotten away with twice.
The Capital
Most hotels averaged about $200/night, except NYC, where we paid $420—but that included parking and I thought that was a great deal to stay in a high rise on Times Square. Also, in NYC we booked a room with only two queen beds; three kids shared one bed (sideways), and our youngest slept with me and my husband. Prices will vary during tourist seasons and weekdays vs. weekends though so factor that into your dates.
We booked our rental car through Costco Budget Car Rentals and it was about $400 with unlimited miles.
For food, we tried to eat out just once a day, averaging around $60—sometimes less with fast food, sometimes more with sit-down places. Many of our breakfasts were complimentary and then we usually had a bigger meal in the late afternoon and would snack the rest of the day. We packed a cooler and brought lots of snacks… probably spending a couple hundred on groceries overall.
Parking was about $20/day in DC and Philly. Maybe another $30 to ride scooters. Another $20 in tolls. We took 90% toll free roads. Other than that, nearly everything we did was free—except for a few $1 reservation fees (like the Air & Space Museum).
Final Thoughts
If you go on a trip like this —please let me know! Tell me all the things you’re planning to do and how it goes! My last piece of advice though is that if you do a trip like this make sure to plan a lot of downtime after for recovery at home. Happy learning and safe travels!!!
