New Haven, Connecticut, about 80 miles from Manhattan — roughly an hour and a half by car — combines Yale University’s historic campus, several free world-class museums and one of America’s great food traditions: New Haven-style “apizza”. It’s an ideal day trip for families, art lovers and anyone visiting colleges.

At a glance
Distance from Midtown About 80 miles
Typical drive About 90 minutes off-peak
Highlights Yale campus, Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for British Art, Peabody Museum, pizza

Yale University

Founded in 1701, Yale is one of America’s oldest universities. Its Gothic and Georgian architecture, courtyards and libraries make for a beautiful walk. Campus tours are available for prospective students.

Free museums

  • Yale University Art Gallery — one of the oldest university art museums in the country, with an encyclopedic collection.
  • Yale Center for British Art — the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom.
  • Yale Peabody Museum — natural history, including famous dinosaur fossils, reopened after a major renovation.

Apizza

New Haven’s thin, charred, coal-fired pizza is legendary. Historic pizzerias on and around Wooster Street have served it since the early 20th century; lines are common on weekends. The white clam pie is the signature.

Also in town

Louis’ Lunch claims to have served America’s first hamburger sandwich, and the Shubert Theatre has hosted Broadway tryouts for over a century.

College tours

New Haven fits into a Northeast college tour with Brown, Harvard and others. Read college tours in the Northeast and see our college car service.

A sample day

Arrive mid-morning, walk the Yale campus and visit the Art Gallery, have an early pizza lunch to beat the lines, spend the afternoon at the Peabody or the Center for British Art, and catch an evening performance at the Shubert or Yale Repertory Theatre before heading home.