The Best 7-day Educational Tour to the Historic East Coast (Reviews/Ratings/Costs)
If you're planning a trip to the East Coast, why not experience as much as you can, right? You know this may be the one chance for your students to have this unique travel experience. You and your students should never feel rushed or have to compromise your experiences. For that reason, we are big advocates for 7-Day trips.
A 7-day trip gives trip leaders to dream up an itinerary that incorporates several cities and varied attractions. Seeing a baseball game in New York or spending an afternoon at Busch Gardens are fun ways to unwind on a trip. Spending a few more minutes at a museum, monument, or dinner relaxes the group and makes your trip more enjoyable. Hey, we love 5-day trips, but they can feel rushed. If you have the option, consider a 7-day trip. Below are a few trips that we love.
Points to consider when planning your trip:
On a seven-day trip, you'll only have 6 to 6.5 days of touring. If your group departs on a red-eye flight and tours all of the first day and catches a late return flight on day 7, you'll get closer to the full 7-day experience. These 7-day itineraries include traveling to and from your destination cities. Traveling between destinations cities is another factor that compresses activity time on a trip. To maximize your activity time, we recommend your group sticks to two or three cities for a 7-day trip.
We'll take you through three itinerary options and provide insider tips so that you can lead a memory-maker trip with your students.
7 day East Coast Trips:
3 days DC, 1-night PHL, 2 nights NYC
2 nights Colonial Virginia, 3 nights DC, 1-night PHL
2 nights Boston, 4 nights NYC
School Field trips to New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and Historical Virginia.
Seven Day Educational Class Trips - 3 nights DC, 1-night PHL, 2 nights NYC
Your group's educational tour starts in Washington DC. The Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King jr. Memorial and the Washington Monument are all monuments and memorials that students love. Spend the day on the National Mall hopping between Smithsonian to Smithsonian. Have lunch delivered and eat underneath the tree on the grassy National Mall. Take a group photo on the steps of the US Capitol. Walk up the stairs to your guided tour of the US Capitol and a scheduled meet-and-greet with your House of Representatives member. The Library of Congress and the Supreme Court are just across from the Capitol and will be sure to awe students on your educational trip.
En route from DC to Philadelphia, you'll stop in Gettysburg. Teachers and their students absolutely love eating an authentic Tavern meal and being greeted by our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Your licensed Gettysburg Battlefield guide will expertly lead your group through this sacred Battlefield. The Gettysburg Visitor Center offers a moving film, a detailed Cyclorama, and an interactive Museum. When in Philadelphia, your students will love eating cheesesteaks, Taking a photo with the Liberty Bell, and exploring the most historic square mile in the United States. Philadelphia is packed with history; no wonder why it's called the birthplace of American History.
Your trip’s grand finale is in New York City. You might be the kind of trip leader who loves guided tours in Central Park or the Highline. Or maybe you feel recharged amongst the skyscrapers in Midtown or the bright lights of Times Square and Broadway. There really is something for everyone in New York.
Day 1: Washington DC
Day 2: DC
Day 3: DC
Day 4: Philadelphia
Day 5: New York City
Day 6: New York City
Day 7: New York City
Insider Tip(s) - Be sure to include authentic meals in each of the cities you visit. Your meals on tour should be an experience that you and your students remember!
When to go - March through November are ideal months to visit Washinton D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. Weather in the summer months can be hot and humid. Crowds tend to thin out in the fall.
Cost -
7 days/6 nights - Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York “air” costs $2,900–$3,900.
7 days/6 nights - Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York “air” costs $2,600–$3,600.
Seven Day School Trip - 2 nights Colonial Virginia, 3 nights Washington DC, 1-night PHL
Your trip will start by visiting historical sites in the five cities of historic Virginia. America's historical triangle is made up of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, and just north are Richmond and Charlottesville. The Civil War Museum and St. John's Church are great places to take a group in Richmond. Students love visiting the shops and interacting with the role-playing characters in Historic Williamsburg.
Just outside of Washington DC, your group will visit, if you call it grounds, and a stately Mansion of our first President, George Washington. Plan for your students to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Your students will never forget how they felt when they laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. Cross the Potomac and step to the gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Take a group photo at the White House and freeze a moment in time with your students. Your students have studied the historical documents and class, and now it's time to see them in person at the National Archives. In D.C. you'll see where the Declaration is now stored. In Philadelphia, you'll see where the framers wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia is often called the birthplace of American history, and for a good reason. Stepping into Independence Hall gives you and your students a special appreciation for our founding fathers' sacrifices to form our country. Across from Independence Hall is the National Constitution Center. A "judge chats" session inspires students. In-person federal judges will interpret the law and how the Constitution affects students' everyday life.
Day 1: Arrive in DC or Colonial Virginia Area
Day 2: Colonial Virginia
Day 3: Washington DC
Day 4: Washington DC
Day 5: Washington DC
Day 6: Philadelphia
Day 7: Fly or bus home in the afternoon
Insider Tip: Add a Baseball game and a theme park on this trip. Tavern meals in Colonial Virginia are a wonderful experience for your students.
When to go: Travel to Colonial Virginia, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia in the spring, summer, and fall. The summer months can be humid, so drink plenty of water.
Cost -
7 days/6 nights - Colonial Virginia, Washington DC, and Philadelphia “air” costs $2,800–$3,800.
7 days/6 nights - Colonial Virginia, Washington DC, and Philadelphia “bus” costs $2,500–$3,500.
Seven Day Educational Field Trips - 2 nights Boston, 4 nights New York City
You and your students start your journey in New England. Your students will step on the grass where the shots heard around the world started the American Revolution in Lexington, Massachusetts. Visit the homes of literary Legends in author's Row in Concord. Walk the path of the Freedom Trail and visit historic sites throughout Boston. Visit Plymouth Rock and learn about the Witch trials in Salem.
In New York, hop aboard “the beast” speedboat and hit speeds of 45 miles per hour on your way to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You and your students will love visiting historic areas of culture in New York. Some group favorites are Chinatown, Little Italy, and Harlem. An architecture tour of Midtown is a fun way to spark inspiration in you and your students.
Day 1: Arrive in Boston
Day 2: Boston
Day 3: New York City
Day 4: New York City
Day 5: New York City
Day 6: New York City
Day 7: New York City
Insider Tip(s) - During the day, participate in a Broadway classroom with your students. Experience fun workshops led by Broadway actors. At night, watch actors perform in a Broadway show. In Boston, plan a tour of Fenway Park and attend a Redsox game.
When to go - Take your students to Boston from April through October.
Cost (air and bus) -
7 days/6 nights - Boston and New York City "air" costs $3,200–$4,200.
7 days/6 nights - Boston and New York City "bus" costs $2,900–$3,900.
Middle School Students - Rank ordered based on accessibility, cost, connection to curriculum, and fun. Note: There is a slim margin of difference between 1 and 3.
Historic Virginia + Washington DC + Philadelphia
Washington DC + Philadelphia + New York City
Boston + New York
High school and College Students - Rank ordered based on accessibility, cost, connection to curriculum, and fun. Note: There is a slim margin of difference between 1 and 3.
Boston + New York
Washington DC + Philadelphia + New York City
Historic Virginia + Washington DC + Philadelphia
Conclusion: You want a trip that you and your students will remember for a lifetime. You want an Educational travel trip that makes you proud. Pairing any of these cities with the right activities will make an amazing trip. Now that you have the starting point of 3 amazing trips work with a company that supports premium student travel.
Did we mention that we create memory-making trips that teachers and their students love? Schedule a call. Even if we're not a good match, we'll give you some good information and point you in the right direction. Happy Travels!