America's 250th Anniversary: Boston to Washington, D.C. — Self-Launched
9 days · USA East Coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.)
Collette charges £3,450
No-markup version: ~£1,595 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Collette's 9-day Revolutionary-era coach tour from Boston to Washington D.C. Instead of a guided bus group and four-star hotels, you'll use Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Acela trains plus local buses/metro, stay in well-located hostels and budget hotels, and self-book the same headline experiences: Lexington & Concord battle sites, West Point, the 9/11 Memorial, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Valley Forge, the National Mall memorials, Arlington Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol and Mount Vernon. You skip the group pace and set your own evenings — including the option of catching a Broadway show or 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall at your own cost. All figures are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Boston — Freedom Trail orientation
Boston, MA
Land at Logan (BOS) and take the MBTA Silver Line bus to South Station or Downtown Crossing (free from the airport, ~25 min). Check into a hostel near Downtown/Chinatown or a budget hotel in the Back Bay. Spend the afternoon walking the free, self-guided Freedom Trail — the 4 km red-brick line linking Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, Granary Burying Ground, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Grab a cheap lobster roll or Italian sandwich in the North End in the evening — this is your own version of the welcome dinner.
🚌MBTA Silver Line from Logan Airport (free); walking
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Downtown/Back Bay Boston (e.g. HI Boston or similar) — approx. £45–60/night
- →Self-guided Freedom Trail walk
- →Boston Common & Granary Burying Ground
- →Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market
- →Evening wander in the North End
Lexington & Concord — the shot heard round the world
Lexington & Concord, MA
Take the MBTA Red Line to Alewife, then the Route 62/76 bus towards Lexington, or cheaper and simpler: ride the commuter rail from North Station to Concord (approx. £6 each way, ~40 min) and use the Minute Man National Historical Park's free trails and shuttle in season. Visit Lexington Battle Green, Wright Tavern and Old Hill Burying Ground in Lexington centre (bus 62 from Alewife, ~£2 with a Charlie Card), then walk or bus to Concord to see the Old North Bridge and explore the Robbins House for African American history. Minute Man NHP ranger talks are free. Bring a packed lunch — Concord cafés are pricey.
🚌MBTA Red Line + bus 62 to Lexington; MBTA Fitchburg commuter rail to Concord (~£6 each way)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Boston — approx. £45–60/night
- →Lexington Battle Green, Wright Tavern & Old Hill Burying Ground
- →Old North Bridge, Concord
- →Robbins House African American history site
- →Free Minute Man NHP ranger talks
West Point & on to New York City
West Point, NY → New York City
Store your bag and take the Metro-North Hudson Line from Grand Central (after arriving in NYC) — or simpler, take Amtrak's Northeast Regional from Boston to New York Penn Station (~£40–60, 4 hrs, book early). Drop bags at your hostel, then ride Metro-North from Grand Central to Peekskill or Garrison, NY (~£18 return) and take the local West Point shuttle or a taxi across the river to West Point. Self-guided visits to the West Point Museum are free; Trophy Point's Hudson River viewpoint and the cemetery are open to walk. If you want the full campus tour, book ahead through West Point Tours (approx. £18, ID required). Return to the city for a cheap slice-pizza or deli dinner.
🚌Amtrak Northeast Regional Boston–NYC (~£45); Metro-North Hudson Line to West Point area (~£18 return)
🛏HI New York Hostel or budget hotel, Upper West Side/Midtown — approx. £55–70/night
- →Amtrak Northeast Regional to NYC
- →West Point Museum (free) & Trophy Point
- →Optional West Point Tours campus tour (~£18)
New York City — Lower Manhattan & Central Park
New York City, NY
Start with breakfast at a classic local diner (approx. £10–12). Walk the free Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty view, then do a self-guided Lower Manhattan loop: the 9/11 Memorial pools are free to visit (museum approx. £25, book via 911memorial.org), St. Paul's Chapel, and Trinity Church. Use the subway (~£2.40/ride, or a 7-day OMNY cap approx. £26) to head up to Central Park for a free afternoon stroll — Bethesda Terrace to the Reservoir. Optional evening: book discount Broadway tickets (TodayTix/lottery) for Hamilton — typically £70–150+; skip to keep costs down and instead eat in Chinatown (approx. £10).
🚌Subway day of rides on OMNY (~£6–8)
🛏HI New York Hostel or budget hotel — approx. £55–70/night
- →Staten Island Ferry (free) harbour views
- →9/11 Memorial pools (free) / Museum (~£25)
- →St. Paul's Chapel & Trinity Church
- →Central Park self-guided walk
- →Optional Broadway show (own cost)
On to Philadelphia — Old City & the Revolution
Philadelphia, PA
Take NJ Transit or Amtrak from NYC to Philadelphia 30th Street (~£15–35 depending on carrier/time; NJ Transit + SEPTA is the cheapest at ~£15, ~2 hrs). Check into an Old City hostel or budget hotel, then hit the Independence National Historical Park: timed tickets for Independence Hall are free at recreation.gov (book as soon as you know your date), and the Liberty Bell Center is free with no ticket. Visit the Museum of the American Revolution (approx. £18, book online — sometimes cheaper via a CityPASS). Evening: cheap dinner in Chinatown or Reading Terminal Market, or splurge on a drink aboard the Moshulu tall ship at Penn's Landing (approx. £12 for a drink).
🚌NJ Transit/SEPTA or Amtrak NYC–Philadelphia (~£15–35)
🛏Apple Hostels of Philadelphia or budget hotel, Old City — approx. £40–55/night
- →Independence Hall (free timed ticket)
- →Liberty Bell Center (free)
- →Museum of the American Revolution (~£18)
- →Drink aboard the Moshulu tall ship (optional, own cost)
Valley Forge, then train to Washington D.C.
Valley Forge, PA → Washington, D.C.
Ride SEPTA Regional Rail from Center City to Paoli or Phoenixville area (~£5 each way) and use the local bus or a short rideshare to Valley Forge National Historical Park (free entry). Walk the self-guided 8 km Encampment Trail, see the Muhlenberg Brigade huts, the National Memorial Arch, and join a free NPS ranger talk at Washington's Headquarters (small house tour fee may apply). Return to Philly, collect your bag and take Amtrak's Northeast Regional to Washington Union Station (~£25–40, 2 hrs). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Dupont Circle or NoMa and grab a cheap dinner.
🚌SEPTA Regional Rail to Paoli (~£10 return); Amtrak Philadelphia–Washington (~£30)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Dupont Circle/NoMa D.C. — approx. £45–60/night
- →Valley Forge National Historical Park self-guided walk
- →Washington's Headquarters NPS tour
- →National Memorial Arch & Muhlenberg Brigade huts
Washington D.C. — Mall, memorials & Arlington
Washington, D.C.
All of today's headline sights are free. Walk or use the Metro (~£2/ride or a £8 day cap) around the National Mall: see the White House from Lafayette Square, then the World War II, Vietnam Veterans and Korean War memorials. Take the Blue Line to Arlington National Cemetery (free entry) for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Kennedy gravesites — the narrated tram tour is optional (~£14). In the afternoon, ride the free King Street Trolley into Old Town Alexandria for cobblestone streets, the waterfront and Christ Church (free, small donation).
🚌Metro day of rides (~£8); free King Street Trolley in Alexandria
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, D.C. — approx. £45–60/night
- →National Mall memorials (free)
- →White House viewpoint at Lafayette Square
- →Arlington National Cemetery & Changing of the Guard (free)
- →Optional cemetery tram (~£14)
- →Old Town Alexandria & waterfront
U.S. Capitol & Mount Vernon
Washington, D.C. → Mount Vernon, VA
Book a free U.S. Capitol tour in advance through the Capitol Visitor Center (release dates online; arrive via the Capitol South Metro). Then take the Yellow Line to Huntington and bus 101 or the seasonal Fairfax Connector 151 (~£2) to Mount Vernon estate (approx. £21 entry, book online; gardens, Washington's mansion and the tomb are included). Add the optional 'Lives Bound Together' enslaved-people and 'Women of Mount Vernon' tours if available (~£8 each). Return for a self-organised farewell dinner — Ethiopian on 9th Street NW or a cheap Uyghur/noodle spot (~£15).
🚌Metro Yellow Line + Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon (~£4 return)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, D.C. — approx. £45–60/night
- →Free U.S. Capitol guided tour (pre-booked)
- →Mount Vernon estate & Washington's Tomb (~£21)
- →Optional specialty tours (~£8 each)
Departure from Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Take the Metro Silver Line or a shared shuttle to Dulles (IAD, approx. £5 via Metro from downtown) or Reagan National (DCA, ~£2). If your flight is later, squeeze in a free morning at the Library of Congress (free timed pass) or the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Note: if you'd rather finish in the city that suits your flights, Amtrak makes it easy to hop back to Boston or New York.
🚌WMATA Metro to IAD (~£5) or DCA (~£2)
🛏—
- →Optional free Smithsonian museum or Library of Congress visit
- →Metro transfer to airport
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,595 | £3,450 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,855 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,595
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does America's 250th Anniversary: Boston to Washington, D.C. — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,595 per person for 9 days in USA East Coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £3,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,595 — a saving of roughly £1,855 (54%) per person.
How long is the USA East Coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through USA East Coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through USA East Coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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