The music festival scene has exploded in the United States during recent years, leading to a symphony of options accessible from New York without a car. There are still plenty of long summer days to catch East Coast music festival lineups that range from alternative to hip hop to jazz, and everything in between.
Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival | July 11-16
Where: New York, New York
Why: Festival producers Brooklyn Bodega want a true celebration of hip-hop culture, and they are especially excited about Q-Tip’s headlining performance.
Cost: Varies
Vans Warped Tour | July 23
Where: Uniondale, New York
Why: Top 40 names like 3OH!3 and lesser known acts such as Yelawolf make one of several stops in New York on the annual cross-country Warped Tour.
Cost: $48.05
How to get there: Take the Long Island Rail Road to Lineola. Walk to the transit center and take the N40/41 bus to Hempstead before transferring to the N70/1/2. Arrive at Hempstead Turnpike and Glenn Curtiss Boulevard and walk to the Nassau Coliseum.
Gathering of the Vibes | July 21-24
Where: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Why: Jane’s Addiction leads the lineup at this family-friendly festival that also promises plenty of quality time on the beach. Gathering of the Vibes is an annual celebration of the Grateful Dead and offers a mix of genres such as folk, funk rock and jazz.
Cost: $75/day
How to get there: Take an Amtrak train to Bridgeport. Festival shuttles will run regularly to the festival. As music ends after the last train, there is a bus running late each night to Penn Station.
Osheaga | July 29-31
Where: Montreal
Why: Eminem, Death Cab for Cutie and Broken Social Scene are only a few of the big names making the trek to Montreal for this eclectic music extravaganza.
Cost: $217.50 CAD
How to get there: Take a train from Penn Station to Montreal. Take the 2 subway to Berri-UQAM and then take the 4 to Jean-Drapeau.
Newport Folk Festival | July 30-31
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Why: Folk favorites Amos Lee, Elvis Costello and the Decemberists are joined by rising acts like Trampled by Turtles and the Cave Signers.
Cost: $125
How to get there: Take a Greyhound bus to Newport. Transfer to the Jamestown-Newport Ferry to Fort Adams.
Escape to New York | August 5-7
Where: Southampton, New York
Why: Best Coast, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Of Montreal headline the first United States iteration of the UK’s alt-rock Secret Garden Party. Food is also an integral part of the festival, from cart dining to “the world’s largest brunch.”
Cost: $275
How to get there: Take the Long Island Rail Road to Southamptom.
Newport Jazz Festival | August 5-7
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Why: Wynton Marsalis, Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Michael Feinstein and others perform in scenic Newport as a part of a jazz festival that once hosted Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles David.
Cost: $40-100 Friday; $69 Saturday and Sunday
How to get there: Take a Greyhound bus to Newport. Transfer to the Jamestown-Newport Ferry to Fort Adams.
Dave Matthews Band Caravan | August 26-28
Where: New York, New York
Why: Dave Matthews headlines each night of this Governors Island festival, bringing along friends like O.A.R., Dispatch and Gogol Bordello.
Cost: $195
How to get there: Take the R to Whitehall Street or the 1 to South Ferry. Ferries will run from the pier.
Electric Zoo | Sept 2-4
Where: New York, New York
Why: Nestled between Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, Randall’s Island will host internationally renowned electronic performers like Tuesto, David Guetta, Moby and Rusko.
Cost: $249
How to get there: Take the footbridge from E. 103rd Street in Manhattan or the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge from Manhattan, Queens or the Bronx. You may also purchase festival passes packaged with ferry or shuttle transport.
Popped! Music Festival | Sept. 23-24
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Why: Pretty Lights, Girl Talk and the Shins are sure to delight electronic and alternative music fans alike. Festival goers’ tickets also provide access to comedy acts throughout the weekend.
Cost: $110
How to get there: Take an Amtrak train to Philadelphia. Transfer to the SEPTA Broad Street subway and ride to Pattison Avenue.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram