Best Fall Foliage Road Trips from NYC: Catskills & Beyond
When the air turns crisp and the trees start blazing red, orange and gold, it’s time to get out of NYC and take the long way through the mountains.
Within a few hours of the city, you can wind through the Catskills, follow the Delaware River, cross the Shawangunk Ridge or head farther north into the Adirondacks—stopping along the way for hikes, small towns, cider donuts, farm stands and whatever view makes you pull over.
And if you’re already heading out to chase the foliage, make a weekend of it. Spend the day exploring, then head back to a campsite, light a fire and wake up surrounded by fall color instead of driving straight back to the city.
Don’t own camping gear? That part is easy. You can [rent a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad from Basecamp Brooklyn]before you leave NYC, pick everything up in Greenpoint and take it with you for the weekend.
Already debating camping vs. a hotel? Here are 6 reasons fall might be our favorite season to camp.
When Is Peak Fall Foliage Near NYC?
We could give you a neat chart with one “peak weekend” for every region, but fall doesn’t really cooperate like that.
Color generally starts farther north and at higher elevations before working its way south. The Adirondacks tend to turn first, followed by the Catskills, with the Hudson Valley often holding onto color later in October. Across New York, foliage season usually stretches from late September into November.
Weather can move things around from year to year, so don’t pick a destination in August based entirely on when it peaked last year.
Instead, check the I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report before you leave. It tracks current color around the state throughout the season.
That also means missing “peak” in one place doesn’t mean you missed fall. If the Adirondacks are past prime, head south. If the Catskills have dropped their leaves, the lower Hudson Valley may still be putting on a show.
Choosing quickly? Route 28 is our classic Catskills pick. Route 97 is for winding river roads and a slower weekend. The Shawangunks are great if you want hiking, farm stops and foliage in the same trip. And the Adirondacks are for when you’re ready to commit to the drive and make a real long weekend out of it.
Top Fall Foliage Road Trips from NYC
1. Route 28 Through the Catskills
Best for: A classic Catskills fall road trip
Don’t Miss: The Ashokan Reservoir, lunch at Phoenicia Diner, and a detour through Stony Clove to Kaaterskill Falls.
If someone asked us where to go for a classic Catskills fall drive, Route 28 would be one of the first places we’d send them.
The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway follows Route 28 for much of its 65-mile route through the Central Catskills. From the Kingston area, head west past the Ashokan Reservoir toward Phoenicia, then keep going deeper into the mountains toward Big Indian, Pine Hill, Arkville and Margaretville.
For an especially scenic detour, turn north from Phoenicia onto Route 214 through Stony Clove toward Tannersville and Haines Falls. That puts you near Kaaterskill Falls and the dramatic views along the eastern Catskill escarpment.
Make it a camping weekend: Woodland Valley is an easy choice near Phoenicia earlier in October. Going later? North-South Lake stays open through October 25 in 2026 and puts you right near some of the best foliage scenery on the escarpment.
👉 Want to compare more options? See our full guide to Where to Go Camping Near NYC This Fall.
2. Route 97 Along the Upper Delaware
Best for: River views, motorcycles and taking your time
Don’t Miss: The curves and overlooks at Hawk’s Nest, the Roebling Bridge, and food + drinks at the Cochecton Pump House.
Route 97 is the road we’d choose when the road itself is part of the activity.
The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway follows the Delaware River for 53 miles between Port Jervis and Hancock, with cliffs, forest and small river towns along the New York–Pennsylvania border. Start with the winding stretch at Hawk’s Nest, then continue north through Barryville toward Narrowsburg and Callicoon.
This isn’t a drive we’d rush. Stop for lunch, wander around town, cross the historic Roebling Bridge or pull over when you find a view worth lingering over. Trying to make good time kind of defeats the point.
Make it a camping weekend: October requires a little more planning here because several public campgrounds in the region close before peak foliage. Look for private campgrounds and Hipcamp stays around Barryville, Narrowsburg and Callicoon, and confirm fall closing dates before you build the rest of your trip.
3. The Shawangunks: Ridge Views + Fall Farm Country
Best for: Hiking, foliage, orchards and an easy weekend from NYC
Don’t Miss: A hike at Minnewaska, cider donuts at Saunderskill Farm, and cider + a lingering meal at Westwind Orchard.
If your ideal fall road trip includes a hike in the morning and something involving apples or cider afterward, head for the Shawangunks.
Start around New Paltz and follow Route 299 toward the ridge, where you’ll have easy access to Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve. From there, explore the Gardiner, Kerhonkson and Accord farm country—the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway links these communities around the northern ridge.
This is also the route where we’d intentionally leave plenty of time for food. Grab cider donuts at Saunderskill, pick apples if the timing is right, or settle in at Westwind for cider and food among the orchards instead of racing off to the next stop.
👉 Want more orchard options? Check out our Best Apple Orchards Near NYC guide.
Make it a camping weekend: The Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground in Gardiner is tent camping only and is open through November 10 for the 2026 season—making this a particularly good route once many other campgrounds have closed.
4. The Adirondacks: High Peaks + Lake Placid
Best for: Bigger mountain scenery, earlier color and a three-day weekend
Don’t Miss:The Cascade Lakes, a drive up the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway, and lunch at the 4610′ Café near the summit.
The Adirondacks are the one trip on this list that really deserves a long weekend. You’re driving farther, but you’re also getting bigger mountains, alpine lakes and an entirely different scale of scenery.
Route 73 through the High Peaks is the drive we’d build the trip around. Follow it through Keene Valley and past the Cascade Lakes—two narrow lakes tucked between the mountains right alongside Route 73—before continuing into Lake Placid.
From there, walk around Mirror Lake, tackle a High Peaks hike if you want a bigger adventure, or continue toward Wilmington for one of the most memorable drives of the weekend: the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway.
The highway climbs more than 2,300 feet in five miles toward the summit of Whiteface Mountain, with overlooks along the way. At the top, you’ll find a historic stone castle, a rock-carved elevator, 360-degree Adirondack views and the 4610′ Café—the highest restaurant in New York. The highway and café are seasonal, so check current operating dates, weather and conditions before you go.
Make it a camping weekend: Several DEC campgrounds in the Adirondacks stay open into October, but check the exact closing date before choosing your campsite. And pay attention to the overnight low—not just the sunny afternoon forecast. Fall nights in the Adirondacks can get properly cold.
Bonus: Add a Fall Foliage Train Ride
If you’re already spending the weekend on the road, a scenic train can be a fun way to let somebody else do the driving for a couple of hours.
And there are some particularly easy pairings with the routes above.
Catskill Mountain Railroad in Kingston is running its Fall Foliage Adventure September 26–27 and October 2–4 and 9–12 in 2026. The ride travels from Kingston through the Hurley Flats and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes.
Delaware & Ulster Railroad in Arkville is an especially easy addition to the Route 28 trip, with scenic Saturday rides through the Catskills continuing into the fall.
And if you make it all the way to the Adirondacks, Adirondack Railroad is offering fall foliage experiences as part of its 2026 schedule, including longer rides through the region.
Check schedules and book ahead before building your entire weekend around a train departure. October weekends have a way of getting popular.
Planning to Camp? Make That Part Easy.
NYC’s Go-To Camping Gear Rental
Featured by New York Magazine + I LOVE NY
Ready for a weekend outside but don’t own all the gear? Rent clean, high-quality tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads with convenient pickup and return in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Perfect for first-time campers, music festivals, group trips, and anyone who wants to experience camping without buying and storing a full setup.
Perfect for Festivals, Group Trips, and City Campers
Our gear is lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to set up—whether you’re heading to a music festival, escaping to the Catskills, taking a road trip with friends, or trying camping for the first time.
Convenient Pickup & Drop-off:
Pickup Location: Bond Collective Building, 276 Greenpoint Avenue.
Pickup: Wednesday
Drop-off: Monday
(Need a different time? Contact us before booking.)
Popular weekends book out fast—especially during music festival season. Don’t wait! Reserve ahead to guarantee your gear.
*Please email us for availability before booking for same day or next day pick up.
Once you already have a campsite and a car, camping gear is actually one of the easiest pieces of the trip to solve.
You don’t need to buy a tent you’ll have to store in a Brooklyn closet for the rest of the year.
Basecamp Brooklyn rents tents plus sleeping bag + sleeping pad sets from our Greenpoint location. Pick everything up before your trip, put it in the car, camp for the weekend and bring it back when you’re done.
That works particularly well for foliage road trips because you’re already driving out of the city anyway.
👉 Reserve your camping gear in NYC
Still deciding where to sleep? Start with our Best Fall Camping Near NYC guide and find a campground that fits the road trip you want to take.
A Few Things We'd Do Before Leaving NYC
Check the foliage report for 2026. Don’t chase last year’s peak date.
Confirm the campground is actually still open. This becomes increasingly important mid-October and beyond.
Look at the overnight low. Make sure you have the gear and clothing layers for a cozy night at camp.
Pack Comfort Food. Nothing beats a Dutch oven of chili simmering by the fire or a steaming mug of cider in your hands.
Leave some empty space in the itinerary. A farm stand, scenic pull-off or tiny town you didn’t plan for may end up being your favorite stop.
Start earlier than you think on October weekends. Trailheads, orchards and the most popular scenic areas get busy.
Download your map before heading into the mountains. Cell service still disappears in plenty of places upstate.
The Bottom Line
Don’t get too hung up on finding one mythical “perfect” fall foliage weekend.
Follow the color.
Go farther north earlier in the season, spend early and mid-October in the Catskills, and keep an eye on the Hudson Valley as fall works its way south.
If you want classic mountain roads, take Route 28. If you want a slower ride along the river, follow Route 97. If you want to combine hiking with orchards and farm country, head for the Shawangunks. And if you have an extra day and don’t mind the drive, keep going to the Adirondacks.
Then, instead of turning around and fighting traffic back to NYC at the end of the day, find a campsite, make a fire and stay outside for the night.
And if the only thing you’re missing is the gear, we can help with that.
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