Spring has officially arrived, and so has the draw to hit the road.
Sojourners looking for varied terrain – ranging from lush green views, stunning lakes and waterfalls and mountainous landscape – should look no further than these 11 scenic drives. Several urban hot spots are also featured among the more rural routes.
Here are New York’s 11 most scenic drives, as determined by the World Atlas, a website that publishes content about resources surrounding travel and other topics.
Upper Delaware Scenic Byway
The 70-mile-long road connects Port Jervis in Orange County and Hancock in Delaware County. The passage snakes along the Delaware River, mostly just north of the border of New York and Pennsylvania and through small but mighty villages and towns. The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway is a windy, hilly road that was constructed in the 1920s. The most swoon-worthy stretch, known as the Hawk’s Nest Highway, is close to Port Jervis. The route offers plenty of access to fishing spots and there are many quaint camping spots near the road.
Palisades Interstate Parkway
Running for about 40 miles, the Palisades Interstate Parkway is an engineering marvel that’s shared by New York and New Jersey. Its route takes passengers from just north of the George Washington Bridge in the Big Apple to Bear Mountain Bridge, further up the Hudson River.
Completed in 1958, Palisades Interstate Parkway runs along the cliffs of the Hudson River for much of its route and offers frequent views of the waterway from an elevated perch.
Passenger cars and motorcycles are the only vehicles allowed on the road. Trucks, recreational vehicles and even vehicles with commercial plates or hauling trailers may not drive here.
Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway
Located less than tow hours from Manhattan, this 52-mile-long road follows New York State Route 28, with short extensions along state Routes 42 and 214 through the heart of the central Catskills. side trips from the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway feature many delicious eateries, historical spots and art galleries. Among some of the more alluring spots are Phoenecia, an out-of-the-way Catskills town loved for its endearing rural charm, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center and Palmer Hill Trail, a nice roadside stop with lovely views.
Route 20 Scenic Byway
Although a transcontinental road, one particular stretch of Route 20 in central New York offers some stunning views. A portion that spans just over 100 miles between Duanesburg in Schenectady County and LaFayette in Onondaga County offers a cornucopia of sites connected to New York’s history, federal-style architecture as well as lush, rolling landscapes.
Great Lakes Seaway Trail
The route runs more than 450 miles along the western and northern border of New York from along the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario to the St. Lawrence River and Canadian border. It passes through both Buffalo and Rochester but also features more than three dozen historic lighthouses, numerous wineries, coastal towns and attractions like Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands.
FDR Drive
Named after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, FDR Drive “is all about the metropolitan grandeur of New York City,” according to the World Atlas. Built in the 1930s, it borders the East River on the eastern side of Manhattan and is a main commuter artery that’s roughly 10 miles long. No commercial trucks are allowed. It also features some scenic views and spots including several parks, walkways and playgrounds.
Lakes to Locks Passage
The Lakes to Locks Passage, a 230-mile corridor in northeastern New York, links Waterford in Saratoga County and Rouses Point in Clinton County. It connects a series of water route,s including the Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George and Lake Champlain. This network is part of a historically significant transportation route linking upstate New York with the Canadian province of Quebec.
Seneca Lake Scenic Byway
The 19-mile-long Seneca Lake Scenic Byway runs along the southeast border of Seneca Lake. It follows New York State Route 414 and starts from near Watkins Glen in Schuyler County, best known for one of the most popular and unique state parks in the Finger Lakes. It goes through to Lodi Point State Marine Park in Lodi, Seneca County, and past Hector Falls, an impressive roadside cascade, as well as several wineries, breweries and distilleries and plenty of spots to grab a bite. Numerous hiking trails and parks are along the route – as are opportunities to swim, boat, fish or bike.
Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway
A 108-mile road southeast of Buffalo is a scenic loop that runs from Orchard Park and Aurora in Erie County south to Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County. The byway follows US Route 219 and State Routes 240 and 242 and coincides with early 19th-century railroad development to service the burgeoning economies of towns in southwestern New York. A main attraction on the byway is Griffis Sculpture Park in Cattauragus County, where steel sculptures have been continuously installed on a 450-acre park since the early 1960s. Sinking Ponds Archaeological site, Chestnut Ridge Park, Sprague Brook Park and Knox Farm State Park are scenic spots on the northern part of the byway.
Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway
A tollhouse marks the start of the 5-mile Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway. The road takes visitors to the top of New York’s fifth highest peak at 4,867 feet. There is a heart-stopping stretch filled with hairpin turns and numerous jaw-dropping moments. Once at the top, there are stellar panoramic views of the Adirondacks. There’s a short alpine nature trail at the end of the road for those who wish to reach Whiteface’s summit.
Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
It is one of Manhattan’s most recognizable thoroughfares – home to luxurious shopping with flagship stores for Tiffany & Co., Chanel and Saks Fifth Avenue. Retail isn’t the only notable draw on Fifth Avenue; other spectacular spots include Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and the main branch of the New York Public Library. It is also home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim Museum.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hit the road this spring with New York’s 11 most scenic drives
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
