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The Hudson Valley: Route Guide

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Walkway over Hudson — The Hudson Valley
Photo: Juliancolton · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

New York's back garden and America's first art landscape: Dia:Beacon's factory-sized galleries, Storm King's 500 acres of monumental sculpture, Rockefeller and Roosevelt estates, and Sleepy Hollow, yes, that one. The Culinary Institute cooks in Hyde Park, the Gunks' white cliffs draw climbers, and October turns the whole valley into an argument for its own painting school.

The Hudson Valley is a 160 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 2–4 days; the plan below is the 3-day version for October, built from 65 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

2–4
days
160km
distance
4
Stops
65
curated stops

Plan your own version → 2-day plan · 3-day plan · 4-day plan · best time to go

The route

Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow→ 45 kmBeacon→ 30 kmNew Paltz & the Gunks→ 35 kmRhinebeck

What you'll see

Kykuit
Explore the grand interiors of a historic mansion once home to John D. Rockefeller.
Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow
Dia:Beacon
Explore modern art in a vast, repurposed factory with stunning riverfront views.
Beacon
State University of New York at New Paltz
You will see historic brick buildings and modern academic facilities on the campus.
New Paltz & the Gunks
Rhinebeck Post Office
Admire WPA-era murals and historic architecture.
Rhinebeck
Sunnyside
Stroll the lush gardens and take in breathtaking vistas of the Hudson River.
Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow
Mount Gulian Historical Site
Discover the rich history of the Verplanck family in a beautiful, story-filled setting.
Beacon
Huguenot Street
Stroll along historic houses lining America's oldest street.
New Paltz & the Gunks
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
Witness airworthy vintage aircraft taking flight.
Rhinebeck

Choose your length

2-day plan10 stops · 4.5 h transit5 stops/day · 2.2 h transit/daySee the full plan →3-day plan14 stops · 3.6 h transit4.7 stops/day · 1.2 h transit/daySee the full plan →4-day plan16 stops · 4.2 h transit4 stops/day · 1.1 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: September, October, November

Leaf season on America's first scenic river — Dia:Beacon's galleries, cider donuts at every farm stand, and Sleepy Hollow doing Halloween as a civic duty.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →