The trips are easy to do because they run mainly along the three public interstate highways in northern New Jersey. Two of the trips end up in Pennsylvania, and one ends up in New York State.
None of the trips should take more than half a day to complete, but all three can be expanded into overnight trips if you want. I've driven all three routes multiple times and have added very convenient side trips for each route. The side trips are all simple, and all of them add more opportunities to enjoy the spectacular colors available when the leaves put on their show in fall.
Easy road trips from New York City to see spectacular fall foliage
Route 78 trip to the Pagoda in Reading, Pennsylvania
This trip can begin anywhere along Route 78 in New Jersey and ends at the Pagoda in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Pagoda is a seven-story wooden pagoda that was built in 1908 on a mountaintop in Reading that offers fantastic views to visitors.
Route 78 can be reached from the Holland Tunnel from New York City. Take Route 78 West to Exit 24, the Oldwick exit, for a side trip. The side trip can be skipped, but along this side trip you will see some of the most vivid fall foliage colors in the Northeast. Bear right at the light at the end of the ramp onto CR 523. Take the first left onto Rockaway Road. After about half a mile, the road goes over Rockaway Creek and then starts following the creek. You'll start seeing vivid colors along the creek as the road winds along it for about 7 miles.
When Rockaway Road ends at Water Street, take a left. Keep following Water Street until it bears left and turns into Cokesbury Road. Take Cokesbury Road to where it intersects with Route 78 and take 78 West. This whole side trip will take about half an hour.
Continue on 78 West, enjoying the fall foliage colors in western New Jersey. Cross over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania on Route 78. Stay on 78 until you reach Exit 40. From Exit 40, take Route 737/Krumsville Road south to Route 222/Kutztown Bypass Road. Turn right and take Route 222 to Maiden Creek, where you will turn left onto Route 73. Take 73 for a couple miles to Breezy Corner, where you will turn right onto Route 12/Pricetown Road.
After two miles, turn left onto Skyline Drive. Stay on Skyline Drive and enjoy the great fall colors along this mountaintop road. Skyline Drive winds around, and you have to be a little careful to stay on it, but follow signs for the Pagoda. Where Skyline Drive runs into Duryea Drive is the Pagoda. The Pagoda is perched on the southern tip of Mount Penn in Reading.
For a $1 donation, you can walk to the top of the Pagoda and see magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The views are especially spectacular in fall as the leaves change.
There are plenty of motels and hotels in the area for anyone who wants to stay overnight. If you want to go back home, just reverse the directions and get back to 78 East.
Route 80 West to the Knob Overlook in Mount Pocono, Pennyslvania
This trip can begin anywhere along Route 80 West in New Jersey and ends at the beautiful Knob Overlook in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. You can see vast views covering three states from the overlook.
Take Route 80 West from the George Washington Bridge. For a quick side trip, take Exit 57A in Paterson onto Route 19 South for half a mile and get onto Valley Road going south. Turn right onto Mountain Park Road and follow signs into Garret Mountain Reservation. Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road goes in a loop around the reservation. Along the loop road are parking areas that offer fantastic views of the fall foliage from on top of the mountain. You won't believe you are 10 miles outside of New York City on top of this mountain.
Go all the way around the loop and retrace your steps back to Route 80. As a fun side stop, Lambert Castle is located right off Valley Road on the left just before it gets back to Route 19. Lambert Castle is a real castle that is open to the public. It's filled with great artwork and offers great views of the New York City skyline. Head back to Route 80 West by taking Route 19 North.
Take Route 80 West all the way to the Delaware Water Gap. For another great side trip, take Exit 1, the last exit in New Jersey, which takes you right onto River Road, which quickly turns into Old Mine Road.
Old Mine Road goes for about 8 to 10 miles along the Delaware River, offering great views of the fall foliage along the river. There are plenty of places to park along the river and walk if you want to. Once the road starts going away from the river, turn around and head back down Old Mine Road and follow the signs to get back onto Route 80 West and cross over the river into Pennsylvania. There is a toll to cross the river.
Once in Pennsylvania, stay on Route 80 West to Route 611 North at Exit 298 (Scotrun). Continue on 611 North for about 5 miles into Mount Pocono and turn right onto Knob Road. Knob Road will take you to a viewpoint loop where the views of the Kittatinny Mountains are breathtaking. You can see the fall colors here stretching out in front of you for many miles in the distance, covering three states.
To head home, just retrace your steps back down Route 611 to Route 80. There are plenty of hotels and motels in the Poconos where you can stay overnight if you'd like. The entire Pocono Mountains area is truly beautiful in fall as the leaves change. If you like to gamble, you can visit Mount Airy Casino and Resort.
Route 287 North trip to Palisades Lookout
This trip can start anywhere along Route 287 North in New Jersey. If you are coming from New York City, you can reach 287 North from either Route 78 or Route 80 West. This trip takes you through the northern mountains in New Jersey and winds up at the Palisades Lookout on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson River.
Because the fall foliage is usually brilliantly colored on 287 North between Routes 80 and 78, I'm beginning the trip at Route 78 West where it intersects with 287 North.
Take Route 78 West to Route 287 North. Take Route 287 North and enjoy the beautiful colors along the highway as you make your way north. I used to drive along 287 North from 78 to Morristown everyday, and in the fall, the colors are spectacular along the highway.
Keep going north on 287 through the mountains of northern New Jersey, and enjoy the fall colors. Continue on to the border with New York State and get on the New York State Thruway, Route 87 and 287, going east.
Go for about 10 miles and then take the Palisades Interstate Parkway South. As soon as the Palisades crosses into New Jersey, take Exit 4 and go for a very short distance on Route 9W North, and then turn onto State Line Lookout road going south. Park along the road and enjoy the spectacular views looking out over the Hudson River. You can see the skyline of New York City looking south and the beautiful Hudson River Valley looking north.
If you want to get back to New York City, stay on State Line Lookout road, which will put you back on the Palisades Interstate Parkway going south, which will take you to the George Washington Bridge.
If you want to see more spectacular fall colors, go back north on State Line Lookout road and get on 9W going north. Keep going north along the Hudson River on 9W. There are many state parks along this route, including Tallman Mountain, Hook Mountain, Palisades Interstate Park, and Stony Point State Park. All offer great views of the Hudson and plenty of beautifully colored fall foliage.
Continue on 9W North into Bear Mountain State Park. When you reach the circle where Routes 6/202 intersect 9W, take Routes 6/202 over the beautiful Bear Mountain Bridge. The views from the bridge, both north and south, are really nice. Once over the bridge, continue south on Routes 6/202. When Routes 6/202 run into Route 9, take Route 9 (also called Briarcliff-Peeksklill Parkway) South.
Stay on Route 9 South through Tarrytown. South of Tarrytown you will run into the New York State Thruway, and you can take that back to New York City and home.
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