5 Best New York Road Trip Destinations to Beat the Crowds

Nearly 20 million people call the New York Metropolitan area home. That includes the 8 million people in the city and millions of others in nearby suburbs of Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and downstate New York. It may seem tough to get outdoors with that many people, but luckily, a New York road trip can get you into the mountains and along some beautiful coastlines.

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Here are five spots you can hit the road to for some camping and outdoor adventures.

5. A Quick Drive Gets You to New York’s Second-Largest State Park

Harriman State Park covers 47,527 acres. That’s slightly smaller than the entire borough of Brooklyn. The park is second only to the Empire State’s Allegany State Park, but at just 30 miles north of New York City, it’s hard not to enjoy this outdoor paradise. Harriman has 200 miles of trails, making the destination a hiking paradise. Plus, there are 31 different lakes to enjoy within the park. 

Visitors can choose between tent camping, cabins, and multiple lean-tos, which are small permanent structures you can set up with your sleeping bag.

4. Head Really Far North to the High Peaks Wilderness

The High Peaks Wilderness Area is the largest forested area in New York State. At over 275,000 acres, the wilderness is larger than some well-known national parks like Rocky Mountain and Mount Rainier. New York does not have a national park, but High Peaks wilderness probably comes close in beauty. Visitors to the area can enjoy hiking and rock climbing in the summer and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. 

You won’t have a problem finding a campsite here. While the State of New York encourages visitors to camp in designated areas, you can also camp anywhere in the area as long as you’re 150 feet from any road, trails, or waterways.

The area is close to the border with Vermont and Canada. As the name suggests, the skyline is covered in mountain peaks.

3. A New York Road Trip to the State’s Only National Forest

Finger Lakes National Forest is the only national forest in New York. While the western states have countless miles of federal land, finding these spaces on the East Coast is rare. Even though the Finger Lakes National Forest is the second-smallest national forest in the country, it is packed with fun recreational outdoor activities. Like any other national forest, visitors can enjoy exploring and camping with few restrictions.  

As the name suggests, the forest covers areas around the Finger Lakes that are relatively central in Upstate New York.

2. Heading to the Great Lakes With a Stop at Chimney Bluffs State Park

Heading north of the Finger Lakes will get you to Lake Ontario. In particular, it’s worth heading to Chimney Bluffs State Park. The park sits on the coastline with dramatic views from large clay formations that sit on the coast. A mix of water, wind, and erosion helped sculpt the rocks into their unique shapes. 

Unfortunately, there is no camping within the park, but there are some nearby campgrounds you can book online.

1. Camping on the East End of Long Island at Hither Hills State Park

Coming back down from Upstate New York, you can always venture east to the end of Long Island for your New York road trip. While this won’t necessarily avoid the crowds, you can stay on a beautiful beach at Hither Hills State Park. Developers originally planned to build hotels, polo fields, and other things associated with the Hamptons in the area. However, nearly 100 years ago, the state stepped in to protect the land. 

Visitors can set up camp not far from the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy year-round fishing or a campfire right on the beach at night. 

Be sure to check out this list of great hiking trails near NYC.

Source: https://outdoors.com/5-best-new-york-road-trip-destinations-to-beat-the-crowds/