By The Kolsky Team
One of the quiet advantages of living up here is how much sits within an easy drive. Route 17 and 287 put the Hudson Valley, the Highlands, and the shore all in reach without a flight or a long haul. Our clients discover this within their first year and never quite stop taking advantage of it. If you’re looking to get away for the weekend, here's where we'd point you.
Key Takeaways
- Several excellent day trips sit within an hour's drive.
- The Hudson Valley makes the strongest full weekend.
- The Jersey Shore and Bucks County work well for two nights.
- Autumn is the season that shows all of it at its best.
What's Within an Hour?
More than newcomers expect. Head north or west from Upper Saddle River, and you're into river towns, state parkland, and mountain views well before lunch, which makes these the trips you take on a whim rather than plan around.
Close Enough for a Day
- Piermont and Nyack sit along the Hudson just over the New York line, with walkable main streets, galleries, and restaurants looking out at the water.
- Bear Mountain State Park offers the classic overlook, a lake, and trails at every level of effort.
- Harriman State Park adjoins it with a far larger trail network and considerably fewer people on a Saturday.
- Ringwood and the Skylands section of northern New Jersey give you botanical gardens and hiking without crossing a state line.
Where Should You Go for a Full Weekend?
The Hudson Valley, without much hesitation. An hour and a half north opens up a stretch of river towns, art institutions, and mountain lodging that easily fills two nights and tends to become a habit.
The Weekend Itinerary We Recommend
- Beacon combines a long main street of shops and restaurants with Dia Beacon, a former factory turned contemporary art museum that's worth the drive by itself.
- Cold Spring sits just across the river with antiques, a nineteenth century main street, and the Breakneck Ridge trail nearby for anyone wanting to earn their lunch.
- Storm King Art Center in New Windsor sets monumental sculpture across five hundred acres of open landscape, and it runs on a seasonal schedule worth checking before you go.
- New Paltz gives you the Shawangunk Ridge, the Mohonk Preserve, and the historic Mohonk Mountain House above Lake Mohonk.
- Rhinebeck and Hudson sit further up for anyone wanting a longer drive and a quieter pace.
What About the Shore and Points South?
Both work beautifully as two-night trips, and they offer something completely different from the mountains. The shore is about ninety minutes down the Parkway, and the Delaware River towns are a similar drive southwest.
Two Directions Worth Taking
- Asbury Park pairs a rebuilt boardwalk with a genuine music scene and a strong run of restaurants.
- Spring Lake offers the quieter version, with a long uncrowded boardwalk and grand old homes along the ocean.
- New Hope in Pennsylvania and Lambertville across the bridge in New Jersey make a charming pair of river towns, full of antiques, galleries, and good food.
- Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton is a remarkable afternoon, with dozens of works set across landscaped gardens.
- The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area sits an hour west with the Appalachian Trail, waterfalls, and the river itself.
Which Trips Work Best in Autumn?
Nearly all of them, which is why this is our favorite season to recommend a drive. Foliage in the Hudson Valley and the northern New Jersey Highlands typically peaks through October, and the region's small towns lean into the season.
Planning the Fall Version
- Bear Mountain and Harriman are at their best in October, and going early in the day makes the parking far easier.
- The Hudson Valley combines foliage with orchards and farm stands, so the drive between stops is half the pleasure.
- Sussex County and High Point State Park deliver the widest views in New Jersey once the leaves turn.
- Book lodging further ahead than usual for October weekends, since the Hudson Valley fills up.
- If the outdoors isn't the draw, the river town main streets are equally good in a light rain, which is worth remembering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trip would you recommend first?
Beacon and Cold Spring together. You get art, a walkable main street, and the river in one day, and it's a manageable drive both ways.
Is the location really that convenient?
It is, and it's something clients mention constantly. Sitting where Upper Saddle River does, you reach the Hudson Valley, the Highlands, and the shore without ever crossing the city.
What else makes this part of Bergen County appealing?
The combination of space, setting, and access. You can read more about the towns we cover on our neighborhoods pages.
Reach Out to The Kolsky Team Today
Part of choosing where to live is knowing what a Saturday can look like, and up here the answer is unusually broad. We've done most of these drives ourselves, and we're happy to share the details.
If you're considering a move to Upper Saddle River or elsewhere in Bergen County, reach out to us at The Kolsky Team, and let's talk about the life that comes with the address. We'd love to help you settle somewhere with this much within reach.
If you're considering a move to Upper Saddle River or elsewhere in Bergen County, reach out to us at The Kolsky Team, and let's talk about the life that comes with the address. We'd love to help you settle somewhere with this much within reach.
