Not really sure where I should post this...

Anyway, I need to take a vacation day or 2 before Thanksgiving. I don't 'need' to but I'll lose them if I don't. So I figured why not go for a long drive? Driving through fall foliage is the next best thing right behind stepping on the leaves. But I am not familiar on scenic routes in the Northeast. I'm hoping that fellow Fitters would make route recommendations, preferably based on personal experience.

-I'd like to avoid tolls (I'm a cheapskate).
-It'd be nice if there's a short to medium hiking trail for beginners (free from knifing psychos, bears, snakes, witches) along the route to stretch the legs. And/or a brewery or winery (never been to one).
-Zigzagging mountain routes are a plus
-Central NJ is the starting point.
-Is it illegal/unsafe to sleep in the car at a rest stop?

I'll probably go at the end of Oct or mid Nov (take a 3or4-day weekend).

TLDR; I need scenic route (showcasing fall foliage) recommendations in the US northeast.

Thanks

 

Travel the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire and go up Mount Washington. You can drive or hike up (~8 miles).

 

I'm sure theres plenty to see in NJ, that being said I might suggest you go up to Route 80 and take that west to PA.

I don't know if there are any visitors centers or rest stops with brochures/info anywhere around there... but you should be able to see the scenery you want on that route, as well as drop into somewhere in PA for perhaps taking a day trip (or even overnight camping, although you'd probably need a tent + other supplies) canoeing down the delaware. (You can find plenty of information sites online, too.)

Short naps at rest stops shouldn't be a problem, but you usually can't sleep overnight at them. I would suggest perhaps investing in a small tent and quality sleeping bag, etc. and stopping at an actual campground overnight if you don't want to stay 'indoors'. It shouldn't cost too much. Worst comes to worse you could probably stop at and sleep overnight at a wal-mart parking lot since they usually allow overnight RVers.

I'm sure you can find other interesting things to stop at once you decide on an end-point (or at least a central point) along the route... you could easily plug in "thingimlookingfor placelocation" into a websearch and find a few.

 

Being from here, I'm partial to the scenery of upstate New York. By "Upstate" I mean everything north and west of Poughkeepsie, or thereabouts. The Catskills and the Shawangunks are especially beautiful in October. The Adirondacks are close to peak foliage now if you want to drive a bit further.

 

I second this, the Catskills and Shawangunks are beautiful, most were starting to turn when we were up hiking this past weekend. There are quite a few beautiful twisting fun to drive roads west of Poughkeepsie.

 

I agree with the catskills and shawangunks as well.... if you want to come through CT theres a good hike heres the link to the web site: DEP: Talcott Mountain State Park its the best place to see the colors turn in northern CT....

 

I agree with the Gunks and Catskill Mts.

But keep in mind that peak leaf season in the Shawangunks is 2nd or 3rd weekend in October. Depends on the year and with this cool and wet summer, who knows. And if its the 2nd or 3rd week end and there's a heavy rain, all the leaves will be on the ground. Except for the Oaks.

I think the end of October, the Catskills are pretty much over.

There are online maps that show current and expected leaf color in the northeast. This looks like a good site. Also has scenic drives. Yankee Foliage - Your Source for New England Fall Foliage

Or this one: Northeast US Fall Foliage maps and photos by The Weather Channel

 

Same more south, I was in Asheville, nc and the major leaf weekend was late october.

 

You're not supposed to sleep overnight at any truck stops but I've stopped at them before as well as mini mall parking lots to get a couple hours of sleep in before with no problem. Make sure to get out of the car and moving at any stop you do make though. If you stop for gas, dont get right back in and drive off. Walk around for a bit, head over to the convenience store for a bottle of water and snack, take a bathroom break, etc. Staying in the car for too long will tire you out quick!

Also, it may be out of the way but if you're in the east NY area, go see Niagara Falls. And if you're there head into Canada while you're at it if you've never been there.

 

That late in the season, you may want to go south. Have you considered the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)

From FAQs:

"When and where can I see the best fall leaf color? Typically, the Blue Ridge Parkway experiences the much anticipated change in fall foliage around the middle of October. Many factors, however, contribute to variations in when and where colors will peak. The Parkway stretches almost five hundred miles north to south, meanders from the east to west facing slopes, and, most importantly, varies in elevation from just under 650 feet at James River in Virginia, to over 6,000 feet south of Mt. Pisgah in North Carolina. Many visitors have been frustrated trying to go to one spot on one day in October, hoping to find the leaves in full color. A far better plan is to drive some distance on the Parkway, changing elevations and north-south orientation. Any one who does this around mid to late October will catch at least some of the pretty color that we’re famous for."

I've never been there, but I know around here the leaves are falling right now. North of here, who knows.

The Fit is great for road trips and does pretty well on winding roads. You ought to go somewhere before winter comes.

Cheers.

 

where I live (in the foothills of the Catskills), the leaves are definitely changing early by about 1-2 weeks. Normally, mid October is our foliage peak, but this year is anybody's guess.

 

i was going to mention the same road. any road there during foliage season would be beautiful. Bear Notch Rd would be another one. a 1 hr hike up Mt Willard would be well worth the effort.