Best Country Drives Through the Hudson Valley

If you live in or near Paramus, New Jersey, you may be familiar with the major highways, most filled with snarling traffic and uninspiring urban landscapes. However, because Paramus sits in New Jersey’s northeast corner, not far from the Hudson River, you can reach Highpoint State Park in about an hour and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in less than two hours. A three-hour drive to the farthest south of New Jersey sits Cape May, with spectacular views of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. And in two hours, you can travel to Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in south New Jersey.

So, what do all of these destinations have in common? They open up the possibility of scenic drives through the hidden gems of the New Jersey countryside. So, if you’re interested in exploring New Jersey’s byways filled with exceptional views and unique destinations, check out this list of our five most enjoyable country drives.

Route 15 Dover, NJ to Dingmans Ferry, PA

This scenic route will take you through the heart of northern New Jersey. First, you can pick up Route 15 from Paramus off Interstate 80 in Dover. From there, you can travel north through the hills and forests, passing picturesque farms and fields filled with gurgling streams and rushing rivers. In less than 40 minutes, you should reach Augusta from Dover, where Route 15 ends and Route 206 begins.

We suggest continuing on Route 206 north into Stokes State Forest, 10 minutes north. A fall drive through Stokes State Forest rewards you with exceptional fall foliage, but don’t stop there. Instead, continue to Dingman’s Ferry via Route 206 to Tuttles Corner/Dingmans Road. Dingmans Ferry sits in Pennsylvania, and you can reach it by crossing the beautiful Dingmans Ferry Bridge.

Around Dingmans Ferry, you’ll find fantastic photo opportunities at Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls, Dear Leap Falls, Silverthread Falls, and Dingmans Falls all along Dingmans Creek. Dingmans Ferry features several quaint antique shops and a few local eateries, so plan a stop for lunch and a little shopping here. In all, the drive from Dover to Dingmans Ferry takes one hour.

Since this route takes you through the most remote and mountainous areas of New Jersey, we suggest you take the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This SUV has seating for five in luxurious comfort. Plus, it has the cargo space to carry any hiking gear, picnic supplies, and photography equipment you’ll want to bring along to fully experience the natural beauty of the drive and the stops along the way. In addition, you get Jeep’s 4×4 capability enabling you to explore these areas thoroughly.

Dingmans Ferry to Millbrook Village Historic Site

Take the 30-minute drive by crossing back into New Jersey over the Dingmans Ferry Bridge and turning right onto Route 615. This road takes you through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and along the Delaware River. When you arrive at Millbrook Village Historic Site, you’re transported to the 1800s, where there’s an old grist mill, an inn, and other structures maintained by the Millbrook Village Society. On Sundays in the summer, the Society staffs the town to recreate the historic daily life of the villagers.

You’ll have ample opportunities to stop and snap some great pictures of the river, mountains, and wildlife. In addition, you can get a little light 4×4 action as you explore. For this, take the Crater Lake turnoff and have a little fun. We suggest the Jeep Wrangler as the vehicle of choice if you do. You’ll have the ability to take the top off in the summer months and get the whole open-air experience connecting you to the nature around you.

Ocean Drive

If you love a scenic seaside drive, Ocean Drive delivers. This picturesque route starts south of Atlantic City and takes a series of local roads along the New Jersey coastline until Cape May. There’s so much to see and do along the way, such as Gillian’s Wonderland Pier amusement park in Ocean City, to Wildwood, a series of beachfront amusement parks including Mariner’s Pier.

You don’t need GPS to take this route. Instead, follow the gull signs that lead the way. Expect the entire trip to last several hours as the speed limits won’t allow you to go much higher than 30 mph.

For this drive, we recommend the Chrysler 300 sedan. You’ll enjoy the premium leather interior with the latest in-vehicle tech to keep you connected. Plus, the Chrysler 300 comes standard with a suite of driver-assist systems sure to help you traverse the wandering coastline roads safely.

Route 519 Colesville to Rosemont

Running from the far north in Colesville, this scenic drive takes you through the center of New Jersey. You can travel through towns with whimsical names like Plumbsock, Beemerville, and Harmony and stop to visit Goliath, the largest preserved black bear in America. This nearly two-hour trip may end up being some of the best scenery New Jersey has to offer.

To fully enjoy the road’s twists and turns, we recommend the Dodge Challenger for this trip. You’ll love the way the 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 roars through the hills. Plus, the interior features premium leather with ergonomic seats for comfort.

Henry Hudson Drive

Not far from Paramus, you have Henry Hudson Drive, a 13-mile stretch of winding road that follows the Hudson River north to Alpine. The drive features incredible views of the Hudson River as you ride the rollercoaster dips and turns with little more than rock walls separating your vehicle from plunging down sheer cliffs and into the river. The Dodge Charger can handle the twists and turns of this ride while still delivering the comfort of a four-door sedan.

At Bill Volz Westchester, we love a good country drive and hope you found this list informative. Please let us know if we left out a ride that should be on here, and we’ll do our best to update our list so others can continue to explore New Jersey in a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or Ram vehicle.

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