Located in the southeast corner of the State, in southern Ulster and northern Orange counties, the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway is within an easy 1-2 hour drive for people from the metro New York area (90 mile) or Albany (60 miles), and well within a day’s drive for folks from Philadelphia, Boston or New Jersey.
From North and South (I-87 NYS Thruway)
Take New York State Thruway (I-87) north or south to Exit 17 (Newburgh).
Or
Exit 18 (New Paltz/Poughkeepsie). Pay toll. Turn left at traffic light onto Route 299 (Main Street, New Paltz). You will have a couple of options from here, you can go straight through (3) traffic lights. Turn left at 4th traffic light onto Route 208. Or, you can continue straight over the Wallkill River Bridge and turn right onto Springtown Road and travel north to Rosendale. Or, you can continue straight over the Wallkill River Bridge on Route 299 until you reach the end, then turn right onto Routes 44/55 and travel west toward Kerhonkson. Be sure to stop along the way and enjoy the local culture, food and shopping.
From East and West (I-84 to 1-87 NYS Thruway)
Take I-84 to Exit 7 for NYS Thruway. Travel north on 1-87 to Exit 18 and follow directions above.
Alternately, you can exit at 6 and take 17K to Route 208 and north to Wallkill.
From the Catskills
Take Route 28 to Route 209, then south on Route 209, southeast on Route 213 to (a) right on Lucas Turnpike, Route 1, if going west or (b) continue east through High Falls, or (c) Route 209 to NYS Thruway south to Exit 18 (New Paltz/Poughkeep-sie) and follow directions above.
From Route 17
You can enter Route 209 at Exit 113 by Wurtsboro or at Exit 119 onto Route 302.
From the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway
Route 97 in Port Jervis take Route 209 northeast to the Shawangunk Region.
Note that access is provided via Interstate 84, 87 and 17 (future 186) with Thruway exits 16-18 all good points to enter.
Public Transportation
Our website provides extensive information on getting here by bus, train, and plane »