The Best Scenic Road Trip From New York City to Wisconsin

There’s nothing like packing all of your friends or family into the car for an epic road trip. While some road trips are about the destination, others are all about the journey. Some of us are huge fans of all things in NYC, but sometimes even we need a break from the city. Fortunately, New York City provides one of the best bases in the country to use as a jumping-off point for some incredible longer road trips.

The following list of the best scenic road trip from NYC to Wisconsin covers stops with breathtaking views, plenty of amazing overlooks, waterfalls, lakes, hiking, natural wonders, and photograph opportunity along the way.  

Manhattan to the Mountains

Stop 1: Cold Spring

You will start in New York City, then take I-87 North to Cold Spring. Located 50 miles north of Manhattan on the Hudson River in a rural area steeped in history and rich in natural treasures, rolling hills, biking trails, babbling brooks, antique shops, clothing stores, coffee houses, and restaurants with outdoor dining. Please watch the following video for the glimpses, and overview of Cold Spring:

Hiking Breakneck Ridge

Stop 2: Watkins Glen

Less than 4 hrs away from Cold Spring, this charming village is a hidden gem in New York’s Finger Lakes Region. It has a state park with 19 waterfalls, world-class wineries, the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes, and charming small towns. 

Hector Falls and Seneca Lake

Watkins Glen State Park

Finger Lakes to Buffalo

Stop 3: Niagara Falls

From Watkins Glen, you will get on I-190 N to travel to Niagara Falls (about 2:30 hrs of driving). Watch the below video for how to spend a perfect 24 hours in Niagara Falls USA:

Stop 4: Ohio Caverns, West Liberty Ohio

Your next stop will be Ohio Caverns via I-90 W and I-71 S. Drive time of 5 hrs 28 mins in normal traffic. There are few stopover spots. My favorite spot is Akron, Ohio (drive time about 3 hrs) Akron is a city in Ohio. It’s home to Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, with a Tudor Revival manor house, a conservatory and landscaped grounds. 

Drive time from Akron to Ohio Caverns is about 2:30 hrs.  Ohio Caverns is often recognized as “America’s most colorful caverns.” The caverns are the largest in the state, with over 2 miles of surveyed passageways ranging in depth from 30 feet to 103 feet. Watch the below video for the highlights of Ohio Caverns:

Stop 5: Indiana Dunes

4 hr 13 min (237.3 mi) via US-30 W, your next stop will be Indiana Dunes. Along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes offers swimming, birding, hiking, biking, and other natural adventures, along with fine dining and  local attractions. The Indiana Dunes National Park and the Indiana Dunes State Park offer access to dune-lined shores and endless outdoor adventures. By watching the following video, learn the ins and outs of the Indiana Dunes to make your trip as enjoyable as possible:

Stop 6: Downtown Chicago, Illinois

52 min (38.3 mi) via I-90 W your next stop will be Downtown Chicago. The third largest city in the United States, Chicago  known for its tall buildings, skyscrapers, and incredible bridges. Downtown Chicago refers to the Central Area of Chicago, which is also called The Loop, and is comprised of 35 blocks. The Loop is famous for its urban vibe and dynamic architecture. Below video has the most popular visited places in Downtown Chicago:

Stop 7: Wisconsin

From Downtown Chicago,  1 hr 34 min (92.4 mi) via I-94 W to your final destination of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is home to many desirable travel locations from big cities to national parks, offering a range of sights and attractions for thrill seekers, nature lovers and families. Wisconsin is also known as the Badger State or America’s Dairyland. Many parts of Wisconsin are covered in rolling farm fields. However, America’s dairyland isn’t just known for its rich agriculture heritage, it is also home to wonderful sights! Wisconsin’s many cities showcase rich, and distinct midwest culture, and many of the sights revolve around the water  which is bordered by Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan. Watch the below videos for the best places to visit in Wisconsin, and you will fall in love with the Badger State:

Original Wisconsin Ducks

Just Giji