Where To Do Fall Stuff Within 90 Minutes Of NYC

Fall in New York City is practically perfect, but given the lack of apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and winding freeways cloaked with technicolor foliage within city limits, it's worth taking a day or two to experience fall things outside of the city. From farms that let you chuck pumpkins as hard as you can to stunning examples of modern architecture that double as prime leaf-peeping locations, these are some of our favorite autumnal experiences within a 90 minute drive of Midtown.

THE SPOTS

Cornwall, NY - 78 minutes from Midtown

Want to spend the day inside of a fall-themed Pinterest board? Jones Farm has everything you need, from some of the best apple cider doughnuts in the Hudson Valley to the sweetest resident black cat. This is not a pick-your-own farm, but you can pose in front of piles of pumpkins, gather apples from wheelbarrows, and enjoy an array of very delicious baked goods. Come in the morning, find a table in the cozy interior of the country store, and order whatever specialty pancakes (think: gingerbread or Oreo) they have on offer.

Colt's Neck, NJ - 78 minutes from Midtown

If “eating pie” is on your list of fall things, a visit to Delicious Orchards is a must. This country farm store in Colts Neck, NJ is massive, and you could easily spend hours pouring over local produce and trying to pick which of their fantastic pies to take home. On weekends, you can get freshly-fried apple fritters from the Fritter Shack, then take a short drive down the road to Eastmont Orchards, where you can pick your own apples and have a photoshoot to show off your favorite flannel.

This is one of the best and most popular fall hikes near NYC, so if you’re going to hike Breakneck Ridge, you’ll want to get an early start. There’s no proper parking lot, so you’ll need to find a spot along the side of the road, and those can fill up quickly. Once you’re on the trail, expect a short but intense scramble to several breathtaking overlooks before a gentle descent back to the trailhead. You do need to feel comfortable with heights and have a baseline level of physical fitness to do this hike, but the leaf-peeping is unparalleled. There are usually a few food trucks at the base of the hike, but you’ll still want to come prepared with plenty of water and snacks.

Croton-on-Hudson, NY - 64 minutes from Midtown

If you can’t decide whether walking through thousands of hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns on a chilly October night sounds like peak fun or a tourist trap, let us break it down for you: it’s both. Yes, the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze can get crowded, but that’s because it’s really, really cool. They have locations in Long Island and the Hudson Valley, and since the event is so popular, you can go any night of the week. We highly recommend finding a way to get there on a weeknight, when you’re almost guaranteed to have a more pleasant time. Tickets start at $24 per person. This event almost always sells out, so you should buy them online at least a week before you plan to go.

Garrison, NY - 80 minutes from Midtown

Just down the road from Breakneck RIdge is Manitoga, a stunning example of midcentury modern architecture plopped in the middle of a 75-acre “woodland garden.” You can park in the lot and hike around the property for free, which is a totally nice way to spend a fall afternoon. If you plan ahead, you should try to score tickets for a tour of the house. The basic tour starts at $30 per person and is offered four times a day Friday-Monday, but there are a number of other special experiences worth checking out.

Staten Island, NY - 40 minutes from Midtown

If you suspect that slingshotting a pumpkin as hard as you can will make you feel just a tiny bit better, you’re right. In addition to hurling pumpkins, this Staten Island farm has corn mazes, pumpkin carving tutorials, farm stands, and general pumpkin patchery. Decker Farms runs their fall programming every Saturday and Sunday in October, and you can purchase a timed ticket online for $9 per person.

Sleepy Hollow, NY - 49 minutes from Midtown

The town of Sleepy Hollow is under an hour from Midtown by car, and it seems to have been explicitly designed for fall activities. This is where the Hudson Valley location of the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is located, but you’ll also find things like Haunted Hayrides and the historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. For a less Halloween-focused fall experience, we highly recommend touring Kykuit, an opulent Rockefeller estate with charming grounds to wander around.

Randall Manor, Staten Island - 49 minutes from Midtown

This expansive botanic garden on Staten Island is a great place to visit any time of year, but it’s particularly stunning when the leaves start to change. You can tour historic buildings and opulent gardens, and on weekends, a ton of local farms set up one of the best artisan markets around. During the month of October, you can also sign up for a “Spooky Snug Harbor” tour, which takes place at night and offers insight into some of the area’s dark past.

Bayville, Long Island - 70 minutes from Midtown

No haunted house will be able to compete with the nightmare of the early 2020s. But if you’re looking for a close second on Long Island, you can try Bayville Scream Park. They have a bunch of haunted house options, including zombie axe throwing, which sounds both terrifying and therapeutic.

Morristown, NJ - 50 minutes from Midtown

Wightman’s apple picking season is in full stride. Each ticket to Wightman Farms covers all the fees for the apple picking (aside from picked apples), corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and hayrides—and you can buy tickets online ahead of time for $25. Wightman Farms also sells a bunch of produce and farm goods, and they have a few food trucks set up where you can buy lunch.

North Salem, NY - 65 minutes from Midtown

On weekends, this Northern Westchester farm offers apple picking, homemade cider, and a farm store where you can buy a gourd that looks like a bumpy telephone. Each ticket costs $15 (it’s cash-only, but there’s an ATM on the property), and you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time if you want to pick apples.

Calverton, Long Island - 90 minutes from Midtown

Unlike some places that are essentially just autumnal amusement parks, Lewin Farms is an all-season farm. There’s a whole field dedicated to pick-your-own eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes that’s open until late October. Grab some nightshades (and pumpkins), check out the farm stand, and then wander through their five-acre corn maze. Find more details here.

Queens, NY - 25 minutes from Midtown

If you’re looking for a pumpkin patch that’s accessible via subway or rideshare, try Queens County Farm Museum. It’s been around since 1697, which means it’s automatically spooky. They’re open for hayrides, corn mazery, and pumpkin picking every day until 4pm. Also, they have a farm store where you can buy apples from the Hudson Valley, flowers, honey, cider, and (most importantly) donuts. We implore you to look at their website where you can see lovely pictures of their alpacas.