From hop‑heavy IPAs in the Catskills to crisp ciders along the Hudson, tasting rooms fill quickly on blue‑sky weekends. Use this guide to time foliage loops, assign a sober driver, and book your car rental so you’re rolling north before bridge approaches clog.
Routes & timing
Leave the city before 8 a.m., loop the Taconic and county roads, then finish near a Metro‑North town for flexible dinners and returns. Aim to park head‑in on gravel lots and keep growlers upright for the ride back.
If you prefer UK wording and comparisons in pounds, start on our car hire page, then choose a pickup near your inbound terminal for a quick exit to the parkways.
Safety, tastings & storage
Pre‑assign one designated driver, rotate by day (not by stop), and space tastings with food and water. Store bottles flat only when sealed; otherwise, keep them upright and pad them with jackets.
For east‑side access, the LaGuardia rental guide sets you up for the Whitestone or Throgs Neck without backtracking.
Coming from the west? Choose the EWR rental guide and head for the Palisades or I‑87 spurs with minimal toll‑plaza delays.
Designated‑driver checklist
- One DD per car; don’t rotate mid‑route.
- Pack water and snacks to pace tastings.
- Set a hard departure time to beat dusk glare on winding roads.
Book now with Hola Car Rentals to lock transparent pricing, flexible changes up to 48 hours, and cashback on tolls while you chase peak leaves.
