From Long Island · Hudson River Bridge Tour

This full-day version starts in Long Island (Melville). The first 35 miles take the faster roads (the Long Island Expressway, the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Northern State Parkway) to reach Fort Lee, where the good part begins. The core stretch, Hudson River Bridge Tour, runs 65 miles to Tarrytown.

The ride home is the quick way: 49 miles on the Long Island Expressway, the New York State Thruway and the Hutchinson River Parkway back to Long Island. All in, it's about 148 miles and 4.5 hours in the saddle, before any stops for gas, food or photos. There's time to take it easy.

Full-day version that starts in Long Island: it adds the ride there and back to Hudson River Bridge Tour. Here is what you'll find on the core stretch:

The way out of the city without grinding through highways: from the GW Bridge you head up the Palisades Parkway, where trucks aren't allowed but motorcycles are, with a stop at the Alpine lookout above the cliffs. At the Bear Mountain circle you cross the Hudson on the Bear Mountain Bridge (it's a toll bridge) and come down the east bank through Peekskill, Croton, Ossining and Sleepy Hollow to Tarrytown. It's more about scenery than curves, a perfect season-opener or a good ride for a pack with newer riders. Parkway police are strict and US-9 has plenty of traffic lights, so bring some patience.