From Long Island · Route 23 · High Point & Port Jervis

This full-day version starts in Long Island (Melville). The first 61 miles take the faster roads (the Long Island Expressway, NJ-208 and NJ-4) to reach Butler, where the good part begins. The core stretch, Route 23 · High Point & Port Jervis, runs 43 miles to Port Jervis.

The ride home is the quick way: 115 miles on the New York State Thruway, the Long Island Expressway and I-84 back to Long Island. All in, it's about 219 miles and 5.5 hours in the saddle, before any stops for gas, food or photos. Plan on a long day and an early start.

Full-day version that starts in Long Island: it adds the ride there and back to Route 23 · High Point & Port Jervis. Here is what you'll find on the core stretch:

The natural way out of North Jersey toward the Delaware: NJ-23 sheds the traffic at Hamburg and past Sussex opens into wide sweepers that climb to High Point and drop into Port Jervis. From there it links straight onto Hawk's Nest (NY-97) for a full day. It's a transit ride with a strong finish, not a technical one. The first half has lights and traffic, and unmarked patrol cars are common.