Home to the Hudson River, historic locations, amazing views, and a TON of art & culture, the Hudson Valley NY is one of the most interesting and iconic locations in the United States.

But on the other hand, Hudson Valley NY is overlooked because New York City is usually the place where people want to visit when visiting New York State.

I bet you’re probably wondering,
“How far is the Hudson Valley NY from NYC?”
And “Where EXACTLY is the Hudson Valley NY?”

As a native New Yorker, my answer is always, “It all depends on how you plan to get there and what time and what day are you planning to travel.”
And
“Are you taking the train or are you driving?” lol…

Sounds complicated, right?

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Some Tips & Practical Advice about Visiting the Hudson Valley NY:

• I personally think the best time to visit the Hudson Valley NY is during the Autumn/Fall Season. The cooler temperatures and the beautiful Autumn foliage makes every outing extra special.
• The Hudson Valley offers some options for getting around. Bigger cities offer bus service and the Metro-North train runs from NYC to several area within the Hudson Valley (see below).
• There are several airport options for getting around. Depending on where you plan to stay, the options can range anywhere from the airport in Albany to the Newburgh International Airport or the Westchester County Airport.
• When making a visit, dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes. Many places require a lot of walking and the weather can also change drastically.
• Looking for Free Things to do in the Hudson Valley? Download my list by filling out the form BELOW

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Is the Hudson Valley NY considered “Upstate New York”?

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The Hudson Valley NY – unofficially known as ‘Upstate New York”, or is it?

I know for a fact that many people believe that the Hudson Valley NY is far away from New York City.

The people who think this are not only tourists. People who LIVE within the 5 boroughs that make up NYC also believe that the Hudson Valley NY is “Upstate New York”.

What they do not realize is that the Hudson Valley is actually made up of THREE areas and that part of the Hudson Valley NY is actually CLOSE to NYC.

Don’t get me wrong, some parts of the Hudson Valley are quite a trek from NYC, but there are some beautiful and interesting places that DO NOT require an overnight stay or hours upon hours on the road in order to enjoy them.

The Hudson Valley, NY is divided into three regions:

• Lower Hudson Valley NY
• Mid-Hudson Valley NY
• Upper Hudson Valley NY

Each region is unique and beautiful, breathtaking and exciting and so much more.

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Where exactly is ‘Upstate’ & ‘Downstate’ New York?

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“Major Cities in Upstate New York include Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse”
– Wikipedia

Then, Albany (New York State’s Capital) seems to fall under both umbrellas (Hudson Valley & Upstate).

But that’s a debate for another day…

Wikipedia also tries to clarify the division of Downstate, NY by saying:

“The Downstate Region, like Upstate New York, is divided into several sub-regions, such as New York City, the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley and Long Island”
– Wikipedia

Did that make it clearer or confuse you more????

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How Far us the Hudson Valley NY from NYC?

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If you type “Hudson Valley” into Google Maps, it actually shows that the Hudson Valley is by Kingston, NY and the pin is IN the Hudson River. ?

It also estimates the trip from Midtown Manhattan to the “Hudson Valley” at about 2 hours and 15 minutes by car.

Don’t get me wrong, that may be true but let me let you in on a little secret:

Lower Hudson Valley NY actually begins down by Yonkers, NY and stretches across to Mount Vernon and Pelham/Pelham Manor, NY. 

That being said, that makes it approximately a 30-40 minute drive from Midtown Manhattan.

And that fact actually shocks some people because that is a big HUGE difference from what Google Maps says.

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What Counties Make up the Hudson Valley NY?

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Below is a list of the 10 counties that make up the Hudson Valley NY Region.

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If you’re looking for more information about each county, Click Below to read my helpful Guides

Listed in each County’s Guide are many popular Hudson Valley Things To Do within that County.

• A Quick Guide of Westchester County
• A Quick Guide of Rockland County
• A Quick Guide of Orange County
• A Quick Guide of Putnam County
• A Quick Guide of Dutchess County
• A Quick Guide of Ulster County
• Columbia County
• Greene County
• Rensselaer County
• Albany County

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What Towns Make Up the Hudson Valley NY?

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Westchester County

Westchester County is a large county and has 6 cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages.

Check out posts all about: Westchester County, NY

Rockland County

Rockland County is approximately 15 miles from NYC at its closest point.

Check out posts all about: Rockland County, NY

Orange County

Orange County is approximately 50 miles from NYC.

Check out posts all about: Orange County, NY

Putnam County

Putnam County is a distance of 45 to 65 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Putnam County.

• Brewster
• Carmel
• Cold Spring
• Kent
• Nelsonville
• Patterson
• Philipstown
• Putnam Valley
• Southeast

Check out posts all about: Putnam County, NY

Dutchess County

Dutchess County is a distance of 58 to 110 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Dutchess County.

Check out posts all about: Dutchess County, NY

Ulster County

Ulster County is a distance of approximately 107 – 112 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Ulster County.

Check out posts all about: Ulster County, NY

Columbia County

Columbia County is a distance of approximately 130 – 140 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Columbia County.

Greene County

Greene County is a distance of approximately 135 – 150 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Greene County.

Rensselaer County

Rensselaer County is a distance of approximately 160 – 170 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Rensselaer County.

Albany County

Albany County is a distance of approximately 150 – 190 miles from New York City, depending on where you are visiting in Albany County.

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Hudson Valley Map

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As you can see from this Hudson Valley map below, the Hudson Valley stretches across the lower portion of New York State.

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How can you get to the Hudson Valley, NY Region without a car?

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Did you know that you can easily and quickly reach many parts of the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley region without having a car?

Well, it’s true…

The MTA Metro-North Railroad has five Railway lines that take you into the Hudson Valley:

• Hudson Line
• Harlem Line
• New Haven Line
• Port Jervis Line
• Pascack Line

Metro-North Hudson Line

The following stops can be found on the Hudson Line:

Metro-North Harlem Line

The following stops can be found on the Harlem Line:

Metro-North New Haven Line

The following stops can be found on the New Haven Line:

• Mount Vernon East
• Pelham
• New Rochelle
• Larchmont
• Mamaroneck
• Harrison
• Rye
• Port Chester

Metro-North Port Jervis Line

The following stops can be found on the Port Jervis Line:

• Suffern
• Tuxedo
• Harriman
• Salisbury Mills – Cornwall
• Campbell Hall
• Middletown – Town of Wallkill
• Otisville
• Port Jervis

Metro-North Pascack Line

The following stops can be found on the Pascack Line:

• Pearl River
• Nanuet
• Spring Valley.

As you can see, each Metro North Line takes you to a different area of the Hudson Valley and can lead you to some wonderful places.

Whichever way you use to arrive and explore the Hudson Valley, make sure you give yourself enough time to explore before having to get back home.

There is so much to see and do that you may need more than a day and more in the lines of a weekend to see and enjoy it all!

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What is the Hudson Valley NY known for?

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No matter what your interests are, the Hudson Valley NY offers so many things for so many people.

Hudson Valley Tourism is very important to the local economy. It’s also important in educating others about this grand region of New York that is rich in:

• Art & Culture
• Nature & Outdoors
• History
• Food & Drinks
• Museums 
• Music
• and so much more… 

Now that you know where the Hudson Valley is located, let’s dive in and explore all there is to do in this Extraordinary region of the United States.

READ MORE
Visit these Hudson Valley Attractions and you’ll Never Be Bored Again

More Popular Things to do in the Hudson Valley:

HUDSON VALLEY TIPS TO EXPLORE THE REGION LIKE A PRO

HUDSON VALLEY DAY TRIPS PERFECT TO DO ANY TIME OF THE YEAR

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HUDSON RIVER TOWNS WORTH VISITING

Until the Next Adventure…

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