Don’t forget your driving directions to Bear Mountain State Park! Crossing the Hudson River via the Bear Mountain Bridge is a serene experience, especially after a busy week in New York City. The trip up the Palisades Parkway, as it winds past the Popolopen Torne near the top, is equally restorative.
D I R E C T I O N S to BEAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
FROM MANHATTAN
Take I-95 west across the Upper Level of the George Washington Bridge. Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway north (first exit after the GW Bridge). Stay on the Palisades Interstate Parkway 42 miles to Route 9W. Ignore Exit 19, Bear Mountain Pk, but proceed to end of the Parkway to the Bear Mountain Bridge circle. Take Route 9W south .4 miles to stop light. Bear right at the stop light. The Bear Mountain Inn and parking area are on the right.
FROM NEW JERSEY
VIA I-287 AND POINTS WEST: Travel north to the NYS Thruway. Take the NYS Thruway north to the Harriman exit. After toll, bear immediately to the right and go up ramp to Rt. 32. Make a left onto Rt. 32 and follow signs to Rt. 6 east. Take Rt. 6 east to the traffic circle. Go around the traffic circle and exit onto ramp saying Palisades Interstate Parkway North. Travel north on the PIParkway to the end. There will be a traffic circle. Do not go around the circle but bear right onto Rt. 9W south. There will be a welcome to Bear Mountain State Park sign and also Hessian Lake will be on the right. Travel Rt. 9W for 1/4 mile to a traffic light. At the light, bear up the hill on the right. At the top of the hill will be the Bear Mountain Inn. Go around the circle of the Inn and pull into the parking lot.
VIA THE PALISADES INTERSTATE PARKWAY
Travel north for 42 miles to the Bear Mountain Circle. The first exit off of the circle is Rt. 9W south. There will be signs indicating you are at Bear Mountain State Park. Take 9W south to the stoplight (approx. ¼ mile) and bear right. Go to the top of the hill and turn right. You will be at the Bear Mountain Inn Circle. Proceed around the circle and into the parking lot.
FROM THE NORTH
VIA I-87, THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY
Take the NYS Thruway east/south to the Harriman exit. Following the toll booth, bear to the right to get off the first exit ramp. At the top of the ramp, make a left at the light onto Rt. 32. Follow signs for Rt. 6 east Continue on Rt. 6 east 10 miles to the Palisades Interstate Parkway north and proceed to the end of the Parkway, bear right onto Rt. 9W south (do not go around the circle). There will be signs indicating Bear Mountain State Park. Hessian Lake is on the right. Take 9W south to the stop light (approx. 1/4 mile) and bear right. Go to the top of the hill and turn right. The Bear Mountain Inn and parking area are on the right.
FROM THE EAST
FROM THE NEWBURGH-BEACON BRIDGE: On I-84 west, cross the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Take the 2nd exit ramp for Rt. 9W south. Continue on Rt. 9W south for approximately 40-45 minutes until you come to the Bear Mountain Circle. Go half way around the circle; exit and continue on Rt. 9W south. There will be a sign saying Bear Mountain State Park.
Continue for approximately 1/2 mile to the stop light. At the light, bear right and go up the hill. At the top of the hill, bear right again and go around the Bear Mountain Inn Circle and enter the parking lot.
VIA BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE
From Route 9, get onto Rt. 9D. Continue on Rt. 9D south to the Bear Mountain Bridge. Cross the bridge and proceed around the circle to Rt. 9W south. There will be a sign saying Bear Mountain State Park. Hessian Lake will be on the right.
Continue for approximately 1/2 mile to the stop light. At the light, bear right and go up the hill. At the top of the hill, bear right again and go around the Bear Mountain Inn Circle and enter the parking lot.
VIA I-287
Take the Tappan Zee Bridge west to Exit 13N, Palisades Interstate Parkway. Stay on the Palisades Interstate Parkway 23 miles north. Ignore Exit 19, Bear Mountain Pk, but proceed to end of the Parkway to the Bear Mountain Bridge circle. Take Route 9W south .4 miles to stop light. Bear right at the stop light. The Bear Mountain Inn and parking area are on the right.
FROM THE WEST
VIA ROUTE 17, THE QUICKWAY: Take Route 17 east to the last exit before I-87, the NYS Thruway. Take Route 32 south to the first stop light and follow signs to Rt. 6 east. Take Rt. 6 east to the traffic circle. Go around the traffic circle and exit onto ramp saying Palisades Interstate Parkway North. Travel north on the PIParkway to the end. There will be a traffic circle. Do not go around the circle but bear right onto Rt. 9W south. There will be a welcome to Bear Mountain State Park sign and also Hessian Lake will be on the right. Travel Rt. 9W for 1/4 mile to a traffic light. At the light, bear up the hill on the right. At the top of the hill will be the Bear Mountain Inn. Go around the circle of the Inn and pull into the parking lot.
