# Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos to Ricketts Glen

> 3-day road trip of about 421 km (262 mi) with 8 stops, from New York to Bloomsburg. About 4 h 40 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-poconos-water-gap/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 421 km (262 mi) with 8 stops, from New York to Bloomsburg. About 4 h 40 min of driving in total. From New York to the Delaware Water Gap, the waterfalls around Milford, a boulder field, Victorian Jim Thorpe and the 21 falls of Ricketts Glen.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 421 km (262 mi) |
| Driving | 4 h 40 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | New York → Bloomsburg |
| States | NY, NJ, PA |
| Updated | April 26, 2026 |

## Route description

From New York take I-80 west across New Jersey for about 1.5 hours to the Delaware Water Gap, where the river cuts through Kittatinny Ridge. Park at the trailhead lots on the New Jersey side and climb the Red Dot Trail on Mount Tammany for views down into the gap; the loop takes about three hours. The Appalachian Trail crosses the river here on the I-80 bridge.

Cross into Pennsylvania and follow US-209 north through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area along the river. Side roads lead to waterfalls such as Dingmans Falls and Raymondskill Falls, both a short walk from their lots, and to riverside picnic areas and boat launches. Milford, at the northern end, is a small 19th-century town with Grey Towers, the home of forester Gifford Pinchot, on the hill above.

From Milford drive southwest across the Pocono Plateau via I-84, I-380 and I-80 to Hickory Run State Park, about 1.5 hours, where a gravel road ends at the Boulder Field. Jim Thorpe, about 30 minutes south, is a Victorian coal town squeezed into the Lehigh Gorge, with the Asa Packer Mansion, a scenic railroad and bike trails along the river. Its streets are steep and parking is tight for RVs.

Ricketts Glen State Park is about 1.5 hours northwest via PA-93, I-81 and PA-118. The Falls Trail is best after rain in spring or in October color; wear proper boots, since the stone steps are steep and slippery. PA-487 from Red Rock up to the park is very steep; the park advises large trailers to avoid it and come in from the north via Dushore. End in Bloomsburg. The route is about 450 km.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **New York** (NY)
2. **Mount Tammany, Delaware Water Gap** (Delaware Water Gap, NJ): The New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap, where the steep Red Dot Trail climbs about 1,200 feet to cliff views over the river gap. The trailhead lots off I-80 fill early on weekends.
3. **Raymondskill Falls** (Milford, PA): Often called the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania, dropping in three tiers, a short but steep walk from a lot in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The side road off US-209 is narrow; not for large RVs.
4. **Milford** (PA)
5. **Hickory Run Boulder Field** (White Haven, PA): A flat field of boulders about 400 by 1,800 feet, left by frost action at the end of the last ice age and now a National Natural Landmark. Reached on a gravel road inside Hickory Run State Park; free.
6. **Jim Thorpe** (PA)
7. **Ricketts Glen State Park** (Benton, PA): The Falls Trail passes more than 20 named waterfalls in two wooded glens, the tallest being 94-foot Ganoga Falls. The 7-mile loop is steep and slippery; wear boots, start from the Lake Rose lot and avoid it in icy weather.
8. **Bloomsburg** (PA)

## FAQs

**How long is Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos to Ricketts Glen?**
3-day road trip of about 421 km (262 mi) with 8 stops, from New York to Bloomsburg. About 4 h 40 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos to Ricketts Glen?**
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 40 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos to Ricketts Glen start and end?**
It starts in New York and ends in Bloomsburg.

**Which states does Delaware Water Gap and the Poconos to Ricketts Glen pass through?**
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.