I'd never driven an RV before, and I have to admit I was initially intimidated. My boyfriend had experience behind the wheel, but for me, this was completely new territory. So when we picked up a Cruise America RV in Franklin Park, IL, on a Tuesday afternoon in October, I was equal parts excited and terrified. Ten days later, we'd driven over 2,000 miles through five states, hiked to more than 50 waterfalls (I am a waterfall chaser), walked through 7,000 glowing pumpkins at the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, fed carrots to alpacas at sunset, drank wine near a mountainside in the middle of leaf peeping season, and much more fall fun. We stayed at 10 unique Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome locations along the way — wineries, farms, a distillery, an artist's retreat, and a meadery.
This is the trip I wish someone had mapped out for me. If you've ever wondered whether you could do a road trip like this, the answer is yes. Here's how we did it.
The Route
Chicago → Finger Lakes → Catskills → Hudson Valley → Sleepy Hollow → Pennsylvania Poconos → Cuyahoga Valley National Park → back to Chicago
First time on the open road
Day 1: Paper Moon Vineyards — Vermilion, Ohio
We picked up the RV in the late AM, and 7 hours later, we pulled into Paper Moon Vineyards on Lake Erie, a winery with wine, hard cider, and craft beer plus a large outdoor lawn, fire pit, and gift shop. The winery was closed by the time we arrived, but we grabbed a bottle of their most popular wine at the gas station next door. The property was pleasantly dark and very quiet, exactly what we needed after a first day behind the wheel of something the size of a small apartment.
The Cruise America C25 parked under a fall canopy
Day 2: The Apple Station Winery — Cayuga, New York
Six hours from Ohio to the Finger Lakes. We checked into Apple Station first, an apple orchard and farm winery specializing in apple wines, hard ciders, and apple spirits, with u-pick apples and famous apple cider mini donuts, then drove south to Watkins Glen State Park. The gorge trail has 19 waterfalls in about 3 miles, with stone steps carved into the rock and tunnels behind the falls. Back at Apple Station, from the scenery to the hospitality, it felt like our own fall oasis.
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Day 3: Claddagh Farm Alpacas — LaFayette, New York
Double-gorge day! Taughannock Falls (215 feet, taller than Niagara), then Robert H. Treman for the Rim Trail and Gorge Trail Loop, a 4.4-mile loop ending at Lucifer Falls. By afternoon, we were at Claddagh Farm, a hilltop alpaca farm that breeds black and grey alpacas, with a barn shop selling fiber socks, mittens, and gloves. The owner, Sarah, gave us a tour and let us feed them as soon as we arrived. Nothing beats waking up to alpacas on one side and mountain views on the other. This is why Harvest Hosts is so cool!
Feeding the alpacas at Claddagh Farm
At one of the Finger Lakes gorge waterfalls
Day 4: Shady Meadows (Boondockers Welcome) — Gilboa, New York
Five stops before check-in: Tinker Falls (walk behind a 50-foot waterfall), Green Lakes (surreal turquoise glacial water), and Vroman's Nose (valley panorama). Kait and Ben at Shady Meadows, a quiet rural spot in the Catskill Mountains with countryside views, meadows, and woods. They were the best BW hosts a first-timer could ask for. They made us coffee in the morning, and we had a lovely chat about travel.
The turquoise water of Green Lakes State Park
Valley panorama from Vroman's Nose
Day 5: Woodrock Studios — Pine Bush, New York
Mine Kill Falls (80 feet, five minutes from the host) in the morning, then Kaaterskill Falls, 260 feet, the tallest cascading waterfall in New York. The afternoon was the opposite of waterfalls: Woodrock Studios is an expansive wooded property at the end of a quiet country road on the side of the Shawangunk Mountains, home to artist Meadow's mixed-media gallery and the Great American Women's Sculpture Park. Meadow is the most interesting host and the reason why Harvest Hosts is so special. You just have to meet her and experience the wonder of her artistry.
Fall foliage in the Catskills near Kaaterskill Falls
Day 6: Spirits Lab Distilling Co. — Highland Mills, New York
Our Halloween day. First we checked into Spirits Lab Distilling, a stunning location with prime mountain views. This farm distillery at Sweet Clover Farm uses NY-grown grains and botanicals to produce small-batch vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye. Our host greeted us at their Sunday market filled with vendors and music. We then drove to the Croton–Harmon Station and took the train into Sleepy Hollow (3 stops). We visited the Old Dutch Church, the Headless Horseman Bridge, and Washington Irving's grave, then strolled through town for eats and treats. That evening: the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. Seven thousand hand-carved illuminated pumpkins. The single most magical night of the trip!
Spirits Lab Distilling – mountain views and fall foliage
Inside Spirits Lab
Halloween vibes in Sleepy Hollow
At the Headless Horseman sculpture
Sleepy Hallow Lighthouse at Sunset
Hudson Valley Pumpkin Blaze
Pumpkin sculptures at the Blaze
Windmill and tulip field made entirely of carved pumpkins
Day 7: Ricketts Glen RV Sites — Benton, Pennsylvania
This was our slow, sleep-in day. We hit Raymondskill Falls on the way west, 178 feet, the tallest in Pennsylvania. We couldn't miss! Then we hit Ricketts Glen RV Sites, with wooded campsites just 3 miles from the state park with 50-amp electric, water, sewer hookups, and a fire ring. Super-convenient base camp. Early to bed in anticipation of our biggest hiking day the following morning.
Day 8: Gellella Terra Vineyard — Muncy, Pennsylvania
The big one. Ricketts Glen Falls Trail: 7.2 miles, 21 named waterfalls. It took about four hours. The stone steps were slippery, the forest canopy was on fire with fall color, and we lost count of how many times we said "wow, another fall?" out loud. Afterward, we visited Gellella Terra Vineyard for spectacular vistas of grapevines, sunsets, and countryside nestled in the hills of Muncy.
Ricketts Glen State Park – one of 21 waterfalls
Cruise America RV at Gellella Terra Vineyard
Day 9: Wolfs Wine Company — Amherst, Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Brandywine Falls on a boardwalk trail, then the Ledges Trail through 245-million-year-old sandstone cliffs with hidden passages and Ice Box Cave. Wolfs Wine Company was our next destination, nestled in the middle of Rex Gee fruit orchard with a scenic catch-and-release pond; a beautiful location off the beaten path. The owner graciously let us use his electricity and park wherever it was convenient. Good wine, quiet night.
Inside the Cruise America C25
Day 10: Wild Blossom Meadery — Chicago, Illinois
Five and a half hours west, watching the landscape flatten. Wild Blossom Meadery, the first winery on Chicago's South Side, raises its own bees and collects honey to produce some of the world's most sustainably made beverages—an urban gem with mead, generous tastings, and friendly staff. The next morning, we returned the RV after completing the big cross-country fall adventure.
Getting into the Halloween Spirit (literally) at Wild Blossom Meadery
A word on pacing: This was a busy itinerary with early mornings and packed days. Most of our relaxing happened in the evenings once we were parked at the host location. This pace worked for us, but if you're recreating this route, consider trimming some outdoor activities to match your own interests and pace. You don't have to hit every waterfall; pick the ones that excite you, build in a rest day or two, and give yourself permission to slow down. The hosts and the scenery alone are worth slowing down for.
Tips for First-Time RVers
Start with a Cruise America rental. They walk you through everything at pickup. We had zero experience and figured it out by Day 2.
Use Harvest Hosts. We used it to connect the dots from place to place, selecting hosts based on the hikes and attractions we wanted to hit. The app also lists dump stations near wherever you're staying, which was a lifesaver.
Meal prep ahead. We prepped all our breakfast foods, packed snacks for hiking lunches, and used freezer bags with pre-made dinners to thaw during the day and heat up at night. Keeps water usage down and means fewer dishes.
Budget for tolls and fuel. Chicago to New York has a lot of tolls; we spent about $130 total. Use a gas finder app, like Gas Buddy, to map out the cheapest fuel stops. Our total fuel cost came in lower than expected, just under $1K.
Download offline maps and a bridge clearance app. Cell service is spotty in the gorges and mountains. Some bridge clearances are low, so we used RV LIFE Trip Wizard to find routes that kept us from becoming a headless horseman.
Bring external chargers & factor in RV expenses. Most of our sites were dry, so we relied on light charging usage when using the generator for cooking and external chargers. The generator is an extra charge; we only used it for the microwave. The heater and lights run on propane and the battery, so generator costs stayed low. We spent about $30 on generator usage and $40 on propane refill.
Call dump stations ahead of time. The HH app lists them near your stays, but some are closed for the season this time of year. Call around to confirm before you show up.
Harvest Hosts is a unique RV camping membership that offers self-contained RVers unlimited overnight stays at 9,600+ unique locations across North America with no camping fees. Stay at farms, wineries, breweries, museums, golf courses, attractions, and other one-of-a-kind destinations while enjoying memorable travel experiences and the peace of mind that comes with knowing a safe place to stay is always nearby.
