Hudson Valley Art Park Route: 3-Park Weekend Adventure
Hudson Valley Art Park Route: The Ultimate 3-Park Road Trip
Hit three world-class sculpture parks in one weekend with this optimized Hudson Valley route. Storm King's 500-acre meadows, Art Omi's contemporary installations, and Opus 40's quarry monument create the perfect art-focused escape just 2 hours from NYC.
Why This Route Works
Geographic Logic: These three parks form a natural loop through the Hudson Valley, minimizing driving while maximizing art time.
Variety: Each offers completely different experiences—monumental meadow sculptures (Storm King), contemporary woodland installations (Art Omi), environmental stone monument (Opus 40).
Manageable: Covers ~150 miles total driving over 2-3 days with realistic time at each park.
The Route: Storm King → Art Omi → Opus 40
Total Driving
- NYC to Storm King: 55 miles (1.5-2 hours)
- Storm King to Art Omi: 30 miles (45 minutes)
- Art Omi to Opus 40: 35 miles (50 minutes)
- Opus 40 to NYC: 100 miles (2-2.5 hours)
Total Circuit: ~220 miles + park time
Friday: Travel + Storm King Preview (Optional)
Evening Arrival Option
4:00 PM: Leave NYC (beat rush hour)
6:00-6:30 PM: Arrive Hudson Valley, check into lodging
7:30 PM: Dinner at local restaurant
9:00 PM: Early night for full Saturday
Best Lodging Base:
- Beacon (closest to Storm King, 15 min)
- Cold Spring (charming, 20 min to Storm King)
- Newburgh (budget options, 20 min)
Or: Drive up Saturday morning for 2-day instead of 3-day trip
Saturday: Storm King Art Center (FULL DAY)
Best Arrival: 9:00-9:30 AM (gates open 10am but arrive early for parking)
Why Full Day?
Storm King demands 5-7 hours minimum:
- 500 acres to explore
- 100+ sculptures across multiple areas
- Walking/tram tours cover 3-5 miles
- On-site cafe for lunch or bring picnic
Recommended Route Through Park
9:30-10:30 AM: Museum Hill + Visitor Center
- Start at the top for overview
- See Ellsworth Kelly indoor exhibition
- Grab maps, plan your route
10:30 AM-12:30 PM: South Fields
- Mark di Suvero massive steel works
- Alexander Calder sculptures
- Open meadows with mountain views
- Most iconic Storm King photo ops
12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch Break
- Cafe on-site (sandwiches, salads)
- Or picnic on South Fields (allowed!)
- Rest your feet
1:30-3:30 PM: North Woods
- Forest sculptures
- Richard Serra steel pieces
- Shaded walking paths
- More intimate scale
3:30-4:30 PM: Outdoor Museum + favorites revisit
- Andy Goldsworthy stone wall
- Water features
- Return to must-see pieces for photos
4:30-5:00 PM: Gift shop + departure
Storm King Essentials
Admission: $24 adults (book online ahead)
What to Bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes (MUST)
- Water bottle + snacks
- Sun protection (limited shade)
- Camera
- Layers (weather changes)
Facilities:
- Restrooms at visitor center + North Woods
- Cafe with basic food
- Tram available (additional fee, or free with mobility needs)
- EV charging stations
Address: 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY 12553
Phone: (845) 534-3115
Website: stormking.org
Evening After Storm King
Options:
- Beacon: Dinner + Dia:Beacon if open late (Thursday-Monday til 7pm summer)
- Cold Spring: Main Street browsing + riverside dining
- Relax: Rest at lodging for Sunday adventures
Recommendation: Stay in same lodging (Beacon/Cold Spring area) for both nights to avoid packing/unpacking
Sunday: Art Omi → Opus 40
Morning: Art Omi (Columbia County)
Drive: 30 miles from Beacon area, 45 minutes
Arrival: 10:00-10:30 AM
Exact Directions from Beacon:
- Take NY-52 East
- I-84 East to Taconic State Parkway North
- Exit onto Route 23 East
- Follow signs to Ghent/Art Omi
At Art Omi (2-3 hours):
300 acres of contemporary sculpture in fields + forests. Unlike Storm King's manicured landscape, Art Omi feels wilder—sculptures discovered along woodland paths and open meadows.
Highlights:
- "YATTA" current exhibition
- Fields Sculpture Park with rotating works
- Architecture residency buildings (viewable from outside)
- Forest trails with integrated installations
Benefits:
- FREE admission (donation appreciated)
- Dog-friendly (bring your pup!)
- Less crowded than Storm King
- Year-round access
What to Bring:
- Same walking gear as Storm King
- Dogs welcome (leashed)
- No food service on-site (bring snacks)
Address: 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075
Phone: (518) 392-4747
Website: artomi.org
Afternoon: Opus 40 (Saugerties)
Drive: 35 miles from Art Omi, 50 minutes
Arrival: 1:00-2:00 PM
Exact Directions from Art Omi:
- Route 23 West
- I-87 South (short stretch)
- Exit 20 to Route 212 West
- Follow signs to Saugerties/Opus 40
At Opus 40 (1.5-2 hours):
Completely unique—one artist (Harvey Fite) spent 37 years carving entire quarry into environmental sculpture. The 6.5-acre bluestone monument feels ancient despite being mid-20th century creation.
Highlights:
- Central monolith (centerpiece of entire work)
- Quarryman's Museum (Fite's tools + story)
- Catskills mountain views
- Intimate scale allows complete exploration
Experience:
- Walk ON the sculpture (it's designed for it)
- Climb to highest point for views
- Explore all levels and passages
- Visit small museum
What to Bring:
- Sturdy shoes (walking on stone)
- Camera (unique photo opportunities)
- Water
Admission: $10 adults (cash/card accepted)
Season: May-October, weekends only (verify before going!)
Hours: 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
Address: 50 Fite Rd, Saugerties, NY 12477
Phone: (845) 246-3400
Website: opus40.org
Late Afternoon Options
Option 1: Woodstock Side Trip (15 min from Opus 40)
- Browse galleries + shops
- Grab coffee or early dinner
- Iconic music history
Option 2: Direct Return to NYC
- Leave Opus 40 at 4:00 PM
- Arrive NYC 6:30-7:00 PM
- Avoid Sunday evening traffic
Monday Extension: Add More Parks
Have Monday off?
Add Stone Quarry Hill (Cazenovia)
From Opus 40: 2 hours northwest
Spend: 2-3 hours exploring 104-acre park
Return to NYC: 4 hours from Cazenovia
Or:
Return via Nassau County Museum (Long Island)
Route: I-87 South → Cross Westchester → LIE
Stop: Nassau County Museum for afternoon visit
Makes sense if: You live in NYC and want Long Island finale
Budget Breakdown
2-Day Weekend (Saturday-Sunday)
Budget Option ($200-300/person):
- Shared Airbnb or budget hotel: $60-80/night
- Food: $40/day (picnics + casual dining)
- Gas: $40 (split if carpooling)
- Admissions: $34 (Storm King $24 + Opus 40 $10)
Mid-Range ($400-600/person):
- Nice hotel/inn: $150-200/night
- Food: $80/day (mix casual + upscale)
- Gas: $50
- Admissions: $34
Luxury ($800+/person):
- Boutique resort: $300-400/night
- All meals upscale: $150/day
- Private car costs
- Add wine tastings, spa, etc.
3-Day Weekend (Friday-Sunday)
Add one extra night lodging + food to above budgets
Pro Tips from Regular Visitors
- Book Storm King tickets online ahead - saves time at gate
- Start Storm King early (9:30 AM arrival) - beat crowds, best light
- Pack lunches - Storm King allows picnics, Art Omi has no food
- Check Opus 40 hours - Only open May-October, weekends only
- Weekday visits beat crowds - If you can swing it, Friday + Monday off
- Download offline maps - Cell service spotty in rural areas
- Fill gas tank - Rural gas stations close early
- Bring cash for Opus 40 - They take cards but cash always works
- Wear hiking shoes - You'll walk 5-10 miles across all three parks
- Check weather week before - All outdoor, no rain backup plans
Best Times to Visit
Spring (April-May)
- Storm King reopens April
- Fresh green landscapes
- Smaller crowds
- Cool temps for hiking
Summer (June-August)
- All parks fully operational
- Longest days = more time
- Can get hot/humid
- Peak crowds at Storm King
Fall (September-October)
- PEAK season for foliage + sculpture combo
- Storm King closes mid-November
- Book lodging well ahead
- Best weather
Winter
- Storm King CLOSED Nov-March
- Art Omi open year-round
- Opus 40 CLOSED Nov-April
- Limited options
Best Overall Week: Mid-May or late September/early October
Alternative Routes
2-Park Saturday Only
Tight Schedule? Do Storm King + Art Omi in one day:
- 8:00 AM-1:00 PM: Storm King (abbreviated)
- 2:00-5:00 PM: Art Omi
- Return to NYC
Better: Just do Storm King full day—it deserves it
4-Park Extended Weekend
Add Griffis Sculpture Park:
After Opus 40, continue west to Ashford Hollow (2 hours)
Requires 3-4 days total
Bottom Line
This route delivers maximum Hudson Valley sculpture park experience in minimum time. Three completely different parks—Storm King's grand scale, Art Omi's contemporary edge, Opus 40's unique environmental art—create varied, memorable weekends.
Total driving: ~150 miles between parks (+ your initial travel)
Total park time: 10-12 hours across three days
Total cost: $300-600/person for full weekend
Start with Storm King (the anchor), add Art Omi's FREE access, finish with Opus 40's intimate stone monument, and you've experienced the Hudson Valley's artistic heart.
Ready to drive? Map the route, book Storm King tickets, pack your walking shoes, and prepare for an unforgettable art-filled Hudson Valley adventure!
Updated January 2026. Verify seasonal hours before traveling—Opus 40 closes for winter, Storm King closes mid-November through March.