Made the long drive from Dever, CO to Buffalo, NY in a few days. No rush, just a couple hundred miles a day. Followed I70 from Denver to south of Chicago and then jumped up to I90 and followed it into Buffalo. As soon as I hit New York state vineyards apeared along both sides of the interstate and continued 30-40-50 miles. Dunno how wide the fields were but they sure lasted a long time.
Niagra Falls State Park is just outside of Buffalo and across the Niagra River from Canada. This must be the most revenue producing state/federal park in the country. A $10 parking fee and a $33 day pass per person for those who buy them. Gives access to the major attractions, a boat ride to the base of Horseshoe Falls and access to the shuttle bus.
I got there about 8:30am but the passes aren't sold til 9am so I just started wandering around and found some nice views of the Class III rapids above American Falls and the falls themselves. I decided I'd get a better view from the Canadian side so walked across the Niagra River into Canada. Kinda surprised they asked for my passport.
A nice promenade leads 1/2 mile or so from the beginning of American Falls to Horseshoe Falls. Great views of both but the overcast day plus the mist from the falls made most photos a little foggy. I still enjoyed the views.
On the way back, about 9:30am I passed the boat dock on the Canadian side for the 1/2 hour boat rides. Lines were very long and there appeared to be more than an hour wait, even that early in the morning. Killed any thoughts I had about buying a pass.
In addition to needing a passport I also had to pay $.50 to get through a turnstile and back into the U.S. That ticked me off pretty good. No warnings, no signs, no change machines just a turnstile requiring $.50.
Back on the American side I walked up to a bridge from the mainland to Goat Island. This island lies between American Falls and Horseshoe Falls and provides good views of both from the top and sides. Steps lead down to the base of the falls but I didn't go. There were a lot of steps. You also need a raincoat for the spray and mist from the falls.
Tolls on the Interstates started in Indiana and continued into Ohio and New York. I90 just touches the northeast corner of Pennsylvania so they haven't put up toll booths... yet! I was tired of the tolls and the crappy food at the service areas so I cut onto US20 and follwed it east. Many, many miles of cornfields and then apple orchards. Many of the small villages were quite picturesque with well maintained early 20th century architecture. Glad I made that trip.
I drove up to the Adirondack Mountain State Forest in northeast New York thinking I'd spend the fall foliage season there. It was pretty enough but too much development throughout the forest. Little towns, villages, hamlets or whatever scattered throughout the forest so I just drove through a part of it and then headed for the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.$19/per night + $2.75 registration fee at state parks didn't help much either. Couldn't find any dispersed camping.