Touring - ny state bike route 17

I've been daydreaming about the coming touring season and sent away to the NYDOT for maps of their across-the-state bike routes. I'm thinking about taking route 17 east to west as part of a longer tour. Has anyone ridden this? Liked it? Have a better route for crossing the southern part of NY? Was it possible to camp for free in parks or stealth camp along the way?

Thanks.

You must be a glutton for punishment. I spent many vacations in those hills as a kid. Catskills, Alleganies, et alia. There is a reason the Eire Canal was put where it was. It took the only vaguely flat route East to West between Maine and Georgia. The first car to drive coast to coast also took that route.

Also, you do not need to send away for the maps. I have links to the state DOT site where you can download Route 17 (east-west route near the Pennsylvania border), Route 5 (E-W near the Eire Canal), and Route 9 ( N-S New York City to Canada). Check my bike map routes thread in the advocacy forum.

Adventure Cycling, formerly Bikecentennial, has routes through New York that do include camping and support details.

Bike Route 17 is certainly a challenge in areas. I have ridden most of it east of Binghampton as day rides . As for stealth camping. just keep in mind most land in NYS is privately owned and even simple trespass in NY on posted property is a misdemeanor meaning you can arrested and jailed on the spot if the landowner is pissed enough. As for free camping most parks that allow it will charge. some state forests and many DEC game management areas do allow primitive camping.