I used to live 15 min from the Hudson Gorge take out - and still consider it my "local" river.
I'm on the Hudson, though a flatwater section. Current can be pretty good in the spring, but no real play features other than good eddys.
20 min to the Sacandaga (class II dam release - runs all summer)
30 min to Schroon take out (class III runs whenever it rains, goes up and comes down slow as it is lake overflow)
40 min to Hudson Takeout (Gorge), closer for two lower down class II or III sections.
Lots of other local creeks within an hour, and within two hours lots more water (Moose, etc...).
One of the reasons I don't leave the state much to paddle - so much to enjoy right here! AND no crowds
Hades, out here on Long Island there's just so much whitewater that it is difficult to decide what to choose...NOT!
The real deal is that I have to drive a minimum of 2.5 hrs. to get to any WW at all, typically either the Covered Bridge section of the Housatonic in West Cornwall, CT, or the Mongaup in Port Jervis, NY at the intersectin of NY, NJ, & PA - both Class II. There are also some popular creeks within about the same radius, but I'm not generally a creeker.
From my house I have 2 sets of reversing tidal falls about 20 minutes away. One has awesome surfing for longer boats/big waves and one is just a fun wave train with burly eddies. Also have a little class IIIish creek (my buddy and I are the only ones I know who ever run it) about 35 minutes away and the class III-IV section of the Kenduskeag about an hour out. The class III-IVish Marsh stream is about 40 minutes away, and the class III-V Souadabscook is about 50...
At school in Unity the Marsh is even closer and Sandy river literally runs right through campus. When it rains it comes up real quick and puts a nice play wave under the bridge and a sweet III+ rapid running through a gorge about 150 yards long.
Got it pretty good for boating as long as it rains! And when it is dry out, the tidal falls keep me sane.
-Anthony
"I'm gonna run this one river left I think.... So far river left, that I'm gonna be on the bank. With my boat on my shoulder."
Hmmm....loads of class 0 to 1- close by but for the real stuff...7 1/2 hrs to good stuff in da UP, 8 1/2 hrs to the Wolf area in Wisconsin, about 8 1/2 to the Lower Yough. The best I have is the WW Course in South Bend 2 hrs away. Yeah baby, it's great to be a WW paddler in west MI
But the big Lake is nice!
You all have it really nice. I'm definitely envious!!!!
I used to live near Philly-1 hour to Tohickon(which rarely ran). Now I live in Richmond VA, 15 minutes for reliable class 2-4 whitewater, depending on river level, dam near 365 days a year. Only in the driest of years is it too low.
I used to live by the James in Richmond as well, what a great place to learn to paddle. Now I'm in the Shenandoah Valley and much closer to the Maury (Goshen Pass) and Balcony Falls section of the James, half an hour to a hour depending on traffic. When there is water the options increase North River, Bullpasture, Dry River, Tye River... two hours or so to the New/Gauley or Shenandoah/Potomac, three to the Cheat.
I live in Reno, Nevada. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not all desert and casinos here in Reno. The Truckee River runs out of Lake Tahoe, goes right through Reno and terminates at Pyramid Lake out in the Great Basin. Soooo....we have an exceptional whitewater park in downtown Reno that is available 365 days a year and the upper sections of the Truckee offer class 2-3-4 whitewater most days of the year. This is only 15 to 30 minutes away from this stinkin' desert town . Granted, it IS hard to believe.
And then there is the rest of the Sierra rising 10 minutes to the west. Outstanding runs are 2 hours away.
There is a very active and talented whitewater community in this town too!
Living in Roanoke, VA there are multiple sections of the James to paddle (Balcony Falls being the best) that are 30 minutes and less. When the rain comes there are lot more options, all those mentioned by VAnate as well as North Creek and ones similar. The hardest thing here is that Johns Creek, which is not only close but also arguably the best in VA is closed to boating.
Hollins Outdoor Program, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
I have the USNWC in my backyard but almost always opt for driving the 7 hrs round trip to get to the "real" rivers. The $5 parking fee and $25 boating fee get me a long way in terms of gas toward a more fun option.
15 minutes to moving water.
20 minutes to seasonal Class 2 with Class 4 potential moves.
30 minutes to Class 2-3 with good play spots and seasonal slalom gates.
1 hour to year-round slalom gates on Class 2 water
1 hour to (short) seasonal Class 3, 4 and seasonal Class 4-5 creeking.
2 hours to Class 2 and 3 dam-controlled summer weekend releases.
Lots more seasonal runs within 2 hours.
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but for the real stuff...7 1/2 hrs to good stuff in da UP, 8 1/2 hrs to the Wolf area in Wisconsin, about 8 1/2 to the Lower Yough. The best I have is the WW Course in South Bend 2 hrs away. Yeah baby, it's great to be a WW paddler in west MI 
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