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Home to 11 shimmering lakes, the Finger Lakes region is a breathtaking retreat in upstate New York that echoes with the histories and legends of suffragettes, the Iroquois Confederacy, Revolutionaries, and the humble grape-growers who transformed these fertile valleys into the nation’s premier wine center.
The two largest lakes here, Seneca and Cayuga, shelter expansive forests, endless shorelines, and of course, the famous Seneca Wine Trail. Visitors can explore glacial marvels, like the Taughannock Falls and Watkins Glen, discover picturesque spots like Seneca Falls or the George Bailey Bridge, and relax by sipping wine anywhere along this fertile valley.
Whether enjoying the grapes or searching for Bigfoot in the woods, this drive through upstate New York offers the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and peaceful relaxation.
Most travelers fly into Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) or Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH), both offering a variety of car rental options. From Syracuse, it’s about a 1-hour drive, and from Ithaca, just a 20-minute drive, to reach the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Along the way, you’ll pass scenic lakes and charming small towns. Once you arrive, you can start your journey by exploring the picturesque towns and lakeside views that define the Finger Lakes region.
Tompkins International Airport (ITH) is the closest airport, which connects mostly to major hubs like Philadelphia, Detroit, and Washington Dulles, so this can be a good choice for visitors departing from one of those airports.
Alternatively, Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is only an hour’s drive from the starting point of our tour in Ithaca or 1.5 hours from the Watkins Glen starting point, and it offers many flights around the world.
From the Ithaca Starting Point, visitors will drive into Ithaca via New York State Highways 13, 79, 89, and 96. This is usually the easiest way to get to the starting point of our tour from major cities along the East Coast or from farther away.
From the Watkins Glen starting point, the tour will begin along Franklin Street in Watkins Glen. The major route into Watkins Glen is NY-14, which merges into Franklin Street and leads directly to the Watkins Glen Visitor Center.
Ithaca has arriving buses from both the Coach and Greyhound bus lines. Visitors can arrive in Ithaca, and then rent a car to continue on the tour route.
For the Watkins Glen Starting Point, there is no direct bus service. However, there is a shuttle that runs between the three main entrances of Watkins Glen State Park, making it easier for visitors to return to their cars after hiking the park.
The nearest Amtrak stations are located in Rochester, an hour and a half away, and Syracuse, about an hour’s drive away. Visitors can arrive at one of those nearby destinations, then rent a car to continue on the journey.
The three New York State Parks along our route are all free to enter but require a small parking fee: Watkins Glen, Seneca Lake, and Taughannock Falls. Visitors who plan to see all three or return within a year may want to purchase an Empire Pass from the NPS to enjoy free parking at all three sites plus additional New York State beaches and parks.
The Cayuga Nature Center offers donation-base admission.
The Seneca Falls It’s a Wonderful Life Museum charges a nominal fee per adult and children enter free.
The Women’s Rights National Historical Park, also in Seneca Falls, offers free admission.
The Belhurst Castle grounds are open for exploration, as long as guests are considerate. Those wishing to stay in the hotel or dine inside the Castle must make reservations ahead of time.
There are many options to extend a trip to the Finger Lakes at the many camp spots in the State Parks along the route, including options for RVs, tents, and cabin camping. Though there are hundreds of spots, they fill up quickly in the summer, so visitors should book ahead of time on reserveamerica.com
Since the Finger Lakes region is a four-season destination, there are many hotel options in both Ithaca and Seneca Falls, ranging from budget-friendly chains to boutique accommodations. For a special experience, visitors can book a stay at the Belhurst Castle.
Spring is a good time to beat crowds and enjoy the gentler paths with fewer crowds. The waterfalls will be full and dramatic.
Summer is the peak time to explore the shorelines for sun and water fun. The popular Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is open all summer.
Fall offers gorgeous foliage and harvest events in Seneca Falls and Geneva.
Winter is a cozy time to enjoy the wineries without the crush, while viewing the snow-covered trails.
Visitors can explore this 90-mile tour route in one weekend: either one very full day or over two more relaxed days.
Starting off early in the morning allows enough time to visit the parks alongside Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, the two largest lakes in the system. This also allows enough time for quick stops in historic Seneca Falls and one or two hikes. Finish up the day sipping wine at one of the wineries along the route and watching the sun set over Seneca Lake. Visitors who prefer to linger longer at the nature-related stops or wine tasting options can do so, and just enjoy the expert narration as it enriches the drive.
With an additional day, nature-lovers can spend more time exploring trails along Taughannock Falls State Park and Seneca Lake State Park, along with more time to sample the restaurant in Belmont Castle or the many wineries along the route.
Travel around the Finger Lakes area is fairly easy, but keep in mind that wine tasting requires advance reservations, and accommodations fill up quickly during the summer travel season. If you plan to spend two or more days in the Finger Lakes area, be sure you have your essential reservations handled ahead of time.
This flexible driving tour around Seneca and Cayuga Lakes can be completed in one very long, very full day, or enjoyed at a more comfortable pace pace over two days. Consider staying in Seneca Falls or Geneva, or camping in one of the state parks along the route, to extend exploration time.
A single day touring the Finger Lakes might look something like this. Remember, this tour can be adjusted based on your interests – spend a little more time exploring the trails and skip the wine tastings, or vice versa!
Set out in the morning near Ithaca and explore the Cayuga Nature Center’s fun treehouse, then stop by the overlook at Taughannock Falls State Park. Drive around Cayuga Lake, then visit the Women’s Rights Historical Park in the charming town of Seneca Falls, with a quick photo stop at the George Bailey Bridge to enact the famous scene from It’s a Wonderful Life.
Fit in a shorefront stroll and picnic lunch at Seneca Lake, then hit the wine trail. Choose one or two of the wineries along our route, then take a pause to marvel at Belhurst Castle. Finish the day at Watkins Glen State Park for some beautiful woodlands; visitors with extra time (and stamina) can hike the famous Gorge Trail, if its open (hours vary, check ahead of time).
A full two days in the Finger Lakes region gives plenty of time to visit every stop along the route, including the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, Cayuga Marshes, and even side trips to more lakes. It’s definitely worth it to take the easy Gorge Trail at Taughannock Falls State Park with two days. Wine aficionados can dig deeper into the many options along the wine trail, or reserve a nice meal at Belhurst Castle.
Explore a stunning gorge at Watkins Glen, where waterfalls cascade over layered rock and stone stairways wind through a narrow canyon. Carved by prehistoric glaciers and ever-flowing water, it’s one of the most dramatic and unforgettable landscapes in Upstate New York. Adventurers can descend the famous Gorge Trail on 832 stone steps to take in magical views of tumbling water, layered stones, and even erosion-sculpted tunnels.
Marvel at Taughannock Falls, where a 215-foot waterfall – taller than Niagara – plunges into a dramatic glacial gorge. Choose an easy hike to the base on the broad base, or take in sweeping views from the overlook, which is easily accessible from the parking lot. As we explore the area surrounded by towering cliffs shaped by prehistoric glaciers, we’ll see why these tumbling falls have attracted visitors for hundreds of years.
Discover the dignified lakeside estate turned winery and inn along the scenic shores of Seneca Lake. Once a private mansion owned by a cast of colorful characters, today the beautiful Victorian-era mansion houses a spa, hotel, and restaurant. Stop in to sample some of the region’s wines, or simply wander the grounds to take in the beautiful views of Seneca Lake, framed by the gracious landscaped gardens of Belhurst.
See one of the most unique vineyards along the Finger Lakes Wine Trail. Enjoy sipping the local varieties in the roomy winery with sweeping views of Seneca Lake. On the grounds, you can see the Civil War-era barn repurposed into a winemaking facility, or get a peek at the bee sanctuary nurturing the area’s precious pollinators. Tour the eco-friendly facility to see how Fox Run blends time-honored tradition and innovative practices seamlessly.
The It’s a Wonderful Life Bridge in Seneca Falls is a key landmark inspired by the famous scene in the movie where George Bailey saves a woman from drowning. The iron bridge, located in the heart of town, is where a real-life rescue of a young girl in the early 1900s sparked the idea for the film’s climactic moment. Visitors can walk across this historic bridge, connecting the magic of cinema with the town’s rich history.
This trail gives an opportunity to get a closer view of Taughannock Falls. On the way, hikers will pass the 20-foot Little Falls, impressive in their own right! Keep an eye out for fossils in the surrounding rock walls. The approximately 2-mile round trip takes most people about an hour and leads to a nice view of the Falls from the base of the waterfall. Keep in mind it’s usually muddy.
The most demanding hike on our tour is also the most popular. The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail requires climbing down over 800 stone steps, passing 19 different waterfalls along the way! The reward for this moderately-difficult 2.2 mile path is fantastic views on the way down to the narrow gorge, and hikers can turn around anytime if time or energy runs short. Hiking the entire trail down and back takes about an hour and a half.
The Cayuga Nature Center offers a flat, easy 1.5-mile loop through meadows, woods, and streams that’s open year-round to show off New York’s seasonal scenery. It’s a nice way to spend twenty minutes or so, either with a guide from the center during one of its many nature programs or hiking independently. Walkers must purchase admission to the Cayuga Nature Center to access the trails.
The Van Riper and Whitlock Nature Preserve Loop is a short half-mile loop to the scenic shoreline of Cayuga Lake. This easy walking trail leads visitors through a rare, undeveloped portion of Lake Cayuga just off Highway 89. It’s a great place to spend about an hour away from the more crowded tourist areas and enjoy watching the wildlife around the peaceful lake.
Water Bottle: Our tour includes a full day of sightseeing and hiking, so bring along plenty of water to stay hydrated. There are water refill stations in the State Parks and the Cayuga Nature Preserve.
Hiking Shoes: If planning to hike the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail, visitors should bring sturdy hiking shoes with grippy soles. The rest of the walks on our route can usually be handled adequately with sturdy tennis shoes or walking sandals.
Charger or Battery Pack: Since using location services tends to drain phone batteries a little more quickly than usual, it’s a good idea to pack a car charger and even an extra battery pack for extending device longevity when out hiking.
Sun Protection: When the sun reflects off the water, the chance of sunburn increases. Pack sun protection appropriate for the season; in the sunny summer months, visitors will need sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat.
Light Layers: The breeze coming off the lakes can be chilly, and temperatures can be several degrees lower under the trees than in direct sun. Pack a seasonally appropriate jacket or sweater to stay comfortable throughout the tour.
Insect Repellent: Pack bug spray and reapply before heading into wooded areas or shorelines to avoid mosquito bites.
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