11 Amazing Upstate New York Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

You may think New York is all about Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Empire State Building, named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Far from these crowd-filled attractions, in an expanse that is raw and pristine, lie some of New York State’s most spellbinding attractions. You will find glassy lakes with shimmering views, one-of-a-kind museums to explore, some of the best parks in America, and wineries that revolutionized the state’s wine industry. From the Baseball Museum in Cooperstown to Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in Hammondsport, the following are 11 amazing Upstate New York day trips that are worth the drive.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, a small lakeside village just under three hours from Rochester and the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. Baseball has long been known as “America’s pastime,” an enduring moniker given to the sport in the years before the Civil War. Although Pedestrianism, which involved watching people walk, was for a while America's favorite spectator sport, especially in the 1870s and 1880s, baseball would soon hold a place in the American psyche and culture in a wild, frenetic way.

In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, Americans did not have as much free time to pass, but in the time they did, they were wild about baseball. Today, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, you will see almost all the players you have heard about, relive some of the game's most defining moments, and explore a neat gift shop with a large assortment of team memorabilia. Although you can take it with a pinch of salt, Cooperstown has always claimed to be the birthplace of baseball. Whatever the facts, there's probably nowhere else to find more than 150 years of baseball in a single building, especially of Cooperstown’s scale and magnitude.

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park is about 128 miles from downtown Buffalo, a driving distance of about 2 and a half hours. You can arrive via the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and then work your way to the nationally famous park, considered the crown jewel of the Finger Lakes. It spans more than 770 acres and is famous for its heart-dissolving gorge, cascading waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails. The gorge, a winding chasm nearly 400 feet deep, is considered one of the most dramatic natural landscapes in the Northeast.

It packs in 19 waterfalls, including the famous Rainbow Falls (notice the name), where water cascades in a thin, sheet-like veil, with the interaction of sunlight and water creating what looks like rainbows. There is also Cavern Cascade, which you can actually walk behind. A while back, Watkins Glen State Park was chosen from more than 6,000 state parks across the country as a nominee in the USA TODAY Readers' Choice Poll for Best State Park in the United States. It eventually won third place. The vehicle entry fee for Watkins Glen State Park is just $10.

Ausable Chasm

Ausable Chasm is just about 14 miles south of Plattsburgh International Airport, a driving distance of just 20 minutes. It is a heart-stirring geological marvel often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.” The 2-part Classic Tour, which starts at $49.95, is the most popular package with visitors. It involves a complete end-to-end visit of the outdoor wonder with a trolley or shuttle return to the welcome center. The first part of the tour features Rainbow Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Adirondack region, Elephant's Head, Column Rock, Hyde's Cave, and the eerie quiet of Mystic Gorge, known for its mysterious, almost cathedral-like feel.

In the second part, you will board a raft and float through the narrowest and deepest region of Ausable Chasm, an experience that is both thrilling and scary. But don't fret. Experienced guides navigate the rafts between the heart-sinking cliffs of the Grand Flume, past the Broken Needle and around the Whirlpool Basin, an adventure punctuated with interesting discussions on the geology and history of the chasm. The highlight is often the rapids found mid-way through the float tour. The views will stay in your mind for a while.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a world-famous water wonder that has been featured in films, books, music, and several other art productions. Niagara Falls State Park, home to one of the continent's most famous natural spectacles, is one of those places that takes your breath away the moment you arrive. You will gasp at the sheer power and beauty of the falls, a picture that is impossible to perfectly capture with a camera. The park is beautifully maintained with plenty of scenic overlooks, walking trails, and spots to sit and take in the view. The falls are not the tallest.

What sets them apart is the immense volume of water they showcase. Charles Dickens called the avalanche “an image of beauty…changeless and indelible.” Lafayette described Goat Island, which separates the two parts of the falls, as “an aerial garden sustained by clouds and surrounded by thunder.” Niagara Falls is just outside Buffalo, about 30 minutes from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Long known as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” a visit here is almost akin to a vacation rite of passage. And you don't have to be a honeymooner.

Corning and the Corning Museum of Glass

Corning is about two hours southeast of Buffalo, and from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. You will want to start your adventure at Homestead Baking Co., where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast that makes patrons leave giggling out the door. Dubbed The Crystal City, Corning is a big name in vacation circles and boasts a gorgeous historic downtown with Victorian architecture, beautiful brick buildings, and a vibrant art scene. From Centerway Square and its dazzling array of shopping options to Market Street, which is a nice stretch to stroll and give your eyes a feast, Corning is as unforgettable as they come. Of course, the star of the show is the Corning Museum of Glass, the world's go-to spot for all things glass.

The museum’s Contemporary Art + Design Wing, which many consider an unmissable highlight, features a sophisticated system of diffused skylights and is the world’s largest space dedicated to displaying contemporary art and design in glass. There is the Innovation Center, which showcases the science and technology behind glass-themed innovations, and the Rakow Research Library, the world’s foremost library on the art, history, and science of glass and glassmaking. You can also check out The Rockwell Museum, which houses a huge Bierstadt landscape and numerous paintings from the Taos School of artists. Afterwards, drive up into the hills toward Corning Community College for awesome views of the surrounding areas.

Lake George

According to rankings on USA Today’s 10Best, Lake George is the country’s third-best lake. Big Bear Lake in California was voted the best in the country, with Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin following. In a country with thousands of lakes, including about 250 freshwater lakes that are known to have surface areas of 10 square miles or more, the fondness for Lake George is not without basis. Located on the southern edge of New York's Adirondacks, Lake George has always been called The Queen of American Lakes. Its shimmering waters have long attracted both well-heeled aristocrats and ordinary outdoor adventurers.

First-time visitors will enjoy exploring the architectural wonders along Millionaires' Row, once associated with respected names like the renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe, photographer Alfred Steiglitz, and politician Charles Evan Hughes. On the flipside, outdoor lovers will enjoy a yummy range of recreational opportunities, including sunset lake cruises, parasailing, and swimming. Lake George is just under an hour from Albany via I-87.

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park is just an hour from Buffalo and is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the Eastern U.S. Although a state park like Niagara, Letchworth’s outdoor appeal is way greater and more sublime than several national parks. For perspective, Letchworth State Park features one of the largest canyons east of the Mississippi River with steep, near-vertical cliffs and numerous scenic overlooks. Those who have camped in the park will swear that it offers the best camping spots in the state, and by far.

Plus, you will have the chance to explore three towering waterfalls (and several smaller ones), clusters of picnic areas with playgrounds, museums, a nature center, and 66 miles of trails, including the 7-mile Gorge Trail, widely regarded as the most popular. The park is huge, and for day trippers, a focus on the southwestern portion provides the best experience, especially for its concentration of what many consider to be day-tripper activities. You will want to check out The Autism Nature Trail, America’s first nature trail specifically designed to address the sensory needs of people on the autism spectrum. It was opened in 2021.

Ithaca and Ithaca Falls

Ithaca is a postcard town framed by beautiful rolling hills and set on the shores of Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. The town is about an hour's drive from Syracuse and from the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. You can start with a healthy meal at Moosewood, a well-known culinary icon of vegetarianism near Cornell, or at Ithaca Bakery, famous for its terrific bagels. Keep in mind that Bon Appétit named Moosewood one of the "thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century.”

You can chance upon a phenomenal show at Hangar Theatre, a warm, comfy place that 90 years ago was a municipal airport hangar. That said, Ithaca is all about gorges and waterfalls. It boasts over 150 falls within just 10 miles, including stand-outs like Ithaca Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls, and Lucifer Falls. With a drop of 150feet, Ithaca Falls is the region’s most powerful and impressive, and deserves a special focus.

Fort Ticonderoga

You may not know this, but historians credit a surprise dead-of-night attack in Fort Ticonderoga as the catalyst in helping the United States attain independence from the British, which was then a world power with more formidable resources. One morning in May 1775, in the hazy twilight before dawn, a small crew of British soldiers was asleep inside Fort Ticonderoga, a historic garrison on the banks of Lake Champlain. They were awakened by a series of shouts and, on rushing to their posts, were stunned to find tens of American soldiers streaming over the fort's walls, flintlock rifles in hand.

The victory was swift and bloodless and is celebrated as the Continental forces' first offensive victory of the war, leading up to the United States' founding a year later in 1776. You can come here to sample interesting Revolutionary War exhibits at the museum, hop on guided tours and boat cruises, or drift into bliss at the meticulously maintained King's Garden, a serene, colourful space with fragrant flowers and lush greenery. Fort Ticonderoga is about an hour from Albany International Airport.

Beacon and Dia Beacon

Beacon is home to Dia Beacon, a museum of contemporary art with more exhibition space than Manhattan’s Guggenheim, Whitney Museum, and MoMA combined. It was founded in 2003 in a former Nabisco box printing factory and is unique for its focus on minimalist art and the absence of educational material or viewing instructions. However, this ensures that your interaction with the artwork is more direct and intimate.

There is an almost palpable serenity, an abundance of natural light, and a contemplative atmosphere, factors that allow for a unique engagement with the art, even if you are not used to the style. However, art is not everything that Beacon offers. It boasts one of the most charming main streets in the state, waterfront views of the Hudson River, and the historic remains of the Bannerman Castle, one of the Hudson Valley's most intriguing ruins. Beacon is just 92 miles south of Albany, and from Albany International Airport.

Hammondsport and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery

Hammondsport is about 80 minutes from Rochester and from the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. It boasts a photogenic waterfront setting, a classic village square, and a rich aviation history, especially because it is the birthplace of Glenn H. Curtiss, who pioneered the design and operation of flying boats in the United States. The story of Glen H. Curtiss is deeply moving and fascinating, especially because he did not even have the benefit of a college degree. You can learn his story at the highly rated Glenn H Curtiss Museum in his hometown of Hammondsport, as you admire a wide variety of vintage planes, motorcycles, and cars.

The area around Hammondsport is known for wine, and next in line should be a stop at the nearby Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, a beautiful spot associated with the man who introduced classic European grape varieties to the region, eventually triggering a winemaking renaissance in the area. The vineyards represent the oldest Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir vines in the Eastern United States and offer awesome opportunities for photography.

The Takeaway

There is a world of recreation and adventure beyond the buzz of Manhattan, where the air is fresh and fragrant, the landscapes wild and whimsical, and the atmosphere restful and peaceful. You will be blown away by cinematic waterfalls, grand gorges, glassy lakes, and rugged canyons — all of which present nature at its most artistic. On the flip side, you will find some of the most unique museums in the world, as well as spots that shaped the historical trajectory of the United States. All you need is a good camera and a notebook. The Upstate is calling.