8 Great Road Trips to Take in The Finger Lakes
Those who know their way around New York's Finger Lakes region typically have a favorite drive, and it is rarely the fastest route between towns. It is the back road, with a tasting room or a gorge trail along the way. The 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway circles the longest of the lakes, passing the 215-foot waterfall at Taughannock Falls State Park north of Ithaca. In Watkins Glen, the 6.6-mile Historic Grand Prix Circuit follows the route of the first post-WWII road race in the US, held in 1948. The Canandaigua Lake and Bristol Hills Loop runs south to Naples, where Concord grape pie is the local specialty. The Skaneateles-Owasco Double Loop reaches Fillmore Glen State Park, where a gorge trail follows Dry Creek past five waterfalls. Some of these eight great road trips take a few hours; others fill a day or two once the pit stops add up.
Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway Loop
The first route runs 87 miles around Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. The loop can be entered anywhere and driven in either direction, but this route starts in Ithaca, traveling north on NY-89 along the western shore. Along this section, steep hills rise on one side with the water on the other, passing gorges, vineyards, and wooded stretches. Just under 20 minutes in, the road reaches Taughannock Falls State Park, home to a 215-foot waterfall. Continuing north, NY-89 passes through part of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, with more than a dozen wineries. Stop for tastings at Sheldrake Point Winery or Knapp Winery, or stay the night and book a tour with Crush Beer & Wine Tours. Another 20 minutes leads to the lake's northern tip, where the scenery shifts into broad wetlands around Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and you can take a three-mile Wildlife Drive that runs through marsh habitat.
Rounding the lake onto NY-90, the route passes through Union Springs, where you can paddle out to Frontenac Island, and Aurora, whose historic village district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Past Aurora, vineyards return to the landscape, including the 72-acre Long Point Winery, which overlooks the lake. Here, the route pulls inland through open farmland toward King Ferry, the farthest point from the lake. NY-34B angles back toward Cayuga, running through Lansing, home to the 35-foot, multi-plume Ludlowville Falls. From Lansing, NY-34 heads back through steeper terrain before the loop closes in Ithaca.
Seneca Lake Loop
This next route begins in Watkins Glen, follows the official 19-mile Seneca Lake Scenic Byway, then continues around the lake, returning along its western shore to form a loop. From Watkins Glen, take NY-414 up the eastern side of the Seneca Lake valley, passing forests, farms, marshland, steep hills, and lake overlooks. The first highlight is Hector Falls, where part of the waterfall is visible from the road. Farther north, wineries begin to line the route, including Ryan William Vineyard and Silver Springs Winery. If wine is not for you, Finger Lakes Distilling is also close by. Another 15 minutes leads to Lodi, where the official byway ends. Take a short detour to Lodi Point State Park and go down to the shoreline to look out across the lake before continuing north.
At the lake's northern end is Seneca Lake State Park. Walk along the waterfront trails, swim at the beach, or bring young kids to the park's Sprayground. Five minutes further is Geneva, which makes a convenient overnight stop. While there, take a tour of the historic 21-room Rose Hill Mansion or catch a show at the Smith Opera House. From Geneva, turn south onto NY-14 for the 40-minute return to Watkins Glen. The route's west side feels more open, with the road sitting farther back from the lake between vineyards and farmland. Consider stopping at Fox Run Vineyards for a tasting or lunch before completing the loop.
Schuyler County Waterfalls and Grand Prix Circuit
This next route pivots away from the lake loops. However, it overlaps with the Seneca Lake Loop, which ends in Watkins Glen, making the two easy to combine into one longer road trip. Beginning in Odessa, the route follows NY-224 west out of town, which drops toward Montour Falls, with views opening across the valley before turning onto Havana Glen Road. Just five minutes in, the first stop is Havana Glen Park. Here, take the 20-minute walk along the creekside trail that leads to the 41-foot Eagle Cliff Falls. Several smaller waterfalls appear along the way. From there, head up S Catharine Street to Shequaga Falls Park, where the waterfall sits next to the street. Then it is just a short jaunt up to Aunt Sarah's Falls.
Afterward, continue on NY-14 into Watkins Glen, where the trip shifts gears. The final leg follows the 6.6-mile Historic Grand Prix Circuit, where the first post-WWII road race in the US was held in 1948. The course was used for races through 1952. Beginning at the Schuyler County Courthouse on Franklin Street, it loops around the Watkins Glen gorge, climbing 670 feet above town before dropping through White's Hollow and crossing Glen Creek at Cornett's Stone Bridge. A steep descent on Station Road heads back toward town, passing Big Bend and a view over Seneca Lake before returning to Franklin.
Seneca-Cayuga Loop
This next loop starts off the same as the Seneca Lake Loop, beginning in Watkins Glen and heading north on NY-414. But it diverts a few minutes past Hector, turning right onto County Road 1 towards Finger Lakes National Forest. New York State's only national forest has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that cross gorges, ravines, pastures home to free-ranging cattle, and woodlands. From the national forest, continue to follow the quiet road, lined with rolling farms and wooded areas, east into Trumansburg. A few wineries sit close by, as well as Taughannock Falls State Park, a stop on the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway Loop.
From Trumansburg, you can take the inland route along NY-96 or cruise right along the shoreline on NY-89, overlapping with the Cayuga Lake Loop route. Both roads reach Ithaca in under 30 minutes. After Ithaca, NY-13 heads out of town, cutting through mountains and passing the 811-acre Buttermilk Falls State Park. Though the park gets its name from the 165-foot cascade that tumbles down into a gorge, it is one of 10 waterfalls along the park's creek. On the other side of NY-13 is Robert H. Treman State Park, home to the 115-ft Lucifer Falls. At Alpine Junction, hop onto NY-224 and head up to Odessa. From Odessa, you can coast straight back into Watkins Glen or tack on the Schuyler County Waterfalls and Grand Prix Circuit route.
Keuka Lake Loop
Returning to another lake loop, this next drive is around Keuka Lake. Also known as Crooked Lake, it has a Y shape, making the full circuit about two hours without stops. Set out on NY-54A from Hammondsport, which closely follows the western shore, providing open lake views on one side and wooded and vineyard-covered slopes on the other. Keuka is wine country, with approximately 15 wineries spread around the lake. Many of the west-side wineries sit away from 54A, but near Urbana, you can venture slightly off-route to visit Heron Hill Winery and Divided Sky Vineyard before returning to the lakeshore road. In Branchport, stop at the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum, which is still building its main exhibit hall but keeps its campus open, and walk its Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve, where a wetland trail, part of the New York State Birding Trail, follows Sugar Creek to a boardwalk overlooking the lake.
After that, head to Keuka Lake State Park, spanning 621 acres with eight hiking trails, a swimmable beach, and plenty of spots to launch a kayak. From there, journey down and then back up the crevice of the 'Y' towards Penn Yan and the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, a roughly seven-mile path that follows a stream past waterfalls and old mill ruins. Heading south on NY-54, the east side sits farther back from the shoreline, trading water views for easier access to wineries like Keuka Spring Vineyards and Rooster Hill Vineyards. Stop at the Olney Place, a general store, sandwich shop, and taproom all wrapped into one, before crossing the finish line back into Hammondsport.
Canandaigua Lake and Bristol Hills Loop
This next drive is also a loop but instead of circling a lake, it remains to the west of Canandaigua Lake, beginning in the town of the same name, traveling down to Naples, then heading back up through the Bristol Hills before returning to Canandaigua. Before departing, consider spending a night in Canandaigua. While there, visit City Pier, lined with rows of historic boathouses, and the 19th-century Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion, a 50-acre state park with nine formal gardens and a greenhouse complex.
For the drive itself, follow NY-21 south, passing through Cheshire before briefly riding along the water near Woodville. From there, the road runs south of the lake, where hilly terrain frames the drive. In Naples, stop for a slice of the local specialty: Concord grape pie. The Naples Grape Festival in September offers a chance to sample a number of grape pies. For a hiking detour, check out nearby Conklin's Gully. For the return leg, take County Road 12 north towards Carolabarb Park, home to a scenic overlook. Continue onto NY-64, where the road runs through the Bristol Hills before giving way to open farmland. For a final stop, detour to the Antique Wireless Museum in Bloomfield before continuing back on US-20 east toward Canandaigua.
Little Lakes Route
Four western Finger Lakes make up what is known as the "Little Lakes": Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, and Honeoye. This route zigzags a bit between them, as the roads don't always follow the shorelines or connect directly from one lake to the next. The result is a drive through rural countryside and forested hills, with several lake overlooks along the way. Begin at Vitale Park in Lakeville, on the northern shore of Conesus Lake, where you can walk along the paths while looking out over the lake. Follow East Lake Road south past cottages and waterfront before heading inland toward Livonia. Stop for some caffeine at Renewed Coffee Co before continuing to Hemlock Lake Park, a good spot for a picnic and water views. The park sits within Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, a protected area encompassing both lakes and featuring around 14 miles of hiking trails.
Continue south on NY-15A before turning onto Johnson Hill Road, where dense trees give way to open fields and rolling countryside. Take a detour along Canadice Lake Road to the four-mile Canadice Lake Trail, which follows the lake's undeveloped shoreline. Continue northeast to Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area for a panoramic view across Honeoye Lake and the surrounding hills. Rochester is even visible in the distance on clear days. The final leg of the route heads north to Honeoye. Finish with a stop at Sandy Bottom Park, where you can fish, swim, or stroll along the boardwalk.
Skaneateles-Owasco Double Loop
The final route loops around both Skaneateles and Owasco Lake, taking around two hours without stops. Beginning in Skaneateles at the lake's northern end, follow the eastern shoreline road, which climbs above the water in places, providing long sightlines across the lake. About 20 minutes in, the road reaches Hinchcliff Family Preserve, a 303-acre conservation area with a 1.4-mile hiking loop through hardwood forest, past streams, gullies, waterfalls, and remnants of an old dairy farm and stone fireplace. Continuing onto NY-41A, the route passes the tiny Lake Como. At the lake's outlet is Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary, a wetland habitat for waterfowl, making it a good stop for birdwatching. Further up on 41A sits Bear Swamp State Forest, covering 3,539 acres with 14.3 miles of trails. And not much farther is Bahar Preserve and Carpenter's Falls, home to the Jug Path, which runs along the south rim of the gorge, with views into a 100-foot-deep ravine.
Back in Skaneateles, take a left onto US-20 toward Owasco Lake. In Auburn, stop at Emerson Park and Deauville Island Park to mosey along the walkways, go for a swim, or play a round of disc golf. Follow West Lake Road south, which hugs Owasco Lake's shoreline for much of the drive, before reaching Fillmore Glen State Park. Its narrow gorge trail follows Dry Creek past five waterfalls, wooden bridges, and stone staircases carved into the rock walls.
Plan Your Finger Lakes Road Trip
A road trip through the Finger Lakes can be as much about the stops along the way as the drive itself. Pull off to see a 215-foot waterfall, spend an afternoon at a winery or two, hike around the rim of a gorge, or stop in a lakeside park like Emerson, Hemlock Lake, or one of the many others mentioned on this list, for a picnic with a view. Many of these routes can be completed in a few hours, depending on how often you stop. But you can also take your time or combine multiple drives, especially those that overlap around Watkins Glen, Ithaca, and Cayuga Lake, to build a longer road trip through the region.
