Syracuse Is the Finger Lakes’ Back Door

The eastern Finger Lakes begin less than 30 minutes from the Syracuse city limits, and even the western wine country is under 90 minutes away. The New York State Thruway (I-90) runs east-west through the city and connects to north-south routes that funnel directly into the lake valleys. These five routes are organized from shortest to longest drive time, each with specific stops, suggested schedules, and practical details.

Route 1: Skaneateles (25 Minutes)

The Drive

Route 20 west from Syracuse. Door to door: 25 minutes without traffic, 30 to 35 during commute hours.

What to Do

Morning: Park on Genesee Street or in the municipal lot (metered, $1 per hour). Skaneateles has a compact downtown of shops, galleries, and restaurants along a two-block stretch ending at the lake. The Clift Park pier extends into Skaneateles Lake with views down the full 16-mile length.

Midday: In summer, swim at Thayer Park beach (small fee for non-residents). In cooler months, walk the Charlie Major Nature Trail, a 2.5-mile paved path along the former Skaneateles Short Line Railroad bed that follows the lake’s eastern shore through woods and wetlands.

Lunch: The Sherwood Inn (circa 1807) serves a menu of upscale American fare on a porch overlooking the lake. For something faster, Doug’s Fish Fry on Jordan Street is a Skaneateles institution — fried fish and clam chowder, cash only, no frills.

Afternoon: Browse the shops on Genesee Street or drive the eastern shore of the lake on Route 41A for scenic overlooks. In summer, Mid-Lakes Navigation runs sightseeing cruises on the lake (about 1 hour, reservations recommended on weekends). For more about the lake, see our Skaneateles Lake guide.

Best For

A relaxed half-day or full day with minimal driving. Good for couples and families. Works year-round, though summer offers the most lake access.

Route 2: Auburn and Seneca Falls (30-40 Minutes)

The Drive

Route 5 west to Auburn (30 minutes) or Routes 5 and 20 to Seneca Falls (40 minutes). The Thruway (I-90) Exit 40 also connects to Route 34 south to Auburn.

What to Do

Morning in Auburn: Start at the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, which preserves the home where Tubman lived for the last 50 years of her life. The visitor center is free; guided tours run seasonally ($5 to $10). Budget 60 to 90 minutes. A 5-minute drive away, the Seward House Museum — home to Lincoln’s Secretary of State — has original furnishings and guided tours ($10 to $15 for adults, about 60 minutes).

Drive to Seneca Falls (15 minutes from Auburn): The Women’s Rights National Historical Park marks the location of the first women’s rights convention in 1848. Visitor center, exhibits, and the reconstructed Wesleyan Chapel are free. Budget 90 minutes.

Afternoon: Drive 5 minutes east to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a 10,000-acre wetland complex at the north end of Cayuga Lake. The 3.5-mile Wildlife Drive auto loop passes marshes hosting tens of thousands of waterfowl during spring (April-May) and fall (September-November) migration. Free. Bring binoculars.

Lunch: In Seneca Falls, Zuzu’s Cafe on Fall Street. In Auburn, Prison City Pub and Brewery for pub fare and local craft beer.

Best For

History and nature. This route packs two significant National Park Service sites and a premier birding location into a single day. Best in spring or fall for Montezuma; the historic sites are open year-round.

Route 3: Ithaca (60 Minutes)

The Drive

I-81 south to the Route 13 exit near Cortland, then Route 13 west into Ithaca. About 60 minutes total.

What to Do

Morning: Hike one of Ithaca’s gorge trails. Robert H. Treman State Park (5 miles south) has a 2.3-mile gorge trail past 12 waterfalls to 115-foot Lucifer Falls. Buttermilk Falls State Park (2 miles south) has a 165-foot cascade visible from the parking lot. Vehicle fee: $8 to $10 on summer weekends, often waived weekdays. See our guide to the best waterfalls near Ithaca.

Late morning: Walk the Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian mall with shops and restaurants. On Saturdays, the Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing has 125-plus vendors — arrive by 10 a.m.

Lunch: Moosewood Restaurant on the Commons for vegetarian cuisine since 1973, or Ithaca Bakery on Meadow Street for a faster stop.

Afternoon: The Cornell University campus has the Johnson Museum of Art (I.M. Pei, free) and Cornell Botanic Gardens (3,600 acres, free). Descend through Cascadilla Gorge back to downtown — a mile of stone steps past eight waterfalls. See Is Ithaca Worth Visiting.

Best For

Outdoors, food, and culture. This is the most action-packed day trip on this list but requires early departure (leave Syracuse by 8 a.m.) to fit everything in. Works best May through October when gorge trails are open.

Route 4: Seneca Lake Wine Trail (75 Minutes to Watkins Glen)

The Drive

I-90 west to Exit 42 (Geneva), then Route 14 south along Seneca Lake. Geneva is 50 minutes; Watkins Glen is 75 minutes.

What to Do

Morning: Start in Geneva. Walk South Main Street (19th-century mansions) to Seneca Lake State Park (free beach in summer). Then drive south on Route 14 for wine.

Late morning through afternoon: Visit three to four wineries. Recommended: Fox Run Vineyards (Taste Buds food pairing, deli for lunch), Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard (dry Riesling), and Glenora Wine Cellars (terrace views, broad range). Tasting fees: $10 to $15, often waived with a bottle purchase. See our Seneca Lake Wine Trail map guide.

If time allows: Continue to Watkins Glen and walk into the Gorge Trail (open mid-May through early November) — even 20 minutes delivers Cavern Cascade and the tunnel passage behind the waterfall.

Dinner: Red Newt Bistro on Route 414 (east side) serves farm-to-table dishes with their own wines. Reservations recommended weekends.

Best For

Wine lovers and scenic drives. You need a designated driver or a plan for safe transportation — see our guide to how many wineries you can visit in a day for logistics. Works year-round; tasting rooms are open even in winter.

Route 5: Canandaigua (50 Minutes)

The Drive

I-90 west to Exit 43 (Manchester), then Route 21 south. About 50 minutes total.

What to Do

Morning: Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park has nine formal gardens — Japanese, rose, conservatory — surrounding a Victorian mansion (1887) on 50 acres. Open May through October; about $15 adults. Budget 90 minutes.

Midday: Walk Canandaigua’s Main Street from the Ontario County Courthouse down to the lake. Kershaw Park at the foot of Main Street has a free public beach with lifeguards in summer. Canandaigua Lake is shallower than the major Finger Lakes and warms earlier, making it one of the best swimming lakes by late June.

Lunch: Nolan’s on Canandaigua Lake has a waterfront deck with views down the lake. Rio Tomatlan on Main Street serves well-regarded Mexican food in a converted house.

Afternoon: Drive 15 minutes south to the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, which offers tastings of wines, spirits, and craft beverages from across New York State. Or drive 30 minutes further south on Route 21 to Naples for grape pie at Monica’s Pies and views of the valley that holds Canandaigua Lake.

Best For

Families and anyone who wants a lake beach day combined with a garden or food stop. Canandaigua is the most accessible Finger Lake from Syracuse for swimming and the closest to the Thruway. Best from late May through October.

Planning Tips for All Five Routes

• Gas up before you leave Syracuse. Fuel prices in the Finger Lakes towns are comparable but stations are less frequent on the two-lane highways between lakes.
• Weekdays beat weekends for parking at state parks (often no vehicle fee), shorter waits at tasting rooms, and lighter traffic on Route 14 and Route 89.
• Check seasonal hours. State park gorge trails close from early November through mid-May. Many restaurants and attractions in smaller towns reduce hours or close entirely from November through April.
• Combine routes on a long day. Auburn and Seneca Falls (Route 2) pair naturally with the Seneca Lake wine trail (Route 4) if you leave early and are willing to drive. Skaneateles (Route 1) combines with Auburn (Route 2) since they are only 15 minutes apart.

For visitors coming from further away, our guide to getting to the Finger Lakes from NYC covers the full range of transportation options. And for those looking to stretch a day trip into a weekend, see our Finger Lakes on a budget guide for affordable overnight strategies.