Finger Lakes Directions

The Finger Lakes is a vast region covering about 9,000 square miles, stretching across the State of New York from Syracuse to Rochester in the north and nearly as far south as the Pennsylvania border.

Map: Michael J at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Driving to the Finger Lakes

Traveling by car may be the most convenient and efficient way to explore the Finger Lakes. Visitors from many cities in the Northeast can reach the heart of the Finger Lakes region in less than a day’s drive, though distances may vary, depending which lake and town you plan to visit.  For example, New York City and Northern New Jersey are about 295 miles from the center of the Finger Lakes, but if you plan to visit the town of Canandaigua, it is a good bit further.

See the chart below for a list of approximate distances and driving times to Ithaca (on the south end of Cayuga Lake) and Geneva (north of Seneca Lake), New York:

Getting to the Finger Lakes by Train

As an alternative to driving to the Finger Lakes, you can take an Amtrak train to Rochester or Syracuse, where you can pick up a rental car to explore the region as you make your way to your destination.

 

Flying to the Finger Lakes

You can also fly to one of the four airports in the area serviced by the following airlines:

 

Greater Rochester International Airport:

Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways

 

Syracuse Hancock International Airport:

Air Canada, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United, and US Airways  

 

Elmira Corning Regional Airport:

Delta, US Airways, and Allegiant Air

 

Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport:

Delta, US Airways, and United

No matter how you get to the Finger Lakes, you will need a car once you get there if you plan to explore.  Keep in mind, the Finger Lakes are narrow, but many are quite long.  A sight-seeing trip that runs around an entire lake will add miles and time to your travels. It is generally more efficient to plan your trips so that you visit locations at roughly the same latitude.  For example, an east-west trip from Seneca Falls (on Cayuga Lake) to Geneva (on Seneca Lake) is a short drive and a great way to explore both lakes while minimizing travel time between the lakes.


Are there Ubers in the Finger Lakes?

Uber and Lyft both operate in the Finger Lakes, but coverage and availability can be very spotty, especially during busy times. Do not expect the same level of service / availability that you find in many cities or locations. If you want to leave the driving to someone else and not have to worry about significant waits, we recommend booking a wine tour ahead of time. 

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About FingerLakes.com

FingerLakes.com is your complete guide to the entire Finger Lakes region of New York State--from wine trails to hiking trails and fishing to skiing.