a small waterfall in the middle of a forest

Finger Lakes

Glacial lakes, Riesling country and gorge hikes make this a road trip for wine lovers who also want time outdoors.

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The Finger Lakes are a group of long, narrow lakes in central and western New York, carved by glaciers and set among rolling hills. Most roads in the region follow the shores, so the lake you base on decides how much driving your days involve. Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka lakes each have their own wine trails and villages, and moving between them takes time on country roads.

Riesling is the grape most closely tied to the area, and tasting rooms are the main reason to go. Streams have cut gorges and waterfalls into the rock, and short hikes lead to them, including the gorge trails at Watkins Glen and the falls near Ithaca. Summer and early fall suit a trip built around wine and hiking, and fall adds leaf color. Plan at least three to four days to see one or two lakes without rushing, and more to cover several, and book a designated driver or a tour for tasting days.

Finger Lakes in five

Rent a car and pick one lakePublic transit barely reaches the wineries and gorges. Choose Seneca, Cayuga or Keuka for a first trip and drive its shore, since the lakes are 30 to 60 minutes apart by road.
Plan a designated driver or a tourTasting rooms cluster along Seneca and Cayuga roads. A sober driver or a guided wine tour keeps a day of tastings safe. Book tours ahead for fall weekends.
Walk the gorges earlyWatkins Glen State Park and Taughannock Falls draw crowds on summer weekends. Go in the morning, wear shoes with grip and check the state parks site for trail closures after storms.
Time harvest and colorLate September to mid-October brings harvest and fall color and is the busiest stretch. Summer is also busy, and some tasting rooms cut hours in winter, so check before you drive.
Treat Buffalo and Niagara as a separate legBuffalo is about 2 hours west of the northern lakes. It does not fit a Finger Lakes weekend, but it works as a second stop on a longer upstate loop.Buffalo

Things to do in Finger Lakes

See all attractions in Finger Lakes

Sight · Finger LakesTaughannock Falls State Park

Sight · Finger LakesNational Women's Hall of Fame

Sight · Finger LakesCornell Botanic Gardens

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Finger LakesPut the places you like in Finger Lakes on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Syracuse (SYR), Rochester (ROC) or Ithaca (ITH)
Getting there: About 4 to 5 hours' drive from New York City
Getting around: Car essential; little public transit between lakes
Best base: Ithaca, Watkins Glen, Geneva or Canandaigua
Time needed: 2 to 4 days on one or two lakes

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh0°Low-7°Snow, quiet
FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°Snow, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low-3°Maple weekends
AprilRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low2°Cool, thaw
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring bloom
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Green, long days
JulyRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low17°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Harvest begins
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Fall color, harvest
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Cold, quiet
DecemberSnow13 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh2°Low-4°Cold, holiday

Average daily high and low in Ithaca, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Finger Lakes

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 18°
Humidity: 58%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 2%

Finger Lakes

05:39 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today22°6°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
Tue23°12°13%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 13%.
Wed24°12°6%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 6%.
Thu22°12°67%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 67%.
Fri17°7°41%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 41%.
Sat8°4°36%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 36%.
Sun12°2°9%Sunday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 9%.

Updated 04:08 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Corningabout 30 to 40 minutes by carGlass museum and a historic Market Street, south-west of the lakes.
Buffalo and Niagara Fallsabout 2 hours by carBetter as a separate leg of a longer upstate trip.Read the guide
Catskillsabout 2.5 to 3 hours by carMountain towns to the east, usually part of a Hudson Valley loop.Read the guide

Before you go to Finger Lakes

Rental car from SyracuseNeeded for wineries and gorgesCompare cars

Guided wine tourA driver for the tasting dayCompare tours

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USMedical cover for visitorsRead the guide

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Rules for Finger Lakes, checked

Visitors from visa-waiver countries need an ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site and check that your passport qualifies.Source
The legal drinking age in New York is 21. Wineries and bars check ID at tastings, so carry your passport or a photo ID.
Open containers of alcohol are not allowed in the passenger area of a vehicle on New York roads. Keep bottles sealed in the trunk.
Declare fresh fruit, plants and food on your arrival form. Agricultural items can be seized at US entry, so check the CBP rules before you pack them.Source
Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance. Mobile coverage is weak on many rural trails and lake roads, so note the nearest hospital before a hike.

Plan around Finger Lakes

All of the USA

Parks, cities, entry rules and money for a US trip

Read the guide New York City

The usual start of an upstate road trip

Read the guide Buffalo

Niagara Falls and a food city, about 2 hours west

Read the guide Hudson Valley

Another upstate region for a longer road trip

Read the guide Michigan's Gold Coast

Another Great Lakes region for beaches and wine

Read the guide Getting around the USA

Flights, trains, buses and rental cars compared

Read the guide

Finger Lakes FAQ

How many days do you need in the Finger Lakes?

Two days covers one lake with a gorge and a wine trail. Three or four days lets you add a second lake or Ithaca. A week is only worth it if you plan to hike and move between several lakes.

Which Finger Lake is best for wine?

Seneca Lake has the most wineries and a long wine trail, Cayuga has an older trail and Ithaca nearby, and Keuka is smaller and scenic. Pick one for a first trip and drive its shore.

Do you need a car in the Finger Lakes?

Yes. There is no useful rail or bus link between the wineries and gorges. A tour with a driver works for a wine day if you do not want to drive after tasting.

When is the best time to visit the Finger Lakes?

June for green landscapes, and late September to mid-October for harvest and fall color. Summer is warm and busy. Winter is quiet, with snow and some seasonal closures.

Where should I stay in the Finger Lakes?

Ithaca for dining and gorges, Watkins Glen for hiking and Seneca wine, Geneva for lake views, and Canandaigua for an easy trip from Rochester. Pick the lake first and sleep on that shore.