📷 Photo by Edward Koorey on UnsplashNiagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks
Niagara Falls, gorges and wineries on the Finger Lakes, then Olympic Lake Placid.
- Distance
- 654 km (406 mi)
- Driving
- 7 h 15 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 6
- States
- NY
- Updated
- July 1, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 654 km (406 mi) with 6 stops, from Buffalo to Lake Placid. About 7 h 15 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New York · More road trips from Buffalo
Route description
From Buffalo, it is a short drive to Niagara Falls State Park, where the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls thunder over the border with Canada. Walkways lead onto Goat Island and down to the Cave of the Winds decks, where you get soaked beside the falls, and the boat tours sail into the mist below. Bring your passport if you want to cross the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side.
Head east and southeast to the Finger Lakes, long narrow lakes carved by glaciers. NY-14 runs along the west side of Seneca Lake, past vineyards and wineries, to Watkins Glen at the southern end of the lake. The Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen State Park climbs past nineteen waterfalls on stone stairs and is usually open from May to October.
NY-79 leads east to Ithaca, a college town at the southern end of Cayuga Lake, with waterfalls right in town and Taughannock Falls to the north. From there, a long drive northeast leads into the Adirondacks, a vast area of forests, lakes and mountains. Lake Placid, host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, still has its ski jumps and the Olympic arena.
The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway climbs close to the summit near Lake Placid in summer and fall. Distances in the Adirondacks are long and services are few, so plan fuel stops. The Niagara parking lots fill up on summer weekends, and fall color in October makes this a busy season.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Buffalo
NY - 232 km
Niagara Falls
NatureNiagara Falls, NYThree waterfalls on the US–Canada border. Put on a poncho at the Cave of the Winds decks to get soaked.
- 3236 km
Watkins Glen
NY - 42 km
Watkins Glen gorge
NatureWatkins Glen, NYA trail of stone stairs past nineteen waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Open May to October.
- 538 km
Ithaca
NY - 6346 km
Lake Placid
NY
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Buffalo → Watkins Glen · 167 mi · 2 h 58 minOn the way: Niagara Falls.Overnight nearby, for example: Ferenbaugh Camping Recreation Area (14 mi); Backbone Horse Camp (8 mi).
- Day 2: Watkins Glen → Watkins Glen gorge · 1 mi · 0 h 01 minOvernight nearby, for example: Ferenbaugh Camping Recreation Area (13 mi); Backbone Horse Camp (9 mi).
- Day 3: Watkins Glen gorge → Ithaca · 24 mi · 0 h 25 minOvernight nearby, for example: Pinecreek Campground (6 mi); Robert H. Treman State Park Camping Area (4 mi).
- Day 4: Ithaca → Lake Placid · 215 mi · 3 h 50 minOvernight nearby, for example: Wilmington Notch Campground (8 mi); Taylor Pond Campground (17 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks?
4-day road trip of about 654 km (406 mi) with 6 stops, from Buffalo to Lake Placid. About 7 h 15 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks?
We suggest 4 days: about 7 h 15 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks start and end?
It starts in Buffalo and ends in Lake Placid.
Which states does Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks pass through?
New York.
Where can you camp along Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks?
OpenStreetMap lists 48 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Ferenbaugh Camping Recreation Area, Wilmington Notch Campground and Backbone Horse Camp.
When is the best time for Niagara, Finger Lakes and Adirondacks?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
