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Hi
We (couple 50' and one 16 year old girl,but she's OK) will drive for 6-7 days from buffalo to NYC in mid september
We would like to visit the niagra falls, upstate NY ,adirondacks, maybe a bit foliage if possibe, a bit of outdoor activity (short hikes)
Scenic drives,nice small towns and simple good eat
Is it too much to ask? I hope not
Please advise
Thanks a lot
Hi, and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.
One of the most enjoyable drives I have been on was route 20 from Buffalo to Albany. It passes through many small and historic towns, each with its own personality. As well as that it takes you by the Finger Lakes and the Eire Canal. Just wandering through upstate NY is a delight. So many of the routes are scenic routes. Even some of the Interstates, e.g. I-88, are a real pleasure to traverse.
Lifey
Having lived in upstate New York for a number of years, I can second Lifey's recommendation of US-20 as a scenic route from Buffalo/Niagara to the Adirondacks. I can also suggest a number of specific sites worth visiting. However, note that many of those sites are at the southern end of the Finger Lakes. If the Adirondacks are on your agenda, then you should also consider including the upper stretches of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands Region as well as a very relaxing and scenic ferry ride over to Burlington VT.
Unfortunately, September will still be a little early in the season for the best color. There will be some, but it will be spotty and just whet your appetite for more. So plan on coming back some time!
AZBuck
Update June 2024 (RTA): The Burlington to Port Kent ferry is no longer operating.
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot, do you have any specific recommendation concerning the "upper" route?
Maybe also some sort of a reasonable time planning?
You could make the drive from Buffalo to New York City in a very easy day. Even going by way of the Thousand Islands, Adirondacks, Lakes Champlain and George, and the Hudson River would only take a day and a half to drive. So you've got somewhere north of four full days for sight-seeing and relaxing.
Besides US-20 for a scenic route, Letchworth State Park for a great outdoors site, and Seneca Falls for some history, some other sites to consider while crossing the 'upper' or northern ends of the Finger Lakes would include Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, state parks on the Finger Lakes such as Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, state parks on Lake Ontario such as Selkirk Shores and Sandy Island Beach, historic/educational venues like Ganondagan and places associated with the founding of Mormonism around Palmyra, and formal gardens.
New York's Great Lakes Seaway Trail follows the southern shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence is another great scenic route as are any of the roads through the Adirondacks and state routes NY-9 and NY-22 down the eastern side of the state. Speaking of the latter, plan on stops at Fort Ticonderoga at least and possibly Crown Point and West Point as well.
Very, very generally I'd plan on a couple of days for each 'shore': two days for the finger lakes, two days for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, and two days for Lake Champlain, Lake George and the Hudson River. That would be a nice relaxed pace with time enough to adjust if you find you want to linger in one spot or skip others.
AZBuck
Pitichup, where are you starting out from?
NY state can be driven east to west or south to north in one day. Once you get off the interstates then you can turn it into a much longer trip. Roads to note NYS 22, 17, 7, 3, 30, 28, 104. US 20, 9, 9w.
All these roads will lead to things of interest. Providing many things to see. Do some google research to find destinations and work out a loop.
Thanks again, it is very helpful, kind of putting things in frame