You'll visit great places in New York, and getting there will be just as unforgettable. Simply look out your car window. The most memorable parts of a road trip in New York are the landscapes you'll drive through. Choose from countless scenic drives in our eleven vacation regions, from beachside roads to winding mountain highways.
Choose your own route or follow a designated byway. You might follow the breezes along Ocean Road in the Hamptons, climb an Adirondack High Peak on the Whiteface Mountain Highway, or take an autumn leaf-peeping tour around Chautauqua Lake at Long Point State Park or on the Seven Lakes Drive running through Harriman State Park to Bear Mountain.
When in the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, driving might feel a little like sailing. Water is everywhere. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a National Scenic Byway, stretches for 500 miles, connecting the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and Niagara Falls.
The Olympic Trail runs from Sackets Harbor on Great Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain. The trail highlights history, lighthouses and fun things like camping and canoeing and kayaking. According to local lore, keep an eye out for a glimpse of a mythical lake monster named "Champ."
In Central New York, follow the Erie Canal through the Schenectady area, where the Mohawk Towpath highlights historic locks, bridges and architecture. On the Cayuga Lake Byway circling the lake, you'll see Finger Lakes vineyards and historic sites of the Women's Rights Movement. The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway snakes along the river passing dramatic vistas and quaint Catskills villages.
Great Drive Ideas
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LAKES TO LOCKS PASSAGERegion: Capital-Saratoga/The AdirondacksCalled the “Great Northeast Journey,” this drive parallels the route of the canals and interconnected waterways that helped shape the course of New York State’s history over the centuries. Start from Albany and head north to visit the many communities and villages along the water route. |
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SEAWAY TRAILRegion: Thousand Islands-Seaway/Finger Lakes/Greater Niagara/Chautauqua-Allegheny
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CAYUGA LAKE SCENIC BYWAY
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NORTH FORK TRAIL SCENIC BYWAYRegion: Long Island
Route length: 36 miles/58 km. |
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BROADWAY: FROM MANHATTAN TO ALBANY
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Images: © NYSDED-Photo by Darren McGee & stockstudiosphotography.com
