The Grand New York State Road Trip

Arrive in New York City on Day 1 and make your way to your hotel for a two-night stay. With the remainder of the afternoon and evening free, begin discovering the city at your own pace, perhaps taking your first walk through Times Square, enjoying dinner in Manhattan or heading to one of the city's observation decks for spectacular views across the skyline.

The following day is yours to experience some of New York's most famous sights. Discover Central Park and Fifth Avenue, visit Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal, or head downtown to explore the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and Lower Manhattan. Take to New York Harbor for views of the Statue of Liberty, walk across Brooklyn Bridge or experience the city from above at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock or SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

Alternatively, spend time discovering neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village, SoHo and Chelsea, walk the High Line, visit one of the city's world-famous museums or enjoy an evening Broadway performance.

Tomorrow, leave the city behind, collect your rental car and begin your journey through the diverse regions and landscapes of New York State.

Collect your rental car on the morning of Day 3 and leave New York City behind as you head north into the Hudson Valley for a two-night stay. Follow scenic stretches of Route 9 and Route 9W, where the Hudson River, wooded hills and characterful communities provide an immediate contrast to Manhattan.

During your stay, walk or cycle across the Walkway Over the Hudson for sweeping views along the river, discover monumental outdoor sculpture at Storm King Art Center or visit Dia Beacon, where large-scale contemporary art fills a former industrial building beside the Hudson.

History can also become part of the journey. Explore the Gothic Revival architecture and riverside grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion, discover the atmospheric village of Sleepy Hollow, or simply spend time visiting some of the smaller communities found along the river.

The Hudson Valley is also known for its farms, orchards, wineries and cideries. Stop for locally produced food and drink as you travel through the region, with apple picking, farm markets and harvest experiences adding another dimension during autumn.

After two nights combining river scenery, art, history and local flavours, continue north on Day 5 towards Saratoga Springs.

Continue north on Day 5 to Saratoga Springs for a two-night stay in one of Upstate New York’s most distinctive destinations. Famous for its mineral springs, horse racing and elegant architecture, Saratoga combines fascinating heritage with a lively downtown filled with independent shops, restaurants and cafes.

Spend time discovering Saratoga Spa State Park, where wooded trails, historic buildings and naturally carbonated mineral springs reflect the city’s long history as a health and leisure destination. The park is also home to the Saratoga Automobile Museum and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, while several of the city’s famous mineral springs can be sampled around the park and downtown.

Horse racing has shaped Saratoga for generations. Visit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame or, when racing is taking place, experience the atmosphere of Saratoga Race Course, one of America’s most celebrated thoroughbred racing venues.

Make time to enjoy downtown Saratoga Springs too, particularly around Broadway, where historic buildings are home to restaurants, bars and independent shops. With two nights to experience the city, Saratoga provides an appealing combination of history, culture and outdoor spaces before you continue north into the Adirondack Mountains on Day 7.

Leave Saratoga Springs behind on Day 7 and continue north into the Adirondack Mountains for a two-night stay in Lake Placid. Surrounded by the vast landscapes of Adirondack Park, this famous mountain town provides an excellent base for discovering forested peaks, clear lakes and some of New York State’s most spectacular scenery.

Discover Lake Placid’s remarkable Winter Olympic heritage, visiting the Olympic Center and other venues associated with the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. Head towards nearby Whiteface Mountain, where the Cloudsplitter Gondola offers sweeping views across the surrounding Adirondack peaks, or follow scenic mountain roads through the region.

There are plenty of opportunities to experience the outdoors too. Walk beside Mirror Lake, choose from the many hiking trails found throughout Adirondack Park or visit The Wild Center in nearby Tupper Lake, where interactive exhibits and the elevated Wild Walk introduce the landscapes and wildlife of the Adirondacks from a different perspective.

With two nights in Lake Placid, combine mountain scenery and outdoor adventure with Olympic history and time beside the water before continuing your journey through New York State on Day 9.

Leave the Adirondacks behind on Day 9 and travel south into Central New York for a two-night stay. Rolling countryside, historic communities, lakes and scenic roads create a gentler landscape here, while the region’s connections to baseball, the Erie Canal and classic Americana reveal another chapter of New York State.

Make time for Cooperstown, a picturesque village on the shores of Otsego Lake and home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Even if you’re not a devoted baseball fan, the museum provides a fascinating look at the sport’s place in American history and culture, while Cooperstown itself is well worth exploring for its attractive streets, independent shops and lakeside setting.

History lovers can discover more of the region at The Farmers’ Museum and Fenimore Art Museum, both located close to Cooperstown, or follow part of the historic Erie Canal corridor, stopping in communities shaped by the waterway that transformed travel and trade across New York State.

With two nights in Central New York, there is time to combine Cooperstown’s unmistakable Americana with lakes, countryside and historic communities before continuing west on Day 11 towards Buffalo.

Continue west on Day 11 to Buffalo for a two-night stay on the shores of Lake Erie. Once one of America’s great industrial and commercial centres, Buffalo has reinvented itself as a destination for remarkable architecture, art, waterfront experiences and unmistakably local flavours.

Discover the city’s architectural heritage at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, one of the architect’s most celebrated Prairie-style designs, before visiting the Buffalo AKG Art Museum for its outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art.

Head towards Canalside and the Buffalo waterfront, where the city meets Lake Erie and the western end of the historic Erie Canal. Walk beside the water, enjoy the revitalised harbourfront or visit the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, where historic naval vessels can be explored.

Food is another essential part of the Buffalo experience. Try authentic Buffalo wings, sample a local beef on weck sandwich or spend an evening discovering the restaurants, breweries and neighbourhoods that give the city its character.

With two nights to explore, Buffalo brings together Great Lakes scenery, architecture, art, history and food before your journey turns east on Day 13 towards the Finger Lakes.

Leave Buffalo behind on Day 13 and travel east into the Finger Lakes, where long, narrow lakes, rolling vineyards, waterfalls and welcoming communities create one of New York State’s most distinctive landscapes. Spend the next two nights discovering a region renowned for its natural beauty, wine and experiences beside the water.

Visit Watkins Glen State Park, where a spectacular gorge trail winds past waterfalls, stone bridges and dramatic rock formations, or head to Taughannock Falls State Park to see one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains.

Wine is an essential part of the Finger Lakes experience. Follow sections of the Seneca Lake or Cayuga Lake Wine Trails, stopping at tasting rooms overlooking the vineyards and water to discover the Rieslings and other cool-climate wines for which the region has become famous.

Make time for the lakes themselves too, perhaps taking a sightseeing cruise, stopping in waterfront communities such as Geneva, Skaneateles or Ithaca, or simply following scenic roads between vineyards, farms and lakeside viewpoints.

With two nights in the Finger Lakes, combine waterfalls and spectacular scenery with wine, local flavours and time beside the water before continuing to the Catskill Mountains on Day 15.

Leave the Finger Lakes behind on Day 15 and continue into the Catskill Mountains for the final two nights of your New York State journey. Forested peaks, waterfalls, scenic roads and characterful mountain communities make this a rewarding region to discover at your own pace.

Spend time in the Catskill Forest Preserve, choosing from scenic walks and more challenging mountain trails, or visit Kaaterskill Falls, one of the region’s most celebrated natural landmarks. For panoramic views, head towards Hunter Mountain, where the surrounding peaks and valleys reveal the scale and beauty of the Catskills.

Discover another side of the region at the Museum at Bethel Woods, located at the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival. Interactive exhibits tell the story of Woodstock, the music that defined an era and the wider cultural changes of the 1960s.

Make time for the Catskills’ smaller communities too, stopping at independent shops, farm stores, bakeries and local cideries as you travel through the mountains. During autumn, orchards, harvest experiences and spectacular fall colour add another dimension to the journey.

With two nights to combine mountain scenery, outdoor adventure, local flavours and one of America’s great music stories, the Catskills provide a memorable final stop before your journey comes to an end on Day 17.

Today, leave the Catskill Mountains and make your way towards the agreed rental car drop-off point, bringing your New York State road trip to an end.

Not Ready to Head Home? Extend Your Stay on Long Island

After travelling through cities, river valleys, mountain landscapes, historic communities, wine country and the shores of the Great Lakes, why not add a few more nights on Long Island and finish your New York State adventure beside the Atlantic?

Stretching east from New York City, Long Island offers a completely different final chapter to your journey. Discover the beaches and seaside communities of the Hamptons, visit vineyards and farm stands across the North Fork, explore historic maritime towns or simply enjoy a few days beside the coast before returning home.

A Long Island extension is an ideal way to round off this itinerary, adding another of New York State’s distinctive regions while giving you time to experience its coastal side after more than two weeks on the road.

Speak to a Discover North America Travel Specialist about extending your stay on Long Island or creating a longer New York State adventure tailored around the places you would most like to experience.