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.