Rochester, NY has so much to offer, but sometimes you need to hop in the car, roll the windows down, and go somewhere new. Whether you are craving scenic nature trails, charming small towns, stunning waterfalls, or hidden cultural gems, we are perfectly positioned for some of the best day trips in New York State. Everything on this list is within 2 hours of the city and every single one is worth the drive.
I have been exploring the area around Rochester with my family for years and we are still finding new places to add to the list. From the gorges of Watkins Glen to the breathtaking Niagara Falls, the quirky shops of East Aurora to the museums of Buffalo, there is always something new to discover without ever needing to book a hotel.
I love that a day trip gives you the feel of a getaway. It is a break from the routine. You can include as much or as little as you want into your day to experience some of the best places to see in NY state.
These are my 18 favorite day trips from Rochester, NY. A mix of places we have visited many times and a few that are still on our list. all guaranteed to make for a great day out.
Looking for more Rochester activities? Read our 50+ Best Things to Do in Rochester, NY for our complete local guide.
This post may contain affiliate links.
My Top Day Trips Around Rochester, NY
I love planning a day trip to see new places but these are my go-to favorite day trips to take from Rochester, New York. These places I have visited numerous times and I keep returning to year after year.
- Watkins Glen State Park
- Corning Museum of Glass
- Niagara Falls
Best Day Trips from Rochester, NY
These are not in any order so pick and choose the day trip that works for you. Some of these locations are close enough to each other to include in one day trip. Plan what works best for you.
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY is a perfect day trip near Rochester, NY because it is a short drive, around 90-minutes, and you can spend the entire day exploring everything the city has to offer. If you have a full day you can combine a stop in East Aurora or Niagara Falls.
Situated along Lake Erie, Buffalo is an amazing place for families. The Buffalo Science Museum and Explore and More Children’s Museum are great for families with small kids. The Buffalo Zoo is one of the oldest in the country and can’t be missed for animal lovers.
If you are traveling to Buffalo with teens you may want to consider creating a food tour to try Chicken Wings from different locations or book a Wing Ride Bike Tour to be guided around the city on bikes while sampling wings. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is also a very popular spot to visit.
Buffalo is also home to the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits and the Buffalo Bisons. If you are in town during a game consider including it in your itinerary.
Plan Your Day Trip to Buffalo New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 Hour & 20 Minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Wing Ride Bike Tour
Buffalo Museum of Science
Where to Stay: Hotels in Buffalo, New York
Where to Eat:
Paula’s Doughnuts
Anchor Bar
Ted’s Hot Dogs
La Nova Pizza
Read my full guide → 2-Night Weekend in Buffalo Itinerary
Niagara Falls, Canada
Niagara Falls, Canada is a short day trip from Rochester, NY with so much to do. You could spend an entire weekend exploring the Canadian side of the falls.
You have spectacular views of the falls and can see a full panaramic view of the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls, but you also have Clifton Hill which is a touristy area comparable to a “kids Vegas”. There is mini-golf, 3D movies, arcades, wax museums, and more attractions in this area.
If you are looking for less busy you can view the falls and then move on to explore the Butterfly Conservatory, Journey Behind the Falls, and the Hornblower boat tours.
I prefer a mix of both. We will do a few of the Niagara Falls attractions but also include walking around the touristy area of Clifton Hill. Plan a mix of what works best for you.
Plan Your Day Trip to Niagara Falls Canada
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 Hour & 34 Minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Journey Behind the Falls 5 Attraction Bundle
Butterfly Conservatory
Clifton Hill Fun Pass
Hornblower Boat Ride Tour
The Tunnel
Where to Stay: Hotels in Niagara Falls Canada
Where to Eat:
Rainforest Cafe
Boston Pizza
Hard Rock Cafe
Read my full guide → Niagara Falls Canada Day Trip: Best Attractions, Tips & Itinerary
Niagara Falls, America
The American side of Niagara Falls is very different from the Canadian side. It is not as built up and busy as Clifton Hill, but Niagara Falls, New York has a lot to offer if you take a closer look!
The Maid of the Mist is one of our favorite attractions in Niagara Falls. This boat ride takes you close to the bottom of the falls. Be prepared to get wet!
We also discovered a hidden gem in the Niagara Falls Power Vista. This free attraction offers hands-on learning and really cool interactive exhibits to explore how Niagara Falls powers the state of New York.
Plan Your Day Trip to Niagara Falls New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 Hour & 26 Minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Maid of the Mist & Cave of the Winds Bundle
Jet Boat Tour (Great for Teens)
Scenic Niagara Falls & Buffalo Guided Tour
Where to Stay: Hotels in Niagara Falls, New York (& Canada)
Where to Eat:
Hard Rock Cafe
Rainforest Cafe
Read my full guide → Niagara Falls in Winter- A Unique Time to Visit
Sodus Point Area
Sodus Point is a great place to start your day trip. You can start with a visit to the Sodus Point Light House followed by some beach time at Sodus Point Beach Park. We have visited the outside of the light house and we plan to make a visit to climb to the top soon.
There is a cute village in Sodus Bay that where you can find ice cream shops and restaurants to include in your day. We really enjoy the area and like to visit during the summer months. We always include a hike at Chimney Bluff State Park during our trip.
Sodus Point is a great day trip if you want to be outdoors, are short on time, and want to keep costs low.
Plan Your Day Trip to Sodus Point
Driving Time from Rochester: 46 minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Alpaca & Llama Walking Tour
Where to Stay: Rentals in Sodus New York
Where to Eat:
Orbaker’s Drive-In
Read my full guide → Chimney Bluffs State Park
Rochester Scavenger Hunt
You don’t have to go far to plan an awesome day trip with your family. Some of our favorite things to do are nearby, and we will plan a full day out at local spots that we love.
I put together a 9 destination Rochester Scavenger Hunt that you could do from your car. The great thing about this is you could spend as little or as much time at these locations as possible.
You could also include visits to the Genesee River, Seneca Park Zoo, The Strong Museum of Play, Ontario Beach Park, and the George Eastman Museum in your day.
Include one of these great spots to the scavenger hunt for a family day out!
Plan Your Day Trip Around Rochester
Driving Time from Rochester: 2-4 hours depending on what you want to do
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Axe Throwing (Great Teen Activity!)
Where to Stay: Hotels in Rochester, New York
Where to Eat:
Radio Social
Swillburger
Read my full guide → Top Rochester Museums You Need to Visit
Corning, New York
Corning, NY is closer than a lot of people think, and have two family-friendly museums that we love. The Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum are two places to add to your day trip from Rochester.
You can even have lunch at the Corning Museum of Glass because they have fantastic dining options for families. Also kids under 17 are free! The Rockwell is another museum we really enjoyed during our visit.
Plan Your Day Trip to Corning, New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Corning Museum of Glass
Where to Stay: Hotels in Corning, New York
Where to Eat:
Gaffer District
Slammin Jammin BBQ
Read my full guide → Overnight in Corning New York
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen has the best gorge trail. There are over 16 waterfalls along this trail that goes up the gorge. Watkins Glen State Park is centrally located in the village of Watkins Glen and very easy to find. In the summer and fall it gets crowded so be sure to arrive early. This is a must see in New York state.
Plan Your Day Trip to Watkins Glen State Park
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 hour and 38 minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Watkins Glen State Park is free to walk into if you park in the village.
Where to Stay: Hotels in Watkins Glen, New York
Where to Eat:
Curly’s Family Restaurant (Great Breakfast!)
Read my full guide → Watkins Glen Weekend Itinerary
Ellicottville, New York
Ellicottville is a little under a 2 hour drive and offers adventure, shopping, and dining that is perfect for a day trip. It is often looked at as a winter destination for a ski trip at Holiday Valley but it has enough to fill a day at any time of the year. I suggest picking an attraction like Sky High Adventure park or Griffis Sculpture Park for the morning followed by lunch and browsing shops in the village for the afternoon.
Plan Your Day Trip to Ellicottville, New YOrk
Driving Time from Rochester: 2 hours
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Sky High Adventure Park
Where to Stay: Hotels in Ellicottville, New York
Where to Eat:
Ellicottville Brewing Company
The Gin Mill
Read my full guide → Sky High Adventure Park Review
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a great city east of Rochester that has museums, shopping, family fun attractions, and outdoor areas to explore as a family.
We had a blast at WonderWorks inside Destiny U.S.A. as well as visiting Green Lake State Park.
One unique place we found was visiting the town where author L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wizard of Oz, was born.
The All Things OZ museum is full of memorabilia and you can walk along the yellow brick road sidewalk. This is in Chittenango which is outside of Syracuse but a good addition to your day trip.
Plan Your Day Trip to Syracuse, New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 hour and 23 minutes
Experiences:
WonderWorks
All Things Oz Museum
Visit Syracuse University
Green Lake State Park
Destiny U.S.A
Where to Stay: Hotels in Syracuse, New York
Where to Eat:
Brooklyn Pickle
Pastabilities
Dinosaur BBQ
DiLauro’s Bakery
Harrison Bakery
Read my full guide → Weekend Itinerary for Syracuse NY
Olcott, NY
Olcott is one of the cutest places we have ever discovered. It has a little village along the lake and a small carnival area with an ice cream shop. There is also a park with a playground and splash park nearby.
We visited Olcott often when the kids were small because the rides were perfect for their age. Now they are a little too big but we still really enjoy the area.
Plan Your Day Trip to Olcott, New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Experiences:
Olcott Beach Carousel Park
Where to Stay: I don’t recommend staying, this is a perfect day trip.
Where to Eat:
Byes Popcorn (Update: As of July 2026 it is closed) There are places to grab a bite around the carousel park.
Ithaca, New York
We planned our most recent day trip to Ithaca and it was a great day trip from Rochester. The area is so beautiful and we loved visiting Taughannock Falls State Park. We also enjoyed the unique Ithaca Children’s Garden for a fun place to explore with children of all ages.
Plan Your Day Trip to Ithaca, New York
Driving Time from Rochester: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Experiences:
Taughannock Falls State Park
Ithaca Children’s Garden
Museum of the Earth
Where to Stay: Hotels in Ithaca, New York
Where to Eat:
State Diner
Read my full guide → Full Day Trip Itinerary to Ithaca, New York
East Aurora, New York
East Aurora is a cute little village outside of Buffalo, NY. On the Main Street you will find Vidler’s 5 and 10. This classic shop has two floors of things to discover, including penny candy and old fashion popcorn machines. This is great if you want to go for a ride on the back roads and take your time.
Drive Time: 1 Hour and 22 Minutes
My Favorite Spots:
- Viddler’s 5 & 10
- Knox Farm State Park
- Bar-Bill Tavern
Toronto
Toronto is a little over 3 hours from Rochester and is a great option if you don’t mind the drive. We have driven it in one day making stops in Toronto and then Niagara Falls on the return trip.
This is definitely for the more adventurous day tripper. If you prefer less driving per day make this a weekend trip to get the most out of it.
Plan Your Day Trip to Toronto
Driving Time from Rochester: 3 hours and 10 minutes
Book Tickets & Experiences:
Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto
Toronto Zoo
Royal Ontario Museum
Arcadia Earth (Fun for Teens!)
Hockey Hall of Fame
Where to Stay: Hotels in Toronto, Canada
Where to Eat:
Wellington Market (Huge food market with so many options!)
Read my full guide → Day Trip Itinerary for Toronto
Six Flags Darien Lake
Six Flags Darien Lake is more of a one stop, but it is over an hour away and could be a day trip if you are looking for thrills. It is located between Rochester and Buffalo and has some nice roller coasters and kid friendly attractions. I will be honest- I like Seabreeze better for its nostalgic feel and it is close to Rochester, but if you are looking to get on some bigger coasters Six Flags might be a good option. The Superman roller coaster is still a great one!
Rochester Day Trips When You Dont Have All Day
Genesee Country Museum
Genesee Country Museum is the largest living history museum in New York State. Although it is a short drive from Rochester it is a great spot for a half day trip with your family. Honestly once you arrive you will spend the entire day exploring and learning about colonial times.
Drive Time: 30 Minutes
My Favorite Spots:
- Watch a Baseball Game
- Visit the Old School House
- See the demonstrations of making butter, printing press, and blacksmith.
Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua is a short drive from Rochester, New York. It is a really cute village with shops along the Main Street. It also has Sonnenburg Gardens which is a great place to visit with gardens and Victorian style mansions to explore.
There is also Roseland Water Park, Kershaw Beach, and Onanada Park. Planning a visit to Canandaigua is easy because of the short drive and is perfect for a half day trip.
Drive Time: 34 Minutes
My Favorite Spots:
- Sonnenburg Gardens
- Kershaw Beach
- Onanada Park
- Roseland Water Park
Seneca Falls, New York
Seneca Falls is such an important historical place to visit because it is home to the Women’s Rights Hall of Fame and the Women’s Rights Museum.
Drive Time: 52 Minutes
My Favorite Spots:
- Women’s Rights Museum
- It’s A Wonderful Life Museum
- Women’s Rights Hall of Fame
- Downtown Deli
- Parker’s
Hamlin Beach
Hamlin Beach is great for a day trip to the beach from Rochester. It’s gorgeous shore line allows visitors to spend the day at the beach, explore the hiking and biking trails, and have a picnic lunch.
Drive Time: 31 Minutes
Letchworth State Park (and Surrounding Area)
Letchworth State Park is called the “Grand Canyon of the East” because of its stunning gorges and waterfalls. There are many different hiking trails and places to explore at Letchworth as well as a pool and picnic areas.
You can also visit the Mount Morris Dam and explore the village of Geneseo during your visit.
Drive Time: 45 Minutes
My Favorite Spots:
- Letchworth State Park
- Explore the Village of Geneseo
- Aunt Cookies Sub
- Brian’s USA Diner
- Mount Morris Dam
Tips for Planning Your Rochester Day Trip
- Start with one destination/attraction you want to visit and work out from there.
- We like to include a lot of local places within 1-2 hours of where we live. While planning these days we have discovered so many really cool things around our state. A lot of times the best places are little doughnut shops or ice cream stops.
- We also pack snacks and one meal to keep the cost down. We try to do a loop so we are not spending the entire day in the car and have lots of stops.
- On a few trips we have added mystery guests. Our families are spread out throughout the state so we always try to add a cousin visit at a local park or museum as an added surprise.
The goal of your day trip should be to experience new places without all the fuss and planning of an overnight.
Want to stay overnight instead? Read our 16 Weekend Getaways from Rochester, NY for the best overnight trips within a few hours of the city.
Exploring more of New York State? Visit our New York State Guide for our complete guide to the best family destinations across the Empire State.
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.