The drive from New York City to Niagara Falls is one of the best road trips in the Northeast- and one that most people completely underestimate. At just under 7 hours straight through, it’s easy to treat it as a drive-through state. That would be a mistake.
New York State has a lot going on beyond the interstate. Yes, I-90 is not the most scenic highway in America, I will be honest about that. But pull off the highway and you will find gorges with 19 waterfalls, the world’s best glass museum, and a children’s museum that could fill an entire day.
The road trip stops on this list are the reason we keep doing this drive instead of flying. Plan a fall foliage New York trip and this could be the most beautiful road trip in the Northeast.
This is not a list of things to power through on the way to the falls. These are destinations worth slowing down for, whether that means one well-chosen stop to break up the drive or a full 3-4 day New York State road trip that ends at Niagara. Here are our 10 favorites.
Exploring more of New York State? Visit our New York State Guide for the best family destinations across the Empire State- including everything on this road trip and beyond.
This post may contain affiliate links.
New York City to Niagara Falls- My Experience
I am lucky to live in New York State and have experienced a lot of what it has to offer. I have spent many days in Niagara Falls, on the American and Canadian side, as well as weekends in Syracuse, Buffalo, NYC, and some lesser known spots along the way.
New York State is unique in that visitors can easily visit the most popular city in the world and plan an international trip, all in one week.
I love mixing our trips with outdoor adventures and family fun attractions. My favorites over the years are collected in this post. Mix and match them with what your interests are and how much time you have for a trip.
Road Trip from NYC to Niagara Falls Tips
Driving from NYC to Niagara Falls is a fairly straight route once you get on the I-90. There are a few ways to get to the 90 and I suggest taking a look at a few options. Then decide your route based on what you want to experience.
Take a look at a map and decide what route you want to take. If you are making a round trip consider driving to Niagara Falls one way and back to NYC another way.
You will also want to be aware of the weather across New York State. New York State has four seasons and weather can be tough to road trip in during the winter months.
Visiting Niagara Falls in the winter is really a unique experience. It is usually freezing and windy but its still really cool! If you want to see Niagara Falls frozen the best time to try and see it is January/February. There is no guarantee though!
The best time to make this road trip would be during the summer months or fall. Fall has the added beauty of changing colors, making the drive way more interesting. Summer offers flexibility if traveling with kids and weather is usually great. A New York City to Niagara Falls road trip can be done in any season, just check the forecast before you head out.
NYC to Niagara Falls Road Trip- Best Places to Visit
In no particular order these are my top 10 places to visit on a road trip from New York City to Niagara Falls. They range from theme park stops to outdoor hikes. I included a place to stay if you decide to plan a stop as well as options for booking tickets for some of the attractions.
American Dream Mall
American Dream QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Hampton Inn Carlstad
What to Do: Nickelodeon Universe, DreamWorks Water Park
American Dream Mall is actually in New Jersey but it is located next to MetLife stadium and we drive by it every time we drive into NYC. This is the second largest mall in America and has an indoor water park, amusement park, ski hill, and a multitude of shops and dining options.
We spent the day at Nickelodeon Universe and DreamWorks water park and were wishing we had more than a day. Read my full review to plan your trip: American Dream Mall with Kids: Is It Worth the Trip? (Family Review)
LEGOLAND New York
LEGOLAND New York QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: LEGOLAND New York Resort, one of the best themed hotels for kids!
What to Do: LEGOLAND NY Theme Park Tickets
LEGOLAND New York is a LEGOLAND theme park that has rides, attractions, and a LEGOLAND hotel. Everything is LEGO themed with LEGO characters and photo-ops throughout the park. It is under an hour drive from New York City.
It is totally worth the visit if you are traveling with small children. If you want more information on visiting LEGOLAND check out this article: Everything Guide to LEGOLAND New York. We really enjoyed our visit to LEGOLAND. Be sure to explore Mini-Land and experience the NINJAGO ride!
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Check Out Syracuse Hotels Near Where You Want to Visit,
What to Do: Picnic at Green Lake State Park, detour to All Things Oz museum.
No matter what route you take you will most likely drive through Syracuse, NY. If you have a short time stop at Destiny USA. This mall offers shopping and dining as well as entertainment. Wonder Works is one of our favorite places to visit in Syracuse.
If you want to spend the night in Syracuse check out this article: 21 Fun Things to Do in Syracuse, NY with Kids. We included a stop at All Things Oz museum and Green Lake State Park.
Corning Museum of Glass
Corning QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Corning NY Hotels in the Gaffer District, one of the best themed hotels for kids!
What to Do: Corning Museum of Glass, Rockwell Museum, Day Trip to Ithaca
Corning Museum of Glass in the Finger Lakes region is one of the best museums. It is free for kids under 17 and offers a look at how glass is used and made in the modern world.
There is a glass creation show, classes that guests can participate in, as well as different areas that feature glass art. It is a little over 4 hours from New York City. If you start your day early you can arrive for lunch time.
Corning Museum of Glass has one of the best museum food courts I have ever eaten at. I highly recommend eating there if you include this in your road trip. Read our full review: Corning Museum of Glass with Kids | Glass Museum New York
Ithaca New York
Ithaca QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Inn at Taughannock Falls
What to Do: Taughannock Falls State Park Gorge Trail
Ithaca is a small town that has beautiful scenery and is also located in the Finger Lakes region. If you are into wineries you should check out some of the local ones. We enjoy walking the gorge trail at Taughannock Falls. Read this article for more Ithaca ideas: Things to Do in Ithaca New York for a Day Trip
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: The Delevan Hotel
What to Do: Try Famous Buffalo Chicken Wings, Explore & More Children’s Museum, Art Gallery
Buffalo, NY is less than 20 minutes from Niagara Falls but you might want to include it in your stop. If you have never tried Buffalo Chicken Wings from Buffalo you can’t go wrong with any place in the city. We like Duffs and Anchor Bar.
Buffalo also has a recently refurbished Art Museum that is high on my list to check out. If you want to learn more about Buffalo read this: Best Fun Things to Do in Buffalo NY with Your Family
Letchworth State Park
LEtchworth QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Stay in Rochester and plan a day trip.
What to Do: Spend the day at Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is located south of Rochester. It is named the “Grand Canyon of the East” because of its vast gorges and natural wonders.
It has lots of hiking trails, waterfalls, and picnic areas. You may want to include this in with an overnight stay in Rochester. It is a bit out of the way of the interstate so keep this in mind. If scenic drives are your thing you will love Letchworth!
Strong Museum of Play
Strong Museum of Play QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Hotels Near Strong Museum of Play
What to Do: Strong Museum of Play (Plan a full day here if you have small children)
The Strong Museum of Play is Rochester’s popular Children’s museum. It is the number one attraction in Rochester and a popular stop for good reason.
This is a place you could spend hours at and never experience it all. There is an indoor Butterfly garden, an outdoor play area, Sesame Street area, interactive exhibits, and a video game hall of fame to name a few.
If you are doing this trip with kids consider including this in your visit. Read more about it: Guide to Rochester Children’s Museum The Strong Museum of Play
A great way to see and do a lot of things is to stay in Rochester for a night or two and make the short drive to the surrounding areas to include more than one into your trip.
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel , short walk to downtown area
What to Do: Hike the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail
The natural beauty is what brings people back to Watkins Glen State Park year after year. With over 19 waterfalls it is an incredible 1.5 mile hike. The gorge trail is open May to mid-October depending on the conditions. If you are close enough to stop you should!
It is a popular spot and crowds in the summer can be very busy. If you plan to stay a night consider the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. Read my review: Review of the Harbor Hotel Watkins Glen
Chimney Bluffs State Park
Chimney Bluffs QUick Booking Guide
Where to Stay: This is another spot where a Rochester hotel is a great choice.
What to Do: Hike Chimney Bluffs State Park
If you want to take the scenic route along Lake Ontario consider visiting Chimney Bluffs State Park. This is located about 5 hours from New York City. Those planning on including a visit to Chimney Bluffs State Park may want to consider spending a few nights in Rochester, NY to experience a couple of the places.
What to Do When You Arrive in Niagara Falls
If you are planning a few days as part of your Niagara Falls trip you are going to want to include some of these popular stops. Niagara Falls State Park is located on the American side of the falls. It is called the American Falls.
The park is along the Niagara River. You will find goat island, Niagara Aquarium, Niagara Power Vista, Niagara Gorge, and for history buffs Old Fort Niagara.
Visitors can also experience the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds. Read this itinerary for ideas: 2 Day Itinerary Niagara Falls (USA & Canada)
You may also want to visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Guests will need to cross immigration at the Rainbow bridge to gain access to Canada.
Be sure to have passports and any necessary documentation. Requirements can be found here.
What to Do When You Arrive in New York City
If you are taking this trip from Niagara Falls to NYC you may want to stay a few nights in New York City.
We stayed at the Westin Times Square and it was the perfect place for families. Plus a great location.
There are so many things to do in NYC from central park to museums to seeing a Broadway show. I have a detailed guide for visiting NYC that includes examples of how to plan your itinerary. Read it: New York City with Teens: Itinerary, What We Loved & How to Plan
Road Trip NYC to Niagara Falls- Recap
Driving from New York City to Niagara Falls can be a really fun family vacation. The best part is that you can do as little or as much as you want. Pick a few of the most interesting places to see and include them or stay a night or two in each area to extend the trip.
Your itinerary might start in NYC with a first stop at LEGOLAND followed by an overnight or two in Rochester, then continue on to Niagara Falls. Don’t be afraid to play around with google maps to find the best trip itinerary.
Maybe you are someone who really doesn’t want to do the planning, or the driving. There are many tours that offer NYC pick up and take you to Niagara Falls as well as other destinations. Here are a few great options: 2-Day Niagara Falls & Corning Trip, 5-Day Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and Boston Trip, and 5-Day Toronto, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C Trip.
Exploring more of New York State? Visit our New York State Guide for the best family destinations across the Empire State or plan a Weekend Getaway.
Planning your NYC days? Read our New York City with Teens guide for our complete itinerary across four separate NYC trips.
Arriving at Niagara Falls? Read our Niagara Falls Canada Day Trip and 2-Day Niagara Falls Itinerary for everything you need once you get there.
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Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
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.