Who doesn’t love an escape from the weekend routine to relax and recharge? These 16 unforgettable weekend getaways from Rochester NY I have personally experienced and think they would be great destination for your next weekend trip!
Weekend getaways are so important to me and my family. They give us an opportunity to unwind and reconnect with each other while having an adventure in a new place.
They are also easier to plan, are great for people short on time, and usually cost less than a week long vacation.
I travel with my family of five, including 3 teenagers, but these weekend getaways around Rochester are great for couples, girls’ weekend getaways, and anyone looking to explore a new spot for a weekend away.
Rochester is it is a great starting point for weekend trips. I am sharing trips that are under 2 hours, under 4 hours, and 4+ hours from Rochester.
The shorter distance trips could be day trips if you are short on time and the longer distance may require a long weekend, but they all offer an escape from the city and a chance to relax and explore a new place.
Gather your favorite traveling people and let’s get ready to relax, explore, and reconnect!
Weekend Getaways from Rochester NY to Start Planning
Below I am sharing inspiration for your next weekend getaway. There are city getaways from Rochester, weekend destinations in the Finger Lakes region, and Adirondacks, as well as places I really love to visit and think you might too!
Weekend Destinations Under 2 Hours
- Niagara Falls (USA and Canada): 1 hour 36 Minutes (estimated drive time)
- Buffalo, New York: 1 hour 15 Minutes (estimated)
- Corning, New York: 1 Hour 35 Minutes (estimated)
- Utica, New York: 2 Hours and 5 Minutes (estimated)
- Watkins Glen, New York (Finger Lakes Region): 90 minutes (estimated)
- Syracuse, New York: 1 Hour 24 Minutes (estimated)
Niagara Falls (Canada & USA)
Niagara Falls is a world-famous attraction and is under a 2 hour drive from Rochester. My suggested itinerary would include staying for the weekend on the Canadian side and spending time at both areas.
The reason I suggest staying on the Canadian side is because it is much more walkable and has attractions and dining nearby. Clifton Hill is a very popular area with wax museums, arcades, and restaurants.
The American side has a beautiful park, Niagara Falls State Park, as well as other attractions worth checking out but it is more spread out. This article can help you plan your visit: Best Things to Do in Niagara Falls NY for Families
You can get very close to the falls on the American side but the Canadian side offers a panoramic view. I share more details on our itinerary in this article: Winter Visit to Niagara Falls.
Where to Stay in Niagara Falls: Sheraton Fallsview Hotel
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is an incredible destination that is not very far away from Rochester. It has cultural experiences like Buffalo AKG Art Gallery, formerly Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
The Buffalo Zoo and the Explore and More Museum are great options for families. Canalside has activities and dining for all visitors.
Be sure to check out the Anchor Bar the “Original Home of the Chicken Wings”. I grew up in Buffalo and I can let you in on a little secret…you can get fantastic chicken wings anywhere in Buffalo.
If you order wings in Buffalo you will have authentic “Buffalo Wings” that won’t disappoint! I also love picking up a Ted’s Hot Dog when we are in Buffalo, the chargrilled dogs are so good.
You also are 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, have numerous sports teams to check out, and Buffalo experiences all 4 season. We spent a summer weekend in Buffalo and it was a blast.
Where to Stay in Buffalo: Embassy Suites Buffalo
Corning, New York
A weekend in Corning is great if you are looking to visit cool museums and be in the Finger Lakes region with access to great hiking and wine tours.
Our must-see museums in Corning are the Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum. CMOG offers guests glass making demonstrations, classes, and exhibits.
The Rockwell Museum is a unique museum that features Western history. I suggest staying within walking distance of the Gaffer District for easy access to shops and dining.
You may want to consider a stop at Letchworth State Park, the Grand-Canyon of the East, on your drive from Rochester to Corning. There are water falls, hiking trails, and beautiful scenery.
Where to Stay in Corning: Radisson Hotel Corning
Utica, New York
Utica, New York is a hidden gem in New York state. We recently spent a fall weekend there and found it to be a great place for families.
We visited the Utica Zoo, Herkimer Diamond Mines, and the Adirondack Railbike tour.
It’s a short drive and a great choice for families. Read more about our visit: ).
Where to Stay in Utica: DoubleTree by Hilton Utica
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is a short drive from Rochester NY. It is a beautiful park with over 16 waterfalls. The nature trails are incredible. There is a good reason it is on everyone’s list of places to visit.
You could visit for a day trip but to avoid crowds you want to arrive early and having a weekend to explore will give you more time.
After you visit the state park take a walk along Watkins Glen village and Seneca Lake. I recommend reading the Best Things to Do in Watkins Glen for how best to plan your visit.
Where to Stay in Watkins Glen: Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is close weekend destination from Rochester that offers a lot of family friendly attractions.
Destiny USA is a mall and entertainment complex that has something fun for everyone. Plan a day visiting the animals at The Wild Animal Park or the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
Green Lake State Park offers a beautiful beach and park for you to enjoy time outdoors. We visited last summer and really enjoyed the area.
If you have time on your way to or from consider visiting Seneca Falls to see the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
Check out this article for more about Syracuse: Fun Things to Do in Syracuse for a Family Weekend.
Where to Stay in Syracuse: Marriott Syracuse Downtown (the hotel we stayed in has since closed, this hotel has over 1000 4-star reviews)
Under 4 Hours
- Lake George, New York (Adirondacks Region): 3 hours 59 Minutes (estimated)
- Toronto, Canada: 3 Hours 6 Minutes (estimated)
- Cooperstown, New York: 2 Hours and 52 Minutes (estimated)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 4 Hours and 23 Minutes (estimated)
- Jamestown, New York: 2 Hours and 22 Minutes (estimated)
- The Cove at Sylvan Beach: 2 hours and 9 minutes (estimated)
Lake George, New York
Lake George is a great destination if you want to experience a mix of outdoors and family activities. We spent a weekend in Lake George and it was the dead of winter, but such a relaxing retreat.
We stayed at the The Lodges at Cresthaven which have private beach access and spacious accommodations.
During our visit we went to Saratoga Springs which has a lovely main street. It was a great spot to walk around and grab dinner. You can also visit Spa State Park to try the different fresh springs.
Six Flags Great Escape offers amusem*nt park fun, an indoor water park, and on-site accommodations. It’s a relaxing vacation that offers many hikes and other outdoor activities.
Where to Stay in Lake George: The Lodges at Cresthaven
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is an awesome city with so much to do! You could spend a week exploring it all and still have more to see. Toronto was our first family weekend getaway as a family of five.
Canada’s Wonderland, Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, and the Toronto Zoo are some of our favorite spots to visit.
Where to Stay in Toronto: The Westin Harbour Castle
Cooperstown, New York
I thought Cooperstown, New York was all about baseball but there is so much more to this quaint town. The National Baseball Hall of Fame is a must for fans of the sport.
We spent a weekend in Cooperstown and I loved everything about it. From the food to the relaxing vibe, Cooperstown is a great weekend getaway trip from Rochester.
Where to Stay in Cooperstown: Cooperstown Luxury Treehouse Lodge (Luxury), another option Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cooperstown
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, PA is so overlooked in my opinion! It is an affordable city getaway full of family-friendly attractions.
My favorite places to visit are Phipps Botanical Gardens and the Pittsburgh Zoo. We always take a ride up the Duquesne Incline to see the views of the city.
I share details in this article about our Pittsburgh weekend itinerary if you want to learn more.
Where to Stay in Pittsburgh: Springhill Suites Pittsburgh Southside Works
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York is often overlooked because it is a small city but it packs a big punch.
We spent a weekend and discovered there are many things to do in Jamestown for kids and adults.
I loved visiting the National Comedy Center which is high on our list for one of our favorite museums ever!
We spent time outdoors discovering the caves and caverns at Panama Rocks Park as well as explored Bemus Point along Lake Chautauqua.
Jamestown is a great mix of fun attractions and a relaxing pace.
Where to Stay in Jamestown: Harbor Hotel Chautauqua-Jamestown
The Cove at Sylvan Beach
The Cove at Sylvan Beach is the ultimate retreat for relaxation getaways near Rochester.
Located along Oneida Lake Sylvan Beach offers cottage and apartment rentals for families.
Each rental includes a pontoon boat for your stay. There is a pool, playground, grab-and-go dining, and water sport rentals on-site.
This is the perfect weekend getaway if you want to get to your destination and not leave until the weekend is over! Check out my full review: The Cove at Sylvan Beach Review for Summer Weekend Getaway in New York
4+ Hours
These weekend getaways from Rochester may need a long weekend but they are great options!
- Adirondacks Region (Lake Placid & Tupper Lake): 4 hour 52 Minutes (estimated)
- New York City: 5 hours 29 Minutes (estimated)
- Hershey, Pennsylvania: 4 Hours and 35 Minutes(estimated)
- Mystic, Connecticut: 5 Hours and 51 Minutes (estimated)
Adirondacks Region (Lake Placid and Tupper Lake)
I wanted to include this area of the Adirondacks because we have spent time at Lake Placid and Tupper Lake on different occasions and think it would be a great weekend trip.
Lake Placid is home to the Olympic Museum and you can visit the Olympic Village. On our visit we saw athletes training for different events.
We got to see the luge, which was really cool! There are many family friendly things to do and Lake Placid is a great place for families.
I would plan a day trip to The Wild Center which is also located in the Adirondacks. It is about a 40 minute drive from Lake Placid but is well worth including in your trip.
There are tree-top walkways, forest paths, and indoor/outdoor animal exhibits. Our family really enjoyed visiting The Wild Center.
I found a few options for Lake Placid that I felt were worth sharing depending on who you are traveling with.
Where to Stay in Lake Placid:
- This Hampton Inn and Suites is a short walk to the village and offers great views of the lake.
- Are you traveling as a group? This Adirondacks Azure Lodge fits 16, has private lake access and offers lots of space for large gatherings.
- If you are traveling as a couple The Haus on Mirror Lake offers a great space.
New York City
New York City is a huge city and you would need many weekends to explore it all. That is what is so great about it, each time you visit you can do something new!
From amazing places to eat to incredible museums to tour, New York City has something for everyone!
We have explored Times Square, Central Park, the Harry Potter Store during our first visit to NYC, as well as seen Broadway Shows, visited The Museum of Broadway, and we still have so much we want to see.
New York City is also about 40 minutes from LEGOLAND New York. We made a stop at the park on our way home from NYC and it worked well. LEGOLAND is on the way back home to Rochester.
Where to Stay in New York City: The Westin at New York Times Square
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Visiting Hershey is visiting a chocolate paradise. The town was built on Hershey Chocolate and everywhere you look you find small details reflecting that.
From the Hershey Chocolate Lamp Posts that line the streets to the Hershey Factory Tour at Hershey Chocolate World this family weekend getaway is all about the chocolate.
Hersheypark has rides and attractions for the whole family, there is a Hershey Gardens, Hershey Museum, a Zoo, and lots of chocolate inspired dining and attractions.
Where to Stay in Hershey: If it is in your budget stay at a Hershey Resort, I recommend it for the perks to guests visiting Hersheypark. If not we have stayed at Springhill Suites Hershey near the Park. It is a mid-range hotel but it was clean and offered breakfast.
Mystic, Connecticut with a stop in Springfield MA
Mystic, Connecticut is a little further than some of the other destinations but is a perfect place to combine some of the weekend getaways to make a bigger vacation.
We found a lot of family fun things to do in Mystic, CT and combined our visit to Springfield to make a long weekend away. My favorite was the Mystic Aquarium.
Springfield has a Dr. Seuss museum and the NBA Hall of Fame. It was fun to break-up a long weekend and visit 2 destinations. (I am working on a full itinerary for this trip and will share it here once it goes live.)
Where to Stay in Mystic: Hyatt Place Mystic
Where to Stay Springfield: Hilton Garden Inn Springfield
I love to find new weekend getaways close to Rochester and will add destinations I recommend as we explore more.
How to Plan Your Getaway
There are 4 main things you will need to consider when planning your getaway: transportation, accommodations, attractions/what to do, and where to eat.
Transportation is typically your own car because most of you will be driving, but you can fly into Frederick Douglas International Airport and rent a car if you are traveling into town.
For hotels I look for ones close to the attractions we are visiting and if it includes breakfast that is a great perk!
Once you have transportation and accommodations reserved you can move on to the fun part of planning what you are going to do on your trip.
I shared what we liked about each place earlier in this post, be sure to click on the specific destination article if you want an in-depth itinerary to plan your trip.
There is such a diverse range of options for weekend getaways from Rochester NY. From amusem*nt parks and cities, to quiet mountains and small towns, I encourage you to start planning your next weekend adventure.
Suggested Article for You: 12 Best Things to Do in New York State with Kids
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Leah
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.
