Cool-climate pours, waterfalls & lake towns
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Finger Lakes Wine Trail
Ithaca to Seneca Lake
Ithaca and Seneca Lake sit about 61 km (38 mi) apart in a straight line, with Seneca Lake to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Finger Lakes Wine Trail itinerary, a 4-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 61 km · 38 mi
- Est. road distance
- 74–86 km
- Est. drive time
- 55 min – 1 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Finger Lakes Wine Trail itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 74–86 km (46–53 mi) of road and 55 min – 1 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A car is the usual choice, because the wineries sit along roads that wrap around each lake. Many groups hire a driver or tour for tasting days. Ithaca, Watkins Glen and Hammondsport are easy to walk once you park.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Seneca Lake
Two days for the deepest Finger Lake: Geneva at the north end, wineries down both shores, Watkins Glen at the south.
Belhurst Castle
1880s red-stone castle on the lake with a winery tasting room and dining.
Ravines Wine Cellars
Dry Riesling and cabernet franc specialist with a Geneva tasting room.
Watkins Glen State Park
Gorge Trail with 19 waterfalls, stone bridges and a walk behind Rainbow Falls.
Kindred Fare
Farm-to-table restaurant in Geneva with a seasonal menu and local wine list.
Fox Run Vineyards
Lakeside winery in a restored dairy barn, with a café for lunch.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
Pioneering 1979 Riesling estate on the west shore, one of the region's top producers.
Before you leave Ithaca
Two days for gorge hikes, the farmers market and the Cayuga wineries north of town.
On this curated route
Where Ithaca → Seneca Lake sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Seneca Lake to Ithaca is the same 61 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca high | 0° | 1° | 6° | 14° | 21° | 26° | 29° | 28° | 24° | 16° | 9° | 3° |
| Seneca Lake high | -1° | 0° | 5° | 13° | 20° | 25° | 29° | 28° | 24° | 16° | 9° | 2° |
| Ithaca rain | 63 | 63 | 74 | 86 | 93 | 112 | 107 | 107 | 102 | 108 | 74 | 82 |
| Seneca Lake rain | 62 | 60 | 67 | 83 | 89 | 98 | 99 | 95 | 91 | 108 | 74 | 83 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Seneca Lake month guides.
Ithaca to Seneca Lake: questions travelers ask
How far is Ithaca from Seneca Lake?
Ithaca is about 61 km (38 mi) from Seneca Lake in a straight line, with Seneca Lake to the north-west. By road, we estimate 74–86 km (46–53 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Ithaca to Seneca Lake?
An estimated 55 min – 1 h 45 min, assuming 74–86 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Ithaca to Seneca Lake?
Our Finger Lakes Wine Trail itinerary includes this leg. Finger Lakes Wine Trail runs about 4 days across 3 stops, best in May – Oct.
Onward from Seneca Lake
Guides for both ends
- Ithaca travel guide
- Ithaca weather best time to visit
- Seneca Lake travel guide
- Seneca Lake weather best time to visit
Seneca Lake by month
Plan Ithaca → Seneca Lake with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.