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Accommodations in the Finger Lakes

In the Finger Lakes, we aim to please. You have your choice of everything from world-class spas to sleeping on the ground. Here's a summary of your choices.

Inns

An inn provides not only a room and bath, but dining facilities where one can eat throughout the day and evening. The Finger Lakes has a number of fine inns, some with long and interesting histories.

Spas and Resorts

Spas provide a variety of programs and services centered around your health. Resorts often concentrate on recreation (golf, for example) and entertainment. The Finger Lakes has a selection of quality resorts to accommodate your interests.

Deluxe Hotels

Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Elmira, and Corning all offer deluxe hotel accommodations and can accommodate small to medium-sized conventions. For more information on conventions, check with the visitor's bureaus in each city.

Moderately Priced Hotels

The Finger Lakes offers a wide selection of moderately priced hotels that are great for families.

Motels

Motels abound in the Finger Lakes and often don't require reservations except during college and university commencement (the end of May).

Bed & Breakfasts

Some of the most luxurious and most interesting places to stay are in the region's bed and breakfasts. Choose from a 1795 stagecoach inn (Acorn Inn in Canandaigua), an 1855 Gothic Revival home (Gothic Eves in Trumansburg), or a cobblestone inn on the National Registry of Historic Places (Maxwell Creek Inn in Sodus). You will meet and get to know the local innkeeper who can, not only provide you with a delicious breakfast, but tell you about many of the sites in the region. Some bed and breakfasts will allow pets. Inquire.

Farms

The concept of the family farm has evolved in the Finger Lakes to include many things from u-pick orchards to corn mazes. A number of farms now operate as bed and breakfasts in addition to being active farms. These bed and breakfast are listed both in with the bed and breakfasts by county and separately as farms for those visitors who wish to stay specifically at a farm.

Guest Houses

Guest houses are designed for people who plan to stay longer than a few days and like the amenities of a homey atmosphere. Some guest houses offer kitchenettes and a variety of other amenities.

Haunted Houses

There aren't many, but there really are a few accommodations in the Finger Lakes that have a long history of being haunted. All ghosts appear to be relatively harmless.

Homes for Rent

If you're coming to the area for an extended stay, you may want to consider renting a home. College towns like Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, Elmira, and Corning often provide opportunities for you to care for a home while the owner is away on sabbatical for a summer, a semester, or a year. Check for these in local newspapers, through the various colleges and universities, and through local real estate management companies.

Vacation Homes/Cottages for Rent

Renting a vacation home or cottage on one of the region's many lakes can be a great way to spend the summer. Look for these properties in this site under Rentals, in local newspapers, and on the Web. For winter recreation, check out the local ski areas for rental information on lodges.

Roughing it

Cabins

Most of the state parks in the Finger Lakes have cabins, some of which are winterized. Check under State Parks.

Lean-toes

Lean-toes are strategically placed along the Finger Lakes Trail for the use of hikers. They tend to be rather small (approximately 12'L x 8'D) and can accommodate 4-6 people. Use is on a first-come, first-served basis, so during the busy season, you might find the lean-to already occupied. You just sort of have to take your chances. Lean-toes in state forests may not be used for more than three nights without a permit. For a permit, contact Capt. Dave Brooks at the Cortland office of the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). There is no charge for the permit.

Campers and RVs

Motorized vehicles are not permitted off-road in state forests. Campers and RVs are allowed in state forests so long as you use either a designated camping space or park along the road. If your group is fewer than 10 people, no permit is required unless you stay longer than 3 nights. For groups of 10 or more, a permit is required for the length of the stay. For a permit, contact Capt. Dave Brooks at the Cortland office of the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). There is no charge for the permit.

The Bare Ground

Tenting and sleeping on the ground is permitted in state forests for free. As stated above, there is a three-night limit without a permit. Most campgrounds provide tent sites for a fee.

Gay/Lesbian Accommodations

For a list of gay/lesbian accommodations in the Finger Lakes, see Purple Roofs. However, you should keep in mind that Ithaca was voted in 2002 one of the ten friendliest communities in the country by Girlfriends magazine. Rightly or wrongly, those who live in the Finger Lakes like to think of themselves as "enlightened." This is due partly to the fact that a significant percentage of the population who lives and works in the Finger Lakes, especially in the cities, is gay or lesbian. Should you find an accommodation that appeals to you but that isn't on the Purple Roofs list, feel free to call and inquire.

Updated 30 March 2021